In an interview Monday with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board, Cain took five minutes to reply to a question on the American role in Libya.
He was asked whether he agreed with Obama’s position on Libya. “OK, Libya,” Cain said before taking a moment to respond. “President Obama supported the uprising, correct?” He repeated what he just said, then wanted to clarify what question he had to answer.
He continued, “I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reason,” Cain started, then said. “Nope, that’s a different one.” He looked confused and uncomfortable, shifting in his seat, and then he told the journalists, “I got all this stuff twirling around in my head.”
Cain went on to express his concern over knowing exactly who made up Gaddafi’s opposition, and did they have a leader? He said he would make sure the American “intelligence people” would have “assessed the situation” more closely.
“I don’t think enough was done,” Cain said later.
After the stumble, he tried to bring the interview back on message, saying as a businessman he’s a deliberate decision maker and prides himself on getting all the info possible before deciding on an important matter.
The Cain campaign responded to the video clip hosted by the Journal Sentinel. According to MSNBC, Cain was “getting his bearings” and the clip is being taken out of context. “He was taking questions for about 30 to 40 minutes on four hours of sleep. He didn’t say anything wrong or inaccurate; it just took him a while to recall the specifics of Libya,” added spokesperson JD Gordon.
More on what Cain told the Journal Sentinel can be read here.
The GOP candidates are under careful scrutiny as 2012 approaches. Texas Governor Rick Perry was widely satirized after his recent gaffe when he failed to remember the third government agency he would ax if he were president.
