Republican GOP Herman Cain pushes “pause” on his Presidential campaign sexual harassment allegations and claims of an extramarital affair may have lead to the going away of the Presidential nominee that once said “I am not going away”. Cain had a pretty good run, debate flubs included but his lack of experience may have really been the issue that prompted his campaign suspension. Running for President of the United States is more than having plans and friends in all the right places but the majority is about brushing off negative opinions and preventing them from affecting your support system. Let us not forget President Obama’s campaign that was riddled by his affiliation with the outspoken minister from Chicago Rev. Wright, whose comments on the Bush administration made voters concerned that then, Senator Barack Obama would be just as radical as Rev. Wright.
So far the 2012 campaign has been plagued with many issues especially coming from the Republican Party; the debates that have already taken place were all about mudslinging, finger pointing, and plans that hold very little merit to save our struggling economy. Honestly, the scandals and lies attached to name Herman Cain had become far too much for him and his family to bear and stepping down was a good decision. Sexual harassment allegations can be fought in court but will require time and attention to prove them wrong; where as extramarital affairs can possibly end a loving and happy marriage.
Where does Cain go from here? He now has the time to repair the damage to his image and work to maintain his marriage. He has shown politicians that black voters do not vote solely based upon race but actually look at political views, experience, background, and the overall substance of whom we choose to support with our votes. Cain has also opened the eyes of everyone who thinks the only way to the White House is through Ivy league schools because we know HBCU’s especially Morehouse College can say “ We were almost in there.”

Herman Cain:  by: Jasmine Stewart

The name Herman Cain has gained popularity during this point of the 2012 Presidential campaigns but was just a murmur coming from Republicans earlier this year.  Cain regards his recent popularity to being the “flavor of the month” as he referenced the discontinued Haagen Daz flavor “Black Walnut” during an interview earlier this month. Cain’s 9-9-9 plan is raising eyebrows and concerns alike as it pertains to an issue that affects us all the economy.

The 9-9-9 plan: Phase 1 – 9-9-9

• Current circumstances call for bolder action.
• The Phase 1 Enhanced Plan incorporates the features of Phase One and gets us a step closer to Phase two.
• I call on the Super Committee to pass the Phase 1 Enhanced Plan along with their spending cut package.
• The Phase 1 Enhanced Plan unites Flat Tax supporters with Fair tax supporters.
• Achieves the broadest possible tax base along with the lowest possible rate of 9%.
• It ends the Payroll Tax completely – a permanent holiday!
• Zero capital gains tax
• Ends the Death Tax.
• Eliminates double taxation of dividends
• Business Flat Tax – 9%
• Gross income less all investments, all purchases from other businesses and all dividends paid to shareholders.
• Empowerment Zones will offer additional deductions for payroll employed in the zone.
• Individual Flat Tax – 9%.
• Gross income less charitable deductions.
• Empowerment Zones will offer additional deductions for those living and/or working in the zone.
• National Sales Tax – 9%.
• This gets the Fair Tax off the sidelines and into the game.

He has a non-traditional background in regards to political experience; most of his success has been in the pizza business and food service in general. Cain has been in top positions at the Coca Cola Company, Pillsbury, and was even CEO of the National Restaurant Association. He has lobbied for small business owners and used his talk radio show to develop a political voice. Cain most recently had an unsuccessful bid for Senate in 2004 and was the economic adviser for the Dole/Kemp campaign in 1996.

Herman Cain an African American Republican candidate from Atlanta, Georgia has his eyes set on the oval office and a plan of reduced taxes and big spending cuts. His stance is a point of view we have heard before the issue is who gets to enjoy the benefits of tax and spending cuts?  How will this plan rescue Americans from a double dip recession? Cain told Fox News that “America has a spending problem and that if Republicans cave [in regards to the newly promoted and presented jobs bill] and I hope they don’t —and go along with any tax increase we will see that double dip recession.”

It seems as though Herman Cain is this election season’s long shot candidate and the buzz surrounding him and his views will only get louder as campaigns, interviews, and fundraisers continue. Let us not forget that the last Presidential long shot candidate was elected into office.

There has been a lot of discussion about the Koch brothers in the press over the past few weeks. I am sure that the two brothers don’t like all of the media attention. The two brothers are used to operating behind closed doors and pulling the strings for a number of different organizations.
Who Are The Koch Brothers?
The Koch Brothers are the founders of the “grass roots” Tea Party and the group Americans For Prosperity. The two brothers are oil billionaires. They have a hand in just about every industry out thee. Koch Industries owns Brawny paper towels, Dixie cups, Georgia-Pacific lumber, Stainmaster carpet, and Lycra, among other products. Forbes ranks it as the second-largest private company in the country, after Cargill. The company has over $100 billion dollars in annual revenue.
One of the best sources for information on the clandestine brothers is the Center for Public Integrity. The Center for Public Integrity is a nonpartisan watchdog group that keeps a close eye on both Democratic and Republican candidates. The Koch brothers are pouring a massive sum of money into the political arena to influence public elections and policy.
Charles Lewis, the founder of the Center for Public Integrity,, said, “The Kochs are on a whole different level. There’s no one else who has spent this much money. The sheer dimension of it is what sets them apart. They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation. I’ve been in Washington since Watergate, and I’ve never seen anything like it. They are the Standard Oil of our times.”
The two brothers are libertarians who oppose governmental regulations in every industry that they are involved in. If you want to know why Congress doesn’t regulate big oil companies despite oil spills like the one that BP caused; it’s because of big contributors like the Koch brothers. Koch Industries is one of the largest polluters in the world.
If you want to know the reason for union busting strike activities in Wisconsin; the impetus is the Koch brothers. The two brothers backed Scott Walker and have backed a number of Republican candidates as well.

There is just so much money flowing in politics today that it is virtually impossible to find a major public official that has not been bought and paid for. As long as the Koch brothers keep pouring money into the coffers of Republican candidates, there will be little to no regulation of big business.

This is an Article originally written by Mark Riddix over at Money and Politics.