Leading Republican Candidate Doesn’t Know the Constitution

Why Herman Cain Has Received Little Comment in This Space

The Dismal Political Economist has hardly commented on Herman Cain’s candidacy or his 9-9-9 tax plan or even the fact that his leading in some polls for the Republican nomination for President for the 2012 election.  The reason for this is that Mr. Cain is not a serious politician, he is not a serious candidate and he is not a serious person.

The evidence is clearly presented here, in which Mr. Cain indicates that while he will not campaign for a Constitutional Amendment to ban abortion, he would sign such an Amendment if it came to his desk when he was President.

In an interview with David Brody last night, Cain said he'd sign a pro-life constitutional amendment if it crossed his desk as president.

“Yes. Yes I feel that strongly about it. If we can get the necessary support and it comes to my desk I’ll sign it," he said. "That’s all I can do. I will sign it.”

This is certain to endear Mr. Cain to anti-abortion voters, except that the President does not sign Constitutional Amendments into law.  If the Congress passes a Constitution Amendment it is sent to the states for ratification.  It does not cross the President’s desk and he does not sign it.

So the problem with Mr. Cain’s campaign is that if he were elected he would have to swear to uphold the Constitution, and since a person who does not know the Constitution could not faithfully swear to that requirement, he is not to be considered a serious candidate for the office of President.

Anyone who needs additional reasons to support that conclusion can look at any other statements by Mr. Cain.  Everything he says leads to that one judgment.  However, if one does not pay any attention to what Mr. Cain says one might be able to consider him a serious person.  For example, if one were a Conservative opinion writer for the Washington Post and one were oblivious to the actual candidate, as apparently Michael Gerson of that formerly august paper is, then one might write this.

But Republican candidates are taking a risk if they assume Cain is not a serious force in Iowa.  People will forgive some flaws in someone they like. 

No, most people will not forgive a basic lack of understanding of the Federal government in a candidate for President. Only Radical Conservatives will, however, since for them that is really not a requirement for high office.  Ideology trumps competenece.