Ads for his political campaign might not have appeared on local television, but his pseudo-presidential bid has certainly been a hit on the Internet, and his video advertisements have even been included on national news shows.

And tomorrow, Stephen Colbert is taking his “Cain for President” campaign right to the people with an event at the College of Charleston.

Billed the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain: South Cain-olina Primary Rally,” the event starts at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 at the Cistern by Randolph Hall.  Entrance to the area begins at noon.

The national historic landmark faces northwest off of St. Philip St, between Calhoun and George Sts (see campus map).

"Herman is the only former candidate who truly shares my values,” Colbert said in a press release.  “It's like our values were separated at birth. And our ethics are at least first cousins."The release also insinuates Cain himself will also appear.

Describing the event on last night’s episode of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, the Charleston native said “there will be speeches, there will be cheerleaders, there will be a marching band and a gospel band.”

Since Sunday evening, his “Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow” Super PAC has been releasing new humorous videos on the upcoming GOP primary election in South Carolina on a daily basis. Four have been issued so far.

The second video advertisement in that series announced endorsement for Herman Cain, the former Republican presidential candidate who ended his campaign in early December. While no longer a candidate, Cain’s name will still appear on South Carolina ballots.

Last night’s comedic ad attacked Colbert himself, encouraging viewers to vote for Cain in protest.

Colbert formed his political action committee with sarcastic intent in 2010, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court issued ruling that such organizations could not be restricted in their attempted influence on elections.

Declaring himself an exploring candidate (for the office of “President of the United States of the State of South Carolina”) in early January, Colbert handed his Super PAC over to TV cohort Jon Stewart, abiding by the one true restriction implied by that recent ruling.

Currently dubbed “The Definitely not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC,” the organization and its founder have lately received lots of positive attention from the voting public.

A recent poll of South Carolina voters, for example, found that Colbert has a higher positive rating than all of the Republican candidates in the contest.Also see:

• Colbert Super PAC releases anti-Romney video in South Carolina
• Latest Colbert ad: vote for ... Cain?
• Colbert Super PAC: give us money for attack ad so we can end their attack ads
• Colbert PAC releases anti-Colbert attack ad

It's official. Today, after weeks of sexual harassment and infidelity claims against him, Herman Cain put his presidential campaign on suspension.  

I must admit I'll miss the guy. Not because he's been a great candidate or anything like that - just because it was so much fun to make fun of him.  He knew nothing of foreign relations, and his economic proposals would have benefited no one but he himself. 

I'm also upset that his departure means that this is the last time I can post this video:

Over the last few weeks, Cain slipped from the top spot in polls of South Carolina Republicans to a distant third. 

In early November, he had 33 percent, leading closest competitor Mitt Romney by 10. But a poll conducted four weeks later found him third with only 13 percent.  

Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich rose to first place in South Carolina polls, and now has 38 percent. 

While Gingrich's increase could come from Cain supporters who switched after the scandals were brought to the public eye, part of that growth could have derived from previously undecided voters, though.

In a November 1 poll by Rasmussen, 30 percent of Republicans in the state were undecided; for the November 28 Insider Advantage poll, though, only 18 percent had yet to declare a favored candidate.

In my opinion, should Cain remain officially on hiatus, his remaining 13 percent will be split between Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, as should the 18 percent still undecided. Perry should have a better take from this total of 31 percent, though. It won't give him enough to overtake Gingrich, but Perry will still do better than Romney, I'll wager. 

Of course, who knows what else will come out over the next seven weeks or so?

The infamous ear-biting boxer dishes his gloves in exchange for oven mitts, and assumes the persona of the sound-biting pizza mogul for president. 

(posted on youtube by crunkatlanta)

The Herman Cain “smoking” video has gotten lots of sarcastic critique (including plenty I’ve promoted right here, too, using the video created by the local progressive group that got national attention: 1, 2, 3).

I might be stretching this one topic rather thin, but in the more recent occasions I’ve seen that Cain video with campaign chief of staff Mark Block, it seems to be steering me into a new observational direction. Maybe anticipation of the upcoming holiday season has something do with it, too.

In the closing shot of that and other Cain videos, the slowly-extending smile he extends makes me think of … the Grinch!

(Cain picture snagged from the infamous youtube vid; Grinch borrowed from buzznet.)

See the lines around his grinning mouth? The sharply-focused eyes? That spunky grin dripping in self-confidence?

 And just to cement that concept a little further, here’s my amateur attempt to display this similarity in graphics:

You’re a mean one, Mr. Cain.

Herman Cain’s popularity is growing amongst South Carolina Republicans despite growing claims against his character.

In a Rasmussen poll conducted on Nov. 2, two days after Politico first revealed past claims of sexual harassment against him while he served as president of the National Restaurant Association, Cain led a slate of eight candidates with 35 percent.

Mitt Romney followed a distant second with 23 percent. Newt Gingrich took 15 percent, while Texas Gov. Rick Perry placed fourth with nine percent.

