Five Liberal Leaders in 2005

US Senator Harry Reid of Nevada

When Senator Reid was newly elected Senate Democratic leader in November 2004 just after the national election, Senate Democrats were in political shambles, holding only 44 of 100 Senate seats and longtime leader Tom Daschle headed back home after reelection defeat.

And Senator Reid seemed an unlikely candidate to be a Democrat at all, much less a Democratic Party uniter. A Mormon by faith, he opposes gun control and some abortion rights, and is the antithesis of the fire-breathing, hardball-seeming politician.

He's a passionate champion and tenacious advocate, though, for the environment, educational opportunities and standards, equal opportunity for all, and issues vital to senior citizens, such as Social Security, healthcare and prescription drug coverage.

Soft-spoken Senator Reid, former head of the Nevada Gaming Commission who ran the mob out of Las Vegas, molded Senate Democrats plus one Independent and a handful of moderate Republicans into a surprisingly influential coalition.

In May 2005, he successfully led Senate Democrats in a tough fight to beat back an aggressive Republican power grab to kill the filibuster for judicial nominees. He labored tirelessly to bury the President's Social Security privatization plan that would have cut and eventually killed Social Security in the United States.

He relentlessly marshaled support to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil-drilling. He fought off presidential plans to use immigrants to create a permanent, slave-like underclass of US workers. And always, he spoke openly and candidly to the American public.

On August 19, 2005, Reid's office announced that the Senator suffered a mild stroke. Yet, the senator returned full-strength in September to continue to lead Senate Democrats as a formidable and inspiring Senate force for American values and all Americans.
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Cindy Sheehan, Anti-Iraq War Activist and "Peace Mom"

Cindy Sheehan, the blunt-speaking middle-aged suburban mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, gave a face in 2005 to the bereaved families of the War in Iraq. Mrs. Sheehan, a youth pastor at a Roman Catholic church in California, began speaking out against the war in 2004 just a month after her Eagle Scout son was killed in action, and just weeks after a group meeting-gone-awry with President Bush.

In August 2005, Cindy Sheehan came to international prominence, and galvanized the national anti-war movement, when she and hundreds of supporters and other bereaved families camped outside the President's Crawford, Texas ranch estate for the entirety of his five-week vacation.

The purpose of Mrs. Sheehan's encampment was to request a personal meeting with the President to ask him what the "noble cause" was that her son died for. Despite threats of physical violence and arrest, Camp Casey occupants survived and thrived for the five weeks, waiting for a 30-minute meeting with the President. George Bush never made the time to meet with them.

On September 24, 2005, Cindy Sheehan led over 200,000 protestors, inspired by her example, in a three-day rally in Washington DC, in which she and others were arrested for demonstrating without a permit.

Sheehan now travels around the country speaking and encouraging others to stand against the War in Iraq. She has met with members of Congress, both friendly and unfriendly to her drive for peace.

And on December 10, 2005, Mrs. Sheehan addressed the International Peace Conference in London, where she was greeted enthusiastically as a heroine. Later that evening, she attended a play written by Nobel Prize Literature winner, Dario Fo, about Sheehan's leadership for world peace.

Cindy Sheehan is an American mother who made a difference, and inspired others to also make a difference...including Senator Russ Feingold and Congressman John Murtha in their respective calls for the US to exit Iraq.

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Liberal Guide - Rick Santorum

Former Sen. Rick Santorum announced his candidacy for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination on June 6, 2011 while standing in the shadow of the Somerset County Courthouse in battleground state Pennsylvania, declaring about President Obama:

"He’s devalued our currency and he’s not just devalued our currency, he’s devalued our culture. Through marriage, and through not standing up to the Defense of Marriage Act. Through federal funding of abortions. He’s devaluing our dollars, and he devalues our other currency, our moral currency.

I love our tea partiers
"I love our tea partiers who raise their Constitution up... I believe now that Americans are not looking for someone that they can believe in; they're looking for a President who believes in them."

Through Liberal Eyes - These's a reason why former two-term U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania was soundly defeated for reelection in 2006: he's so virulently and thoroughly conservative as to make most voters uncomfortable. And he's grotesquely self-righteous and humorless.

