ABC's GMA Welcomes Cain to Top Tier With Embarrassing Video
By Matt Hadro | October 13, 2011 | 12:33
ABC's Good Morning America welcomed Herman Cain to the top tier of the Republican presidential field on Thursday with a video of him being stumped by a New Hampshire voter over whether or not there was a sales tax in the state.
Co-host George Stephanopoulos reported that "Pizza mogul Herman Cain" was "now at the top of the pack," according to a new poll, and ABC News White House correspondent Jake Tapper affirmed Cain's status as top-dog in a "very, very volatile Republican race." Then Tapper ran a segment which began with a gaffe from Cain. [Video below the break. Click here for audio.]
"Cain seemed caught unaware," Tapper noted of the candidate's being questioned by a New Hampshire voter over his tax plan, which would include a nationwide sales tax – something New Hampshire doesn't have. The voter had to correct Cain on that matter, as he seemed ignorant of the fact.
ABC's reporting on Cain's gaffe can be contrasted with media ignorance of then-candidate Barack Obama's slip-up in May of 2008, where he told an Oregon audience that he had campaigned in 57 states.
What did not appear on GMA was something that Tapper has reported on and even pressed the White House about – but which has not yet been reported on television by ABC News.
Obama's 2012 campaign manager had said in an e-mail that Republicans wanted to block the President's jobs bill because "Their strategy is to suffocate the economy for the sake of what they think will be a political victory." Tapper blogged about this on ABCNews.com, noting tongue-in-cheek that it was "Not quite in keeping with the president’s post-Tucson plea for a new tone, but we’re probably way past that."
Tapper followed that blog up the next day with a question to White House press secretary Jay Carney about the comments. However, ABC News has yet to broadcast anything about the remarks.
The bit of Obama news that did make it onto GMA was quite positive. Tapper rounded out the his segment by touting President Obama's impressive fundraising numbers for the last quarter. "The Obama campaign has reported $42.8 million have been raised in the final quarter, putting them far ahead of anyone in the Republican pack," Tapper reported.
A transcript of the segment, which aired on October 13 at 7:06 a.m. EDT, is as follows:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay we're going to turn now to politics, "Your Voice Your Vote." And the latest candidate to excite the Tea Party is now at the top of the pack. Pizza mogul Herman Cain has now edged ahead of Mitt Romney in at least one major national poll. Does he have staying power, or will he be the next GOP phenom to fade in the spotlight? ABC's Jake Tapper has more on this from Washington. Jake, we knew Cain had momentum, but I was surprised to see just how much.
JAKE TAPPER, ABC News White House correspondent: That's right, George. This poll is absolutely stunning. In this brand new poll Cain leads the pack with 27 percent, Romney holding steady in the low 20's, at his heels with 23 percent. Rick Perry has plummeted, he only has 16 percent. George, this is a very, very volatile Republican race.
(Video Clip)
TAPPER: (voice-over) Meet the new Republican front-runner –
HERMAN CAIN, GOP presidential candidate: Herman Cain.
TAPPER: At a diner in New Hampshire, a voter confronted Cain about one of the reasons for his popularity, his catchy "999" tax plan, a flat rate of 9 percent for income and corporate tax, and a new 9 percent sales tax. Cain seemed caught unaware.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: I'll tell you, in New Hampshire people don't like sales tax.
CAIN: I know.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: You say the word "sales tax" in New Hampshire and it's a –
CAIN: Understand. But don't confuse the New Hampshire sales tax with this. Because you're going to have to pay that anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: New Hampshire doesn't have a sales tax.
CAIN: Well –
MITT ROMNEY, Republican presidential candidate: I'm still – I'm still speaking.
TAPPER: But instead of pushing back on Cain, Mitt Romney is focusing much of his attention on Rick Perry, figuring the Texas governor ultimately will be the tougher challenger.
LAURA INGRAHAM, radio talk show host: Governor Mitt Romney, on the Laura Ingraham Show. A lot more to get –
TAPPER: On the Laura Ingraham Radio Show, Romney continued to take umbrage with Rick Perry's refusal to denounce –
Pastor ROBERT JEFFRESS: Rick Perry!
