Speculation is that the Herman Cain Story had its source in a Republican campaign. On Red State, Ben Domenech and Erick Erickson hinted out loud as to who they expect the culprit might have been.
First from Domench’s political newsletter:
Many staffers were struck throughout the 2008 campaign by how often leaks about certain candidates would come out right before previously scheduled media availabilities or TV appearances, forcing a candidate to immediately answer difficult questions to a horde of rabid journalists or duck the avail and make it seem even worse. Now Cain has this story drop at 8 PM on a Sunday night—whole cloth, with no evidence of investigation beyond calling the people named in the documents—a mere 12 hours before he’s supposed to have a full day of media availability in Washington, DC at the American Enterprise Institute and the National Press Club. I feel like I’ve seen this movie. There are only two candidates running this time who ran then, and I don’t think Ron Paul even has an oppo research arm.
**Hint Hint***
Rush Limbaugh meanwhile makes the case that the source of the story is probably liberals arguing, “ I doubt it because The Politico was used. If a Republican were behind this, I think a different publication would have been used. This is so liberal. ”
I think personally that there was a campaign involved or if not a campaign, then someone who knew people who people on the right. To even know about this, required some connections within the National Restaurant Association, which definitely leans on the Republican side. As for the website used, a report on a more conservative website may not have been picked up. Politico would have instant credibility with the mainstream press.
This idea that this came from another campaign is bolstered somewhat by Politicos refusal to state categorically that they didn’t get information from another campaign.
It’s reasonable to surmise that the source of this was a powerful Cain opponent. What’s not necessarily reasonable is to conclude a certain camp was behind it. While it’s true similar things happened in 2008, that doesn’t prove what the source of the 2008 accusations were. There could be multiple oppo reserach people using s similar Modus Operandi.
If one buys the idea, then the most we can say it means is that our political process is inhabited by treacherous people ready to do anything to get their candidate elected, including smearing people on flimsy evidence.
Big news to most Americans I’m sure. /sarcasm
October 31st, 2011 at 10:06 pm
My three guesses
1. Romney
2. Romney
3. Romney
October 31st, 2011 at 10:09 pm
1
Which also happen to be Huckabee’s three per his comments today about how he was treated by a certain camp in 2008 AFTER Huck surged.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Speculation has it that Huntsman and Michelle Bachmann are really one and the same. Look closely. Dorks.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:14 pm
waste of a thread
October 31st, 2011 at 10:16 pm
I don’t think this came from a campaign.
Politico is not going to give a yea or nay on possibilties when asked….that is covered in the old don’t give up your sources” doctrine.
The reason I don’t believe it came from a campaign is that it happened a little too early.
I could be wrong.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:18 pm
You guys have been smearing Romney for 6 years. Please drop the Holier than Thou act. You guys aren’t victims and you’re not oppressed minorities. Its grating really.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:19 pm
1 So insightful and surprising! You deserve a FPP. You totally blew me away with that conclusion.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Herman Cain could murder a priest in broad daylight, and you’d blame it on Romney using Mormon voodoo, then praise Cain for weathering the storm.
You’re about as useful as Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. No value.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:21 pm
THEHermanCain Herman Cain
I think I left the National Press Club today on a high note, watch the video and RT if you agree! http://cs.pn/vgJUsy
October 31st, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Oh Adam. I’m sorry. But he’s proven to be a slimewad. I don’t need nor want another clinton problem in the White House.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Oh, sorry, how is this thriving:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67301.html
If Romney did this in ONE DAY, you’d splooge in your pants from RDS excitement.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:24 pm
OOOOhhhhh. Erick Erickson the bigot hinted out loud. Stunning revelation. Dork.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:26 pm
I just heard Cain sing. He’s got a rippin’ sweet voice. I’d vote for him just on that were he the best candidate. It moves you.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:27 pm
“…almost certainly…” Wow. Those are powerful words. Almost CERtainly. They rank right up there with “because i said so.” Dorks
October 31st, 2011 at 10:29 pm
I quit Red State as soon as Erick E’son confessed he was a bigot and that he suspected many others were. Hard to be objective when you are…bigoted.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Oh man. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE find a way to pin this on Romney…
October 31st, 2011 at 10:31 pm
This sounds like a smear AGAINST ROMNEY!!!!
Put up or SHUT UP!!!
Erick Ericksen should be flogged. That man has no morals at all.
How dare they accuse with not evidence!!!
Every single day it is character assassination!!!!
The last campaign that did this kind of thing was Huckabee and McCain again, AGAINST ROMNEY!!!!!!!
And before that it was Bush against McCain.
I don’t remember anyone on the Republican side using sexual harassment charges EVER!
This stinks like Ericksen shenanigans.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:34 pm
This has Perrys desperate hands all over it!!! He is known for for being a dirty bag.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:39 pm
#18. Sorry. Typing on the phone is not my strength. Perry is a dirt bag and not a “dirty bag”.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:39 pm
BTW, this stupid post sounds like an Ancient Aliens narration:
“Is it possible that a 2008 operative leaked this? And if they did, who was it? And if it was Romney, does that mean Romney is a treacherous dickweed? And if so, is he in fact, Satan, the brother of Jesus according to Mormons?
OR…am I really a shameless arch-con loser?”
October 31st, 2011 at 10:40 pm
If you look at it, there’s nothing to be gained by another campaign by leaking this. Why? Because when it’s found out (and it is always found out), the blowback would be huge.
Take Perry and Romney for instance. If it’s the Perry campaign that gets caught, then he loses any chance of scooping up ex-Cain voters, who will be enraged that the Texan would scuttle Cain like that. If it’s the Romney camp, well he’s just have seriously burnt a bridge to the right-wing of the Republican Party and the Party would have a deep rift in it heading into the general election.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:41 pm
17 & 18#
Now those two statements by ROMBOTS should be required reading for anyone who wants to learn what living in the ROMBORG is all about.
Petunia,
Go read all the ROMBOTS post today declaring Cain guilty without any evidence. “Every single day it is character assassination!!!!”
Yep, you are correct.
Micah,
And now another ROMBOT who speculates that is was Perry, but at the same time the other ROMBOTS get all in a huff when others do it to Romney.
“Living in a ROMBORG”….could be a new Reality TV show.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:44 pm
Johathan,
I agree.
Very good post.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Cain’s Accuser: Ken Vogel of Politico worked for George Soros and has been involved in numerous attacks on conservatives.
1 minute ago
Vogel’s history of going after our conservative wing also points to Romney.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:48 pm
TODAY Levin said on his show that Vogel has contacted both Rush and Levin’s advertisers in the past trying to get them to cancel.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Romney is way smarter than this. WAY smarter. Leveling political attacks at your opponents, a la the 2008 primary, is one thing. Leveling charges of sexual harassment enters a whole new arena.
If this was to be traced back to a campaign, I only need one guess to peg who it would be: Rick Perry. Perry just hired the best (worst?) negative campaigners in the game from Rick Scott, and now this story breaks. Coincidence? Romney has nothing to gain from taking down Herman Cain like this. Perry, on the other hand, has everything to gain because as long as Cain is in the game, Perry has no path to victory. None.
