# Is Cain's popularity because of his low name recognition? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 28, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586 "2011-05-28T18:07:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/21 "2011-05-31T20:53:43Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In particular, of course, we have to consider race. There are still a very large number of Republicans who would never support a black candidate. But since most of them haven’t yet heard of Herman Cain, they don’t yet know that he’s black. And even of those who have heard of them, at least some of them will only know of him from print lists of candidates and their positions, or the like, and might still not realize that he’s black. Once folks start realizing his race, any of the racist contingent that’s now saying they favor him will drop out of his camp. IOW, in the face of facts at odds with your prejudice (Republicans who know Cain like him very much, and he’s especially popular with the grassroots, the conservative base, and southerners ) … you doggedly hold on to the prejudice. Keep fucking that chicken, I guess. The GOP base has not been happy with the GOP leadership for a long time. Cain is not a politician, he is not beholden to the party establishment, and he carries the image of a guy who says what he thinks. They want someone with economic credentials. Cain’s a former CEO. They’re tired of asshats who like to cast Republicans as perforce racists. Cain gives them a chance to vote for a right-wing black guy. And it’s still early enough that the whole thing is hazily theoretical, and his ignorance of foreign policy issues and inability to articulate policy specifics are overlookable. That will change. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/22 "2011-05-31T21:08:05Z")
[There’s also his inability to distinguish between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGyymtped8) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/23 "2011-05-31T22:20:48Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > I did. Rowr. Well, given that Romney is more conservative than Romney, I understand your confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/24 "2011-06-01T00:00:31Z")
And of course we must consider possible Republican strategy to siphon off some of the black vote. Every little bit helps, especially when Obama’s loss is Cain’s gain. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/25 "2011-06-01T00:09:08Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > And of course we must consider possible Republican strategy to siphon off some of the black vote. Every little bit helps, especially when Obama’s loss is Cain’s gain. I think if Cain somehow gets the Republican nomination (IMO the possibility of that is between zero and five percent), he will in fact get a lot of black votes. Not because he is black, but because there are a lot of conservative blacks out there who vote for Democrats because they believe Republicans are racist. Cain being nominated might reduce their aversion to voting for a conservative who is probably also a racist. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/26 "2011-06-01T00:09:38Z")
For anyone who has seen/heard him, he projects a very “strong” presence, very male and authoritarian. Frankly, many of the other male GOP candidates are kinda’ milk-toasty. They don’t have that “leader” vibe. Cain carries that off. IMHO that resonates with a lot of the GOP base. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/27 "2011-06-01T16:46:05Z")
He orates like a preacher. That appeals to many. The Repubs have a crowded field of midgets. They have no towering statesman who can rally the masses. They are picking among a field of small timey pols and Gingrich and Romney, who are has beens. They have an enormous amount of money and news power to throw in back of the pick, but will they do it if they recognize the pick is a loser? Will the Repubs put up a token defense this cycle while trying to groom a good candidate for the next one? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/28 "2011-06-01T19:38:26Z")
Quoth **furt** : > [@](#): > > IOW, in the face of facts at odds with your prejudice (Republicans who know Cain like him very much, and he’s especially popular with the grassroots, the conservative base, and southerners ) … you doggedly hold on to the prejudice. Wait, you think that there’s even a shadow of a doubt that many Republicans are racists? Do I also need to cite that the sky is blue or that water is wet? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/29 "2011-06-01T19:53:14Z")
Many Democrats/liberals are bigots as well. Know a few of 'em myself. Sure, they talk a good game, but then let them get mad at a black person or have a family member start to date a black person, and the n-word starts to fly. I thought this board was opposed to stereotypes. Oddly enough, this philosophy doesn’t seem to apply when directed at the right. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/30 "2011-06-01T21:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Many Democrats/liberals are bigots as well. Know a few of 'em myself. Sure, they talk a good game, but then let them get mad at a black person or have a family member start to date a black person, and the n-word starts to fly. Yes, and I don’t think anyone denies that this hurt Obama in the primaries. The relevant question, though, is the relative proportions. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/31 "2011-06-01T21:30:12Z")
Bigots are bigots, no matter the party label. I don’t think it was controversial to point out that this hurt Obama in some areas, nor to point out that it will hurt Cain in some places. Either way, as far as I can tell he’s just the latest empty vessel in which to pour Tea Party favor (for those that have written off Palin) - Trump, Gingrich, now Cain. Eventually they’ll end up with Romney or Pawlenty. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/32 "2011-06-01T22:38:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, and I don’t think anyone denies that this hurt Obama in the primaries. The relevant question, though, is the relative proportions. Trouble is, relative proportions never seem to get mentioned. It’s always Republicans=racist; Democrats=non-racist. In my opinion, the true proportions aren’t that far off. My own belief is that there are far fewer racist Republicans than people would have you believe, and far more Democrat racists than people would have you believe. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/33 "2011-06-01T22:48:44Z")
Perhaps, but there are so many more overt racists in positions of power within the Republican Party. If nothing else, the party has to do a whole lot more than it has to stop the public manifestations of it. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/34 "2011-06-01T23:28:15Z")
Well, I think first of all you’d have to define those in positions of “power”, and then you’d have to define “racist”. For forty years or more I’ve heard people called racist for things that have nothing to do with their feelings or beliefs regarding race. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/35 "2011-06-01T23:52:47Z")
How about we simply define every word in the dictionary to suit you, and when we’ve done that (or when the sun burns out, whichever comes first) then we may be permitted to discuss the essential nature of the Republican Party? Or just “never”? Would “Never” be too soon for you? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/36 "2011-06-02T00:27:47Z")
When a significantly large percentage of southern Republicans are still against racially mixed marriages, I am not even slighly pre-disposed to believe that there are “fewer racist Republicans than you would believe”. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/37 "2011-06-02T00:35:35Z")
I wonder how many of your enlightened southern Democrats would be perfectly happy to have a family member date or marry someone who is black. My experience has been that with regard to race, Democrats often talk one way and behave another. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/38 "2011-06-02T01:07:05Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Perhaps, but there are so many more overt racists in positions of power within the Republican Party. If nothing else, the party has to do a whole lot more than it has to stop the public manifestations of it. Really? “Overt racists,” as in “not concealed or secret” meaning they openly admit that they are racists? Or just as in “they say things that I dislike, and I choose to ascribe racism to them.” Please, name some of these “many” people in “positions of power.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/39 "2011-06-02T01:07:24Z")
OK, **Starving** , how many folks show up to Democratic rallies carrying signs with racial slurs on them? How many Democrats are so convinced that the President of the United States isn’t a “real American” that they have to invent an insane conspiracy theory that he was born in Kenya? Feel free to give examples. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586/40 "2011-06-02T01:07:47Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I wonder how many of your enlightened southern Democrats would be perfectly happy to have a family member date or marry someone who is black. > > My experience has been that with regard to race, Democrats often talk one way and behave another. So Republicans are better because they talk AND behave racist? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cains-popularity-because-of-his-low-name-recognition/583586.md?page=3)