TAPPER: – a prominent supporter who introduced Perry and suggested Romney, a Mormon, is not a true Christian. And –
JEFFRESS: Mormonism is a cult –
ROMNEY: I think that's just the wrong direction for the country, and not within the spirit of our nation's heritage.
TAPPER: Perry says he does not believe Mormonism is a cult, but he's refused to go any further, feeding criticism he's tolerant of the intolerant.
The question for Romney is whether instead of continuing to assail Perry for the pastor's comments, he needs to start focusing more on Cain. Or is Cain just another flavor of the week at the Republican Baskin Robbins? Like Perry, or Michelle Bachmann, or Donald Trump, Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, and on and on. Cain insists he's not.
CAIN: No, because there's a difference between the flavor of the week and Haagen Dazs Black Walnut, because it tastes good all the time.
(End Video Clip)
TAPPER: For its part, the Obama campaign held a conference call in which senior advisor David Axelrod attacked Mitt Romney, saying that the Republican challengers were not doing a good enough job.
And George, some other breaking news. The Obama campaign has reported $42.8 million have been raised in the final quarter, putting them far ahead of anyone in the Republican pack. George?
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Comments
Nope. No liberal media bias
Submitted by lotr on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 12:44pm.
Nope. No liberal media bias there.
Comments from the NB resident liberal apologists?
bringing up extraneous points is "giving a lesson".
Submitted by kata on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 1:23pm.
“Don’t make that mistake,” Cain told the reporter. “The state taxes aren’t in this at all. You’re going to pay the state taxes no matter what structure we have. You’re going to pay the state taxes under the old structure or you’re not going to pay state taxes, whatever the case may be, with or without it.”
“That only clouds the conversation,” he added.
from Michael Falcone's ABC Blog.
I am not completely sold on this plan. I think that it reaches beyond what an average American would initially be comfortable with and unless we have a complete change of the establishment on Capitol Hill, it has a snowball's chance in h*** of passing.
I think change should start with closing the tax loopholes, yank them out by their roots. Then remove every wasteful bit of the executive branch that he can. Work on the things that an average person can fully understand and get behind.
When the US Govt's footprint is reduced and a more accurate picture is presented regarding the true dollar amount needed to run it - then figure out how to change that loophole free structure into a more flat tax. I know Mr Cain is trying to move slowly to a flat tax but I don't think this is slow enough. The pushback from people who are easily misled will be large and the "it's for your own good" thing was tried by the left and look where it got them.
Loophole
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 5:07pm.
I hear lefties talk about "loopholes" all the time, but never get any clarity on what exactly is a loophole. Is the mortgage deduction a "loophole"? If I'm legally blind, is that a loophole?
What, in your opinion, is a loophole?
The reason I ask is because the word "loophole" sounds like people are figuring out ways to game the system, instead of just taking their allowed deductions.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
see that's the hard part
Submitted by kata on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 8:00pm.
I've only done our personal taxes so this is only an observation based on what I've read and experienced -- which I will fully admit isn't much.
As an outsider It seems to me that corporations have lobbied for a lot of tax credits but also get hit with a lot of odds and ends taxes. And who gets what credits seems to favor the industry du jour. The same thing has happened to the individual and small businesses - especially, it seems, when politicians are trying to farm for votes. So they take some taxes here and give some back elsewhere in credits - resulting in a rediculous tangle of equations. Within that tangle become perfectly legal loopholes that only an army of really good lawyers can find. And the dance of the sugarplum lawyers alone costs this country a rediculous amount of money each year.
Good answer
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 11:02pm.
Thanks kata. I wasn't trying to be confrontational or anything. I just wanted to hear your opinion.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
oh no worries
Submitted by kata on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 11:59pm.
I will be the last person to ever take offense at anything, trust me ;) I have no problem admitting when I am unfamiliar water.
I just have a sense that too much too fast at we'll be looking at another espisode of societal whiplash. I know this country is in financially deep doodle but if we can get the trajectory going the right way ... that alone would be amazing.
You mean like GE?
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 9:26am.