But Santorum is famed for his freakishly extreme feelings on the gay community. "In two terms in the Senate, he became best known for his stalwart stand against gay rights and, more broadly, gayness in general, although Santorum prefers the words 'homosexual' or 'sodomites'... He has compared the idea of homosexual marriage to 'man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be.'" reports NNDB.

The bottom line: Rick Santorum might be too extreme, even for the Republican party in 2012. Liberals find it deeply frightening that this guy was elected twice to the Senate.

Competitors - Despite his evangelical Christian bona fides and conservative credibility from two terms in the U.S. Senate, Rick Santorum has trailed the top contenders for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and businessman/media personality Herman Cain.

Rick Santorum on the Issues - Rick Santorum is extremely conservative on social issues, including gay rights, same-gender marriage, and abortion. Among his specific stances are: Santorum believes abortion should be banned except in cases of rape and incest. His Congresssional voting is rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a perfect pro-life record. His voting record is rated 100% by the ultra-conservative Christian Coalition. He voted that sexual oreintation should NOT be included as a cause for hate crimes. He voted NO to prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.Former Sen. Santorum's voting record is strongly anti-environment and pro-oil industry: His record is rated 0% by League of Conservation Voters. In 2005, he Voted NO on reducing U.S. oil usage by 40% by 2025. Four times, he's voted YES to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In 1999, Sen. Santorum voted for federal defunding of renewable and solar energy initiatives.On economic issues: Santorum voted YES on every possible free trade agreement. His voting record is rated 100% by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Rick Santorum has consistently voted against raising minimum wage rates.Rick Santorum in Elected Office - January 1995 to January 2007 - U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (two terms) January 1991 to January 1995 - Congressman from Pennsylvania's 18th District (two terms)Rick Santorum's Personal Background Birth - May 10, 1958 in Winchester, Virginia, the second of three children born to Aldo Santorum, a native of Italy, and wife Catherine a nurse. Aldo enjoyed a lengthy career with the U.S. Veterans' Administration in number of cities, and earned licensure as a psychologist in 1974. Education - Graduated in 1976 from Carmel High School in Mundelein, Illinois, although he was raised mainly in Virginia. Santorum played second team basketball in high school.

B.A. in political science, 1980, Pennsylvania State University, where he was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity. M.B.A. in 1981, University of Pittsburgh. J.D., 1986, Pennsylvania State University's Dickinson School of Law.

Family - Married in 1990 to Karen Garver, an attorney and formerly a nurse with an R.N. degree from Duquesne University.

Seven children: daughters Elizabeth, Sarah, and Isabella, and sons Richard Jr., Daniel, Peter, and Patrick. A son, Gabriel, born prematurely in 1996, died shortly after birth.

Youngest child, Isabella, born in 2008, is terminally ill with Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder.

Faith - Devoutly Roman Catholic. Rick and Karen Santorum have been honored with the John Paul II Award for "championing women and unborn children" by a Catholic graduate school of psychology.

They were investitured by a Catholic Diocese in 2004 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City as Knight and Lady of Magisterial Grace of the Knights of Order of Malta. The Order requires that "Members are active and practicing Catholics in good standing who support the teaching of the Catholic Church and participate in the spiritual activities and service projects of the order."

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Liberal Guide - Jon Huntsman

On June 21, 2011 while standing near the Statue of Liberty, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. announced his candidacy for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination, declaring "For the first time in our history, we are about to pass down to the next generation a country that is less powerful, less compassionate, less competitive and less confident than the one we got.

"This is totally unacceptable and totally un-American. And it need not, must not, will not be our permanent condition! We will not be the first American generation that lets down the next generation."

Jon Huntsman Jr. served as President Obama's Ambassador to China from August 2009 through April 2011, and as Ambassador to Singapore for President George H.W. Bush from August 1992 through June 1993.

Competitors - Although feared by Democrats as one of very few Republican candidates who could beat President Obama in 2012, Gov. Huntsman has consistently trailed his conservative competitors, who include former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and House members Rep. Ron Paul and Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Jon Huntsman on the Issues - Gov. Huntsman is staunchly conservative on most, but not all, issues. He differs from mainstream Republicans on two main issues: civil unions for same-gender couples, and the importance of stemming global warming.

