Herman Cain Criticizes Arab Spring At Republican Debate In South Carolina

Herman Cain said during Saturday night's GOP debate on foreign policy that President Barack Obama's reaction to the Arab Spring, the democratic uprisings in several Arab countries earlier this year, has allowed the movement to go in the wrong direction -- a surprising statement against democratic movements.

"You have to look at Libya, Egypt, Yemen and all of the revolutions that are going on and how the administration has mishandled them," he said. "As a result, this has gotten totally out of hand."

He said the revolution in Egypt, where citizens ousted long-time President Hosni Mubarak, could strain relations between the United States and Egypt, and he warned against the increased power of opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood, which formed a political party earlier this year.

"Our relationship with Egypt may not survive," he said. "It turned out that the opposition was more of the Muslim Brotherhood, which could end up with a majority of control of this new government."

Cain also criticized the president for his support for protests in Yemen, where the Yemeni goverment has responded with violence to peaceful protests. The White House issued a statement in April calling for Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to investigate violence against protesters.

"This president has already said that the president of Yemen should go," Cain said. "He is our friend. He has been helping us fight Al Qaeda. This president has been on the wrong side in nearly every situation in the Arab world."

Comments

[hollace]

09:02 AM on 11/21/2011

" a mind is a terrible thing to waste...."

[shastar]

01:03 PM on 11/20/2011

Where is the off switch on this guy?

[SuperHeretic]

12:04 PM on 11/17/2011

These republican's are outraged that middle-eastern countries have the nerve to out their corrupt officials and fascist dictators because not only do a large majority of right wingers actually work with them (look at Bush and Cheney for prime examples) but many right wingers want to have this country become a Christian version of their theocratic fascist governments. They're scared that people in this country will be inspired by the examples of these mid-east citizens and militias and start fighting back.

Nothing scares a brutal thug of a wanna be dictator more than watching another thug of a dictator fall. They realize it could easily happen to them.

The last thing a modern day neo-con wants is actual Democracy.

[hollace]

01:13 AM on 11/16/2011

Want to see him REALLY flip out? Tell him Jesus was Middle Eastern....

[hollace]

01:06 AM on 11/16/2011

this has nothing to do with Christain vs Any Other Religion and everything to do woth putting fear into the hearts of people who don't know any different.. the next time there's a needless war lets send these old Relics in first. Give them a job...Cannon Fodder.

[Jesus Malverde]

03:28 PM on 11/14/2011

It is not surprising that a lead reupublican contender for the presidency would side with the fascist dictators

[Kathy Levittown]

01:11 PM on 11/15/2011

Right on Jesus...Fan number 3! lol

[hoochie-coochie]

02:57 PM on 11/14/2011

He probably thinks Arab Spring is a bar of soap.

[Lyse Saunders]

04:09 PM on 11/14/2011

ROTF!!

[The Night Watch]

07:56 PM on 11/14/2011

Cool, I was just thinking that.

[maryoca]

02:03 PM on 11/14/2011

"Herm is bemoaning freedom and democracy in the Middle East and Bach man wants us to be more like China. Repubs are cra zy

[wrabbitt]

11:21 AM on 11/14/2011

Democracy has gotten out of hand too all those people who voted wanting politicians to do their job.

[Kathy Levittown]

01:13 PM on 11/15/2011

LMAO wrabbit! Perfect..I love nothing more that a statement dripping with sarcasm lol!! and truth.

[rickwar]

08:44 AM on 11/14/2011

Sorry pizza delivery man: You're the one out of hand, please do us all a favor, go back into business and do some more groping.

[camelias and sweet tea]

08:02 AM on 11/14/2011

What is really out of hand is that people who are supposed to running for office are actually on Book Tours and campaigning in between.

[Kathy Levittown]

01:14 PM on 11/15/2011

Excellent Camelias and sweet tea....or on luxury cruises in Greece,,lol..

[camelias and sweet tea]

03:10 PM on 11/15/2011

I lived in Levittown, NY my family always had a Levitt house..Levittown, Hicksville and Stony Brook. I see your name is it Levittown NY or Pa?

[satyrday]

07:46 AM on 11/14/2011

Cain knows nothing about foreign policy. He should just stick to what he's good at, sexual harassment.

[beninabox1]

07:39 AM on 11/14/2011

"For might makes right.
And 'til they've seen the light.
They've got to be protected
All their rights respected,
Till somebody we *like* can be elected".
-Tom Lehrer "Send the Marines"

[changemaid]

07:20 AM on 11/14/2011

Cain has said he was the choice of the Koch brothers. Maybe they just wanted a candidate whom they could take over after the election was won. Consider if they ran the country through a Cain presidency.

[MSELLIE]

06:21 AM on 11/14/2011

Cain HIMSELF is the main reason that DEMOCRATS had NOTHING to do with these sexual harassment charges. DEMOCRATS WANT CAIN TO RUN AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA! The Prez WOULD EAT HIM ALIVE. Actually, to tell the truth, when you actually LISTEN to what the republican candidates have to SAY, you too will realize the Democrats would not benefit getting RID of Herman Cain! Suggest everyone look at KARL ROVE! Notice how HE WAS THE ONLY POLITCAL STARS THAT HAD NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE INCIDENT, HIS SILENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME! YEP THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT GATE WAS A KARL ROVE SPECIAL. Think about it.....

[Kathy Levittown]

01:17 PM on 11/15/2011

F A N N E D MSELLIE!! Ive been saying the same thing..Karl Rove, the architect of all that is evil in ANY election is most assuredly behind this...Democrats, on the other hand are thanking their lucky stars that people this stupid and uneducated on modern world history(and the treatment of women) are the front runner..lol..not for long....great post..