Herman Cain’s WSB Radio show on hiatus; Erick Erickson takes over
AJC file photo
Herman Cain, after three years on AM750 and now 95.5FM News/Talk WSB, aired his final show Tuesday night so he could pursue a possible presidential bid.
Program Director Pete Spriggs dubs it a “hiatus.”
“Depending how it goes and what he decides and how successful he is,” Spriggs said, ” it could be a very long-term hiatus from the air. He has the exploratory committee to explore the possibility of running for president. It’ s been impossible to do that as it needs to be done across the country and do his talk show.”
Beginning Thursday, Cain will be replaced in the 7 to 10 p.m. time slot by Erick Erickson, who joined WSB Radio last month and whose show had been airing from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Financial expert Dave Ramsey, who left 640/WGST-AM at the end of 2010 and joined WSB Radio, will cover 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. He had been airing from midnight to 3 a.m.
Cain, a conservative businessman who also subbed for Neal Boortz over the years, will talk with Erickson from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday night, according to Erickson on his website www.redstate.com.
Erickson has been contributing to CNN’s “John King, USA” for the past few months from 7 to 8 p.m. Erickson did not say how he will reconcile that responsibility but said he will remain with CNN, as well as run his website.
Because of Federal Communications Commission equal-time provisions, if Cain runs for office, it would complicate his ability to air a radio show because an opponent would have the right to request “equal time.”
Spriggs said that is not an issue yet since Cain has not officially declared he was running for office.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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183 comments Add your comment
Jeanette Ray
February 2nd, 2011
12:12 pm
A President who can not speak grammatically correct English after Obama is a natural porgression…don’t you think?
GM
February 2nd, 2011
12:21 pm
You GO HERMAN…..and the rest can either get on the wagon or Get Out Of The Way!
TLamar
February 2nd, 2011
12:28 pm
Please, he is kidding. He should call Michael Steel and ask him how the Repubs throw him under the bus. He was on Bill Mahar last week and I’m sure he felt he was used by the Repubs to get African-American votes and when he could produce the kick his A@@ out. Also, Herman I think you are one of those Scratching your head and Shuffling your feet kind of people and I’m sure he would get my drift. His announcement will be laughable at best.
Drew
February 2nd, 2011
12:30 pm
I like Cain a lot (after hearing Hannity on WSB, Cain at least seems to be genuinely nice), but what does a guy who started a pizza place know about being President of the USA? It’s like asking Papa John’s to run for governor of his state.
Still, Cain can’t be any worse than Newt Gingrich.
fedupw/thestatusquo
February 2nd, 2011
12:32 pm
Sadly, I will miss Herman Cain each night on WSB, I look forward to the possibility of him running for POTUS. He is far more qualified than the community organizer. Take a look at Herman’s bio and he definitely has the quals, much than the present person taking up space in DC. Unlike Prez Bo, Herman doesn’t need his handy teleprompter and uses common sense. Damn, what a concept. Herman may not win, but at least he has the nerve to try to make a difference. He’s got my vote.
Donna P.
February 2nd, 2011
12:32 pm
Herman’s talents would be better suited as a Vice President or in the President’s Cabinet instead of being the President. It is sad when African-Americans berate another African-American who isn’t a Democrat. Democrats have done an excellent job of keeping blacks in their place and under their control; it’s pathetic really.
Sick of childish behavior
February 2nd, 2011
12:34 pm
Why do people use this forum to childishly bash the cr@p out of someone?? If you disagree/dislike the man then put it here in a professional and educated manner. If you agree then do the same. Why the need to act so hatefully?
Will Stockdale
February 2nd, 2011
12:34 pm
In 1992 it was said Bill Clinton had no chance….. He was elected 42nd POTUS. The same about George Bush in 2000. He became 43rd POTUS. I say Good Luck Mr. Caine.
Whacks Eloquent
February 2nd, 2011
12:36 pm
A glimpse at Herman’s Experience:
President of Godfather’s Pizza – Pillsbury Co. – 1986-87
President and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza – 1988-2002 (that’s right they went independent!)
