Coming off a gaffe concerning the issue of abortion where he seemed to take both sides of the issues, Herman Cain made yet another statement showing a lack of understanding of basic constitutional principles:
In an interview with David Brody last night, Cain said he’d sign a pro-life constitutional amendment if it crossed his desk as president.
“Yes. Yes I feel that strongly about it. If we can get the necessary support and it comes to my desk I’ll sign it,” he said. “That’s all I can do. I will sign it.”
The only problem with that statement? Presidents don’t sign constitutional amendments — they’re passed in Congress and then need to be ratified by the states, and the president plays no formal role in the process.
Cain has had other problems with the Constitution. During his formal campaign announcement in May, Cain repeated part of the Declaration of Independence but cited it as the Constitution. The so-called “loyal oath” that he would require Muslims appointed to his administration to take runs afoul of the Religious Test Clause (Article VI, Clause 3). Similarly, Cain has played the Muslim card by suggesting that people have a have a right to deny a mosque from being built in their community, despite religious liberty protections provided in the Bill of Rights (not to mention that we’re talking about private property here).
Cain also endorsed the renewal of the PATRIOT Act and played down aspects of the law that clearly violates civil liberties. Of course, Cain has no real respect for civil libertarians, those of us that believe that the government must work within the confines of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
And more recently, Cain flip-flopped on whether a president could assassinate an American citizen without due process.
You may pass off an incident as meaningless, but one after another shows that Cain simply isn’t ready for the tasks that will face him in the White House. Of course, for many conservatives looking for the anti-Romney, absurd defenses and excuses will be employed to play this down. But it’s clear that Cain is over his head.
