As I think about it, I think Cain should play the race card,which I am here going to define as speaking directly to matters of race for political benefit. Specifically, He should write a speech directed at black people. In it, he should ask them: what has any Democrat ever done for you? Is this Hope thing working for you? Many people thought Obama was going to pay their mortgages, and even buy their gas for them. He of course did nothing to discourage them from this misconception.
These people are bitterly disappointed. They know they were used and lied to. Expectations were set higher than was remotely possible. Always, every year, every election, Democrats portray themselves as the champions of African Americans, but their effects are horrible. Is Philadelphia a kind and gentle city because of all the social services, and “non-racist” policies of the Demorats? Of course not.
He needs to point that the people working at the Equal Opportunity Administration, or whatever it is called, make $70,000 a year and up, with great benefits. How much of that flows to the people supposedly protected by them? None.
Black people don’t need rhetoric: they need good paying jobs. And Cain could attack this directly. What about federal tax CREDITS for corporations that create jobs in zip codes designated by their poverty rate?
He needs to tell them: look, you’ve been misled and lied to for 45 years. What do you have to show for voting Democrat? You need a job, don’t you? What has Obama done to make that happen?
Strategically, I am beginning to think that we should nominate Cain for the simple reason that most black people have quite literally never heard any rationale for voting Republican, and will give him a listen. This is why the Democrats are crapping in their pants right now. He is WAY more “black” than Obama. He grew up in a black home; Obama didn’t. He went to school with black people; Obama didn’t. He experienced real racism first hand; Obama didn’t. He has two black parents; Obama doesn’t. Cain want to Morehouse College (MLK’s Alma Mater), his wife Morris Brown College, both traditionally black colleges; Obama went to Columbia and his wife Princeton, both traditionally the destinations of pampered rich white people.
Further, Cain has not only had real, outcome oriented jobs, but has excelled at them. Obama literally has NO business experience; Cain has done little else.
This case is strong. Cain should make it. Do what the Democrats do and run it through some focus groups to work out the kinks, but I say go on the attack. That is normally my first impulse, but that is because if you are dictating the terms of the engagement, you are usually in control, and in control is a good place to be in any agonistic engagement.