May 21, 2011
"Herman! Herman!"
The crowd assembled at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta to witness the beginning of what was sure to be a historic campaign.
The sizable crowd resembled a large Tea Party, with the occasional Betsy Ross, Gadsden, and even Israeli flag being waved by an enthused participant. Many others carried signs with puns involving their candidate's name: "Cain is Able," "Citizen Cain," "How do you beat Obama? With a Cain!" The most interesting of these signs read "[Martin Luther] King had a dream, Cain has a plan!"
To further work up the crowd, a giant video screen played clips of the Senator's exploits, including him challenging President Clinton at a healthcare townhall, arguing with Senator Bernie Sanders on the floor of the Senate, and the positive response he received from a focus group following the first presidential debate earlier that month.
Now, the moment of truth had arrived. Once the video announcing the Senator's candidacy ended, the crowd roared as the man of the hour walked on stage. Wearing a double breasted suit, his signature gold tie (his "power color"), and transition glasses which were darkened due to the noon Atlanta sun, the Senator exuded confidence, and perhaps a twinge pf playful arrogance. Smiling broadly, he waved to the cheering crowd. "Love you," he shouted, barely audible above the crowd. "Love you all!"
And they loved him too. Beginning in 2009, a burgeoning grassroots movement in response to the President's policies had taken off, staging protests and electing candidates. This Tea Party movement swept Republicans into power everywhere from Congress to dogcatcher. With this new found momentum, they had high hopes of nominating a doctrinaire conservative to help take their country back.
However, several, includong members of Congress, had made allegations that the Tea Party was inherently racist. Cain, who was black, might be able to repute that image.
To be continued...
