Herman Cain stands accused of “sexually harassing” two female employees of the National Restaurant Association “during the 1990′s”. I have three thoughts on the subject:
- My ten-year statute of limitations on stupidity has run out. If they have to go back more than ten years to dig up dirt on anything short of murder, then it’s yesterday’s news eligible to wrap fish and/or garbage in. Ten years is more than sufficient time to show that someone has turned over a new leaf and doesn’t do that sort of thing anymore. In fact, my respect for such a person grows when this sort of thing happens because it shows that they can learn from their mistakes, improve their lives, and move on. So should we.
- Unfortunately, a whole lot of people do not have such a statute of limitations. They are the ones that insist that some snippet taken out of context of some speech Mitt Romney gave over sixteen years ago is relevant today. So I guess those same people will hold this truly oldy, moldy news against Cain. It seems a shame, but it is what it is.
- Welcome to the big leagues, Mr. Cain. This is all part of the “vetting” process. If Herman Cain knew about these two instances in his past, he had to be incredibly naivé to think they wouldn’t come up (see point #2 above). Maybe he thought he would never get as high in the polls when he ran, and he was only running to sell books and increase the audience of his talk show. He never expected people to probe so deeply. That is what a lot people have been claiming. Perhaps there is some truth to it.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:12 am
Compare and contrast those thoughts (on Cain) to these (on Romney):
http://lamecherry.blogspot.com/2011/10/benediction-arnold-romney.html
October 31st, 2011 at 9:15 am
I am not sure that sexual harrassment is the same as a policy position, so your ten year rule ought to be extendend for something like that. Herman Cain was a fully grown man in a major, leadership position.
We just need to wait on more details to come out before making a judgement. And we also need a better explanation from Cain.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:17 am
>>Unfortunately, a whole lot of people do not have such a statute of limitations. They are the ones that insist that some snippet taken out of context of some speech Mitt Romney gave over sixteen years ago is relevant today. So I guess those same people will hold this truly oldy, moldy news against Cain. It seems a shame, but it is what it is.
Excellent point. Most people don’t even know, or care for that matter, what Romney actually said about abortion and why but let’s string him up as a flip flopper anyway because clearly that’s the number one issue right now as this country rockets toward insolvency.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:22 am
#1
WOW, that is some pretty hash stuff. The person who wrote that should be ashamed. We are all human beings regardless of who we worship on Sundays (or any day). I just hate when religion is injected into politics, no one wins. Personally I think the article is wrong, I believe most Americans regardless of party affiliation will vote for the person they see as most competent to run this country. Point and case, we elected a Muslim. That Muslim is failing not because of his religion but because he is incompetent and couldn’t even run a lemonade stand successfully…..Nothing at all to do with religion.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:24 am
Romney hits 70 on Intrade.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:25 am
4: We elected a Muslim? Obama attends a mosque? ever?
October 31st, 2011 at 9:27 am
Silly media. The so desperately want their Romney/Perry horserace. Problem is the race is essentially already over. Romney may actually sweep all four early states and rap this up by early February.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:29 am
2
“we also need a better explanation from Cain.”
Why does this line keep coming up on a variety of issues and policy statements? This could have been nipped right in the bud from the git go with a straight forward explanation of what happened. The more he dodges, the more digging will occur… and the media will insinuate and hint at darker things even if they’re never found. Isn’t Cain supposed to be the straight shooting non-politician? I think most people wouldn’t hold this against him… unless they hated him anyway. BUT, his campaign does not seem to be handling this in a good way at all.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:31 am
This is ridiculous.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:32 am
There’s obviously something to this story. It didn’t appear out of thin air. I understand that people settle law suits rather than fight them even if the accused is innocent. However, if anybody were to bring a claim against me with the word “sexual” in it and I was innocent, I would fight tooth and toe nail to clear my name.
Let’s hear what Cain has to say. And let the voters determine if it’s a big nothing or not.
This is all part of the vetting process. Obama was poorly vetted by the media and opposing candidates. Let’s not make the same mistake again.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:34 am
4
POINT IN CASE INDEED!! Obama is not a Muslim. Unless you just believe what you want to believe.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:34 am
Cain: “Sexual Harrassment? I was just joking! Some of you need to get a sense of humor!”
October 31st, 2011 at 9:37 am
Handling crises and negative reporting is part and parcel of being president. So far, HC is doing a terrible job. If this level of unprofessional handling of negative situations were to persist into a presidency, it would be 4 years of gridlock with a badly damaged institution coming out at the far end. Cain’s crisis management and communications team are not up to the job. This is why I hat amateurs.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:40 am
12, Hahahahahaha.
Plus, the 9-9-9 jokes write themselves here. I’ll leave that up to you guys to figure it out.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:42 am
Read article below. This is why it’s imperative that Newt gets out in front of this story and defend Cain from this attack….no matter what the true story is. This will help innoculate Newt from his own problems and it will help him with Cain supporters who will be looking for another candidate. Gingrich is the most favored by Cain supporters…….this is a very important 24 hours for the Newt campaign. Newt coud go up…or not at all.
