Author: Talk Business

by Talk Business - October 26, 2011 7:00 pm

Herman Cain Speaks To Sold Out Crowd In Arkansas (update)

Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain spoke Thursday evening to a record northwest Arkansas crowd, which he brought to their feet with several standing ovations during his lively speech.  Cain arrived in Arkansas leading in most national polls by several points over Mitt Romney.

"Thank you for making this the most successful Washington County Lincoln Day Dinner ever," organizer Robin Lundstrum told the crowd. She noted some of their past speakers have included Bill O’Reilly, Mike Huckabee, Steve Forbes, Newt Gingrich, and Bobby Jindal. Tonight’s event was the largest with over 1,450 tickets sold.

An assorted mix of Republican officials were on hand, some supporting Cain, some others, and some undecideds. Arkansas Land Commissioner John Thurston sported a Herman Cain 2012 button and said that he is impressed with Cain, who is likely to get his vote. 

Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr, who endorsed Romney, was also in attendance, but said that Cain brought a lot of business expertise to the race as a "fellow pizza man."  Darr owns a pizza restaurant in Northwest Arkansas. State Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville, wore his Perry for President button to the event. He said he believed Perry was going to bounce back once people found out more about his record of creating jobs in Texas. Cain sat at a table between Sen. John Boozman and Secretary of State Mark Martin, both from northwest Arkansas.  Neither has indicated who they support for President.

"I feel right at home here, not only on this trip, but every trip I have made to Arkansas," said Cain. "You truly understand Southern hospitality."

"The American dream has been hijacked, but we can take it back," said Cain, who accused liberals of hijacking the American dream.  He addressed the economic and military strengths that people attribute to the United States saying that we can restore America’s greatness again.

Cain said one of the things that makes America great is our ability to change when we have to make a change.  Cain spoke about great leaders in the past – such as John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Martin Luther King, Jr., who were bold to propose major changes.  "The American people are itching for some major change in this country," said Cain."We have a severe deficiency of leadership crisis in the White House."

Cain spent a lot of time talking about his foreign policy philosophy, which he called "The Cain Philosophy," characterized as "peace through strength with clarity."  He said that we have to make clear who our friends are around the world and quit giving money to our enemies.

Cain also highlighted his business background saying that he understands how to fix the economy better than President Obama.  He talked about his plan to throw out the tax code and replace it with his 999 plan.  The crowd, familiar with the plan, said the words "999" along with Cain.  The plan would set income tax and corporate tax rates at 9 percent and create a new 9 percent sales tax.  Cain criticized the analysis of his 999 plan from the Tax Policy Center calling it "a liberal hit group" that put out their critique hours before the debate.

"In 2012, you and I are going to tell President Obama to hit the highway," said Cain.  But he cautioned the crowd to "stay informed because stupid people are ruining America."

A couple of dozen Occupy Wall Street protesters gathered outside the event and Herman Cain addressed them during his speech. "Nobody knows what their cause is," said Cain, telling them to "go home and get a job and a life."

Cain said the pundits did not expect him to win until his surprise first place showing in the Florida straw poll, but now many are beginning the listen.  He credited his rise in the polls to the "voice of the Tea Party."

"The voice of the people is more powerful than the voice of the media," said Cain. "Message is more important than money."

Cain’s appearance in Arkansas, which has a late May primary, is a rare one for a Presidential frontrunner, but a sell-out crowd in Springdale got a closer look at the national GOP poll leader tonight.

UPDATE – Several have asked for Herman Cain’s whole speech on Thursday in Springdale so here it is.

Cain says that the American Dream has been hijacked by liberals.

Cain discusses the economy and his 999 plan.

Cain tells people to stay involved.

Cain on his inspiration for running for President (includes full context on his comments on Occupy Wall Street protesters.)

Cain says his rise in the polls is because he has become the voice of the people.

by Talk Business - October 25, 2011 7:00 pm

Pryor Opposes The Obama Jobs Bill That He Voted To Advance

Sen. Mark Pryor has been traveling around the state touting a six-part jobs plan that he says "includes a number of bipartisan initiatives, is aimed at creating jobs by setting the table for growth, encouraging new products and new industries, investing in infrastructure, maximizing agricultural opportunities, preparing tomorrow’s job-generators to compete (and win), and empowering small business owners to succeed." 

The plan is a hodge-podge of various bills he has introduced or supported that all have varying degrees of either not passing or never passing.

However, he also made an interesting announcement at the jobs press conference here in Little Rock where he now says he does not support the Obama jobs bill just days after he voted to advance it.

At the time of his vote on October 11, he said on his vote to advance the bill that the "jobs package, far from perfect, deserves debate and a vigorous amendment process."  His vote was for cloture motion which requires 60 votes, although it only end up receiving 50 votes.

However, back in Little Rock on October 14 when asked by a reporter if he would support the president’s plan, he said, "I am not going to support his plan as it currently is. I like parts of it and if we do see some Senators try to break pieces of it out, I look forward to that. But I probably would support some piece broken out that I am hearing broken out regarding infrastructure. So I can definitely support some of it, but some of it does not help Arkansas that much and I am not sure would create many jobs or boost the economy. But I don’t want to criticize his plan; I am glad he put it out there. I think it got the national discussion going.  He put something out there that – quite frankly – the Republicans could vote against. And maybe that is a good thing in today’s environment and now move on with something bipartisan that we can get through the House and Senate."

So which is it, Sen. Pryor?  Are you against it after you were for it?  Shades of Blanche Lincoln.

by Talk Business - October 25, 2011 7:00 pm

Beebe: ‘probably Going To Vote For’ Obama

Gov. Mike Beebe sat down with Roby Brock, chief editor of Talk Business, for a live streamed interview with questions from our readers. They covered a variety of issues including national and Presidential politics.

by Talk Business - October 25, 2011 7:00 pm

Health Exchange Summit Cost $10k; Another One Planned

If you recall early in October, the Arkansas Insurance Department hosted a summit here in Little Rock that primarily focused on how implementing health care exchanges is "Good News!" for Arkansas.  If you missed it, you can read my coverage here.

I bring this up because I just heard back on the total cost of the summit which was $10,023.64. This included $6,931.97 for the Embassy Suites rooms, set up, and food; $5,275.75 for summit consultant fees, booklets, collating, event coordination, and printing; $33.92 for folders; and $557 in travel expenses for the keynote speaker. 

These expenses were offset by $2,775 in registration fess, which based on the $25 fee puts the attendee number around 111.  They did note that legislators, presenters and steering committee members did not have to pay.

But don’t worry – all this came from "free money" funded by the $1 million Level 1 federal grant that the state had already received for planning for the implementation of the health care exchanges, part of the ObamaCare puzzle.

If you missed the summit, Commissioner Jay Bradford and Arkansas State Surgeon General Dr. Joe Thompson will be taking their show on the road on November 7 as they "share a vision and report on progress" on "building a better Arkansas health system for the 21st century."  The event will be simulcast around the state from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM with locations at Batesville, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith,  Helena-West Helena, Jonesboro, Mountain Home, Pine Bluff, and Texarkana.

More details can found here.