Herman Cain Blames The Unemployed, GOP Debate Audience Cheers (VIDEO)

Herman Cain recently criticized the Occupy Wall Street protesters, saying, "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."

At Tuesday night's CNN debate, Cain stood by his comments -- to loud cheers from the audience.

"I still stand by my statement," he said.

"They might be frustrated with Wall Street and the bankers, but they're directing their anger at the wrong place," he added. "Wall Street didn't put in failed economic policies. Wall Street didn't spend a trillion dollars that didn't do any good. Wall Street isn't going around the country trying to sell another $450 billion. They ought to be over in front of the White House taking out their frustration."

In response, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) criticized Cain for blaming the people who have been hurt by the financial crisis through no fault of their own.

"I think Mr. Cain has blamed the victims," he said. "There's a lot of people that are victims of this business cycle. We can't blame the victims. But we also have to point -- I'd go to Washington as well as Wall Street, but I'd go over to the Federal Reserve. They create the financial bubbles."

CANDIDATES, POLITICIANS REACT TO OCCUPY WALL STREET:

 

 

Comments

[pawilliams22]

11:41 PM on 11/26/2011

An Open letter to all Presidential Candidates and the 1%,

In the past year I have applied for hundreds of positions, and have had two interviews; neither of which resulting in an offer for employment. I regularly follow up on employment opportunities and each have stated that they received hundreds of applicants for their single open position. I ask that you let that sink in for a moment. I am a spirited overachiever, and prior to one year ago, my accepting a job interview resulted in an employment offer nearly 90% of the time. Even in a down economy, I had choices.
So, tomorrow morning I will wake up early, Bathe, and try again as I have done every day for over a year along with the hundreds of other applicants that are applying for the same positions and still unemployed. Some of your comments have been truly ignorant, demeaning, and disrespectful to the very American People you want to support you. The worst part of all, your comments have been influential. Do you have a conscience, empathy, or a shred of intelligence that signals you that the things that you say are ignorant?

To Dr. Paul,

You are a good man. Unfortunately, I fear for anyone with the guts to oppose those in power. With the most heartfelt sincerity possible, thank you, and regardless of the fact that the election will probably be rigged (again), please do not stop trying.

Sincerely,

Patricia Williams
Damascus, OR

[thunder1road]

06:17 PM on 11/06/2011

Herman McCain is correct that Wall Street didn't spend a trillion dollars -- but he should have mentioned that Wall Street RECEIVED that trillion dollar bailout from the taxpayers -- most of it from Bush's TARP plan and the rest as a gift from Paulson without approval from Congress --- and they got much more that 1 trillion dollars and they have stashed the money they were supposed to circulate to revive the economy. So yes Herman --- I do blame Wall Street and I will continue to blame them as long as they rob us and use the money to purchase Congressmen and goofy Presidential candidates like "I am the Koch Brothers brother from another mother" Herman McCain.

[Allan Silliphant]

02:42 AM on 11/05/2011

Herman Cain has opened my eyes...I have been a Republican for 50 year, after seeing how
regressive the supporters of Cain are, I'm hoping to join a democratic/euro-socialism party, like the "Peace & Freedom Party", I supported prior to going to the right. In a nut shell I'm a 70 year old vet. I live on $974 a month and $16 in food stamps. These cold as Ice, middle class and rich GOP right wingers, have ZERO appreciation of what now poor veterans did by serving in the various wars, while the hard pressed middle class, got degrees, took over daddy's construction
business, farm, trucking operation or whatever. People who get shot at for America's foreign policy goals, DO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME!!!! I can;t pay the $2154 in new taxes, that Cain wants to take from the very poorest, especially vets that have risked so much. Anybody who hates the poor as some kind of evil vermin, are no friends of mine. Obama is VERY LIKABLE,
but lacks the depth now needed to save USA. Maybe, among the academics there
is somebody very wise, who could be found OUTSIDE of elective office... somebody with
fresh, practical ideas. example: Somebody who would allow a poor retired person on SS to
hustle casual light duty work to partially support themselves, up to $5000 extra without tax, once on SS. That would save my butt, ...millions in the future might like that,as well. anybody agree?