See how fun speculation can be? At least mine was rational.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Matt C,
Yep.
Romney had nothing to do with this.
October 31st, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Actually you all are missing the true culprit. The one campaign that has been flying under the radar and staying out of the spotlight just so they could start to rise at this very moment.
Yes my friends you heard it hear first. The source of this had to have come from the Buddy Roemer campaign.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Adam cracks me up. “Bad Journalism on the March” indeed. I wonder, does it physically hurt to be such a hypocrite?
October 31st, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Let’s poll Rudy, Huck, Brownback, and McCain to see who they think the rat was.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:05 pm
The Conservative Media is Helping Cain through his Scandal and Possibly Paving the Way for Obama’s Re-election
October 31st, 2011 at 11:05 pm
30 – I’d bet at least McCain would put his money on Rove…if anyone remembers South Carolina in 2000.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:06 pm
If it was tipped by an opponent, they’d be killing 2 birds with 1 stone if they manage to make people believe (or even just suspect) it was Romney. They get rid of Cain and Romney in one fell swoop.
But, IF they manage to do that Romney is still one who loses because Cain could be exonerated but Mitt would still be stained.
BTW, I see no plausible reason for Romney to even want a story like this out there. As I’ve said before (and Dick Morris has said so, too), the best scenario for Mitt is a 2 man race between he and Cain.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:06 pm
29, yes, because it’s intense, and Adam can’t take it because he is a bit rotund. Guy needs to work out.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:08 pm
140elect
There have been more tweets about Herman Cain today than any other #GOP candidate, ever. http://bit.ly/rAnsyo
30 minutes ago Favorite Retweet
October 31st, 2011 at 11:09 pm
35 – a big scandal will do that. Cain is probably innocent, but being tweeted about for this reason is hardly something to brag about.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:10 pm
#32:
If it were Perry caught up in this, then maybe, but not Cain. Rove is smart enough to know that Cain is not going to be the nominee, so Rove going after him does nothing. It would be like going after Gary Bauer in 2000; a big waste of time.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:12 pm
37 – You’re right. I just find Adam and Craig’s “findings” to be a bit rich, all things considered. The “source” is an anti-Romney zealout making what amounts to a wild guess.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:13 pm
The Godfather’s Godfather: How Jesse Jackson Launched Herman Cain’s Managerial Career
October 31st, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Cain Accusations Are Racist, ‘Gutter Partisan Politics’ http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/cain-limbaugh-accusations/2011/10/31/id/416305?s=al&promo_code=D601-1
October 31st, 2011 at 11:17 pm
I love how when Republicans say something, anything, it’s racist, and Republicans hate the accusation.
Now, first chance they get, they cry race-foul with Cain. It’s so hypocritical and pathetic. Politico is the fairest political website out there, period.
Apply same logic to Sarah Palin and sexism. The only people with credibility left in this country are independents.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
39 & 40, two sides of the same coin. Too funny.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Never bet on Erickson being right. Never.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Herman Cain joins http://TheTeaParty.net for tele townhall meeting, Wed 6PM ET. Sign up here: http://TheTeaPartyAction.com/Cain
4 minutes ago
October 31st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Guys, if you have watched Romney, you know this isn’t his MO. Nice try, craphead Adam. Kavon, how you allow him the anti-Romney post privileges is beyond comprehension. He has the thought process of a middle school student. You could do so much better, Kavon. He is so beneath your site..
October 31st, 2011 at 11:19 pm
So, why did Cain lie so staunchly about this?
October 31st, 2011 at 11:20 pm
44 – he’s better than Shedlock, which isn’t saying much, I know.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:20 pm
44, seriously. Give that job to Josiah. At least he supports his candidate for philosophical reasons, instead of blatant and hilariously thick SoCon identity politics.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Booyeah Says:
October 31st, 2011 at 11:17 pm
“Politico is the fairest political website out there, period.”
ONLY a Rombot would say something that retarded on this site.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:22 pm
48 – Politico is hardly kind to Romney.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Why would Romney do it? It’s not in its interest, and it’s risky.
I’d bet his campaign didn’t do it.
If a Republican campaign is behind it, I’d guess it’s Perry’s. Look at recent poll charts, and you’ll know why
October 31st, 2011 at 11:23 pm
I agree : Adam is sort of polluting the blog, with such a post.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:24 pm
48 – oh, and it could have been worse. He could have tried to blame a political blog running a story on a possible Republican sex scandal…on racism.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:26 pm
This whole incident was deleterious to the Romney campaign. We needed Cain to stay strong through December to guard our flank. This was a liberal hit job, launched to remove the black conservative threat to their base, or as the first step in trying to prevent a Romney nomination, or both.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:30 pm
The conjecture and meta analysis about “who leaked” the story is just more distraction from a peculiar fact…namely, that Herman Cain, co front runner for Republican Nomination for president, has lied today to America….and he’s getting a pass from right wing media. It’s mind boggling. The only explanation is that the conservative media, which desperately fears a swift Romney nomination because it would likely impair the ratings wars they need if this thing draws out, is protecting Cain.
Rush is protecting both Cain and Perry. Fox is doing likewise. Please remember that conservative media is not cause driven, they are dollar driven. And it stinks.
Which other candidate, if he’d said “there’s nothing too this story”, then “there was something to it, but I didn’t know about it” and then finally, “there was something to it, and I knew about it, but I didnt know how much”, would not be crucified by everyone? Yet, conservative media is tossing this guy softballs all afternoon….THere is no other explanation. And if he isnt telling lies about it, he should be challenged for his actions as CEO…how do you allow corporate counsel to settle a case against you, and not know the details? So, if he isnt fibbing, he’s incompetent. I’ve run multi million dollar agencies, and THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN! Cain’s a liar. I like him, but he lied today. And this “who leaked” it concept is just more cover for him. Erickson is giving cover to Cain, because he knows that if Cain goes down, there is noone standing between Romney and the nomination.
I am learning again, that American politics is corrupt not just in its core participants in DC, but in its affiliated industries, including the media, which is supposed to protect the people from the powerful.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:31 pm
It really is getting so old that Adam has the fpp privileges for the sake of denigrating the one candidate he does not like. I wish Kavon would do something about it. This is childish and immature. Gosh, I could post dozens of anti-Perry and anti-Cain articles and messages each day, but the purpose of a poster is to support their candidate. We don’t equal representation here. Where is the anti-Perry poster? Where is the designated anti-Cain poster?
October 31st, 2011 at 11:32 pm
“our political process is inhabited by treacherous people ready to do anything to get their candidate elected, including smearing people on flimsy evidence.”
Laments the guy smearing someone on not just flimsy, but non-existent evidence. You can’t make this stuff up!
October 31st, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Lmao. Talk about yellow journalism. Does Graham even know how to spell hypocrite? Probably not. Getting a little desperate, huh Graham?
