Cain Doesn't Know What to Think about Libya!

Cain’s Republican rival Rick Perry doesn’t have the monopoly on awkward silences. Herman Cain’s hesitation over a question on Barack Obama’s handling of the Libyan crisis might be a terrible blow to his campaign.

After Rick Perry’s “Oops,” Herman Cain’s silence! Clearly, the Republican candidates for the White House have some memory problems. Already embarrassed by accusations of sexual harassment, Cain didn’t stumble over a personal question or over a question about his platform, like Perry did. On the contrary, Cain was tripped up by a question about Barack Obama’s handling of the Libyan crisis.

“OK, Libya,” the only black Republican candidate initially replied during a five-minute-long interview by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, published in Wisconsin. Did he approve of the American president’s policy in the matter? Silence. A long silence … Then, “President Obama supported the uprising, correct? President Obama called for the removal of Gadhafi — just want to make sure we’re talking about the same thing before I say, ‘Yes, I agree,’ or ‘No, I didn’t agree,’” he said.

As soon as he had been reassured, but still shaking with nervous tics, Cain proclaimed his disapproval. Or, rather, mumbled it. “I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reason,” Mr. Cain began, before stopping himself to say, “Nope, that’s a different one. I’ve got to go back and see,” adding, “I’ve got all this stuff twirling around in my head.” At last, he affirmed that he would have “done a better job” than President Obama.

How to respond? Perry retaliated by establishing a Top Ten list of reasons for his “bug” during an episode of the “Late Show with David Letterman”: “I thought the debate was tonight,” “Hey listen, you try concentrating when Mitt Romney’s [another Republican candidate] smiling at you. That is one handsome dude,” and, “I just learned Justin Bieber is my father.” How funny …

Cain responded more simply, saying, “I paused on the Libya question. Nothing more.” He also attempted to turn his “pause” into an advantage by presenting himself as a “deliberate decision maker.” “Some people want to say, as president you need to know everything. No, you don’t. I believe in having all the information — as much of it as I possibly can — rather than making a decision, or making a statement about whether I totally agree or didn’t agree, when I wasn’t privy to the entire situation.”

But his inability to respond to a simple question about current affairs stupefied many experts who are wondering if his gaffe was even more enormous than the one Perry made during a televised debate. Perry’s #brainfreeze, mocked on Twitter and parodied by comedians — notably on “Saturday Night Live” — is now being challenged by the #cainwreck on the Internet!

Meanwhile, on the ground …

Mitt Romney, the former poll favorite, continues to believe in his chances, although his rivals are on roller coaster rides in the polls. Rick Perry crashed, Herman Cain could find himself in the same situation, and the Republicans are beginning to think about Newt Gingrich, if only by default. Will Jon Huntsman, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have their “moment” in the polls? Meanwhile, Mitt Romney’s campaign team is already on track for the final battle against Barack Obama, according to The New York Times.