Herman Cain campaigned in New Hampshire today, where he was asked to explain his child-like incoherence on international affairs. The Republican presidential candidate said knowing details isn’t important. Cain added:
“We need a leader, not a reader.”
Seriously. That’s what he said.
I’m tempted to note that reading is a prerequisite to leading, since leaders need some kind of base of information upon which to make decision. I’m also inclined to mention that no one’s asked Cain to name obscure foreign policy details that only experts would know. This week, he was asked, “Did you agree with President Obama on Libya or not?” It wasn’t a trick question or a quiz on the minutiae of international affairs, but Cain nevertheless had absolutely no idea what to say.
But never mind all of that. The real response is to note the similarities between Cain’s nonsense and “The Simpsons Movie.” Eric Kleefeld posted this clip:
For those who can’t watch clips online, the movie shows President Schwarzenegger being presented with five detailed files outlining competing options to respond to a crisis. Schwarzenegger immediately picks #3. Asked if he wanted to read the files before choosing, he explains, “I was elected to lead, not to read.”
The point of the joke, of course, was to mock George W. Bush and his role as The Decider.
Of course, Herman Cain makes George W. Bush look like Stephen Hawking.
Life imitates art imitates life.