October 31st, 2011 at 11:34 pm
55. Many of those who cover republican politics are corrupt. They talk about religious values, but when one of their guys is found to be corrupt or immoral, it’s suddenly no big deal. Everyone is corrupt and immoral, so it’s okay.
CAIN FLAT OUR LIED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TODAY, AND HE WAS EXPOSED FOR IT. YOU CANNOT TRUST HERMAN CAIN. WE ALL SAW IT TODAY!
October 31st, 2011 at 11:35 pm
David Graham: “bad journalism on the march”.
What a two faced clown.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Come on, we all know Adam has crap for brains. How many of us laugh when we see his leaps in logic, or when he tries to ad 2 and 2 to get to 15? We have a 14-year old for a front page poster.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:40 pm
60 – he doesn’t have crap for brains, he just has different ideas on what constitutes “good journalism” and a “baseless smear” depending on whether he likes the person.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:43 pm
If Cain is so smart, why would he not get out in front of this story? So many ways to tell this story on your own terms, months ago. But not Herman–smart, bright ex CEO. He thought it wouldnt surface, or he thought he could talk his way through it with his usual shallow and overly general, but contemptibly simple catch phrases.
I’m not at all put off by the fact that he settled with these staffers twenty years ago. I’ve had to settle cases in my organizations. What’s impossible to grasp is why he wouldnt open the closet early and show the contents. Once again, makes me realize Cain ain’t ready to run the country. It was a calculated judgement that was way off.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:43 pm
ADAM IS ANTI-ROMNEY. look at his last 2 post, now hes trying to blame romney for this and build cain back up, after only 1 day of the scandale being out, hes saying that it didnt hurt him hahaa. like adam would no until real polls and stuff come out.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:44 pm
54. Yeah, right? I just watched Hannity and not a single mention of Cain’s bungled answers and is swift contradictions. Morning Joe DID cover that aspect, though. But, it is shocking to me that main media isn’t making a bigger deal out of this.
That’s the OBJECTIVE side of me.
The Romney supporter side of me is actually glad because, as has been mentioned on these threads multiple times by me and others, a strong Cain is perfect for us, right now.
We are not threatened by him and we believe a strong Cain hurts Perry.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:45 pm
Looks like politico is now hinting that Graham’s candidate, Huckabee, may be behind the Cain story.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:47 pm
55. Well, I don’t want equal bashing on the FP. And, I don’t want only pro-Romney posts. But, I WOULD like the FPP posts to make an effort at fair reporting and fair-minded opinions. And, not all of Adam’s posts are.
BUT, that said, I think some are making too big a deal out of some of Adam’s posts. They’re not all as bad as portrayed.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:47 pm
65 – are you just messing with Adam? ‘Cause I don’t buy that story.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Cain has not lied about it. Or what did I miss?
October 31st, 2011 at 11:48 pm
“. . . including smearing people on flimsy evidence.”
And right about there I looked at the first block quote again and I had to smile widely. Ha, ha, ha!
AG: Do you even read what you write?
October 31st, 2011 at 11:49 pm
#55:
Matt Coulter had multiple posts critical of Cain. If you read this carefully, I actually we can’t tell which campaign did it.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:49 pm
68. He said he knew nothing about any settlement. Then just a few hours later told Gretchen all about the settlements.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:49 pm
If any Republican campaign is responsible for this leak, it’s Perry’s. This is his dirty political campaign style, like it was against Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
Perry can’t win if he’s judged on what comes out of his mouth. He must rely on dirty tactics to survive, politically speaking.
Romney has only ever attacked on the issues,–not personal smears.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:50 pm
Redstate has banned Romney supporters. And so has New Republic.
Those sites can no longer be considered sources for anything but Romney hate.
I just read the story about the Romney supporter ban. I tried to log in to Redstate and couldn’t. So I guess it’s true.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:53 pm
This just in – Donald Trump did it. He said he was personally outraged that any womanizing would occur by a man seeking the highest office of the land. Unprecedented.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:54 pm
The first thing one looks for in attempting to solve a crime is motive.
Who has motive here? It isn’t Mitt Romney. Romney actually needs a strong Herman Cain. A strong Cain divides the Teavangelical vote three ways and ensures that none of them can win in Iowa and South Carolina. They also keep Gingrich from gaining traction.
The one with motive is Rick Perry. Perry has seen his lead disappear and it all went to Herman Cain. Cain is now standing in the way of Perry’s planned re-launch and attempt to regain his top-two status. Perry has the most to gain.
Having said all that, I don’t either camp is behind this and I think the suggestion Mr. Graham makes is shameful. With absolutely zero evidence, he insinuates that Romney is the culprit. That is beneath the integrtiy of this site.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Petunia – just type in the password b-i-g-o-t. You’re welcome.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Erick Erickson is a hack. I happen to know that he is made fun of in the conservative media circles. I have heard some funny stories about him.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:54 pm
To those accusing Cain of lying, remember that :
Agreement ? settlement ? severance
October 31st, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Perry didn’t do it. He was drunk at a party giving a wild speech when this broke.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:55 pm
78 that was supposed to be the “not equal ” sign : /=
October 31st, 2011 at 11:57 pm
If Graham wasn’t so blinded by his anti- Mormon rants, he would see the obvious that right now, Romney likes Cain–it’s Perry that poses the danger.
But, to use the phrase, Adam Graham is NOT a smart man.
October 31st, 2011 at 11:57 pm
It had to be George Soros. HE’s the one that put the chip in the back of Obama’s head, and he won’t have a free-thinking Cain-type spoiling his nefarious plans to TAKE OVER THE WORLD BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 31st, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Adam? Billy’s grandson? I had no idea.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:07 am
#70 Graham,
It was those two little words “Hint Hint” following the quote that were telling of the intent:
“There are only two candidates running this time who ran then, and I don’t think Ron Paul even has an oppo research arm.
**Hint Hint***”
November 1st, 2011 at 12:08 am
I did not commit to the theory that Romney was responsible for this attack-quite the opposite. I said we could not determine which camp was responsible.
I would point out that in terms of motive, for the Romney campaign, one could imagine them wanting to cause a panic and a search for another “flavor of the month.” Multiple pundits have urged it as have Romney people on this board. Not saying Romney’s campaign is behind it, but they have as good a motive as any.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:10 am
#70:
The ** Hint Hint** was poking fun at Domenech for trying to allege that Romney was behind it without actually coming out and saying it.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:13 am
This post reminds me of middle school girls blaming someone but not mentioning names.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:14 am
86 – Which is also what you were doing, and with no more subtlety.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:15 am
Regardless of what the RomNotBorg is echoing back and forth inside their hollow heads, this “revelation” about Cain has the fingerprints of liberals all over it.
You know guys (RomNots), it’s getting really, really tiresome that you always blame everything bad in the world on Romney while at the same time claiming he has no traction and no influence and is a phony loser.
You can’t have your unsavory cake and eat it too.