Gov. Huntsman's political stances include: Pro-life, especially on abortion. As governor, he signed three bills to limit access to abortions. Supports a voucher system for "school choice" in public education. Strong supporter of free trade and globalization in trade. Opposes gun control, and would veto any ban on assault weapons. Is quite admired by the CATO Institute, conservative-libertarian think-tank for his conservative tax-cutting proposals and policies.Jon Huntsman in Elected Office - Huntsman was elected Utah governor twice, in 2004 and 2008, although he resigned in August 2009 to become the Obama administration's Ambassador to China.

Jon Huntsman's Many Political Appointments - Before his sole elective office, however, Mr. Huntsman received a number of plum political appointments from 1987 to 1993, and again from 2001 to 2003, including as: White House staff assistant - Reagan administration Deputy Assistant Commerce Secretary, East Asian/Pacific - Bush I administration US Ambassador to Singapore - Bush I administration Deputy US Trade Representative - Bush II administrationHuntsman was the recipient of this myriad of political appointments largely due to his suavely mannered communication style and personal attractiveness, his knowledge of and family business connections to China and the Far East, and presumably due to the prominence of Huntsman's billionaire father in the Republican party.

From 1993 to 2001, Jon Huntsman Jr. served as CEO of Huntsman Corporation, which was founded in 1979 by his father. The highly profitable company boasted $9 billion in sales and 12,000 employees in 2010.

Huntsman Corporation is a "global chemical company" that is "a manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemical products," per Wikipedia. The company went public in 2005, and spurned a $6 billion take-over offer in 2007.

Jon Huntsman's Personal Background Birth - March 26, 1960 in Palo Alto, California, the first of nine children born to David and Karen Huntsman, a devout, generations-long Mormon family. Education - Dropped out of high school in Salt Lake City, Utah to devote his attention to a music career as a keyboardist with a youthful band. Instead, Huntsman earned a GED.

Two years at University of Utah, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. Transferred to University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a BA in international politics in 1987.

Huntsman served two years a a Mormon missionary in Taiwan before he transferred to University of Pennsylvania. In Taiwan, he mastered the Mandarin Chinese language.

Family - Married since 1983 to Mary Kaye Cooper, his high school sweetheart. Seven children, including five adult children and two younger, adopted daughters.

The Huntsman family adult children are Mary Anne (1985), Abigail (1986), Elizabeth (1989), Jon (1991) and William (1993). The younger Huntsman family children are Gracie Mei (born in China in 1999) and Asha Bharati (born in India in 2006).

Faith - Christian, Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) denomination.

Of Huntsman's religiosity, Time magazine excerpted its May 2011 with the former Utah governor, " 'I'm a very spiritual person,' as opposed to a religious one, he says, 'and proud of my Mormon roots.' Roots? That makes it sound as if you're not a member anymore. Are you? 'That's tough to define,' he says. 'There are varying degrees. I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.'"Interests - Motorcycling, shooting

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Liberal Profile - Michele Bachmann

On June 27, 2011 in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, Rep. Michele Bachmann declared her candidacy for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, declaring "The liberals, and to be clear I'm NOT one of them, want you to think the Tea Party is the Right Wing of the Republican Party. But it's not. It's made up of disaffected Democrats, independents, people who've never been political a day in their life, libertarians, Republicans. We're people who simply want America back on the right track again."

Competitors - In mid-August 2011, Rep. Bachmann won the Ames, Iowa Straw Poll, the first 2012 Republican contest in the presidential race, anointing her as a top contender for the White House.

In polls since August, though, Rep. Bachmann has lagged behind competitors Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and media personality/businessman Herman Cain.

Through Liberal Eyes - Michele Bachmann, a devoted conservative evangelical Christian for 40 years, is absolutely determined to impose her extremist social, anti-science, and Tea Party economic values on all Americans. Her political career has been passionately backed for years by powerful conservative Christian lobbyist Dr. James Dobson.

Despite her college education and advanced degrees, Bachmann's speeches have included embarrassingly basic errors about U.S. history and betrayed an irrational anti-science proclivity. Rep. Bachmann is not a stupid person, but she's made curiously stupid, over-the-top statements on the campaign trail, likely revealing her desperation to win this race.

Husband Marcus heads a conservative Christian counseling service that is strongly rumored to specialize in converting gays to straight.

The bottom line: If the most extremist social conservatives decided the Republican presidential nominee, Michele Bachmann would likely be their 2012 nominee. Fortunately, they do not.