[blewvelvet]

12:36 PM on 12/06/2011

You mean it took Herman Cain for you to see it?

The war on YOU by the Republicans have been going on since Nixon!

[time2talk]

06:19 PM on 10/25/2011

I hope everybody remembers Trump's birther investigation and his subsequent claim of success in finding it was due to him when his endorsement comes around.

[Tsar Bomba]

01:54 PM on 10/22/2011

That's the kind of cheering that leads to putting people into camps and ovens.

[evahartselftlanguages]

10:07 PM on 10/21/2011

To: Presidential Candidate Herman Cain 2012

I'm Eva Hart from the Coffee Party a Democrat

Frankly no one checks the local neighborhoods to know what the grievous job problems are. Thus abandoning and leaving the American in the gutter of despair. Hear anyone talk about companies not giving name and address in SFC Chronicle so needed money to send job faxes. You know GA poor don't get much money. No one talks of companies either having no restroom or charging money to use restrooms in San Francisco. I quit evil bad jobs and I have decency and manners and just to go job seeking will not go on the street. Thus awfully trapped from
finding a job for years as no one would help me many Democrats and Republicans both even up till now. No one talks of you cannot leave job resume at a business in Sfc too and must have appt .This costs money too. They gave money grudgingly and gave meager little money to Welfare people by Dr. Elliot Liebow,noted Jewish Anthropologist,'93 Tell Them Who I Am. On Amazon.com bookstore.

Mr. Cain, people are unemployed
because the Rich and not rich do not
decently uphold Human Rights! If Google cities' food,shelter web not much food can't even move. Eva Hart. A Christian

[evahartselftlanguages]

11:30 PM on 10/21/2011

An example of cities not having much and I mean seriously not much food is if you Google SF Free Eats chart or Miami,Florida you will see very little food and shelter resources.

I have been emailing back and forth with Michael Manning owner of a food and shelter website where he states shelters have long waiting lists and Miami,Florida shelters 3 days usually and 2 weeks. homelessshelterdirectory.org. Gotten worse since my 1997 scarce food, shelter resources in US Report where Miami shelters 3 weeks back then. I called shelter staff and yes 3 weeks
stay only. I hope for a kind and decent America you will Google these cities of not much food,shelter and put here. Also to spread the word so people will be enlightened and aware
to give food and safe shelter to others
to live. It is hard to condense humane and Human Rights issues so please
read the above articles still. The song
Take These Chains From My Heart
And Set Me Free For You No Longer
Care For Me can be changed to Care
For People So No One Goes Hungry
Anymore. Eva Hart. Glory to God and Jesus for using me to help others.

[evahartselftlanguages]

12:01 PM on 10/22/2011

To: Pres. Candidate H. Cain. Continued

This no restroom at businesses to use here in San Francisco problem,etc. was around 1997 when I was trying to find a jib. If you ignore this case of mine as you have done before God will surely be your Judge! Eva Hart

[evahartselftlanguages]

12:43 PM on 10/22/2011

To: Pres. Candidate H. Cain 2012

Let me clarify the fact that I mean the people not Mr. H. Cain when I mention my case got ignored and no one did anything about it as job,no restroom at businesses problems,etc. I wish to be honest here of course. Eva Hart

[evahartselftlanguages]

09:34 PM on 10/21/2011

To: Presidential Candidate Herman Cain 2012

Rev Thomas Hooker breaking away from Established Church in England found Religious Freem in America. He helps found the greastest principle of all that every man have an Equal Chance and Opportunity for Life. The men in his congregation complained to him that there was not enough pasture for their sheep and cattle to earn a living thus they went to Hartford,Connecticut to further their survival. V. Devereaux America' Own Story. Mr. Cain it was humble men and women who enhanced our Freedoms in the American Revolution and demonstrations throughout history. It was common folk who bravely fought for Human Rights not only rich Corporations. In a Democracy both
employer and employee have Rights. The employer invests
money and employee should get decent wages. Both should
try to understand each other. Devereaux 63 The
Government of a Free Nation. Eva Hart An American

[evahartselftlanguages]