Again and again, you continually make us wonder just what it is about Romney that drives you into the gutter so.
Somehow, I just can’t believe it was the mandate idea the Romney got from Newt…
November 1st, 2011 at 12:16 am
Off thread. What is the true story of Barry Soetoro???
November 1st, 2011 at 12:20 am
86 / my apologies then
I thought, as did others, you were hinting at Romney
November 1st, 2011 at 12:22 am
Rush today defending Cain to the hilt. Then he allowed two callers denouncing Mitt. One lady said: Who wants a president named Mitt anyway? The second claimed Mitt was responsible for the leak. Both were irate “because the media is pushing Mitt on us as a candidate.”
Rush did not challenge this assertion one iota! WHAT media is pushing Mitt? No media I’ve ever heard. They are all in varying degrees vociferously against Mitt. Disgusted I tuned into a local show whose host is somewhat pro-Mitt. And HIS caller attacked Mitt, saying “the media is pushing Mitt on us.”
It’s insane.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:22 am
Soetero grew up in an underground tunnel system for marxist foster parents trying to escape capitalist countries. He had a microchip placed into the base of his skull by Gayorg Soros, then he was sent to Hawaii as a sleeper cell, sent to the finest schools on Saudi Arabian nickel, with the intent that he would infiltrate the American White House one day and deliver the American economic system on a silver platter to……..the Bilderberg Machine.
Anymore simpleton questions?
November 1st, 2011 at 12:24 am
The media pushing Mitt? Don’t think so. Mitt is the only reason we have a choice in this election. Bless his heart.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:24 am
There is, of course, ZERO, evidence ANY republican campaign is behind the info to politico. And politico, a liberal democratic group, is all to happy not to exclude rival campaigns in the hope that stooges like David Graham will start throwing around accusations made out of whole cloth.
It’s what you get when you have amateurs like Graham who lack any moral compass be given a platform to spew his hate.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:25 am
I watched the Gretchen whatshername interview with Cain. He struggles with issues…………I could sense it. He’s still likeable, but he’s had some problems. He’s a bad liar, which is actually a virtue. But he is lying. Just a little.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:26 am
Thanks no way I love snarky answers..
November 1st, 2011 at 12:27 am
Whoever leaked the story to Politico could blame it on the Romney campaign. A tofer.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:28 am
That little response is as accurate as a Michael Moore documentary. As solid as Al Gore science. Take it or leave it.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:28 am
I think too many people desperately want Romney to be behind this. Likewise, assigning blame to Perry’s camp gives him too much credit.
Cain failed to get ahead of this story on his terms and is exposing his freshmen politicking. “Black Walnut” as he termed it, is now going to go out of style. Watch this weeks polling trends to see.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:29 am
Either way, it wasn’t Romney harrassing females. Those settlements are there for some reason. No good reason.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:29 am
Take or leave it hmmm….
November 1st, 2011 at 12:29 am
Who is Herman Cain?
November 1st, 2011 at 12:30 am
78. Well, then he broke that, too. I can’t imagine a settlement that bans him from saying what he finally said: that there were two accusations; they are false; there was a settlement; and I’m unable to say more about it due to the terms of the settlement.
But, first he stalled. Then he denied knowing about a settlement. Then he gave details about the settlement.
That’s a problem in my book.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:31 am
86, if that’s the case, just know that that’s not the way it comes across. I’m pretty sure everyone here thought you were hinting at Romney. I do, however, appreciate your disclaimer in the post that no evidence is yet available to blame a specific campaign.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:31 am
Cain’s lying a tiny bit. Oh well. Honesty is hard to come by, especially in government related venues.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:32 am
92, it’s quite simple: grassroots conservatives are no different from grassroots liberals. Neither care about the country, only their own myopic view of utopia, and both are generally comprised of sheople who are far, far less intelligent than they understand themselves to be.
Look, about 30% of Americans have a Bachelor’s degree. Only 24% of Republicans do (and, YIKES, only 16% of Democrats!).
So, on average, your typical member of either party is statistically less educated and likely dumber than your average independent. When you then pull out only those in the grassroots, ie, those dumb enough to think ideology is everything and whom are easily led around by the reins by similarly uneducated buffoons like Rush and Hannity, well…..
We’re a dumb country with two even dumber party bases. The smart people are leaving the parties.
I’m pretty damn close.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:32 am
Correction, Hannity went to college. He’s not uneducated, just a hack.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:38 am
The source could very well have come from one of the many aides fired from the Cain campaign….It’s pretty well known there were problems with Cain aides not liking the way the campaign was going….
There was something mentioned in the Politico article that stood out to me that said Cain’s Wife mentioned to an Aide months ago not to be surprised if he started hearing about a sexual harassment claim years ago…So, the story was out there so anyone with a grudge could have taken it to the press.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:39 am
101. That’s not good. Very, very possible the accusations were unfounded. Until there’s proof I don’t think we do anyone any good by assuming guilt.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:40 am
#105:
I’ll go so far as to say, we won’t have evidence of whodunit until probably Judgment Day.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:44 am
110, Agreed.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:46 am
11, but that’s no fun…
Probably true, though.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:47 am
104 – understood
November 1st, 2011 at 12:53 am
ADAM, UR THREADS R GARBAGE, anyone can tell ur against romney. stop using ur threads to hurt other canidates. ur thoughts arnt even intellegent. and give the true story about cain more than 1 day before u say hes ok and out of hot water. i was a cain supporter but after the news i switched to MITT ROMNEY.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:05 am
The Romney campaign would be insane to go to Politico with this. Politico is in bed with the left, and the left would love to destroy Romney.
This came from Obama to make the GOP look bad. They do not expect Cain to be the nominee, and this was their way of using him for something; make the GOP look bad.
It is hardly a coincidence that the entire Obama hierarchy is bashing Romney, and people (like Adam) are saying Romney was responsible for the dirty smear of Cain. Obama’s lackeys were counting on the anti-Romney Republicans (like Adam) to go after Romney when the story came out.
Keep doing Obama’s work for him, Adam. You moron!
November 1st, 2011 at 1:06 am
115, attacking someone as being unintelligent with a post that looks like it was written by a middle-schooler was probably not the most intelligent idea. You come across as childish and immature and whiny.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:07 am
I keep thinking, what if Romney made even half the mistakes Cain is making, would he still be where he is.
Cain is no more conservative than Romney, yet conservatives have chosen him as the conservative.
And all the lies about Romney’s record keep getting repeated as truths. Just read the same stuff today.
Now, the sore losers are trying to take Romney out by falsely accusing him of gossip about Cain. If Cain goes down… they want Romney to go with him.
It will not work.
Romney is the only honest man left in politcs. Time will tell.