As a well-educated conservative woman with impeccable Tea Party credentials, Rep. Bachmann might well become part of a President Romney administration. Look for her to play an instrumental role in any 2012 presidential campaign.

Michele Bachmann on the Issues - Rep. Bachmann's political stances on issues are based firmly on her conservative evangelical Christian beliefs, including: 100% pro-life. She supports defunding Planned Parenthood, and believes that abortions should be strictly banned except in cases of rape or incest. 100% opposed to gay marriage and "the gay lifestyle" that is "part of Satan." In 2004, Bachmann told a 2004 educational conference about homosexuality, "It leads to the personal enslavement of individuals. Because if you’re involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it's bondage. Personal bondage, personal despair, and personal enslavement. And that's why this is so dangerous." Religious-based intelligent design theory over the science of evolution. "I support intelligent design. What I support is putting all science on the table and then letting students decide. I don't think it's a good idea for government to come down on one side of scientific issue or another, when there is reasonable doubt on both sides," remarked Bachmann to a 2011 Republican conference.Michele Bachmann in Elected Office - January 2001 to January 2007 - Minnesota state senator January 2007 to present - U.S. House member from MinnesotaRep. Bachmann is the founder of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus.

From 1988 through 1993, Michele Bachmann was employed as a Federal Tax Litigation Attorney for the Internal Revenue Service. From 1993 through 2000, she retired to become a fulltime parent to their five children and to house 23 foster children, all of them teenage girls.

Michele Bachmann's Personal Background Birth - April 6, 1956 in Waterloo, Iowa to David Amble, an engineer, and wife Jean. In 1969, the family moved to Minnesota. Soon after, Bachmann's parents divorced, and her father took a job with Honeywell in California. Michele's mother was remarried three years later to widower Raymond J. LaFave. Education - Graduated from Anoka High School in 1974 where Michele was a cheerleader and "straight-A" student. BA in political science, 1978, Winona State University. JD, 1979, Oral Robert University Law School. Master of Law in taxation, 1988, William & Mary College School of Law.

The day after high school graduation, Michele traveled with Young Life, an evangelical Christian youth group, to work in Israel on a kibbutz.

Bachmann's first step into politics was in 1977 as an undergraduate when she successfully ran for Student Senate Vice-President at Winona State University. Per the LaCrosse Tribune "Jim Schuman, an Eyota, Minn., farmer who served as president while Bachmann was VP, said she was a 'cute, talkative and perky girl' with conservative tendencies."

Family - Married in 1978 to Marcus Bachmann, two years after they met as undergraduates. Marcus, who holds a PhD in clinical psychology and MS in counseling, runs Bachmann & Associates, a conservative Christian counseling service based in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Five children: Sons Lucas and Harrison, and daughters Elisa, Caroline and Sophia. During a eight-year period in the 1990s, the Bachmanns also housed 23 foster children, all teenage girls, for spans ranging from a few weeks to more than a year. Most of the teenagers were pregnant; a few suffered from eating disorders.

Faith - Evangelical Christian.

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Liberal Guide - Ron Paul

On May 13, 2011 in New Hampshire, Libertarian-Republican Congressman Ron Paul announced his third run for the presidency, declaring in a lengthy speech, "The reason I work so hard for personal liberty is a very important reason. It’s for myself, it’s for my family, my friends, my neighbors and our country. Because I believe if we did have our liberties we would have more prosperity."

In 1988, Rep. Paul was the Libertarian Party nominee for the White House race. He unsuccessfully sought the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

Competitors - Ron Paul finished a close second place behind evangelical Christian conservative Rep. Michele Bachmann in the influential Ames, Iowa Straw Poll on August 13, 2011. Paul also won the Illinois state GOP straw poll with 52 percent of the vote; second-place finisher former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney garnered only 35 percent.

National polls by credible organizations infrequently report Rep. Paul as a top 2012 Republican contender even though he's zealously supported by a cadre of faithful followers.

Ron Paul's other top competitors in 2012 are Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, media personality/businessman Herman Cain, and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

Through Liberal Eyes - Ron Paul's complicated, purist-Libertarian political notions are not easily categorized as either "conservative" or "liberal," and sometimes result in extremist stances. His media caricature as a cranky, charisma-free old man makes Rep. Paul even more of a "hard sell" to the American public.

