Politics

Herman Cain says foreign policy views influenced by Bolton and Kissinger

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said Sunday that the writings of former United Nations ambassador John Bolton and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger have shaped his views on foreign policy.

“I have looked at the writings of people like ambassador John Bolton,” Cain said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “I’ve looked at the writings of people like Henry Kissinger.”

But he wouldn’t go so far as to describe himself as a neo-conservative when pressed by moderator David Gregory: “I’m not sure what you mean by neo-conservative. I am a conservative, yes. Neoconservative? Labels sometime put you in a box.”

In an interview with The Daily Caller outside NBC’s studios, Cain said he has spoken with Bolton before, but wouldn’t go so far as to call him an informal adviser.

“He influences me on foreign policy based upon his ideas and based upon his decisions, et cetera,” Cain said. “But I don’t want to implicate Ambassador Bolton by saying he is advising me informally. We met, we have a good relationship. I can call and ask him questions.”

A spokesman for Bolton, Christine Samuelian, told TheDC that, “Mr. Bolton has not endorsed any candidate for the Republican nomination, and he is happy to discuss national security issues with any of those running.”

After considering entering the presidential race himself, Bolton recently announced his decision not to run.

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Alex Pappas