Herman Cain On Occupy Wall Street: 'If You Don't Have A Job And You're Not Rich, Blame Yourself' (VIDEO)

Businessman-turned-GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain sat down with the Wall Street Journal for a recent interview and gave an unsympathetic analysis of the ongoing Occupy Wall Street movement, suggesting it was staged and driven by "anti-capitalism."

Asked by the Journal's Alan Murray about his thoughts on the demonstrations, which initially began in New York City and have since spread around the country, Cain responded:

"I don't have facts to back this up, but I happen to believe that these demonstrations are planned and orchestrated to distract from the failed policies of the Obama administration. Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks, if you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself! ... It is not a person's fault if they succeeded, it is a person's fault if they failed."

Cain went on to admit that the banks had something to do with the economic crisis of 2008, but pointed out that it was now 2011, seemingly downplaying any lasting effects of the practices of big banks and Wall Street.

Occupy Wall Street, a self-professed progressive movement, has broadened its efforts in the past week, putting concerns with too-big-to-fail banks, widening income inequality and rampant unemployment on center stage.

You can follow the latest developments from the Occupy Wall Street protests on our live blog.

At top, a clip of the Wall Street Journal interview with Cain via Think Progress.

 

Comments

[Reba Latimer]

07:00 PM on 10/28/2011

I did think Cain was funny,now I am just angry at him.While it may be debatable whether these
protesters are well-meaning and -or misguided,they cannot be ignored.the message they are tryin
to convey may not be clear because of the lack of specific demands and identified leaders,but one
thing is clear.people are hurting.the bottom 99% is tired of being ruled or abused by the top 1%
as to whether they should be taken seriously when so many of us are unable to find work and
make a decent living,the rest of us should be concerned.

[Hasan Bhatti]

12:11 PM on 10/13/2011

Herman Cain-- if you'd like to know why Occupy Wall Street is going down, please talk to one of us instead of assuming we stand for nothing but getting a job. There's a little bit more to it than that (understatement of the year). I'm sure we could have a nice educated conversational dialogue if we spoke to each other over a cup a tea.

[Joy McVey]

10:50 AM on 10/13/2011

Why is it that nearly every GOP candidate I've listened to, now and back in 2008 and since, has taken to regurgitating conspiracy theories and outright falsehoods wrapped in supposition? I swear the stupidity and ignorance in politics is astounding at times.

[MrAF]

01:25 PM on 10/12/2011

What an arrogant guy. Not everybody wants to be rich and some companies just lay people off because they don't want them to be eligible for retirement or other reasons. People are concerned about freedom from government, once that is accomplished we can start talking about placing blame on individuals or families for their own problems. Ron Paul believes in personal responsibility but he doesn't believe we have a fair chance with an empire government. This Cain guy is an empty suit, another insider like Obama.

[matthew301913378]

07:41 PM on 10/09/2011

Herman Cain, some of us don't actually want to be rich. Some of us just want to be happy, without it causing collateral misery to millions of other people.

http://agalltyr.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/being-rich-should-be-illegal/

[Randy1949]

01:20 AM on 10/09/2011

"I don't have the facts to back this up, but I happen to believe . . ."

Yes, this is the sort of man we want leading the country. Why let facts get in the way of beliefs?

[CAELadyJane50]

12:43 AM on 10/09/2011

Cain is way too inexperienced to be president. He doesn't realize that not everybody is cut out to be a business owner. That is like expecting everybody to be a doctor or a lawyer, he is just too unrealistic in his views.

[RepublicanDepression]

06:18 PM on 10/08/2011

Cain: "Don't blame Wall Street, don't blame the big banks, if you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself!

Let's see. The "job creators" that Cain and the Republican¬s worship are not creating jobs despite sitting on mountains of cash from record profits.

So there are not enough jobs for the people who want jobs.

But it's the fault of the people who don't have the jobs for not having a job that doesn't exist.

Thanks for clearing that up, Cain. And thanks for clearing up why you will never be president.

[Alexandra Smith]

12:36 PM on 10/08/2011

I thought he wanted us to blame Obama.

[ZeraLee]

04:48 AM on 10/08/2011

Cain's contempt for grassroots America is disturbing. Someone who has so little regard for so much of America does not deserve to lead it.