The bottom line - Despite a passionate following and despite solid polling and straw-poll wins, the Republican party will never nominate Ron Paul for the 2012 presidential race.

Ron Paul on the Issues - Ron Paul is a longtime Libertarian whose political views and stances are informed by philosophers Hayek, von Mises and Rand.

In summary, Rep. Paul believes that government services should be quite limited, and that government should not interfere in personal lives. Among Ron Paul's stances on specific political issues are: U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should end immediately. US troops should be withdrawn and brought home. US foreign aid wastes billions of taxpayer funds, and should be cut radically or entirely eliminated. Stop spending billions on propping up "puppet dictators." Audit the Federal Reserve, and return to a gold standard. Rated 76% for his pro-free trade record, by the conservative CATO Institute. No bank bailouts. "Government destroys jobs; the market creates jobs. So the government isn't going to be expected to create the jobs; they have to change the environment." Repeal the estate tax. Slash income taxes for all Americans. Abolish the IRS. Welfare "isn't authorized in the Constitution." Abolish Social Security, "but not overnight." "... allow all the young people to get out of Social Security and go on their own."Ron Paul in Elected Office - Inspired by studying the writings of Libertarian philosophers and angered over President Nixon's monetary policies, Ron Paul, a practicing physician, ran unsuccessfully in 1974 for Congress. He was appointed to a House vacancy in 1976, but lost again later that year. He prevailed in 1980 and 1982.

After failed campaigns for the US Senate in 1984 and the presidency in 1988, Ron Paul ran for and was reelected to the House in 1996. He's served eight consecutive terms.

Rep. Paul, a respected legislator who has sponsored or co-sponsored more than 350 bills, serves on a number of prominent House committees including the House Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and the Join Economic committees.

Ron Paul's Personal Background Birth - August 20, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the third of five sons born to dairy farmers Howard and Margaret Paul who resided in nearby town Green Tree. Education - Graduated in 1953 from Dormont High School, where he was part of the track and wrestling teams. BS in biology, 1957, Gettysburg College. MD, 1961, Duke University Medical School. Dr. Paul fulfilled his residency requirement in Detroit, Michigan. Family - Married since 1957 to high school sweetheart Carol Wells. Five adult children, all married: daughters Lori Paul Pyeatt and Joy Paul Leblanc, and sons Ron Jr., Robert Paul, and Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky. Thirteen grandchildren. Christian, Baptist denomination. Ron Paul was raised in a devout German Lutheran family.

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Liberal Guide - Newt Gingrich

On May 11, 2011, former House Speaker became the first top Republican leader to announce his 2012 presidential candidacy. He's also the first U.S. presidential contender in history to announce via social media outlet Twitter.

Ten-term Congressman Newt Gingrich from Georgia served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms, from January 1995 to January 1999. Another historic first for Gingrich: he's the only sitting House Speaker in U.S. history sanctioned for a Congressional ethics violation.

Gingrich was Time's Man of the Year in 1995 for leading the Republican Revolution, powered by the Contract with America, that enabled Republicans to retake control of Congress after Bill Clinton's 1992 election to the White House.

Through Liberal Eyes - In 2011, Newt Gingrich is a brazen provocateur and opportunist, poised to utter any partisan comment or take any extremist stance to draw attention to himself.

He's particularly fond of attaching catchy, albeit misleading, labels to gain political advantage over opponents. (Example: Obama is the "the most effective food stamp President in history.")

The bottom line: Newt can capture the Republican 2012 presidential nomination only if Perry, Cain, and Bachmann continue to stumble with Republican voters, and if Romney continues to lack coalition-building momentum. Which means he has a decent chance to win the nomination.

An achilles heel for Newt Gingrich in a 2012 presidential race will be his apparent proclivity for lavish living (six-figure Tiffany charge accounts, Greek Island cruises) in the 21st century with third wife Callista.

Competitors - For most of the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nod, Newt has trailed top contenders Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and media personality/businessman Herman Cain.

In mid-November 2011, though, Gingrich bumped up in several polls due mainly to gaffes by competitors Rick Perry and Herman Cain.

Newt Gingrich in Elected Office - After unsuccessful bids for Congress in 1974 and 1976, Gingrich was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, where he served for twenty years. Soon after his election, Rep. Gingrich established the House Military Reform Caucus.