The poll results were released yesterday, the same day another NRA employee told of a third claim against Cain. Hours later, a conservative radio talk show host told media Cain made suggestive comments to two of his female staff, bringing the claims of sexual harassment to a total of four.

These claims are not affecting Cain’s reception in South Carolina, apparently, as his support notably grew, and very quickly.  In the last poll of Republicans in the state, conducted Oct. 10 by American Research Group, Cain led Romney by only one percent (26 to 25).

Three-quarters of participants in the Nov. 2 Rasmussen poll acknowledged they were aware of the sexual harassment claims. 

South Carolina is ranked the third “most religious” state in the nation, according to a Gallup poll; 80 percent in the state say religion is an important part of their daily lives.

Ties are found between faith and politics in the state, too. In a recent Winthrop poll, over two-thirds of Palmetto State Republicans identified themselves as born-again or Evangelical Christians.

And faith influences their votes. In exit polls from the 2008 General Election, 40 percent of South Carolina voters said they were born-again, and with religion influencing their candidate selection. Eight-five percent of these born-again Christians in the state voted for John McCain, who led South Carolina 54 to 45 over Pres. Obama.

More specifically, identification with the Christian faith is a factor for these GOP supporters. According to that same recent Winthrop poll, conducted just weeks ago in mid-September, 29.5 percent of Republican voters in the state incorrectly believe Obama is Muslim; only a third acknowledge him to be Christian.

That false assumption is a primary basis of their objection to the president, too, apparently; 88.6 percent of South Carolina Republicans disapprove of Obama, according to the Winthrop poll.

But if identification with the Christian faith is so prominent in the state, and has such influence on Republican voters, then why the hell (oops – I mean “heck”) have these same South Carolina Christian Republicans increased their support for Herman Cain after they learned of multiple claims of his alleged attempts of infidelity?

Just two days ago, which was two days after he made national news for past claims of sexual harassment, Cain had substantial lead in a Rasmussen poll conducted amongst South Carolina Republicans.  From a slate of eight candidates, Cain took 35 percent, distantly leading closest competitor Mitt Romney, who had only 23 percent.

A few weeks ago, though, Cain only led Romney by one. An Oct. 10 poll of state Republicans by American Research Group found Cain to have favor from only 25 percent to Romney’s 24.

So has this news of sexual harassment somehow increased his appeal to these religious Republicans? Three-quarters of the Rasmussen poll participants admitted they knew of the harassment reports, after all. And Cain’s support is greatest (40 percent) from those who identify themselves farthest to the right as “very conservative.”

Additional claims of sexual harassment from Cain came out yesterday after the poll results were released, but that won’t affect his status here, either, apparently.

And why is that? Because these Christian Republicans in the state only seem to favor candidate identification with their faith, and not actual representation of it.  Just take a look at their recent voting habits.

GOP candidate Nikki Haley was elected governor of the state after three claims of extramarital affairs – each made by another Republican in the state – were made public during last year’s campaign.

Haley succeeded former Gov. Mark Sanford, the Republican who made national news in 2009 after having an affair in Argentina at public expense.

Sanford’s ex-wife Jenny endorsed Haley last year (following her own divorce from the philandering governor), and defended Cain in a recent op-ed (although it was written before all the allegations became public).

Add in the Republican former state treasurer convicted of cocaine distribution; the Republican lieutenant governor cited for over 100 violations of using campaign donations for personal pleasures; the employee of the state Republican Party charged with illegal eavesdropping on teleconference calls; the Republican assistant prosecutor and former state representative caught in a cemetery with a prostitute; the SCGOP executive committee member who molested his step-daughter (who was also a coordinator with the state’s Christian Coalition); the Republican segregationist senator who impregnated a teenaged African-American girl out of wedlock and continually denied being father of her child …

Where, pray tell, is the Christianity in those South Carolina Republicans? Who were regularly supported and even elected by Republican voters in the state?

These Christian GOP voters of South Carolina – who credit non-support of Obama due to their false assumption of the president’s non-Christian status – apparently continue their trend of support for Christian-in-name-but-not-in-action candidates. This time in a man now accused of four instances of sexual harassment and assault.

And – given this established pattern – these Christian Republican voters might not be actually supporting the terms of their faith. Instead, they only like the name, it seems for at least some of them.

A 58-percent majority of them say they’re unsure of the validity in claims against Cain despite records of the National Restaurant Association paying out-of-court settlements to those women, apparently because of his consistent denial even though clear evidence is found.

But 73 percent of these same South Carolina Republicans claim the president is dishonest despite having no foundation to that argument; 37 percent of them still don’t believe he was born in the U.S., even, according to the recent Winthrop poll.

They supported the supposedly Christian platforms of Republican candidates who were convicted of heinous and unchristian crimes, but claim the president (who’s never had any charges or even claims against him) isn’t a Christian, and without any foundation to the argument.

