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Herman Cain: I Misspoke Earlier When I Said That I’d Negotiate With Terrorists

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GOP frontrunner Herman Cain was caught in an immediate rhetorical contradiction yesterday, between differing answers he gave when asked about hypothetically negotiating with terrorists. After declaring during the GOP debate that, on principle, he would not negotiate with terrorists, CNN’s Anderson Cooper “kept him honest” by showing a clip in which Cain suggested he would do just that in an earlier interview with Wolf Blitzer. Without mincing words, Cain immediately owned the apparent gaffe, saying “I misspoke.”

CNN’s most recent iteration of the greatest reality show on earth, aka the 2012 GOP Presidential debate series, introduced some debate topics of yesteryear. One of the classics brought up was the notion of “negotiating with terrorists,” which was brought to light by a recent story of Israel swapped over a thousand prisoners for one captive Israeli soldier. It was at this point that Cain averred that he would never negotiate with terrorists.

But earlier in the day, Cain sat down with Blitzer and was asked about the recent story of Israel swapping over 1,000 prisoners for one Israeli soldier. Cain admitted that he would probably do a similar thing in the hypothetical situation presented by the CNN host. It was this clip that was shown to Cain, who quickly jumped on the apparent incongruity.

“I misspoke,” Cain told Cooper immediately following theLas Vegas debate, adding “because I didn’t, you know, things are moving so fast, I misspoke. I would not do that, I simply would not do that.”

It was an quick and candid admission of a seemingly honest mistake, and perhaps another example why Cain is doing so well in the polls. Watch the clip below, courtesy of CNN:

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  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_M5V6VTQAVLARF7XXO47Z5OCZWM TangledThorns

    I like Cain and because of his honesty when making a mistake is why he has most of my support of the bunch.

  • Anonymous

    Since Cain is a novice at politics, he gets a few mistakes but he needs to clean up his positions

  • I May Be Retarded

    Not A Real Black Man !!!

  • I May Be Retarded

    Godfather Of Krappy Pizza !!

  • Anonymous

    Yawn!

  • Anonymous

    He was just joking. It was a joke. Why can’t people tell that when he says something that seems like a problem ,….he was only kidding.

    Did he mention that about his confusion of the 1st amendment yet?

  • Anonymous

    Don’t be ashamed Mr.Cain, RR also negotiated with the ‘Terrorist State’. 

  • NadePaulKuciGravMcKi

    Herman Cain makes a perfect Neocon Puppet
    former Federal Reserve Bank Chairman of KC

    needs OTJ training
     

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    I shouldn’t worry about it Herb. Raygun negotiated with terrorists. W had a hands-off policy with regard to terrorists, or so it would seem. You’re in company. Not necessarily good company, but company nonetheless. I’m sure you’ll do much better at next weeks Teapublican “Fo’orn” Policy Feeding Frenzy. Besides, you need to try to figure out what your 9-9-9 plan is.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1572984371 Cindy Nowicki

    What exactly IS a “real” black man, in your opinion?

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    You don’t understand what Herb said. You’re mixing apples and oranges.

  • ceeza

    As Herman Cain Cindy.. He’s the fool that said it..  

  • ceeza

    *Ask

  • ceeza

    You baggers troll threads with Obama saying 57 states daily… Then Herb “misspeaks” about serious domestic and foreign policy positions daily and you say it’s all good… Me no understand your supposed “principles” hobbits ..

  • Anonymous

    He’s supposed to get points for suddenly flip-flopping? He understood perfectly, and he gave his answer. It’s only a problem because his answer deviated from the typical right wing script. Now he has to realign his principles accordingly. I guess CAIN is not as free on the other side as he would have you believe. He should probably stop with the plantation rhetoric now, but he won’t.

    Why does he say “maybe” I misunderstood the question. He also said he maybe had a sick relative that kept him from participating in the civil rights movement. It’s like he wants to use a flimsy excuse but doesn’t want to fully commit to it, because he knows he’ll be called out after some fact checking. You either had a sick relative that kept you from participating or you didn’t. You either misunderstood the question or you didn’t. There’s no reason to speculate on your own motives unless “maybe” you want to hide them.  

  • Exgoper

    Bingo!

  • Anonymous

    Mr Cain begins to find vaulting over political questions and objects isn’t as easy as saying ‘I’m Walnut Ice Cream and repeating the catchphrase 9-9-9. 

    As you say, ‘I Misspoke.’ 

    Isn’t it nice that everyone gives you a pass. In real politics however, the situations and circumstance are not quite so forgiving. Repercussions are very real and cost a great deal more.

    …I’m sure your still top of the Republican pile and can expect enough of the votes to garner that Nomination. Keep the bombast going, don’t sweat, because ‘they’re all right behind you…’

    …Sing the tunes and don’t look back like Orpheus!