Play this right Newt….attack the press….and do it now!!!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-10-30/gop-race-wide-open-iowa/51009036/1
“There will be a ‘not-Romney,’ and the person who becomes the main ‘not-Romney’ has a big advantage,” Gingrich says in a phone interview, arguing he is poised to claim that role after earlier spikes in support for other contenders — “a series of dances where people came and people went, sometimes with lightning speed.”
“If Cain falters, Gingrich could rise: One-fourth of Cain supporters say Gingrich is their second choice.”
October 31st, 2011 at 9:44 am
What Cain ought to say:
1. I’m a conservative, and conservatives expect the press to watchdog government and politicians.
2. I’m no exception to that rule.
3. I was not guilty of the allegations made, and the handling of settlements was rightly out of my hands.
4. I don’t expect everyone to love this explanation. I can’t add to it, that’s all there is.
5. I expect fair minded voters to weigh the evidence and support who they, in their wisdom, feel would be the best person for the job of President.
6. I am running for president of the United States, and I believe I’m the best person to turn things around and be the chief executive of to the country
If any of the above points are not genuinely accurate, he shouldn’t say them. If #3 is not true in any way, if he was guilty of harrassment, he should drop out of the race today and clear the field for worthier candidates.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:45 am
#13 This is why Romney keeps hanging in there. He’s the only serious candidate who’s been thinking and planning and preparing and doing what needs to be done to win–and actually serve.
The others threw their hat in the ring and showed up for debates, some did campaign in Iowa and that’s it. Romney may not be Mr. Loveable Uber-conservative, but he’s the only one that has his ducks in a row.
I don’t care what Rush says, that “any of these candidates would make a great president (except for Mitt).” No, they wouldn’t. None of these other candidates even expect to be elected. And if they were elected by some fluke, they would be completely unprepared for the job.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:45 am
#6 Metro
Oh, yeah, thats right he is a Catholic…LMAO, his campaign stated he wasn’t muslim so I guess it must be true…again, LMAO….The guy does nothing but lie, why would you believe him?
Lets not let the facts get in the way here. Just doing a simple google search brings up many articles. I don’t think there is any question that he is muslim. Regardless, my point was that it shouldn’t matter what a candidates religion is as long as they are competent and do what is right for America. In the case of Obama, (Catholic or muslim) he has failed the country with his policies, time to fire him!
http://www.newswithviews.com/Ryter/jon212.htm
http://www.jeffhead.com/obamaupbringing.htm
October 31st, 2011 at 9:48 am
Watchinitall
16# Brilliant.
Truly brillant post.
I’m starting to wonder if #3 is not true. If it was true, this should have been stated within 1 hour of this story breaking.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:49 am
It’s pretty embarrassing that every other candidate’s positions/campaigns center around “I’m not Mitt Romney”. As if that’s enough. Way to lead!
Any chance Perry’s team let this Cain nonsense out of the bag to distract the public from Drunk Perry?
October 31st, 2011 at 9:49 am
“If Cain falters, Gingrich could rise: One-fourth of Cain supporters say Gingrich is their second choice.”
Well, since Cain is at like 5% on intrade, I guess that means Gingrich might get 10 votes.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:52 am
What if the handling of the settlements were not totally out of Cain’s hands and there is some way that the Press can prove that?
Could this be what is holding up the Cain’s team from using Watchinitall’s response template?
October 31st, 2011 at 9:53 am
It’s up to Cain how this settles. If he was guilty, he should admit it, talk of his remorse and repentance, and move on. If he was falsely accused, he should say so.
But vague answers are not helping.
Its up to Cain. The world is watching.
October 31st, 2011 at 9:53 am
16
“if he was guilty of harrassment, he should drop out of the race today and clear the field for worthier candidates.”
HUH?! And be replaced by Newt – who committed adultry and married a campaign staffer… not once, but twice? And this is something that happened with Cain “in the 1990′s”?? No – Cain shouldn’t drop out. He should hire an advisor with a brain so that Cain can explain this thing and move on. This is not a game ender, but it can be if his campaign continues to do a horrible job at explaining things!
October 31st, 2011 at 9:58 am
Joe,
No……..Intrade has nothing to do with it.
If Newt can get 25% of Cain support while the other 7 candidates split up the rest…that would be a nice boost to Gingrich. Gingrich was at 12% in the last Fox news poll while Cain was at 24% and Romney was at 20%.
If you look at the crosstabs in the last few PPP state polls you will see that Cain’s supporters 2nd choice has been Newt.
I don’t mean to sound like a vulture picking at the Cain carcass……..but that is what I’am….I guess.