Outspoken, bright and then brimming with fresh conservative ideas, Gingrich rose through House ranks to Minority Whip by 1989. He served as Minority Whip until elected House Speaker in 1995, when Republicans gained control of the House.

Gingrich was chief architect and spokesman for Republicans' 1994 Contract with America. The Contract was a "list of eight reforms the Republicans promised to enact, and ten bills they promised to bring to floor debate and votes, if they were made the majority following the election," per Wikipedia.

Gingrich's House tenure was also marked by headline-grabbing personal failings... among them, 84 ethics violations charges, most related to income taxes and use of nonpartisan forums for politicking, and a six-year affair with a staffer, now his third wife, while Gingrich was pursuing impeachment charges against President Clinton for lying about an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Newt Gingrich's Personal Background
Birth - June 17, 1943 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to parents, Newton and Kathleen McPherson, who were divorced before he was born.

Newt was adopted at age three by his mother's second husband, Robert Gingrich, an Army officer whose assignments required frequent family moving, including overseas posts. Three half-sisters.

Education - Graduated in 1961 from Baker High School in Columbus, Georgia. BA in History, 1965, Emory University. MA, 1968, and PhD, 1971, in European History, Tulane University. Family - Married to third wife Callista Bisek, a political staffer for Gingrich, in 2000. Congressman Gingrich was divorced from his first two wives, both times after messy public allegations of infidelity. First wife was Jackie Battley, his former high school geometry teacher. Second wife was Marianne Ginther, also a political staffer.

Two adult daughters with first wife Jackie: Jackie Gingrich Cushman (b. 1966), conservative commentator, author and founder of Learning Makes a Difference Foundation; and Kathy Gingrich Lubbers (b. 1963), President/CEO of Gingrich Communications, Newt's media and public relations operation.

Faith - Christian. Converted to Roman Catholic in 2009. Southern Baptist for 40 years.

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Liberal Issues for 2010

Look for finalization of health care reform legislation to be excruciatingly difficult!

On November 7, 2009 by a vote of 220 to 215, the House passed health reform which included a watered-down public plan option, and the Stupak amendment, which restricts womens' access to all abortions if coverage is purchased through a government exchange.

On December 24, 2009 by a party-line vote of 60 to 39, the Senate passed health reform which excluded any public or Medicare-like option, but contained less restrictive language on funding of abortions.

A Congressional conference committee must reconcile the two bills into one package that can survive another vote by both the House and Senate, which will than be signed into law by President Obama.

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Liberal Guide - Herman Cain

On May 11, 2011, Herman Cain, businessman, pastor and regional radio personality, announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, proclaiming to a wildly cheering Atlanta, Georgia crowd:

"Hope and change ain’t working. Hope and change is not a solution. Hope and change is not a job. Hope and change is not a new business. Hope and change is not a vision. We need a new vision in the country and that means we need a new person leading this nation in the White House. It ain’t working..."

Through Liberal Eyes - Herman Cain is a conservative's conservative who opposes a dizzying list of issues and rights: Muslim places of worship in our communities; gay rights; abortion except in rare circumstances; immigration reform; health care reform, and too many more to list here.

Media-savvy Cain speaks with commanding authority stemming from his experiences as Baptist pastor and TV and talk-radio personality. He also speaks with a extraordinarily confident certitude unseen since... well, Sarah Palin.

The bottom-line: Herman Cain is in near-total agreement with the Tea Party on all issues. Cain could prove a formidable competitor for the Republican presidential nomination, especially if Republicans are split over Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.

Competitors - Per polling, Herman Cain is running third for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, behind top competitors Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The victor will run against President Barack Obama on November 6, 2012.

Herman Cain on the Issues Muslims - Herman Cain told an interviewer in 2011 that, if elected, he would not have Muslims in his administration because "There's this creeping attempt... to gradually ease Shariah Law, and the Muslim faith into our government. It does not belong in our government"

Per Wikipedia, "Cain opposed the building of an Islamic Center for a Muslim community at a site in Tennessee, claiming that it was 'an infringement and an abuse of our freedom of religion' and 'just another way to try to gradually sneak Shariah law into our laws'."

