An Excercise

[LastVoter]

Imagine if Cain was white.

[redcommander]

Imagine if Cain was white.

He would be sitting at Santorum levels of support, and Gingirch's time as flavor of the month would be coming to an end.

[porker]

He'd have dropped out after calling the majority of black people brainwashed and saying racism doesn't hold anybody back anymore.

[Mr. Morden]

He'd be hounded by charges that he fathered two black children.

[LastVoter]

His candidacy certainly seems a lot more ridiculous.

[porker]

His candidacy certainly seems a lot more ridiculous.

People wouldn't care as much about his success in the business world. Romney was arguably more successful but his accomplishments are seen as ordinary. He didn't beat the odds to live the American Dream. He doesn't prove that black people who put their heads down and work hard can make it too.

(Much of the same applied to Obama in 2008. His personal story and calls for hope and change were probably more appealing because of his race.)

[bgwah]

He would've gotten less attention than Thad McCotter.

[LastVoter]

I think he would still be able to yell 9-9-9 over again and get some successes with that, his standoffish persona would still be present.

[porker]

I think he would still be able to yell 9-9-9 over again and get some successes with that, his standoffish persona would still be present.

True, but people's reaction to him might be different. For example when Bachmann says things out of the mainstream she is labeled "crazy." I suspect that has sexist undertones. "That crazy bitch!" Cain's race, along with his eccentric attitude, may lower people's expectations of him and make them more willing to forgive him when he makes gaffes, especially if there's the perception that he is being persecuted because of his race.

Another thought I just had. Conservatives were never really concerned with allegations of sexism against Bachmann (which I believe may have some validity) but are eager to play the race card in defense of Cain. Could Obama, and insecurities of being labeled racist by the left, contribute to this? "Liberals think they're entitled to the black vote. But now that we have a black guy on our side we can play the race card too!" It's like accusing your opponents of racism is a tactic to shield yourself from criticism, and since Republicans are under the impression that Obama uses his race card on every issue, they're overcompensating with Cain.

[LastVoter]

I think he would still be able to yell 9-9-9 over again and get some successes with that, his standoffish persona would still be present.

True, but people's reaction to him might be different. For example when Bachmann says things out of the mainstream she is labeled "crazy." I suspect that has sexist undertones. "That crazy bitch!" Cain's race, along with his eccentric attitude, may lower people's expectations of him and make them more willing to forgive him when he makes gaffes, especially if there's the perception that he is being persecuted because of his race.

Another thought I just had. Conservatives were never really concerned with allegations of sexism against Bachmann (which I believe may have some validity) but are eager to play the race card in defense of Cain. Could Obama, and insecurities of being labeled racist by the left, contribute to this?

Wouldn't a white women running against a black man, bring better positive stereotypes images in conservatives psyche though?

[Averroës Nix]

I still think that Cain's personality and working-class background are at least as important to his public image, and in turn, his success.

[King]

Senator Cain (having won in 2004 and been re-elected in 2010) would have 20 point leads in every primary state and Perry would have never run