I really think this time the good guy might just win.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:16 am
im 16 jeff. and if u dont see adams post as being biast against romney and for cain, then u my sir r a retard
November 1st, 2011 at 1:24 am
and im not attacking anyone. BUT DONT U THINK ADAM is accusing romney of something he claimed people did to cain. fasly accuse??? isnt that a hypocryte of some kind. and PLUS i said i was a cain supporter before this story came out. me and my family know that the story is true about cain. SO WE SWITCHED to MITT ROMNEY. and know he is going to win.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:31 am
119. We all tend to have biases in our writings. But, there are degrees. SoJo and 999M, for example, are so extremely biased it’s clear they care nothing for the truth and have only the goal of propping up their candidate or tearing down Mitt.
Adam, I feel, is moderately biased. His writing tends to focus on the weaknesses or downsides or Mitt, or it tries to show him in a less than flattering light, but he’s still being reasonably fair.
We should be able to debate our differences with him on substance without name calling and without painting him with the same brush as SoJo, 999M, and even to a certain extent Smack.
I think Adam deserves his Front Page Poster status. Remember, this is NOT a Romney site. It’s a site to discuss the 2012 election with a strong bias towards Republicans. We also happen to be blessed with lots of Romney Supporters who visit and many of the Front Page posters have announced their support of Mitt.
But, that doesn’t mean we should be censoring out anything not Pro Romney.
Red State and Hot Air were horrible to any pro Romney posts and finally just started banning any pro-Romney commenters. We do NOT want this site to be like those.
Let’s have intelligent discussions about our disagreements.
The fact that you, at 16, are even paying attention to this is fantastic. I hope you’ll take my advice and try to moderate your comments, focusing more on substance and less on character attacks.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:32 am
120. How do you know the story about Cain is true?
November 1st, 2011 at 1:42 am
because, first he admits to having 2 girls file for the sexual harrassment thing, and y would the ladies do it when he wasnt really in a position of power to really like ruin him. they had nothing to gain for it back then. and herman, even tho we used to like him, opens his mouth alot about things he thinks r funny and stuff, and tends to go overboard. like the electrical fence, and on face the nation his smoking add, it was supose to be a joke but offended people with cancer. and i no people get offended no matter wat, u cant please everyone, but i mean 2 girls accuse him of the same thing? if it was 1 lady doing it, or if it was issolated that would be different, but i heard 5 more women r involved. and i really didnt see any payout for these ladies to accuse him of it, when they didnt no he would be running for president or anything. and yea, there r some biast i guess in everyones writings, i try to be even about everyone. there few things mitt did that werent perfect, but he admits it. but i know a few mormons and such, and i no at least he would have good morals and no chance of him having these kinda scars like john edwards or herman cain, or newt ginrich or rick perry. at least he isnt a corrupt man. so my family will be voting for MITT ROMNEY:)
November 1st, 2011 at 1:47 am
sgrubbs Steve Grubbs:
Iowans not holding harassment claims against Cain. Breaking News: http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/10/31/iowans-appear-ready-to-give-cain-benefit-of-the-doubt-on-sexual-harassment-allegations/
30 minutes ago
Steve Grubbs, Iowa Campaign Chairman
Friday the Iowa Cain team signed 25 precinct captains. Today, 40. Iowa Cain campaign has been energized by today’s events.
1 hour ago
November 1st, 2011 at 1:47 am
120, I think that whatever your opinion is, you could try to express it in a better way. If you write posts like you did in 115, people will ignore what you say, which would make your posts a waste of time. I’m just trying to say that if you want to actually have an impact on this site, and have people listen to what you have to say, try to do it in a mature tone, and in full sentences, with proper grammar, spelling, etc. It will do wonders.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:49 am
124
You are one mixed up kid.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:52 am
121
You have been a Romney supporter from the first day you appeared here. Why not just be honest about it?
November 1st, 2011 at 1:55 am
126, ur number 124 lol r u trying to say me?
November 1st, 2011 at 1:59 am
125, i type like i text, srry if my typing isnt up to ur standards. im 16 and i intend to act like a kid because i am 1 lol. srry if ur so fully grown and mature. and least i speak where people can understand wat i say, most of the people here talk like they do in the bible where its hard to understand and confusing. and no, im not attacking the bible lol, im a christain. another thing i hate is when politicians use famous and good movies or tv series to compare canidates and stuff with, it ruins the shows when they add chrony politics and stuff to it:(
November 1st, 2011 at 1:59 am
127, did Keith say he wasn’t a Romney supporter? Unless I’m missing something, all he said was that he wanted a fair and open debate. That sounds about right to me. Every person here, supporting any of the candidates, should have that desire.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:02 am
129, I’m not trying to offend you and I’m not trying to be holier than thou. I’m sorry if I came across that way. I’m just trying to help you understand that in the world, people are turned off by that type of writing. By the way, I agree with Keith. I think its fantastic that you’re into politics at your age. Keep it up.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:03 am
Adam,
What are you smoking? Herman Cain and Mitt Romney ARE FRIENDS. CAIN ENDORSED ROMNEY IN 08′. You are dillussional. Quit it now. Either jump on with Romney or Paul…or get the hell out of the way.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:06 am
127. Where’d THAT come from?? I think I’ve been very upfront about being a Romney supporter from day 1. Why would you suggest I was trying to hide that?
November 1st, 2011 at 2:09 am
133, because being a Romney supporter implies that we’re all robots and can’t comprehend open debate (at least in Craig’s mind).
November 1st, 2011 at 2:11 am
Randomsmell .. Never was a Cain supporter
He accused me several times of spamming threads with pro Cain comments.
He’s a liar, and probably a pimply, oversized moron
November 1st, 2011 at 2:11 am
The numbers are out of order, Keith.
I was addressing Smelly The Kid who lied when he said he supported Cain before today. He’s been ALL Romney since he first came on this site a couple weeks back. I’ve argued with him about it back then AND his writing style.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:12 am
123. Slow down, buddy! BTW, it would help if you broke up your thoughts into paragraphs. I had a hard time following you.
Anybody can make accusations. 2 women doing it doesn’t look good, but it’s far from proof. You can’t use that as a reason for “knowing he did it”.
Where did you hear 5 women? I’ve not seen that.
Being Mormon doesn’t mean Mitt has good morals or values or positions. Harry Reid and Jon Hunstman are Mormons, too. There are Mormons in prison. Saying you’re sure Mitt is a good moral person because he’s Mormon is nearly as bad as those who say they can’t vote for him because he’s Mormon.
Look at the MAN and his WORDS and his HISTORY and judge him on that.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:13 am
Kate beat me to it
Randomsmell is a FRAUD. Period. End of story.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:13 am
133:Craig was addressing randomsmell
November 1st, 2011 at 2:15 am
136. Gotcha. Makes more sense. Thanks!
November 1st, 2011 at 2:17 am
Yeah, Kate…
For some reasons the numbers got out of order.
Anyway, my final TWO thoughts on this subject is Romney needed to slow Cain down.
And nice try, Willard!
November 1st, 2011 at 2:20 am
im not a fraud. me and my family did support cain before this story came out. and 137, keith. harry reid and jon hunstman r good moral people. just because they r bad politicians doesnt make them bad people. i dont support either of them, but they didnt cheat on their wifes or anything. and 138, 139. yall should get married together, seems like u 2 would have alot in common.
