1. Not sure I see how the labels "jerk" or "ignoramus" are racial in character.
2. Having said that, I find extreme irony in a commentator complaining that a candidate is not educated or sophisticated enough for his liking, and does it in terms that are themselves pretty low brow. Indeed, when you think about it for even a split second, a "jerk" is commonly used to describe someone who is mean or antagonistic, whereas ignoramus is sort of a colloquial way of saying someone is not very bright.
3. Cain is an interesting cat. I think a guy that has been through what he has been through in terms of working to the top of a major business, fighting off Stage 4 cancer, and dealing with all of the things he has dealt with, basically is going to have a pretty thick skin when it comes to people questioning him. He always manages to take a sharp jab from the other candidates and laugh it off.
It is an endearing quality, and one that I think is at the heart of why he is so popular. Instead of accusing back, or getting defensive, he might engage some sort of self-deprecating comment that basically says, "meh, you might have a point but whatever."
Its so different in a candidate for president. His ego is just not as out of control as most that get to that point, probably because he is not a career politician.
4. In terms of policy, two things were clear to me last night. First, if he were the nominee this 9-9-9 thing might be the reason why, but it might also be his undoing. At a time when the kind of soul-less middle class is out there drifting around and wanting to feel like someone cares about them, Demo or GOP, Cain's proposing a tax overhaul that will shift more taxes onto the middle class and significantly reduce taxes on the wealthy just isn't going to go over well.
Commentator last night was pointing out a significant break point in the numbers on the plan involving a person who makes $8 million a year, primarily through investment. Under Cain's plan, his taxes would go DOWN by $1.8 million a year.
There will be all sorts of other examples if he is actually the nominee and he is going to take heavy criticism as favoring the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. I think right now, politically, that is a bad place to be.
And my other thought was that he needs some SERIOUS coaching on foreign policy. The whole trade Gitmo detainees for a prisoner line of questioning exposed his lack of knowledge and depth and all he could do to try to rescue it was to keep repeating "we NEVER negotiate with terrorists," the problem being that in an interview earlier he had said he would under certain circumstances. Then he got all flubbed up trying to make a distinction to explain it away. It was an awkward moment caused by the simple fact that he really hasn't thought it through.
Having said all that, I still think that at the end of the day the GOP nominates the guy with the best shot to win, and that is Romney. He still comes off as the most presidential of the bunch, imo.