As Newt’s RACE42012 Campaign Manager I must say act like a vulture from time to time…this is one of those times.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:00 am
Maybe Cain can say he did this because he loved his country so much in the 90′s and he was working really hard just like………er…….nevermind.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:14 am
16. A good and straightforward approach. However, even if it was written out on an index card for Cain, I’m sure he would find a way to botch it.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:25 am
#25 – No – if you study the data on intrade against poll, it is proven that intrade has the more accurate track recored than any poll out there. Do the research.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:26 am
I just want to ensure we’re not going to end up with another Clinton. That kind of potential disgrace to the Oval Office and our government is completely unacceptable.
We just have to be sure.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:36 am
24. Harrassment is different than an affair. I’m no fan of either, don’t get me wrong, but when a person leverages a position of power (Cain was CEO, right?) for sex they are abusing authority.
If I’m your boss and I can fire you, and I make sexual advances, that is an intimidating, bullying, abusive use of my position. It isn’t about consenting adults.
Newt’s behavior is completely indicative of his character. To me repentance and remorse ought to include “and therefore I will no longer seek positions of high trust because I’ve violated this trust while I held high office.” Newt should be someone’s adviser. That’d be fine.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:36 am
Intrade does not measure support…it measures how people perceive the chances of a certain candidate being elected. Your statement on #21 has no validity to it.
Because Cain is at 5% on Intrade does not mean he has only 5% of support.
Are you with me buddy.
Another day, another young man gets taught something by Professor Smackdaddy.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:43 am
30#,
So know one who has committed adultery while in office should never run for office again?
Being guilty of purgery and obstruction of Justice while trying to cover up an affair (this is why Clinton got impeached not because of the affair -some of the young ROMBOTS here are confused on this point)is at a much higher level of failure of leadership then the latter.
But having an affair is a huge minus in anyone’s book….and Newt has a big minus in that subject in his column.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:23 am
32 I believe both Newt and Bill did the same thing: Sex with an employee. In Newt’s case he married the woman. In Bill’s case, he clung to office.
As an officer in the military, if you fraternaize with a subordinate, that’s it, no mercy, you are done. You are right, Clinton followed that up with lying under oath, but caught a break because the Democrats didn’t want to lose control of the WH, pretended that the offense was minor, and Clinton somehow escaped with his office and marriage intact.
Abusing position of power for sex=very bad behavior.
Holding high office and getting skanky with the help=bad behavior.
Yes, I would say that adultery in office should be a disqualifier for further office, (especially if you are a Republican!). Ought to be some standard, some consequences. If you mishandled the help, you betrayed the trust. Don’t aim for a higher office when you lacked self control in a lesser.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:57 am
How many times has Mr. Cain said, “that is simply incorrect”? He says it every time his absurd 9-9-9 plan comes under attack, any time someone points out the incoherent way he contradicts himself on policy whenever he opens his mouth, all the time. His verbal denial of anything is not trustworthy because he claims “incorrect” on black-and-white, blatant fact.
October 31st, 2011 at 12:51 pm
24. Politically, sexual harassment is worse than adultery.
October 31st, 2011 at 12:51 pm
35. (continued) It has to do with mutual concent.
October 31st, 2011 at 12:52 pm
36 (sigh) consent.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:50 pm
1. Jack,
I am a member of the Church of jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I forgive you.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:57 pm
34. Cain said on Face the Nation that “invisible embedded taxes” are responsible for 30 to 40 percent of the “cost of the product” for “everything that we buy in this country.”
He also said that in his 9-9-9 plan, “We take that out in that first 9.”
I find it VERY hard to believe that Cain’s tax plan is going to reduce the cost of “everything that we buy in this country” by 30 to 40%, and that the 30 to 40% cost reduction will be replaced with a meager 9%.
I also find it hard to believe that 30 to 40% of “everything that we buy in this country” finances the federal government with “invisible embedded taxes.”
October 31st, 2011 at 4:05 pm
#31 – uh, not quite. People on intrade put money on thier bets. The proper extension and comparison is how much money has Cain pulled in to his campaign. That is the same measure, and it is a measure of support. You may “like” someone, but you only open your wallet and “support” those you feel have a chance of winning.
I agree with you, though, that that has nothing to do with whom we prefer in straw polls or in opinion polls. But that is different than support, right? When it comes to brass tacks, people put their money, and their votes, on a winner.
October 31st, 2011 at 8:44 pm
I haven’t seen this mentioned yet, but in an interview with the lead of Politico’s research team, it was mentioned that Cain left his position early .. 4 months early .. after all this flack happened. It seemed very unusual, apparently, because there didn’t seem to be an explanation for his leaving the post. Does anyone else have anything to add to this? It would give me reason to pause over the #3 and whether there is some validity to the charges. The way he is handling the whole thing does give me concern as well as the flippant ways he’s dealt with his many gaffs. The fact that he doesn’t seem to take the process of electing the next President and leader of the free world very seriously is a big concern to me, frankly.
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