elections. Following his speech, The Jewish Star sat down with Cain.
David F. Nesenoff: What brings you here today?
Herman Cain: I came because I was invited to come out here and it gave me the opportunity to do the two things I wanted to do. I wanted to congratulate the Jewish people for what Israel has been able to achieve because they are under attack and I don’t agree with that. I was not happy with President Obama’s remarks over the past couple of weeks and I wanted the people to understand where I stood. I stand with the people of Israel. I don’t agree with moving the borders. I don’t agree with Israel making more concessions that they don’t want to make if there is a possibility for a peace process going forward.
DFN: How can Israel negotiate with someone who doesn’t recognize her right to exist?
HC: The big issue is the relationship with Hamas becoming part of the Palestinian Authority. I have a severe problem with that. Hamas is a known documented terrorist organization. How are you going to negotiate
with a terrorist organization, and the answer is you can’t.
DFN: Do you think Mr. Obama should negotiate with Al Qaeda?
HC: No. He should not negotiate with Al Qaeda, he might give away too much.
DFN: He wants Israel to go back to ’67. Should the U.S. go back to 57 and lose Hawaii?
HC: (Laughs) I agree with Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu. I agree that moving the borders is non-negotiable.
DFN: Would you as President release Jonathan Pollard?
HC: Based upon what I know about Jonathan Pollard and that situation, that he should be given consideration for humanitarian reasons at this point, but I’m not one to shoot from the lip. But my sentiment would be toward his release but I’m not going to guarantee that until I had the appropriate opportunity to review the situation.
DFN: It’s an American issue. No black, white, Hispanic or any person should be in prison a day or a minute longer than they are supposed to be.
HC: I know that a lot of distinguished Americans and a lot of distinguished diplomats have expressed their view that he should be released. I’m the type of decision maker, that whereas I respect all those who have taken that position, I want to review all the facts for myself consider that, then make a definitive decision.
DFN: When will that take place?
HC: In the future. There are a whole list of issues that I’m dealing with. So I don’t won’t to commit to a timetable as to when I would make that. The best time for me to make a decision on that is after I become President. Then I could do something about it.
DFN: People want to know things before they put someone in office. Some feel they made a mistake in the past and they don’t want to make that mistake again. They become very wary of politicians.
HC: I’m not a politician; I’m a businessman. I’m a problem solver and you’re not going to push me into making a decision until I’m ready to make a decision.
DFN: Is there an advantage of having a businessman in the White House and not an attorney or a politician?
HC: Number one, a businessman is going to make sure in every situation that they’re working on the right problem. That’s been one of the biggest problems with this administration and previous administrations. They go work on things and they pass laws, but they’re not working on the right problems. Secondly, are we assigning the right priority? Thirdly, have you surrounded yourself with the right people? This president has a lousy group of people around him. Look at the advice they gave him about the economy. It failed and then four out of fi ve of them left. He is not getting good advice. And fourthly, if you got the right people and the right priorities and you’re working on the right problems you will be able to put together plans that you can share with the American people and they will help to solve some of these problems. My business skills, my problem solving skills …that’s what I bring to the presidency, which is so badly needed. We haven’t as a nation fixed anything in the last several decades. It’s time we start fi xing problems instead of just pushing them down the road for the next generation.
DFN: When will that take place?
HC: In the future. There are a whole list of issues that I’m dealing with. So I don’t won’t to commit to a timetable as to when I would make that. The best time for me to make a decision on that is after I become President. Then I could do something about it.
DFN: People want to know things before they put someone in office. Some feel they made a mistake in the past and they don’t want to make that mistake again. They become very wary of politicians.
HC: I’m not a politician; I’m a businessman. I’m a problem solver and you’re not going to push me into making a decision until I’m ready to make a decision.
DFN: Is there an advantage of having a businessman in the White House and not an attorney or a politician?
HC: Number one, a businessman is going to make sure in every situation that they’re working on the right problem. That’s been one of the biggest problems with this administration and previous administrations. They go work on things and they pass laws, but they’re not working on the right problems. Secondly, are we assigning the right priority? Thirdly, have you surrounded yourself with the right people? This president has a lousy group of people around him. Look at the advice they gave him about the economy. It failed and then four out of fi ve of them left. He is not getting good advice. And fourthly, if you got the right people and the right priorities and you’re working on the right problems you will be able to put together plans that you can share with the American people and they will help to solve some of these problems. My business skills, my problem solving skills …that’s what I bring to the presidency, which is so badly needed. We haven’t as a nation fixed anything in the last several decades. It’s time we start fi xing problems instead of just pushing them down the road for the next generation.