  • http://twitter.com/maynardbrainard Jeremy Brainard

    That was beyond entertaining.

    I loved almost every minute of the debate last night.  Ron Paul was the only one who wasn’t babbling utter nonsense every time he had the floor.  Fitting, since he’s the only one out of the bunch that I have one iota of respect for.

    But that’s an apple.

  • Anonymous

    Nice try Colby…..you cant cover 4 Cain even though his campain probally pays you too….we heard cain speak…cain was clearly trying to support Netenyahoo and the decision he made…he even said as much..its because wingnuts like Cain love isreal more than they do this country…oh colby you failed to mention what paul said about your conservative hero Ronald Reagen negociating and exchanging Weapons for Hostages with IRAN….the country you wingnuts now want to declare war on

  • http://twitter.com/maynardbrainard Jeremy Brainard

    …But, but he’s a Tea Party candidate!  They’re unflappable!  They’re drastically different from the “establishment,” right? Right, guys?

  • http://twitter.com/maynardbrainard Jeremy Brainard

    Yes, yawn away at your beloved Tea Party candidate turning into a mainstream republican before your very eyes.  While I was watching his response when confronted about his initial answer, the fear in his eyes told me everything I already knew.  He’ll tow the party line.

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    I think Herb Cain was trying to say if the great Ronald Reagan could negotiate with terrorists during the Iran hostage taking, why can’t he!! Maybe Herb will try to negotiate with Al Qaeda and end the war on terrorism??

  • Chayal Boded

    More like negotiate with the various N. Korea, Cuba, China, etc, etc, on how we can exchange you LLLs for honest, hardworking folk who would appreciate personal liberty and opportunity.

  • shonangreg

    So, if Cain is a novice at politics, why is he running for President now? Maybe he should spend the next four years actually reading more than three pages and learn to say something other than “9-9-9″ and “apples and oranges”, then he could try to compete with Chris Christie in 2012.

    But I think Cain is like Palin and Bachmann. They may each have some set of talents, but they’re all wack-o and should be kept away from firearms and heavy machinery.

  • shonangreg

    Spot on. Misspeaking is Obama referring to “all 57 states” and Palin “our North Korean allies”. We know the words just came out wrong. But saying he would negotiate with terrorists, then saying he wouldn’t? That is not misspeaking; that is mis-thinking, and Cain seems to do a lot of that.

    Here is my favorite example of misspeaking. From Kids In The Hall — When Death Comes To Town. The bumbling lawyer straightens up scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4e7uXv-tLo

  • Anonymous

    Herb has been doing a lot of misspeaking/lying lately.

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    So you saying, not only will Herb negotiate with Iran, but Herb will negotiate with N. Korea, Cuba and China too??

    I see how the circle works: Herb Cain – Koch brothers – Iran – Koch Brothers - Herb Cain!! One big happy family… right??

  • joe

    mistakes being–he keeps retracting what he said before—and then going back saying that is what he meant?

     i love how the gop always makes excuses for their incompetance–but love to exploit everyone elses..

    or even better—is when cons use ignorance as a badge of honor of being ‘one of you’ and if you have an education and know about things? you are an elitist…
    ya baby~

  • joe

    you sure that was not mixing cheese and pepperoni?>

  • http://twitter.com/maynardbrainard Jeremy Brainard

    +1 for the Kids in the Hall link.  :)

  • http://twitter.com/maynardbrainard Jeremy Brainard

    Don’t you dare speak contradictory of the King of Kings – Lord Reagan.  May he strike you down for that.

  • Moosenuts99

    If Cain knew what NeoConservatism was… LOL!!!

  • Moosenuts99

    I think I’d like that elitist mechanic working on my car instead of the dope who has never changed his oil

  • Anonymous

    Cain is a businessman and he is new to the race so I will give him a few passes. Comparing him to Bachmann and Palin is totally wrong. Cain has a great demeanor and business accumen, Palin and Bachmann have no talents that I could see. Compared to Perry, Bachamann, Johnsonand Palin he is more talented then all put together. That being said I do not think he would win the nomination.

  • Anonymous

    Cain is going to make mistakes and against most of this field he is more qualified to be President then say Bachmann, Perry, Johnson. Not sure how you get that I am exploiting which I assume you to mean Obama’s mistakes, or using it as badge of honor. Do you see that anywhere in my post.
    Please note Joe, no one is going to consider you an elitist, so you should sleep well tonight

  • FreeMike

    He only has himself to blame

  • Anonymous

    ha, what an arrogant man! He discredits everyone elses analysis, and won’t even debate the plan, just sends you to his website!

    Cop out!

  • Anonymous

    ya, and debate the specifics of his plan, instead of just saying everyone else is wrong!

  • Anonymous

    or he’ll just say your wrong, and invite you to his website during a DEBATE to tell you why.. lol

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