Abortion - Cain has called for defunding Planned Parenthood. During his unsuccessful 2004 Senate race, Cain stated that abortion should only be permitted in cases of incest and rape. Gay Rights - Cain supports neither gay marriage nor civil unions for same-gender couples, and believes that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be reinstated for the military. Health Care Reform - Cain made his political debut as a very effective and outspoken opponent of the Clinton administration's health care plan bill. He publicly decried the cost of health care reform to small businesses.

At a 2011 Republican debate, cancer-survivor Herman Cain claimed that he "would be dead" if "we had been on Obamacare." PolitiFact rated his statement FALSE, based on his arguments supporting this statement.

Immigration Reform - Cain is a staunch opponent of immigration reform. Per Cain in 2006, "Our federal government's wink-and-nod policy toward illegal aliens and their employers encourages massive identity theft, document fraud and ruined financial standing for millions of Americans."

In 2011, Cain orated, "... the term 'comprehensive immigration reform' tossed around by liberals is simply code for 'do nothing' which becomes amnesty. There are 3 steps to solving our illegal immigration problem: securing the border; enforce the laws; promote the existing path to citizenship."

Cain has stated he cannot support Rick Perry for president because Perry supports giving in-state tuition breaks to children of illegal immigrants.

Herman Cain in Elected Office

Herman Cain has never held elected office, although he has run in several races. Most notably, Cain entered Georgia's 2004 U.S. senatorial race, but finished second in the Republican primary election. Cain also pursued the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.

Mr. Cain served in public, appointed office from 1992 to 1996 on the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, including as Chairman from 1995 to 1996.

Herman Cain, Media Personality

Since the mid-1990s, when Herman Cain left corporate leadership, he has crafted a large media presence and following, including: Fox Business commentator, to the present A talk-radio show in the Atlanta market, The Herman Cain Show, until Feburary 2011 A syndicated newspaper column Authored four books on leadership, from 1997 to 2005Herman Cain, Successful Business Leader

While a graduate student, Mr. Cain in a civilian position for the U.S. Navy.

"After completing his master's degree from Purdue, Cain left the Department of the Navy and began working for The Coca-Cola Company as a business analyst. In 1977, he joined Pillsbury, where he rose to the position of Vice President by the early 1980s. He left his executive post to work for Burger King, which at the time was a Pillsbury subsidiary, where he managed 400 stores in the Philadelphia area.

"Under Cain's leadership, his region went in three years from the least profitable for Burger King to the most profitable. This prompted Pillsbury to appoint him President and CEO of another subsidiary, Godfather's Pizza... As a result of his efforts, Godfather's Pizza finally became profitable. In a leveraged buyout in 1988, Cain... and a group of investors bought Godfather's from Pillsbury. Cain continued as CEO until 1996, when he was asked to resign by the board," per Wikipedia.

Herman Cain's Background Birth - December 13, 1945 in Memphis, Tennessee to Luther and Lenora Cain. Luther worked as a janitor and chauffeur, and Lenora worked cleaning homes. Education - B.S. in mathematics, 1967, Morehouse College. M.S. in computer science, 1971, Purdue University. Family - Married to Gloria Cain, a teacher and librarian, since 1968. Two adult children, Melanie (1972) and Vincent (1978). Son Vincent Cain, also a Morehouse College graduate, is a financial manager at Fidelity National Bank in Atlanta. Health - Herman Cain is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed in 2006 with colon and liver cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy, Mr. Cain was declared cancer-free. Faith - Christian, National Baptist Convention denomination. Mr. Cain is associate pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta.

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Liberal Guide - Herman Cain

On May 11, 2011, Herman Cain, businessman, pastor and regional radio personality, announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, proclaiming to a wildly cheering Atlanta, Georgia crowd:

"Hope and change ain’t working. Hope and change is not a solution. Hope and change is not a job. Hope and change is not a new business. Hope and change is not a vision. We need a new vision in the country and that means we need a new person leading this nation in the White House. It ain’t working..."

Through Liberal Eyes - Herman Cain is a conservative's conservative who opposes a dizzying list of issues and rights: Muslim places of worship in our communities; gay rights; abortion except in rare circumstances; immigration reform; health care reform, and too many more to list here.

Media-savvy Cain speaks with commanding authority stemming from his experiences as Baptist pastor and TV and talk-radio personality. He also speaks with a extraordinarily confident certitude unseen since... well, Sarah Palin.