Board of Directors, National Restaurant Association – 1988-95
Chairman, Board of Directors, National Restaurant Association – 1994-95
President and CEO, National Restaurant Association – 1996-98
Founder, President and CEO, THE New Voice, Inc. (leadership consulting)
Board of Directors, AGCO Corp. – 2004-current
Board of Directors, Hallmark Cards Inc. – 2005-current
Board of Directors, Whirlpool Corp. – 1992-2003,2005-current
and more, way too many to list…
“…stunning level of ignorance…”
If this man is a picture of ignorance then we as the human race are screwed!
Chairman, Board of Directors, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City -
Amy P
February 2nd, 2011
12:38 pm
Good luck Herman, you have my vote!!! Haters can go pound sand.
Whacks Eloquent
February 2nd, 2011
12:40 pm
heh, that last one went out of sequence:
Chairman, Board of Directors, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City – 1995-96
so much for him not understanding economics either. they don’t give those posts to ignorant businessmen…
I’ll post a corp. profile link if Rodney will let me. Suffice it to say I have zero concerns about Mr. Cain’s ability to lead this country…
MeaneyMouse
February 2nd, 2011
12:40 pm
Good dayyuumm riddance. I never listened to this loser anyway. He dosen’t stand a chance!!
GIVE EM HELL MR.PRESIDENT OBAMA
OBAMA2012
Whacks Eloquent
February 2nd, 2011
12:41 pm
This is his profile from Whirlpool website – not even close to his most significant accomplishment. But no doubt they think they have something here!
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=638159&ticker=WHR:US&previousCapId=314515&previousTitle=WHIRLPOOL%20CORP
Carla
February 2nd, 2011
12:41 pm
Oh my gosh…the same people who couldn’t WAIT to vote for no nothing, do nothing Obama cause of the color of his skin are after Hermon for the same reason? He has more real world experience, more business experience and he talks to the PEOPLE everyday…he is way more connected to what we the people want than obama ever was. All that man has done is pass legislation that half the country doesn’t want…sometimes more than half…he is as ineffectual as many of us knew he would be. But here comes a NON POLITICIAN…someone we really need right now and all you gonna hate on him without even looking to see if he is qualified or valuable to our system of government. shame on you!
Beowulf
February 2nd, 2011
12:45 pm
Move over, Chris Matthews! It’s my turn for the “tingly leg”!
Run, Herman, run!
Good Grief
February 2nd, 2011
12:50 pm
Drew @ 12:30 -
If we keep electing only people that have “political” experience, we’ll keep ending up with people like Obama, who assembled the least experienced cabinet (as far as private sector experience is concerned) in history. If you look at the Republicans who were elected to the House in 2010, you’ll see a fair amount of small business experience. That’s what a lot of voters are looking for now.
You Distort/We Deride
February 2nd, 2011
12:53 pm
Just another shill for the Republican Party polluting the airwaves on a daily basis. Is he an entertainer or is he a politician? Why doesn’t WSB put a centrist on the radio instead, so at least the line of demarcation is not as obvious? Whether it’s the paranoid delusions of a riffing ranting Savage, the arrogant and self-promoting Neil “I’m Not a Republican but I love to kiss their azzes” Boortz, or the Candidate himself, WSB is a bastion of one-dimensional drivel.
Jim G.
February 2nd, 2011
12:59 pm
I can’t stand Herman Cain…and Erik Erickson??? really…???
Please put Dave Ramsey on at 7 and keep Erickson where he is at 10…
Kem
February 2nd, 2011
1:04 pm
Jeanette Ray– No we don’t. It’s nap time for you!
AudreyinGA
February 2nd, 2011
1:11 pm
Cain is on the board of the Whirlpool Corp., the latest company to OUTSOURCE jobs.
Really?!?
WAR EAGLE
February 2nd, 2011
1:12 pm
The only people who are against Mr. Cain are those who are afraid to work and those who don’t want to work but prefer a governemnt check. unions are afraid of him b/c their cushy agnedas won’t be heard and Al and Jesse are scared that he will educate the africans as to how those two clowns were scamming them all those years.
Dave in Marietta
February 2nd, 2011
1:12 pm
I would sooner vote for Herman Munster.
