Joe Klein captures the hilariously contrived (and borderline racist) condescension from places like the Weekly Standard:
I know what I’m about to say is impolite, but Herman Cain strikes me as something of a jerk and an ignoramus. He has made absolutely outrageous statements about Muslims, immigrants and homosexuals; he takes the most extreme position imaginable on abortion. Indeed, I have never, ever seen him acknowledge the idea that complexity exists in the world…or that an ability to weed through complex issues might be a qualification for the presidency.
And that is why he is doing so well – along with an ability to charge Obama with playing the race card. We'll see again tonight if his moronic marketing slogans can sustain his momentum. I'd merely note that he is less of a farce than Palin was – and she was anointed by the establishment. When the rot in a party has gone this deep, and when its presidential line-up is this thin, absurdities like Cain will keep emerging.
The Dish 