The bottom-line: Herman Cain is in near-total agreement with the Tea Party on all issues. Cain could prove a formidable competitor for the Republican presidential nomination, especially if Republicans are split over Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.

Competitors - Per polling, Herman Cain is running third for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, behind top competitors Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The victor will run against President Barack Obama on November 6, 2012.

Herman Cain on the Issues Muslims - Herman Cain told an interviewer in 2011 that, if elected, he would not have Muslims in his administration because "There's this creeping attempt... to gradually ease Shariah Law, and the Muslim faith into our government. It does not belong in our government"

Per Wikipedia, "Cain opposed the building of an Islamic Center for a Muslim community at a site in Tennessee, claiming that it was 'an infringement and an abuse of our freedom of religion' and 'just another way to try to gradually sneak Shariah law into our laws'."

Abortion - Cain has called for defunding Planned Parenthood. During his unsuccessful 2004 Senate race, Cain stated that abortion should only be permitted in cases of incest and rape. Gay Rights - Cain supports neither gay marriage nor civil unions for same-gender couples, and believes that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be reinstated for the military. Health Care Reform - Cain made his political debut as a very effective and outspoken opponent of the Clinton administration's health care plan bill. He publicly decried the cost of health care reform to small businesses.

At a 2011 Republican debate, cancer-survivor Herman Cain claimed that he "would be dead" if "we had been on Obamacare." PolitiFact rated his statement FALSE, based on his arguments supporting this statement.

Immigration Reform - Cain is a staunch opponent of immigration reform. Per Cain in 2006, "Our federal government's wink-and-nod policy toward illegal aliens and their employers encourages massive identity theft, document fraud and ruined financial standing for millions of Americans."

In 2011, Cain orated, "... the term 'comprehensive immigration reform' tossed around by liberals is simply code for 'do nothing' which becomes amnesty. There are 3 steps to solving our illegal immigration problem: securing the border; enforce the laws; promote the existing path to citizenship."

Cain has stated he cannot support Rick Perry for president because Perry supports giving in-state tuition breaks to children of illegal immigrants.

Herman Cain in Elected Office

Herman Cain has never held elected office, although he has run in several races. Most notably, Cain entered Georgia's 2004 U.S. senatorial race, but finished second in the Republican primary election. Cain also pursued the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.

Mr. Cain served in public, appointed office from 1992 to 1996 on the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, including as Chairman from 1995 to 1996.

Herman Cain, Media Personality

Since the mid-1990s, when Herman Cain left corporate leadership, he has crafted a large media presence and following, including: Fox Business commentator, to the present A talk-radio show in the Atlanta market, The Herman Cain Show, until Feburary 2011 A syndicated newspaper column Authored four books on leadership, from 1997 to 2005Herman Cain, Successful Business Leader

While a graduate student, Mr. Cain in a civilian position for the U.S. Navy.

"After completing his master's degree from Purdue, Cain left the Department of the Navy and began working for The Coca-Cola Company as a business analyst. In 1977, he joined Pillsbury, where he rose to the position of Vice President by the early 1980s. He left his executive post to work for Burger King, which at the time was a Pillsbury subsidiary, where he managed 400 stores in the Philadelphia area.

"Under Cain's leadership, his region went in three years from the least profitable for Burger King to the most profitable. This prompted Pillsbury to appoint him President and CEO of another subsidiary, Godfather's Pizza... As a result of his efforts, Godfather's Pizza finally became profitable. In a leveraged buyout in 1988, Cain... and a group of investors bought Godfather's from Pillsbury. Cain continued as CEO until 1996, when he was asked to resign by the board," per Wikipedia.

Herman Cain's Background Birth - December 13, 1945 in Memphis, Tennessee to Luther and Lenora Cain. Luther worked as a janitor and chauffeur, and Lenora worked cleaning homes. Education - B.S. in mathematics, 1967, Morehouse College. M.S. in computer science, 1971, Purdue University. Family - Married to Gloria Cain, a teacher and librarian, since 1968. Two adult children, Melanie (1972) and Vincent (1978). Son Vincent Cain, also a Morehouse College graduate, is a financial manager at Fidelity National Bank in Atlanta. Health - Herman Cain is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed in 2006 with colon and liver cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy, Mr. Cain was declared cancer-free. Faith - Christian, National Baptist Convention denomination. Mr. Cain is associate pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta.

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