If yall were here yesterday, u would have saw my family story about my brother naming his baby herman, but then herman cain betrayed us with this, and now we switched to mitt romney. herman cain has left our family torn to pieces and in shame, and yall calling me a fraud saying im laying hurts as well, i didnt do anything to yall, and we have a right to switch canidates and go to mitt romney if we want too
November 1st, 2011 at 2:20 am
141. And, I’ll just repeat that Romney would be a fool to try to slow Cain down. And, Mitt is no fool. I’m confident he loves Cain right where he is.
*I* can’t figure out WHY he’s there, but I’m glad about it.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:21 am
141, mitt romney didnt come out with the story!! and i do believe the story is true by the way
November 1st, 2011 at 2:26 am
142. Fair point about Reid and Huntsman. But, you still need to be careful about assuming a person is moral just because they’re Mormon.
Listen, it’s cool you’re for Romney, but if you switched from Cain just because of these allegations, that’s not well thought through. Personally, I’d switch because of the way he HANDLED the allegations, but just because he was accused and there was a settlement does not mean much. We don’t even know what the allegations were.
The work environment is actually pretty hostile towards men. A woman can make a sexual harassment complaint for the craziest of things. I’ve heard things like…
A photo of a man’s wife in a bikini on his desk.
Walking in and hearing two men having a conversation that makes her uncomfortable.
Any number of pretty mild jokes.
We just don’t know and it’s not at all cool to assume Cain did bad things just because of this.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:26 am
Randomsmell,
You are a fraud. Do you want us to post your old comments? Everything is archived here.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:27 am
I think Adam Graham was behind the leak.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:32 am
146, im not a fraud! anyone that doesnt support ur canidate(which have been about 4 people in this campaign) is a fraud to u. and we switched yesterday to mitt romney, not today
November 1st, 2011 at 2:53 am
Adam you are an idiot!
For months we’ve been hearing how Romney is propping up Mitt to kill off Cain, and now this!
Priceless.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:05 am
I don’t see what Romney campaign had to gain from this. They were probably expecting Cain to go down in polls eventually and would have probably even wanted Cain to stay relatively undamaged since he could possibly make a good VP candidate to rally the base.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:08 am
I believe some people should be banned from Race42012. The line has been crossed.
November 1st, 2011 at 4:05 am
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67199.html
Paul did it. His campaign commented with an above the fray attack only 30 minutes after the story broke. For those who think that he doesn’t have an oppo research wing, they should read some off the reports coming from Iowa. He has the best organization in the state and has a great one nationally.
November 1st, 2011 at 4:19 am
#149 Heath, do you want to give that another shot?
November 1st, 2011 at 5:29 am
I vote liberal MSM media as the culprit. They work overtime, every minute of every day to find dirt on a strong Republican candidate. With sweet dreams of being the next famed journalist who exposed another Watergate.
Cain has a “darling” factor that has to worry the opposition. Obama has almost no personality compared to Cain.
November 1st, 2011 at 6:54 am
I believe this site has lost its value for the moment. I hope all these things are not true about Cain. Because if they are not than someone has tried to slander his name. If they are true of cain I would never vote for him. And if an opposing campaign leaked a false accusation I would never vote for them.
BUT WHEN THIS SITE PERMITS ADAM GRAHAM TO FALSEY ACCUSE AND SLANDER THE NAME OF ROMNEY WITH NO EVIDENCE THAN I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THIS SITE WITH MY TIME.
I have enjoyed so many on this site thank you for your insights and polite demeanor.
November 1st, 2011 at 6:58 am
This whole premise that a fellow GOP candidate MUST be behind this reminds me of what happened to Sarah Palin. As soon as it was announced that she was going to be the GOP VP Nominee, scores of reporters descended upon Alaska to dig up dirt on her.
Was Obama behind that? No. It was the MSM. They are fully capable of doing oppo-research on their own. We just assume that because they didn’t do it against Obama that they can’t do it against Republicans.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:06 am
Washington, D.C. (AP) – Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain is investigating possible improper financial arrangements between a charity and his campaign.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday that Cain, who
also is dealing with sexual harassment allegations from the 1990s,
allowed a tax-exempt charity to illegally provide money to help
Cain’s campaign get started.
Cain’s chief of staff, Mark Block, says the campaign has asked a
lawyer to review the transactions. Block says the campaign will
comment when that investigation is over.
The charity, Prosperity USA, was founded by Block and Linda
Hansen, Cain’s deputy chief of staff. The Journal Sentinel reported
there are questions about approximately $40,000 that helped Cain’s
campaign get started earlier this year.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:07 am
All this stuff makes Cain looks shady he should pull out of the race now before he hurts the GOP’s chances of beating Obama.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:12 am
What would the Romney camp gain with a Cain fall? They’d gain a stronger Perry and a PITA. So NO WAY was it the Romney folks.
Cain and Perry continue to split the anti-Romney vote. Romney needs Cain in this race.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:20 am
There is no evidence to indicate Romney’s campaign is the source of this story….In fact, what evidence is there that Romney ran a dirty campaign in 2008 or ever.
It was Perry who just hired a new opposition research team from Florida, who was billed as one of the dirtiest in the business. In fact, the bad blood between Perry and the Rove/Bush team stems from Perry’s dirty campaign against Kay Baily Hutchenson….Perry has a history of dirty campaigning……
November 1st, 2011 at 7:22 am
Ahh… Romney camp is up to it’s old tricks again. Quite a few old warhorses don’t have fond memories of them from 2008. That’s not to blame the candidate, but some of his hired minions loved this type of game back in the day…
November 1st, 2011 at 7:24 am
Perry? I doubt it. Perry needs the headlines (at least in a positive fashion), and this takes away from his spotlight.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:24 am
This speculation is sheer, unadulterated idiocy. Cain is a HUGE benefit to Romney right now. He would do anything to keep Herman afloat. He has often praised Cain, even in a debate. Romney is the last guy to release this kind of information. So…..who would benefit from a Cain drop ? Who was injured by a Cain rise ? Hmmm Hmmm. Who has a 10 year record of shady campaigns in a state that doesn’t really give a damn about shady campaigns ? Hmmm ? Hmmm?
As for Herman. He’s just dumb. If he has known about this Politico release for weeks, he’s even dumber. As to the charges, I spent 40 years in senior management with Fortune 100 companies and I never even heard of a $ 35,000 payoff to ” make somebody go away.” Let alone TWO people. And, as the CEO, I would have never authorized anybody, including counsel, to cut a check to anybody in these circumstances without my express approval. It’s not big bucks……but it’s not pocket change either
CraigS
November 1st, 2011 at 7:34 am
In other words, we won’t hold this against Cain until we see some damning evidence, but hey let’s blame Romney with no evidence. Makes sense.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:39 am
#158…..Google Mark Block’s name and you come up with more shady stuff about him….He was barred in Wisconsin for three years from taking part in any campaign because of campaign financial improprieties.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:44 am
#165 Jason….
