Anytime a credible black conservative runs for office, the cause of political diversity is advanced.

But the strident pro-life shtik and abolish-the-IRS plan didn't pan out for Herman Cain, a millionaire black conservative candidate in Georgia's Republican primary yesterday. He was competing for a shot at the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring conservative Democrat Zell Miller.

It may not have helped that Cain was attacked (accurately, if the article below is right) for having no voting record.

One other GOP contender (U.S. Rep. Mac Collins) and Cain - formerly the CEO of Godfather's Pizza - were defeated in the primary yesterday by Georgia Republican Congressman Johnny Isakson. By getting more than 50 percent of the vote, Isakson avoids a run-off for the Republican nomination. His Democratic opponent will be decided in a run-off three weeks hence.

Here's a report from the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Cain, 58, portrayed himself as a Washington outsider offering bold solutions to problems while the current members of Congress are content to tinker around the edges. The wealthy former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza focused primarily on replacing the complicated federal tax code with a national sales tax and preserving the financial viability of Social Security by letting younger Americans invest part of what they pay into the program in private savings accounts.

...While criticizing Cain for having no voting record, Collins joined Cain in repeated attacks on Isakson over abortion. Cain and Collins picked up endorsements from pro-life groups for their “one-exception” stands approving of abortion only when the mother’s life is in danger. In contrast, Isakson also supported abortion in cases of rape and incest.

...Isakson...(noted)...his selection by Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., to chair the House debate that led to passage of legislation banning so-called “partial-birth” abortions.

Sounds like Isakson had his flanks sufficiently covered on abortion for Georgia GOP voters. Cain's opposition to abortion even in case of rape or incest is too far right. Likewise, replacing the federal tax code with a national sales tax might warrant some discussion, but is a politically DOA proposal.

Conservatives should only very rarely indulge their Inner Zealot.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at July 21, 2004 11:25 AM

---

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.rosenblog.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/442

---