© The Associated PressHerman Cain speaks during an April dinner sponsored by Americans for Prosperity and the Koch brothers, billionaires who bankroll right-leaning causes.
Cain's campaign manager and a number of aides have worked for AFP, the advocacy group founded with support from billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, which lobbies for lower taxes and less government regulation and spending. Cain credits a businessman who served on an AFP advisory board with helping devise his "9-9-9" plan to rewrite the nation's tax code. And his years of speaking at AFP events have given the businessman and radio host a network of grass-roots fans.
AFP tapped Cain as the public face of its "Prosperity Expansion Project," and he traveled the country in 2005 and 2006 speaking to activists who were starting state-based AFP chapters from Wisconsin to Virginia. Through his AFP work he met Mark Block, a longtime Wisconsin Republican operative hired to lead that state's AFP chapter in 2005. Block and Cain sometimes traveled together as they built up AFP: Cain was the charismatic speaker preaching the ills of big government; Block helped with the nuts and bolts.
When President Barack Obama's election helped spawn the Tea Party, Cain was positioned to take advantage. He became a draw at growing AFP-backed rallies, impressing activists with a mix of humor and hard-hitting rhetoric against Obama's stimulus, health care and budget policies.
Block is now Cain's campaign manager. Other aides who had done AFP work were also brought on board the campaign.
Cain's spokeswoman Ellen Carmichael, who recently left the campaign, was an AFP coordinator in Louisiana. His campaign's outside law firm is representing AFP in a case challenging Wisconsin campaign finance regulations. At least six other current and former paid employees and consultants for Cain's campaign have worked for AFP in various capacities.
And Cain has credited Rich Lowrie, a Cleveland businessman who served on AFP's board of advisers from 2005 to 2008, with being a key economic adviser and with helping develop his plan to cut the corporate tax rate to 9 percent, impose a national sales tax of 9 percent and set a flat income tax rate of 9 percent.
"He's got a national network now that perhaps he wouldn't have had 15 or 20 years ago because of his work with AFP," said Wisconsin Republican Vice Chairman Brian Schimming, who has introduced Cain at events in Wisconsin. "For a presidential candidate, that's obviously helpful to have."
While Cain is quick to promote his career at the helm of the Godfather's Pizza chain, his ties to AFP aren't something the candidate appears eager to highlight.
His campaign did not respond to repeated messages seeking comment between Thursday and Sunday, and Cain does not include his AFP work on his biography on his website. But Cain continues to work with the group.
While several other candidates will be at an Iowa Republican Party dinner on Nov. 4, Cain is scheduled to be in Washington mingling with activists at AFP's annual "Defending the American Dream" summit.
"He's a dynamic, pro-business speaker that connects well with our activists," said AFP spokesman Levi Russell.
To some liberals, Cain's rise with the help of AFP shows the incredible influence that outside groups controlled by superwealthy individuals with specific agendas can have on the political process.
Source: The Associated Press
One has only to look at what someone earning 10-30k per year is paying now, vs what they will pay under 9-9-9.
First, the public at large will be paying 9% sales tax on top of state sales taxes. Big time shock.
Second, at the end of the year, there is another 9% baloon payment due.
How does any rational person defend imposing a front and rear loaded tax burden on those who are just now scraping by?
They don't talk about it.
9-9-9 will be a blow to the economy. Make no mistake about it.
Do your homework, and check it out for yourself. WAKE UP.