They don’t support Obama’s proposals of apparent Christian themes, either; the healthcare program, social security, Medicare and Medicaid, environmental programs and even labor laws are under attack by Republicans who claim to be Christian, but who apparently need a bible refresher course.  (“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” [Matthew 25:40])

Faith is more than a badge, folks. It’s not just a sign to wave and hide behind, and it’s supposed to be evident not just at Sunday services alone. And these particular Republicans in the state need to remember that not only on the next time they go to the polls, but right now, too, when they’re still deciding between candidates.

These particular Republican voters in the state need to practice what they preach. If using candidate faith as a determining factor, then don’t just apply it in name alone. They need to apply those terms of faith to the candidates’ practices and actions, too. Maybe then will they stop electing persons who wind up charged with non-Christian crimes. 

With all the dirt going 'round on Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, ranging from dumb economic policies to silly video ads and even sexual harassment, the conservative media is suddenly on the defense. 

They need to protect their suddenly popular candidate. And they're doing so by...pulling the race card.

Except they're pulling that card in such a way that's busting their blackjack hand. 

See Ann Coulter (aka, the Coultergeist) subconsciously admit her racist foundation when she says "Our blacks are so much better than their blacks."

(posted on youtube by bonnerrw1)

What's next, Ann? Are some of your best friends negroes?

A video made two days ago by a local progressive group has gotten almost as much attention as the ad it ridicules.

The Herman Cain presidential campaign recently released a video featuring its chief of staff Mark Block, and the ad ends with a closeup of Block making an intense drag on a cigarette.  

South Carolina Forward Progress spoofed the ad showing a Block wannabe smoking ... well ... not a cigarette, let's say. 

While many other comical takes on Cain's ad are circulating about, Forward Progress' made national news. It was included in a CNN feature of such spoofs, right along with others from national network programs such as The Colbert Report, Conan O'Brien, The David Letterman Show and The Tonight Show.  

See the clip from CNN's "The Situation Room" below. 

(from CNN)

You can see Forward Progress' original video by clicking here. 

While I still think the guy in this video is just some ugly dope who'll never make it in Hollywood, I'm pleased to know the work of this local organization was included in the ranks of national media.

A new video featuring Mark Block, chief of staff of the Herman Cain campaign, has a lot of people talking. But not saying anything good, necessarily.

Block's a bad reader and a camera ham, and what makes the video most questionable is its closing shot - a closeup of Block taking drags from a cigarette. In fact, the video is getting lots of press attention from countless media, who are criticizing the "Now is the time for action!" piece for that same reason. 

Just the fact he's supporting Cain, though (let alone working for his campaign), has many wondering "what is that guy smoking?" 

Offering an answer to that question is none other than SC Forward Progress, which produced its own spoof on that questionable video earlier today. 

(posted on youtube by scforwardprogress)

And here's the original Mark Block video, which was first posted online on Oct. 19: 

(posted on youtube by thehermancain)

Aren't those two videos rather identical? I mean, neither one of those guys is making any sense or telling any truth.  (Add in the fact that both of them are ugly, awaiting cancer, and will absolutely never ever ever make it in Hollywood, well ....)

***

Okay, now let's be serious for a moment: in his video, Block seems to give physical indications that he doesn't support what he's saying. In other words, he's openly lying in his statements.

Notice the 0:26 to 0:32 segment of the video. He's making positive statements about Cain and the campaign, but is shaking his head in a horizontal "no" direction. 

"This is a subconscious movement," reads one dialog of body language interpretation, "so it means they don't believe in what they just said."

Immediately following that segment, running from 0:32 to 0:40, Block invites viewers to "get involved" with the campaign. But as he says such in that 8-second portion, you see him leaning to his left while holding up his right hand; that's a defensive stance, as if he self-consciously fears that folks will take him up on that invitation, or punish him at sometime for offering it. 

And throughout the video, his brow appears clenched as if he's tightly focusing his eyes, which never move their center of focus away from the camera. Maintaining consistent and heavily focused eye contact is another lie indicator, says a different source, as if the speaker is striving to be sure you're only receiving his spiel and without any distraction that might tell you the truth. 

Of course, who'd be so brave to work for Cain's campaign and still tell the truth about him?

The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center recently released report on the effects of Herman Cain's proposed "9-9-9" tax policy. 

In a nutshell, it would increase federal income taxes on 84 percent of all American households. Of course, and as you can expect from a Republican candidate, the 16 percent who wouldn't be affected, and who would actually get extreme tax breaks, are those who make the most money. 

Households earning less than $30,000 a year would lose 16 to 20 percent of their net income, according to the Tax Policy Center's research. Those making over $200,000, however, would get to keep from five to 20 percent more. 

To explain it easier, we made this nifty little chart detailing the projected changes in taxes owed by each income quintile group under Cain's "9-9-9" plan, and included the top one percent and top one-tenth of one percent in income, too. 

Data from the Tax Policy Center