Good Grief
February 2nd, 2011
1:13 pm
You Distort -
Just for a point of cmoparison and contrast to your post, I’ve never found Boortz to have any particular love for Republicans. Does he like them better than Democrats? I’d say that’s marginal at best. And how dare there be a station that has mostly conservative views? Don’t they know that CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Headline News, NPR, and most newspapers are “fair and balanced” and always present an opposing point of view? {/sarcasm}
You Distort/We Deride
February 2nd, 2011
1:15 pm
Um, War Eagle, I’m a gainfully employed professional, as is my wife; we have never in our lives asked for one penny of entitlement money, never belonged to a union, and we stand steadfastly against Herman Cain and his divisive, one-dimensional, unrealistic agenda.
You Distort/We Deride
February 2nd, 2011
1:21 pm
Good Grief. Surely you remember Mr. Boortz’s trip to the White House and his visit with Mr. Bush in the Oval Office. It was the one time that Boortz had an opportunity to use his big Mouth to speak directly to the source of our chaos at that time, and yet he cowered and engaged in false reverence. What an absolutely hypocritical buffoon.
I don’t know where your diatribe against the networks emanates from; my point was that WSB is a one-dimensional source of information that divides our people and offers none of us a possibility of common ground. Sounds like you’re quite content thinking that way. How sad and utterly un-American.
NH
February 2nd, 2011
1:26 pm
I think Mr Cain graduated from Morehouse. Do all of you good people know why he went to Morehouse ? As Whacks has posted, he’s obviously an intelligent man. According to Mr Cain, UGA refused him because of his darker pigment. History and the present have shown being intelligent doesn’t count as much if your pigment is that of Mr Cain. Mr Obama graduated from Harvard Law and was president of law review. Yet, all you hear is prez bo, telepromter, community organizer. Hell, why not criticize him for using a computer, ipad, iphone. I can hear Boortz complaining, prez bo uses an iphone to check the latest polls.
gm
February 2nd, 2011
1:28 pm
WAR EAGLE: Yeah the same way you did Richard Steele.
You can fool most tokens but you can not fool the blacks that live in reality, WAR EAGLE its just as many whites rep that are on gov programs, they are just a bunch of hypocrites.
Al and Jessie have marched and rallied what has your drug user Rush Limbauh done? sit behind a mic and pimp poor misinformed whites.
Good Grief
February 2nd, 2011
1:29 pm
You Distort-
I was merely turning your argument about one-dimensional news sources on its head. CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, Headline News, are mostly left-of-center.
As for your comment about being “un-American.” I’m getting tired of this crap. Yesterday I was told that I was a traitor and unpatriotic because I did not support the health care law. Now you call me “utterly un-American” because I don’t support your hypothesis. Is this what the argument will be now: when you disagree with someone label them un-American or a traitor and walk away?
gm
February 2nd, 2011
1:30 pm
NH
Tell the truth”
MediaHead
February 2nd, 2011
1:32 pm
I don’t think Herman can win but he is more qualified than the fool in office now that only can give a good speech and BS the public with his Chicago style politics. Fool, fraud, fake is Obama. A empty suit that the founding fathers are turning over in their graves, not because he is black, because he is an idiot/socialist/Marxist/liberal/semi-dummy!
Air Wave
February 2nd, 2011
1:33 pm
Steele’s just an uncle tom looking for votes from rich white people. He needs to come back to the African-American community.
You Distort/We Deride
February 2nd, 2011
1:36 pm
No, Good Grief, I shouldn’t have called you un-American. That was not meant as a personal insult. In truth, I find Americans in general guilty of viewing all issues through the lens of their political affiliation without allowing themselves an opportunity to consider the points of the other side. We have become a nation divided, lacking common ground. It means that when a Democrat is elected President, or the Democrats win a majority in the Congress, we are then inundated with cries of their “ineffectiveness” when in truth they are simply carrying out the principles of the people who elected them…and vice versa, of course.
Why, if talk radio is indeed “entertainment”, can’t WSB offer a program from a centrist or (God forbid) a liberal perspective? It’s always the same old same old…which could be said of ALL the local radio outlets. No wonder conservatives think they have to hate liberals. It’s all they hear, day in and day out.