Romney is not only fighting the Democrats, he’s also fighting an uphill battle with the Republican media…I don’t know how much longer I can stay a Republican….
November 1st, 2011 at 7:50 am
I blame the brother of Romney…SATAN!!!!!
November 1st, 2011 at 7:56 am
If Cain were not the last serious threat remaining to Romney, we all know Adam would not have issued two posts in a row defending him.
This is about doing everything and anything he can to use R4’12 as a platform to elevate ANYONE who might be able to take out Romney.
====
Lets look at the facts -
We know Cain was accused by two women of sexual misconduct. We know those women were given a large settlement. We know those women were then required to keep absolutely silent about what happened. We also know the Cain campaign performed miserably in preparing a response, even given significant advanced notice, and that he then LIED about his involvement in the settlement – then reversed himself – within an 18 hour period.
Yet, rather than giving a serious nod to the important question of whether the man essentially tied for the lead in the GOP primaries might be a Clinton-style sleazeball, we have Adam asking whether revealing this story – not creating it, but simply giving it to the press – might not be some kind of hatchet job.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:05 am
one of the accusers was blabbering at her current job about how an embarrassing story involving her and one of the presidential candidates might come out…. you don’t think that perked some interest among those that she told – even just that much? it would be pretty simple to piece that employee to cain with a simple cross check of her employment history, and the tada… you’ve arrived at something tangible for the press..
November 1st, 2011 at 8:08 am
#170 –
Not even that, but the premise here isn’t even that the story is fake. Nobody disputes (anymore) that the accusations and settlement happened, with Cain’s knowledge.
His diehards – which is to say, the core Romney-haters – are somehow running on the idea that RELEASING to the press information that a top candidate for the GOP nomination could possibly be a philandering scumbag amounts to a hit job.
As if all the other campaigns are supposed to help Cain conceal any dark secrets he might have from the voting public.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:16 am
November 1st, 2011 at 8:17 am
I just want to defend Adam Graham here. His post does not attempt to accuse Romney of this.
Actually, he accuses liberals of this.
How many of you didn’t read his post?
November 1st, 2011 at 8:19 am
cain flat out lied yesterday… not quite the clinton ‘i never had sex with that woman ms. lewinsky’, but certainly not forthcoming – especially when within hours he’s suddenly remembering details and nuances.
this is all unfortunate for mr cain – i really like the guy – but so much of this is self inflicted damage IMO. If these are false allegations, so be it, but it seems like IMO he’s decided upon a path of destroying the accuser which will raise all sorts of red flags among women. Recount the facts as you recall mr. cain, and leave behind the derisive comments. Tell us more about exactly what occurred. By your own admission mr cain, you are not signatory to the settlement as it was from the NRA, so pull some strings, get hold of the settlement statements and let us see what the grievances were, cause for dismissal, and investigation findings. Harassment does NOT have a requirement that the perp KNOW what they are doing is harassment, so simply brushing this off will not suffice. That said, it is also unfortunately not uncommon for someone who is heading out the door to throw everything against the wall hoping that something will stick – perhaps that is all that this is, but with cain’s fumbling the last 48 hours, it doesn’t leave anyone with much confidence in his crisis handling skills.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:20 am
Oh yeah because it would really help Romney if Cains campaign were to fall apart. Why would Romney want to go up against an unelectable populist, who has no money, and puts his foot in his mouth every other day? Romney obviously needs to take that guy out so that the SoCons can coalesce around an actual viable choice. This is obviously Romney’s master stroke.
You look so pathetic and desperate Adam. I’ve heard 5 year olds give more insightful political analysis. Do us a favor Adam… next time you have an idea write it down on a small piece of paper, then burn it. That way we don’t have to be inundated with your worthless musings.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:20 am
I can pretty well guarantee the Democrats didn’t leak this. They would want to save it for October, 2012. This does them no good now.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:23 am
#173 -
Its not tha the accuses Romney, its that he tries to prop up Cain by dismissing the allegations outright as a hit job.
He’s trying to build up Cain to be an unfairly targeted victim here BECAUSE Cain is the only thing currently standing in Romney’s way.
I won’t pretend I want to see anything other than Cain completely taken out of this race…but its unthinkable that you just write off sexual misconduct allegations in the manner Adam is proposing.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:23 am
148 Pablo, “I think Adam Graham was behind the leak.” That is hilarious because that is exactly what I was going to write!
November 1st, 2011 at 8:30 am
When Huck made the comment on Ingraham’s show yesterday in which he said another campaign was behind the leak, I’m confident that he was referring to the Perry campaign.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:31 am
Odd as it may sound, sometimes politicians and their campaigns leak their own bad news and scandals, if they know or think it’s going to come out anyway. That way, they can control the timing, who gets the scoop, and have a response ready.
But given the Cain campaign’s botched handling of this, I don’t think that’s what happened here.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:31 am
mac,
I would consider the Perry campaign at least as likely as Romney’s.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:37 am
Redstate, Eric Erickson, also a CNN contributor, Said it was Romney, OF COURSE HE is a big Cain supporter, after, he was a big Perry supporter, before he was a Donald Trump supporter, before he was a Sarah Palin.. etc… Believe he should show his evidence, or SHUT UP.. as an attorney he should KNOW better…
November 1st, 2011 at 8:40 am
Perry and Mitt have both shown in prior campaigns that they aren’t bashful about getting a little dirty, so either is a decent possibility. Perry would have more to gain from the timing of the leak, having had a string of bad press, and relentless slide in the polls. He also has more to gain from Cain’s immediate demise, hoping to reclaim the mantle of NotMitt. For their part, the Romney camp might figure Perry is done for, and Cain would be the last, best hope among the RomNots. Perhaps they panicked over recent polls, or figured this would seal the deal.
So we could make a case for either campaign, but I consider the Perry campaign (which can also afford oppo research) to be the single likeliest source, by a good margin.
Could also be that this was a “rogue” or unauthorized leak from some campaign, whether Perry, Romney, Obama, or the DNC.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:40 am
I don’t think the Romney campaign leaked this. But I dispute that it serves Romney well to have Cain where he is. Cain is running neck and neck with – or just ahead of – Romney in several states.
How, in the age of Sarah Palin, any of you people assume that an inexperienced, gaffe-prone, or nationally electable candidate candidate can’t win the support of GOP voters, is beyond me.
Its in Romney’s interest to take out Cain as soon as possible. If that means Gingrich rises, so be it. Then we can talk about honesty and integrity and hypocrisy for a couple weeks, and he too will fall.
November 1st, 2011 at 8:43 am
I wonder if there’s any special animosity towards Cain in the Perry camp after Cain’s remarks regarding the Perry family campground.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:26 am
I’m not evening “touching” whether the allegations are true or not…….. WHAT is interesting is Cain’s handling of the news. Politico had contacted him over a week earlier, so it was NOT a surprise to Cain. The inconsistent handling of his response is troubling for anyone seriously considering Cain as POTUS. The lack of preparation does NOT build confidence in him as a leader.