10:42 PM on 10/21/2011

It is that Rev. Thomas Hooker helped establish Religious Freedom in America and Equal Chance and Opportunity for Every Man in America for Freedom and Survival. Eva Hart Of the Coffee Party a Warm and Considerate Party not the Iced Tea Party of Some of Republicans of
Today Eva Hart. A Christian and A Democrat

[evahartselftlanguages]

10:52 PM on 10/21/2011

Again let me add that Rev. Thomas Hooker gave to us the Greatest Principle of All that every man have an Equal Chance and Opportunity for Human Rights and Freedoms. Note the men in his congregation wanted to earn a living for their families and moved to and built Hartford,Connecticut to have an Equal Opportunity and Chance for Human Rights. Thus it is Decency and Democracy to have these Rights. Demos=People. Crates=Rule. Eva Hart. Of the Coffee Party

[John Doodledo]

08:44 PM on 10/21/2011

Al Sharpton is there at the court, the public forum. And he cant do it alone anymore. I am saying that he is probably the best therapist.

[John Doodledo]

08:23 PM on 10/21/2011

hey, why is it that you cant find a lawyer to sue another lawyer, but, its easy for a politician to dismiss another politician? In matters of law, a lawyer's ethical conduct should be brought into question too. Boy, this makes things sticky.

[time2talk]

06:15 PM on 10/25/2011

The GOP/TP are doing a good job of wearing their candidate, Mitt Romney, out. This is good, because now, while they're self-detonating, Obama can take his plan to the American people.

[Ron D]

08:01 PM on 10/21/2011

What few jobs there is doesent pay enough to pay your utility bills at alone feed you or pay your house note or anything else

[Q45]

05:30 PM on 10/21/2011

Cain is SP in drag, from vocabulary, outlandish and shocking remarks, base pandering, insults, obdurate, book selling, PAC, etc.

[time2talk]

06:16 PM on 10/25/2011

He's a nonentity. What makes their race even stranger is that he's leading.

[Q45]

12:31 AM on 10/26/2011

He's leading because he serves their need.

Their ilk believes in the old southern strategy, divide and conquer, as in splitting the black vote and this is their main goal.

[elfish]

04:20 PM on 10/21/2011

test: korea

[elfish]

04:20 PM on 10/21/2011

test: nytimes

[Corban]

03:55 PM on 10/21/2011

I would love to see Herman Cain get on a soapbox right now in the middle of Wall Street and make these same remarks. See if he gets the same amount of applause and if 99% of America agrees with him instead of a group of select individuals at a GOP rally. If he really stands by his remarks and honestly believes in what he says, go to NYC and address those who are going to vote for the next president.

[scorpiascorpio]

05:57 PM on 10/27/2011

Right on Corban! But we all know that he's a coward like the rest of his kind (Teabaggers, GOP, Conservatives, Neocons...whatever you want to call them).

[Corban]

08:20 PM on 10/27/2011

I said in another post that Herman Cain is the Gomer Pyle of the GOP right now; "we need to find those land mines, Herman walk across that field". He is only in the limelight to remove it from Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann. His boat will sink within the GOP at a pre-appointed time and Ronald Reagan 2.0 (Rick Perry) will come blazing in. Herman Cain will pull the Sara Palin/Donald Trump ethos of politics making a fat paycheck by running knowing he isn't going to win. Call them whatever you want but I call them crooks.

[bohol2528]

03:47 PM on 10/21/2011

Another out of touch repubathug with Marie Antronnete syndrome. And we all know what happened to her.

[Phyllis Copeland]

09:56 PM on 10/21/2011

Marie Antionette? I agree the GOP are out of touch, but I doubt comparing our current political climate to the atmosphere which precipitated the French Revolution is a little off the mark. Besides, at this point, I think most of Marie Antionette's elaborate wigs had more sense than some of these characters.

[Common Sense 11]

02:06 PM on 10/22/2011

Actually, it's not too far removed from it.

People are being civil about it, but how much more are they (and by extension we) supposed to take before it becomes unbearable?

The more the "1%" and the GOP try to downplay the issue, the more tense the situation will become.

I'm quite sure that our Founding Fathers were peaceful about their grievances before 1776.