LAS VEGAS, NV — In October of 2012, Herman Cain was on top of the world — and the presidential polls. The Republican pizza magnate and radio host shook up the race with his ultra-conservative proposals: implementing his infamous 9–9–9 flat tax plan, privatizing Social Security, mandating prayer in public schools, and dismantling same-sex marriage among them.
Four years after bowing out of the race, Cain is no longer a contender for president. But he’s loving the direction things are going this time around. His four favorite candidates are leading the polls, and some are letting him come along for the ride. He’s spoken at multiple rallies for Donald Trump, and introduced Ben Carson at a recent rally in Atlanta. On Monday, he spoke at the National Security Action Summit in Nevada, which also heard from four Republican presidential candidates: Carson, Carly Fiorina, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rick Santorum. The summit was hosted by Frank Gaffney, a prominent anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist who Cain calls a “good friend.”
Outside of Monday’s event, Cain spoke with ThinkProgress about Trump’s proposed halt on Muslim immigration; calls for gun control on the anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre; and his potential position in the next administration.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
ThinkProgress: So you’re here in Nevada. The next Republican presidential debate is here. Who are you rooting for?
I wouldn’t categorize [Trump’s plan] as Islamophobia.
Herman Cain: Three months ago, I selected my favorites in this race — I didn’t have one. Three months ago, four of my favorites were Trump, Carson, Rubio, and Cruz. And guess who’s leading in the polls?
TP: Trump, Carson, Rubio, and Cruz.HC: Now, here’s why I selected those as my favorites. All four of those people project the greatest leadership skills and problem-solving skills and courage. That’s what we need in the White House, because leadership in the country starts in the White House. And if you don’t have a leader, this country will suffer. And we don’t have that right now.
TP: I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you about Donald Trump’s proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from coming into the country. Is that something you think should be considered, or is it overblown?HC: That is total media overreaction for the purpose of trying to bring down Trump. The liberal media. I say the same thing — I don’t care. That’s an overreaction. They are focusing more on what Donald Trump said than the 14 people who are dead [from the San Bernardino attacks]. You can use that soundbite.
Every time Trump has said something that people from a political correctness standpoint go, “My god, I can’t believe he said that,” it is an intent to create a media frenzy to bring his numbers down. And it has not worked.
TP: To counter your point, since Trump’s proposal, there’s been a rise in Islamophobic attacks — attacks on mosques, a scheduled burning of the Quran — do you think statements like Trump contribute to that?
Don’t give me this crap about America is becoming Islamophobic because of what somebody said.
HC: I wouldn’t categorize it as Islamophobia. Look, you have independent lone wolf terrorists out there killing us. And I’m going to worry about whether or not somebody on their own is doing something that you call Islamophobic? I’m not going to worry about that. I’m going to worry about those people who are trying to kill us.
The other point is, if you have two or three isolated incidents, and somebody wants to provide a headline called Islamic-phobia, that’s stupid. Here’s why. We have 320 million people in the country. So you gonna say that the nation has an Islamic-phobic problem, because two or three people acted on their own? How about the two or three people that acted on their own to do the Boston bombing? To do Sandy Hook? To do San Bernardino?
Don’t give me this crap about America is becoming Islamophobic because of what somebody said.
TP: You brought up Sandy Hook. It’s the anniversary of Sandy Hook. There’s been a lot of calls for gun control.HC: BS. More calls for gun control is absolutely BS.
I call it “bullfeathers” on my radio show, but people are smart enough to use whatever they want. And here’s why. Look at Sandy Hook. Any of the gun control proposals that they want to pass would not have stopped Sandy Hook. Would not have stopped what happened in San Bernardino. It is is a farce to claim that more gun control is going to stop some of these violent things that we see out there.
You know how we stop some of incidents? This is the Cain solution: more guns in the hands of more people.
TP: Regarding Muslims, Donald Trump also that he would support a database of Muslim immigrants. Is that something you would support?
This is the Cain solution: More guns in the hands of more people.
HC: I’m not going to answer that. Here’s why. That’s exactly what the media wants you to be asking me about. And that is what Trump said about a database. That’s not important.
In his statement, he said temporarily bar Muslims from entering the country. Temporarily never gets played. They drop temporarily, and they drop entering. They want people to get all worked up over what he said. And I’m saying no, that’s a distraction.
TP: Who do you put your money on to win the nomination, and is there anyone is particular who you’re interested in?HC: As long as my four favorites are still in the race, I’m a happy man.
TP: Are you doing anything to support them?HC: I’m supporting all of them. Donald Trump had two rallies in Georgia, I spoke at both. Ben Carson had a rally in Atlanta just last Tuesday night, a week ago. I spoke at his. I have made it known to all of my favorites that I’m not endorsing anybody, but that I will support the ones that I think have the greatest leadership potential.
TP: If offered, would you accept a leadership position in any of the administrations?HC: If it’s one of my four, I would. If it’s someone that I do not have a level of respect for … [shakes head.]
Those four would allow me to do the job they asked me to do. The last thing you want to do is be asked to do a job, but not allowed to do the job. So if one of those people were to ask me to serve in some capacity, I know they’d allow me to do my job.
TP: You mentioned people you don’t have respect for. Is there anyone in the Republican field who you’re not supportive of?HC: No. Well, let’s put it this way. There are some that never should have gotten in the race. The list is too long.
Let’s focus on the ones who are on the top of the polls, first tier. That’s who I want to focus on.
Alice Ollstein contributed reporting.