How about all the Union "LOOP HOLES" that give them preferential treatment on any deals negotiations and bankruptcies. Recall how preferred share holders were flushed down the toilet so Obummer could give the Unions preference when the government took over the automotive industry.
Check out all the crony capitalists in Washington, not just the "LOOP HOLES" that those GREEDY rich people have (you know the people that have made this country great). Check out how the UFT gets more and more money with less work required and rotten results. We currently are the second most funded Educational system in the world but are ranked somewhere around 22. Does that sound like money well spent?
Instead of demonizing the corporations, first look at what is going on in DC. And Cain wants to get rid of the IRS. That would save a boatload of money as well.
As far as not being completely sold, Laffer and Ryan have both approved the bill.
I see we agree
Submitted by kata on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:51am.
that's why I said "Then remove every wasteful bit of the executive branch that he can." I have not demonized corporations. I have stated clearly that government officials and legislators are picking winners and losers in industries and handing out tax breaks for the sake of votes. Just because I did not specifically mention unions, somehow means that I hold them in regard.
Methinks the hashtag in my sig is being too quickly skimmed and getting me in trouble again. :D
Here's a question for libs who think this is funny
Submitted by Marcus Porcius on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 1:43pm.
Did Obama know the sales tax in any state, including his own?
Nobody bothered to ask HIM, did they? Of course not, because it has nothing to do with being president.
Give it a rest.
"Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." G.K. Chesterton
www.theconservativereview.com
There are probably a fair number of sheeple residing...
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 1:50pm.
...in New Hampshire who couldn't answer that question, either.
-Dave
I can answer that question,
Submitted by ThisnThat on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 5:01pm.
I can answer that question, because I live in NH. But I can't tell you what the sales tax is in any other state. Probably just like hundreds of millions of other US Citizens.
It is amazing how obvious the liberal media are these days, though. Always trying to make the news, slant the news, or make up the news rather than doing their job -- of reporting the news.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
TnT,
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 8:12pm.
LOL - That's okay, as there are doltz right here in Georgia who have told me they didn't pay any federal income taxes because they got a refund check from the IRS.
-Dave
I hope they don't show this video...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 9:09pm.
...in all 57 states otherwise Cain may need to call a "Corpseman"...
Bwaaahahaha....
Submitted by ontheright on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 10:58am.
+10!
It sure does!
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:13pm.
"New Hampshire doesn't have a sales tax."
Oh, really, so the tax that the State adds to the purchase of, say, fuel is what, non-existent?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
NH doesn't have a general
Submitted by ThisnThat on Sat, 10/15/2011 - 4:32pm.
NH doesn't have a general sales tax. Want to buy a $50,000 car? A $300 suit. Need a refrigerator, washing machine, furniture? Total sales tax: zero.
There are specialty taxes and fees, though. A gas tax. Restaurant and hotel taxes. Property taxes. Excise taxes. And so on. Just like any other state. But no general sales tax.
BTW -- no income tax either. A person who makes $50,000/year pays zero state income taxes. As do people who make $1M/year.
Finally, the state is projecting a surplus this year. After we threw out all the dims in 2010 and elected overwhelming majorities in the NH House and Senate. We said "enough is enough" -- and meant it.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
Regardless of whether Cain knew NH's tax situation
Submitted by VanPastorMan on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:19pm.
he was right in saying this has nothing to do with the federal tax plan. From what I have heard from Cain food is not on the list. Also used items are not on the list either. I actually like the 999 plan because it causes poor people to actually pay federal income tax. I am one of the poor people by the way. I make 40k a year trying to raise 4 kids, with a wife who is a stay at home mother. Last year I paid no federal income tax because of deductions etc. I'm ok with the 999 plan.
Regardless of whether Cain knew NH's tax situation
Submitted by VanPastorMan on Fri, 10/14/2011 - 2:19pm.
he was right in saying this has nothing to do with the federal tax plan. From what I have heard from Cain food is not on the list. Also used items are not on the list either. I actually like the 999 plan because it causes poor people to actually pay federal income tax. I am one of the poor people by the way. I make 40k a year trying to raise 4 kids, with a wife who is a stay at home mother. Last year I paid no federal income tax because of deductions etc. I'm ok with the 999 plan.