t was hard to tell who was more giddy, the children playing in the Fountain of Rings or the 15,000 supporters who cheered Herman Cain's announcement of his candidacy for president. My son and I joined in both today at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park.

The event was a testimony of southern hospitality, both organized and congenial. There was no jostling or littering, just smiles, anticipation, and plenty of patriotic sentiment. The crowd kept filling in -- veterans, seniors, young families, black and white. Country music artists Krista Branch and Rick Monroe added a patriotic swell, saluting our troops with their music. Herman Cain's highlight clips ran on the video screens.

But the crowd was waiting for the official announcement from Atlanta-born Cain himself. They didn't have to wait long. Spotting his Aunt Bessie in the crowd, Cain said, "I don't know if she has decided if she can vote for me. But I am going to change her mind." And with the crowd's roar drowning him out, he announced his candidacy.

For his speech, Cain explained that he decided to run because America is a "nation of crises." He cited several of them: moral crisis, immigration crisis, debt crisis, and a deficiency of leadership among others. To address these crises, Mr. Cain laid out his vision for America. But, he said, it can't be just his vision, it has to be our vision. His four key elements were: real economic growth, real energy independence, real immigration through the front door, and real clear foreign policy. For each of these he talked about what the "Cain Doctrine" would be. For example, he declared that real economic growth is a necessity because we cannot fall 2nd to China economically or militarily. He also derided the raising of the debt ceiling and called for reduced spending instead.

Cain, as always, was very clear, direct, and passionate. Touching on the Olympic theme of the park, he cried, "I am not running for number two. I'm running to win!" He chided President Obama saying that " 'hope and change' is not a solution; it's not a new business." And the crowd loved his quip that "America needs a real leader not just a reader." But Cain stressed that it will not be an easy fight. He called on his supporters to "work a little harder" because it is not about us. The founding fathers did their job. Our job, he said, is to become the "defending fathers" for our children and grandchildren.

This was my son's first political rally. As I watched him cheer and then play in the fountains, I felt that gratitude for the freedoms we have in America. This is the greatest country. Our hard-won freedoms are worth defending. And Cain is the leader I think we need for that fight. I am glad my son and I could be part of a real change in our history.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110521/pl_ac/8514101_first_person_herman_cains_2012_presidential_candidacy_announcement/print

May 21, 2011