An Obama for the Republicans

The African-American pizza entrepreneur Herman Cain is the latest darling of American conservatives. But it’s a long journey for the outsider before he becomes the Republican nominee.

For a moment, it feels like a trip back to 2008. The people shout, “Yes, we can!” as if with one voice. When the candidate takes the stage, everyone leaps to their feet. He’s black, he’s dynamic, and he speaks with the passion of a Baptist preacher. He shouts back to the audience: “Did I hear right? Did I hear, ‘Yes, we can’”?* But the man on stage isn’t Barack Obama. It’s Herman Cain, the latest sensation in the Republican primary campaign.

The man who is unexpectedly climbing to the top of the opinion polls has something his rivals lack: a sense of humor and charisma. “[People ask] why are you running to be president? To be president!” Cain said. “America has problems. I’m a problem solver. That’s why I’m running.”] The audience laughs and applauds. Finally, they have someone who isn’t play-acting.

With Cain’s appearance, the ambient temperature in the air-conditioned ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. rises. The 3,000 attendees at the Values Voter Summit have already been here for hours on this sunny autumn afternoon. They’ve heard bitter complaints about how liberal judges and gays demanding the right to marry have threatened America’s freedoms. They drink Starbucks coffee during the breaks, or they withdraw to prayer rooms. And they’ve discussed which Republican candidate has the right stuff to be president.

The annual meeting of America’s social conservatives is a must-attend event for any Republican presidential candidate. For moderate party members like Mitt Romney, it’s a balancing act. For arch-conservatives, it can mean all or nothing, as it also does for Rick Perry, who until recently was the rising star in these circles. But hesitant public reaction to his speech shows that his star is now waning, a fate he shares with Michele Bachmann, who charmed this crowd last summer before dropping in the polls. She’ll no doubt be received with hearty applause on Friday, but there’s only one candidate now capable of electrifying the crowd: Herman Cain, who has already surpassed Romney in several polls.

“9-9-9 Means Jobs, Jobs, Jobs”

During an era when career politicians have lost the respect of many voters, Cain comes off as a man of the people: the man who rose from simple beginnings, the conservative radio moderator and ally of the right-wing tea party movement, the pragmatic entrepreneur.

Cain hints that the man who rescued Godfather’s Pizza can also rescue America with, for example, his “9-9-9” plan. He intends to stimulate the economy with his “9-9-9” plan: All Americans will be subject to the same tax rates — a 9 percent income tax, a 9 percent corporate tax and a 9 percent sales tax. Cain intones that, “9-9-9 means jobs, jobs, jobs.”

His audience is now no longer interested in what the speaker following Cain has to say — Newt Gingrich’s candidacy is going nowhere anyway. Cain holds court and signs copies of his book in the hotel lobby, which is hardly big enough to contain the long lines waiting for his autograph.

Charles Kerchner is first in line, and Cain inscribes his book with the additional notation, “Number One.” Is it possible that Cain tonight is at the same spot Obama was for the Democrats in 2008? “With one difference,” Kerchner says in reference to Obama’s preference for reading his speeches. “He doesn’t need a teleprompter.”** Retired teacher Grace Strong raves, “He just rocks! I’d like to see him debate Obama.”** But it’s still a long road for outsider Herman Cain. The Republican establishment and the party donors are massing behind Mitt Romney. Cain lacks the resources and the experience to keep pace. And he has hurt himself with several verbal gaffes, such as declaring that he would refuse to have a Muslim serve in his cabinet. But he has obviously attracted many who believe in him — most importantly, Herman Cain himself. The title of his book reads, “This is Herman Cain.” The subtitle reads, “My Journey to the White House.”

*Editor’s Note: While this is correctly translated from the article’s original text, Cain’s actual words were: “Did I hear you all saying, ‘Yes, we Cain?’ Was I hearing things?”

**Editor’s Note: These quotes, accurately translated, were unable to be verified.