[From Online]

01:13 AM on 10/08/2011

Dear Herman Cain: What a completely simplistic and, frankly, stupid
view you have. Why am I not surprised that those comments came from the mouth
of a Republican businessman? You and Fleming should probably bounce
your kooky beliefs off someone before you go on TV and say such idiotic
stuff. I, along with millions of others in this country, am working hard.
For some reason, though, I'm not getting rich; maybe it's because my
employer slashed my pay, first by 24% and then again by 9%. Now I,
and all of my fellow workers, are laid off. But, you're right: I'm just a
lazy moocher who's trying to live off of your coattails as you and your
fellow "richies" pay less income tax than I do. Thank you, Herman; thank
you for telling me what my real problem is (that I'm somehow not working
hard enough yet). Thank you also for providing the American dream to your
many minimum-wage-earning pizza laborers and pizza delivery drivers. I'm
sure they will all readily attest to how fast they're going to get rich in the
exceptionally well-paying jobs you've provided them with. No time at all now
before their pizza delivery trucks will be parked next to you and your "richies'"
luxury cars at the country club. And, Herman, a final thank you: Thank you
for showing, yet again, why I can never take a Republican in this country seriously.
The arrogance and hypocrisy of your comments are truly staggering.

[Rory07]

11:33 PM on 10/07/2011

Herman Cain said today, “If you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself! ... It is not a person's fault if they succeeded; it is a person's fault if they failed." I heard today that there are five applicants for every job. I guess he would say the other four are just failures. I remember telling my friend Meghan who was upset at her job, it is just what you do it is not who you are. I know many people do define themselves by what they do for a living. My friend Ernie is a retired cop, my friend Cherish is a firefighter. At the same time I have dozens of friends who have lost their jobs. Many of the people I know were laid-off or “right-sized” when their job was shipped overseas. My friend Vicky has taught Marine Biology at a North Florida High School for thirty years. In December she is being forced to retire. They are cutting funds so severely that she will not even be permitted to finish the school year. I would like Mr. Cain to explain to her how teaching children for thirty years means she is a failure. She is not rich in dollars but I can imagine if memories were wealth thousands of children who have learned what she knows would call Mr. Cain a failure and a liar to boot.

[Loulou72]

10:39 PM on 10/07/2011

Herman Cain is proudly "old school".... where people pulled themselves up by the boot-straps and took responsibility for their achievements, or lack thereof. That's where he was coming from. No one disputes that the job situation, currently, in this ongoing recession is extraordinary and no one faults those who have been laid off, etc. and are unable to find employment. No doubt about it. But, let's admit that there are those who could have done better, but oh, isn't it just so much easier to live off the system? We make our choices.

[From Online]

01:18 AM on 10/08/2011

Yes, and also "old school" is the belief that you go to college, get a job, buy a house,
put money away for retirement, and live comfortably until you pass on. I'd like to
hear Mr. Cain address the "new reality:" banks worked the system to get even
richer and shot everyone's retirements in the foot, they got bailed out with our money
to prevent financial catastrophe and then didn't lend the money, people with years
and years of experience have been unemployed for months because businesses
are hoarding cash instead of hiring, millions have had to delay retirement, if they can
retire, because they can barely get by anymore. If the best he has to offer this country is his "old school" beliefs, then he clearly is not up to being President in the "new reality."

[dcainedwr]

01:32 PM on 10/08/2011

"Old School"? Really?

Like: "Black Folks Cannot Attempt To Vote Without Being Beaten" Old School?

Who does Herman Cain thank for the fact that he was afforded an opportunity to become a big shot businessman and a Presidential hopeful? Perhaps he thanks ... I dunno ... the banks?

Mr Cain's financial success rests (in part) on his natural abilities and, in large part, on the shoulders of Progressive, left-leaning, American citizens who quite often put aside their own greed and moved toward equality.

I don't think I've felt as insulted and marginalized by a politician since Michelle Bachmann started opening her funky mouth...

[Loulou72]

02:45 PM on 10/08/2011

Good response. I do believe, however, that Herman Cain understands the new realities perfectly. Barring the elderly who are really "taking it in the shorts".... the younger crowd can take some initiative; things change. My son was doing very well in real estate. Now? He delivers hay and hauls scrap metal; whatever it takes to make ends meet. We're all in the same boat. And, a question: Did not the government mandate banks to make loans to low income families, regardless of credit and/or proof of abililty to assume such debt? Even in this regard "we make our choices".

[Steve1961]

06:38 PM on 10/07/2011

Cain (or someone like him) is your best chance that in 20 years, most of you won't be stacked 10-deep in newly-built, government subsidized, energy-efficient modules. I mean "apartments" if you want to call them that. There is no recovering from what is happening unless a deal is made with corporations. A two-way deal.

[wilray]

02:19 PM on 10/07/2011

Herman Cain says you don't have a job blame yourself. Don't expect this to remain. Blaming yourself doesn't help him get into the White House. Just watch for it. Watch for when Cain says, if you don't have a job blame Obama and the Democrats. Teabaggers are not blaming themselves for the jobs situation; they are blaming Obama. Yet, they are liking Cain. So that makes no sense; they are saying you are to blame, yet Obama is to blame. Which is it? They fix the blame on anyone but the businesses who outsourced jobs offshore and threw people out of work. See, you can't argue with stupid.