ALdC
February 2nd, 2011
1:41 pm
@Whacks Eloquent: If you had heard his “Statistical State of the Union” show last week, you would understand why I feel that this man does not understand macroeconomics. He continually remarked about the level of unemployment “under Obama” while ignoring the fact that the sharp rise in unemployment started under the previous administration. Furthermore, if he was educated on macroeconomics, he would know that unemployment continues to rise temporarily even after an economy exits a recession (this has been the case for EVERY recession since the BLS started tracking figures several decades ago). I never said he was stupid or someone utterly incapable; I noted his lack of knowledge in rudimentary, fundamental tenets of macroeconomics. In either case, being able to successfully run a business and manage a $15 trillion economy are not the same. I am sure Mr. Cain is honorable and intelligent person, however, I do not feel that he has the practical knowledge needed to govern a nation of 310 million people. As soon as he began to claim that the “American court system is for American citizens only” (even after I phoned his show to correct him), I knew that he lacked the necessary understanding to be the leader of the free world. I wish him the best in the future, but I do not support his candidacy.
NH
February 2nd, 2011
1:41 pm
Hey War Eagle, is deer season over?? Just saying……
Good Grief
February 2nd, 2011
1:47 pm
You Distort-
Thank you for the clarification. The person who called me a traitor yesterday would never have said that. I thank you for it.
And I agree that Americans view issues from their own political viewpoint. But they also view issues from their own religious POV, and socio-economic POV. It’s all part of being who you are. I’m one of those people who blieve that if you’re open to everything you’ll fall for anything, as cliche as that sounds. That said, I’ve changed my mind on many issues. I was raised in a fairly Democratic household that started to trend Republican. I started out voting a nearly-straight Republican ballot. Now, having been seasoned by college, a few years in the private sector, and my own research, I find myself pretty squarely in the Libertarian camp, although I differ from them on a number of issue. I’m not ashamed by the fact that I view political issues through the spectrum of small, limited government. That’s who I am.
Have a great day.
MoreRightthanLeft
February 2nd, 2011
1:56 pm
I dont hate liberals but i do disagree with alot of their stances on running a country.
Hermain Cain is bringing common sense, business sense and will be a new voice, and if nothing else, will bring a positive approach to politics. Why do most think that professional politicians are the answer.. And i guarantee if he ever gets a chance to debate our current administration …woooo!!! you might just learn something. So quit bashing the man….if youre so much better…jump in …dont be skerd!!!
MrJimboolee
February 2nd, 2011
1:57 pm
I like Herman. No, he won’t win. If he gets 10% of the total vote, consider it good. Erick Erickson just sucks. He really does. Not because he’s conservative, he just sucks. He’s boring. Dave R? Hey, sick of hearing about people making a 100K/yr with financial problems. Those people need to be living in a tent in a ditch.
WAR EAGLE
February 2nd, 2011
1:58 pm
Heman Cain is a people’s President with ideas that only a Business man would think of. The Gov’t needs to be run like a buisness. Not like it is now. The current ayatollah is pro radical and is against American ingenuity. His parents were radicals, not of this country but from kenya. And the dems want to pass laws without regards to the law or to the constitution. Once again, we are living in the era of Jimmy C. Laughing stocks. And all the ayatollah wants to do is bow at the alter of the radicals. Do you not see that THIS is his form of reparations? course not-and that woman who claimed to not have to worry about having to pay for gas or her mortgage, yeah she ain’t got no job now so she don’t have to worry no more about those two things.
Wiz Dumb
February 2nd, 2011
1:59 pm
Herman got tired of pimping for Boortz, I guess. Hint for Cain: even Evander finally wised up and dumped dumped that phony.
Whatever
February 2nd, 2011
2:03 pm
I for one will work for Cain. Its time we actually get a President who knows how the American System works. Who has business experience, who sets himself up with the best and will work for America. Yes he is black but he has never called himself black. He has worked and given and worked some more.
I (a white conservative) will be working to help save this country. I can tell you the blacks do not like Cain because he feels they should be standing on their own two feet and educating themselves to make their lifes better. You know, he believes what DR MARTIN LUTHER KING preached. Only problem is not to many people know that KING was a great Conserative who believed in rising up and taking care of yourself and being productive in society. The I HAVE A DREAM speach. Go read it and then go look at what Herman Cains vision is. It is America and he loves this country. IF we dont fina President who does love this country and the freedoms it offers,, we may not have a country left for our kids and grandkids.
