The Republican response to President Obama's deficit-reduction plan, announced a week ago, has centered on trying to make two words stick by repeating them often: "class warfare." The President braced for the line of attack in that same Rose Garden speech last Monday:
This is not class warfare. It’s math. The money is going to have to come from someplace. And if we’re not willing to ask those who've done extraordinarily well to help America close the deficit and we are trying to reach that same target of $4 trillion, then the logic, the math says everybody else has to do a whole lot more. . . .
The numbers appear to support the President's argument and his plan, but why not ask a mathematician to be sure? Let's ask Herman Cain!
Once upon a time, Mr. Cain worked as a mathematician during his civilian employment with the Navy. This weekend, Mr. Cain overcame terrible statewide poll numbers to win Florida's "Presidency 5" straw poll. Afterward, he was asked whether he believes President Obama when he says the "Buffett Rule" -- making sure the rich pay at least the same rate as the middle-class -- is not class warfare.
"Can I be blunt? That's a lie," Cain said, before the sound of his voice began to rise noticeably higher. "You're not supposed to call the president a liar. Well if you're not supposed to call the president a liar, he shouldn't tell a lie. If it's not class warfare, it's highway robbery. He wants us to believe it's not class warfare, oh okay, it's not class warfare. Pick my pockets, because that's what he's doing!"
The interviewer was taken aback. Mr. Cain continued after he calmed down (kinda):
"I'm not mad at you, I just get passionate about this stuff," he said. "I have to tell people because I get so worked up . . . . I'm listening to all this bullsh*t that he's talking about, 'fairness' and 'balanced approach' to get this economy going."
ONE MORE THING.
Rick Perry finished second in that same Florida straw poll -- more than 20 points behind Mr. Cain. Steve Benen at Washington Monthly has some thoughts.