Jonathan Chait On Herman Cain’s Real Secret: He’s Not Really Running For President

Jonathan Chait nails the Cain phenomenon in New York magazine: he’s a conservative running to raise his profile; he’s not running for president. And he’s doing so by appealing to white victimhood while giving his white fans proof they’re not racist. After all, they like him.

Cain is executing a business plan. It’s an excellent plan. The plan involves Cain raising his profile as a conservative personality, which he can monetize through motivational speaking, book sales, talk shows, and other media. Cain’s selling point is that he’s a black conservative who can capitalize on the sense of white racial victimization that has mushroomed during the Obama era. Accordingly, Cain assures conservatives that they are not racist, as proven by their support for him. Indeed, it is the liberals who are racist, as evidenced by their opposition to Cain.

The recent charges against Cain help him with his base.

…before this week, the one element missing from Cain’s profile was persecution by the liberal media. In the minds of the most conservative Republicans — which is to say, Cain’s customers — the sexual harassment story proves his importance and his virtue.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.