Stay informed. Stay involved. Stay inspired.
Three simple points were all former Republican Party presidential hopeful Herman Cain needed to invigorate a 130-person crowd Thursday at Ohio University.
The crowd, made up of students, faculty and Athens residents, filed through the corridors of Morton Hall to hear Cain speak at 2 p.m. as a part of his recently launched college tour.
Cain explained the inspiration for his “9-9-9” plan, which launched him to the forefront of the Republican race last fall. He suspended his campaign in December and will soon release 9-9-9: The Book.
“We came up with the 9-9-9 plan because we wanted the economy to grow, and in order to do that, you must lower taxes,” the former Burger King executive and Godfather’s Pizza CEO said. “The 9-9-9 is supposed to be fair to everybody, with no special loopholes and no special exceptions. We want to treat everybody the same.”
To solve the issues involving the economy, young people should be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem, he said.
“When the people have the right information, they will make the right decision,” Cain said, alluding to Thomas Jefferson.
In the eyes of Richard Vedder, a distinguished professor of economics at OU, Cain is one “of the most important visionaries.”
“(Students) would be able to make a difference in the election, even narrowing Obama’s chances,” if they choose to stay informed, Vedder said.
The event, put on by the OU College Republicans, didn’t cost the group or the university anything.
“It’s rare when someone with a strong political background comes to Athens,” Athens County Commissioner Larry Payne said. “I wanted to hear what he had to say, and maybe get some ideas for helping Athens County.”
Though Cain’s campaign for the presidential nomination has ended, students such as senior Phil Smith continue to embrace his ideas for the economy.
“I really liked his campaign because of his conservative ideas,” Smith said. “It’s difficult to find conservative ideas in Athens.”
As Cain wrapped up his final words of wisdom, he challenged young people to engross themselves in the political world and become more active.
“We can either follow history and collapse, or rewrite America’s future and take America to the next level,” Cain said. “I believe that is what the American spirit will do.”
az346610@ohiou.edu
