"The Power of One" Cited in GOP Debate

[mr_pikachu]

Yesterday's Iowa GOP debate, which featured the main Republican contenders for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election, offered some fun news for the day. As part of his closing remarks (http://swampland.time.com/2011/08/12/what-you-missed-while-not-watching-the-iowa-gop-debate/), Herman Cain referenced Donna Summer's "The Power of One," which you may remember as the titular song from Pokémon the Movie 2000. Here's the quote:


A poet once said, 'Life can be a challenge, life can seem impossible, but it is never easy when there is so much on the line.'

Okay, so maybe Cain got his references a bit jumbled. His website (http://www.economicfreedomcoalition.com/economicfreedom-inspiration.asp?moment=17) also lists the song as the closing theme for the 2000 Olympics (it was not one of the five songs featured during closing ceremonies), as did his candidacy announcement (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybfz5EXi-A0) (6:11) in May.

Still, it's good to see a presidential candidate who's a Pokémon fan and isn't afraid to show it.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

W00t! Gotta get a US citizenship and vote for this guy? Or do you need something else to be able to vote there?

I'd love to see a US President who does not disturb the harmony of Fire, Ice and Lightning.

But hang on a sec, did the 2000 Olympics actually have the song, I never watch the closing?

[classy_cat18]

Maybe he said it was a poet on purpose. A lot of people probably wouldn't vote for him if they found out he was quoting from Pokemon.

That was still awesome. Right up there with Obama referencing The Matrix, playing Wii and going to a midnight release of Harry Potter books.

[mr_pikachu]

But hang on a sec, did the 2000 Olympics actually have the song, I never watch the closing?

Nope, it wasn't. I've revised the article to clarify this -- I didn't think about it at the time, but it was a little ambiguous in that regard.

As for whether calling Donna Summer a "poet" was intentional, it's hard to say. Cain's referenced the song in multiple ways now, both incorrect, so I have to believe at least one of them was accidental. Nonetheless, he keeps using it as almost the theme for his candidacy, which is pretty awesome. He at least has an appreciation for the song. I can support that.

You mentioned that a lot of people probably wouldn't support him if they knew Cain was quoting from Pokemon. Well, a number of left-wing websites have now revealed the origins of his quotation and laughed at him for it. Still, that wasn't exactly his voter base anyway, so... maybe? *shrugs*