WHO leaked? I would be sorely disappointed if it were Mitt as it is NOT necessary for him to do so. Cain has not helped himself recently; Mitt’s help not necessary. The possibility that it was Perry…….is more plausible, but there is no sense in making accusations until more information comes to light.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:29 am
I’m sure the redstate folks want the source of the cain leak to be romney, they have an extreme dislike of him. Politically, it doesn’t add up for romney to bring down cain in any manner right now…romney benefits the most from a cain surge. Who doesn’t benefit from a cain surge, most notably rick perry. Who just hired some tough campaign hacks? rick perry again. Of course, my guess is the reporters just were being reporters and this story made it out.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:31 am
Saying that leaks about candidates came shortly before they were scheduled to do media appearances doesn’t mean that much to me. Cain has been doing media appearances quite frequently in recent weeks. No matter what day or time a leak about Cain took place, it would probably be within a day of his next media appearance anyway.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:33 am
134- don’t agree, romney should fear the two rick’s and not worry about anybody else.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:47 am
I’m going with the rogue actor theory. It’s simple, elegant, leaves everyone standing, and has the highest likelihood of being true.
If you had bombshell information about a Presidential candidate from only 12 years ago, and that candidate suddenly became the frontrunner in polls, against all odds, the enormous pressure to blab would become overwhelming to most.
People blab. Our Democracy is safer because people blab. Blabbing is an impulse that needs no incentive, no sinister motive, no villain.
Politico has no incentive to expose the original blabber. That might decrease blabbing, and reporters need blabbers to blab.
Conspiracy theories aside, people eat, sleep, and blab.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:49 am
CAIN HAS GOT TO GO. No wonder his poor wife is keeping a low profile. IT IS SO OBVIOUS!
November 1st, 2011 at 9:58 am
This article made me laugh . . . hard . . . inside, not outside.
Paragraph one: Domench and Erickson hint that it’s ROMNEY!!!!
Paragraph two: I think it was from a powerful campaign.
Paragraph three: “. . . treacherous people ready to do anything to get their candidate elected, including smearing people on flimsy evidence.”
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Self-assigned Absolution
Here’s my response:
Adam Graham, you big sorry sack of self-contradiction!
Some sleazy people use FPP to smear Romney with whatever thin evidence they can, even baseless innuendo from well-known blogging cheap shot artists.
I’m not sure if you do.
It’s a sleazy practice, to be sure, but one made less odious for its transparency and impotence.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Self-applied absolution
November 1st, 2011 at 10:34 am
Has anyone considered that perhaps it’s just a journalist doing research and finding the story? Journalists outnumber the candidates what… 1,000,000-to-1? I would think at least a few of them are doing their own investigations rather then swiping stories from Drudge.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:11 am
122.
“Remember, this is NOT a Romney site.”
Keith — I think you are one of the most balanced and fair commenters on this site. However, while this might not be a Romney site, I would say that 75%+ of its FPP and 75%+ of its commenters are pro-Romney. I don’t have an issue with that, but I don’t think its representative of the broader population of Republicans — and independents willing to consider voting Republican in 2012. I think that the alternative perspectives of SoTruth, 999, smack and other Not-Mitt’s are valuable to providing a more balanced perspective of the entire field of candidates.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:12 pm
156. I never saw an accusation by Adam that Romney was the leak. He was reporting on another reporter (blogger? news guy?) who was obviously hinting it was Romney.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:23 pm
194. Yeah. My comment was a rebuke of post 122 who was blasting Adam for posting something that besmirched Romney. I was saying we need to accept such Front Page posts without blasting them because it’s an election site not a Romney site.
I agree that the other perspectives are valuable. I DO get frustrated with the extremes of some of the posts, but mostly they’re well thought out on both sides.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:34 pm
It’s usually pretty easy to figure out who was the source by simply looking at who would gain the most from a Cain implosion. The answer is Perry. Romney would have the most to lose, so it’s HIGHLY doubtful that it came from his campaign even if his team knew about it.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:34 pm
So your theory is that Romney drops the bomb on the only candidate who doesn’t seriously criticize him, who supported him in he past, and who said he might pick Romney as VP? He does this NOW instead of holding it until after the field narrows down to 2? That would be the biggest political strategy mistake EVER made.
Anyone who comes to that conclusion cannot be taken seriously.
November 1st, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Rombots,
The last three polls..
Cain up big Nationally!
Cain up big in Maine!!!!!!!!!!
Cain up big in Carolina!!!!!!!!
Romney panicked. Relased this dirt.
November 1st, 2011 at 4:04 pm
If it’s true-don’t kill the messenger. If Cain did sexually harrass women, why shouldn’t we know about it? That would mean he’s not so moralistic after all. Why didn’t Cain take charge and stand up for himself? He allowed it to get swept under the rug. Would he help the U.S. or hide everything like Clinton did?
November 1st, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Cain is immensely likeable. But he is not helping himself. His interviews and statements over the last 3-4 weeks have been a constant, constant stream of gaffes, mistakes, and just-painful moments.
And how about we buy a fact in this debate? Nobody knows if a campaign released it to the press or if somebody else came to them of if they just did some investigative work and came up with it. At least, nobody on here knows. It’s all slanderous speculation.
November 1st, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Those are some weighty accusations you are throwing out there with no evidence. For some reason I’m not surprised by this post from you in any way though. Completely classless.
November 1st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Whoever did this to Cain, also made sure that Perry was taped at his worst in NH and received negative publicity at the same time. It was very out of character for Perry … I smell set ups. Of course, Cain really did shoot himself having 10 days to prepare, his arrogance sank him. Still haven’t seen his wife.
Only two people could gain … Obama and Romney.
November 1st, 2011 at 5:50 pm
The polls are all before the scandal broke, and people started questioning Cain’s previous statements … there will be a shakeup … as there should be. Time to quit looking at this as a popularity contest, and look at the candidates records. Cain was an expert at public speaking and using the Presidential run to drum up business for his motivational speaking business and sell his books! His wife and family never even joined him on the trail because it was “business as usual”.
I am tired of Obama’s constant speeches, would rather a President who knows how to run the country well and looks out for the best needs of the people!
November 1st, 2011 at 7:14 pm
All Romney needs to do to narrow the field to two is win New Hampshire (practilly guaranteed) and having a bomb that you could drop after it has become a 2 man race would be priceless. Romney probably has the least to gain having this info come out now. Even Cain arguable has more to gain, as now it won’t come out near the actual voting. However since you’ll probably never see it that way – I suggest we make a wager.
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:41 pm
S0—are you going to apologize to Romney?
Rush L. should also apologize to all the liberals he blamed. Of course he loves Perry when all of us Texans know he a CINO. He has won all of his elctions with smearing the opposition.
November 2nd, 2011 at 7:29 pm
206 – Of course he won’t.
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