MoreRightthanLeft
February 2nd, 2011
2:04 pm
ALdc
were you this hard on Obama…what experience in macro-econ, business operations,governing, managing, and practical knowledge did he come from. i bet you’re a pretty good arm chair quarterback too….
Let the man run….lets see what happens…would you consider him a lesser evil than the other candidates that pop up…or does a fancy slogan do it for you….Change you can believe in…anybody!!! anybody…
NH
February 2nd, 2011
2:04 pm
Hey War Eagle, I see that UGA has signed the top prospect in the state. Why don’t you go over there and bless that blog with your intelligence.
wow
February 2nd, 2011
2:08 pm
Uncle Herman:
I listen to you quite often and very seldom if ever agree with you. You always talk about businessmen being uncertain: Uncertain is being shot at in combat every day all not knowing whether the next sniper bullet will kill you. And you have the nerve to talk about uncertain.
We have one thing in common: Neither one of us will be elected President of the US.
At least I was not beaten by a drunk alcholic.
dre
February 2nd, 2011
2:09 pm
Hard to believe so many of you don’t think a successful, conservative businessman would be a good choice as our leader. Weird. And Good Grief is making the most sense out here, pay attention.
Mo Schreibman
February 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
Just remember what happened with Charles Foster Cain ran for office the last time there was a presidential election. There may be truth in things happening always in threes.
Up and Running
February 2nd, 2011
2:12 pm
I dont care what color a mans skin is, I care about how he lives and where his values are. I care about his experience and knowledge and if he lacks some knowledge, what he will do to gain it.
I see Cain as a very reliable person who is true to his word. He has said over and over what he believes and what has to be done to save this country.
This country elected Obama on lie after lie and with no experience, he hired tax evaders to make sure we pay our taxes, he has slammed general business and has no idea what it takes to create employment. He has set to regulate just about everything while giving his friends and cronies high paying jobs. Obama’s administration has 2% business experience.
Cain knows what this country needs and he knows how big this government is and where the waist is. He knows national security is a huge issue and he does not want China to own us. Well they do already, but its time to stop that. He knows that regulation takes jobs away from americans and puts them overseas in the hands of India or wherever you go when you call customer service to Metro PCS or Sprint or all the other companies who outsourse our jobs to lower countries to get rid of high wage Union takeovers.
Yes go Herman. Its time to educate these americans. Start speading the truth.
ALdC
February 2nd, 2011
2:13 pm
@MoreRightthanLeft: This thread of comments has absolutely nothing to do with Obama or political slogans; the question before us is: “What are the qualifications of Herman Cain to be President?”. Mr. Cain the one claiming to be an expert by railing on about a “Statistical State of the Union,” therefore it would serve him well to make sure that he’s actually spot-on with his analysis; he demonstrated that night (and many others) that he fails to grasp the fundamentals.
Of all the leading Republican contenders, I think Mitt Romney is the best perspective candidate to date. I probably would not vote for him (for various policy reasons), but he has the depth of experience that would rival just about any candidate from any political party. Ergo, if I *had* to choose a Republican for which to vote, Romney would be it. That said, I’m fairly confident the Tea Party movements (which currently has the Republican Party in a stranglehold) will likely not allow a formerly moderate ex-governor of Massachusetts who is a Mormon be the GOP nominee.
david
February 2nd, 2011
2:13 pm
Erickson is a nut job and boring! He will not last.
False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR)
February 2nd, 2011
2:14 pm
Although I can only take him in 10 minute increments, Cain seems a better entertainer than potential presidential candidate. I mean, seriously? The guy simply lacks real credibility.
He finally lost it with me during 2008 when he fervently insisted, on a near-daily basis, that the US economy was SOUND, and that we were definately NOT in recession. This despite all the foreclosures, bank failures, layoffs, pitiful stockmarket, etc. He carried the GOP water instead of appealing to his own presumed common sense. I guess he’s chasing after the Palin/Bachmann/Alan West crowd. More power to him.
Bob
February 2nd, 2011
2:14 pm
Herman Cain is a business genius who has contributed much more to American as a whole than any “community organizers” I know. Go Herman… follow your dream!