Geraldo wants an answer to a straight up question. This information does not bode well for a presidential candidate.
Spokesperson J. D. Gordon dodged Geraldo’s questions fairly clumsily.
I feel a story taking on a life of its own.
According to Politico.com:
During Herman Cain’s tenure as the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, at least two female employees complained to colleagues and senior association officials about inappropriate behavior by Cain, ultimately leaving their jobs at the trade group, multiple sources confirm to POLITICO.
The women complained of sexually suggestive behavior by Cain that made them angry and uncomfortable, the sources said, and they signed agreements with the restaurant group that gave them financial payouts to leave the association. The agreements also included language that bars the women from talking about their departures.
We have no opinion at this point because there are too many missing facts. However, that is certainly not going to stop the speculation.
What I do find offensive is to blame it on Cain being a conservative politician. There were enough bad boys out there the past couple of years to give John Edwards a good run for his money.
Speaking of John Edwards, he keeps getting in deeper and deeper. He is now in criminal court. However, some idiot reporter claimed some old rich woman backed him. Bunny Melon is hardly ‘some old rich woman.’ Are reporters just getting dumber or is it my imagination?
Back to Herman Cain–any speculation here? Please don’t say its because he is conservative….that is such an excuse.
You can read more at politico.com.
What, no mention of Bill Clinton? It all depends on the meaning of the word……………well you get the picture.
Just when you think there is a breath of fresh air in Washington, you get a faint hint of the sewer. What this should tell us is that many people have feet of clay. I don’ t have any opinion on this either –it seems so commonplace anymore that I am not certain it is worth worrying about.
The best thing Cain could do now if all of this is true, is just say so and get it over with. The sooner, the better.
Apparently, this is the entirety of the accusation: “episodes that left the women upset and offended” and “physical gestures that were not overtly sexual but that made women who experienced or witnessed them uncomfortable and that they regarded as improper in a professional relationship.” Kinda vague…..
There was a court case. The parties settled with a confidentiality agreement for “five figures.” That’s kind of vague, too. Seems low for an actual sexual harassment case. Politico does not seem to have actually interviewed any of those actually involved. If there is a confidentiality agreement…..Cain CANNOT speak about it. He should state that.
The report says that one woman complained that he invited her up to his room. If this happened, apparently that’s all he did.
Is he handling this well? Not all all. Is it possible that he cannot talk directly about it? Also true.
The Politico piece is a partisan hit piece with only anonymous sources, apparently one of whom broke the settlement agreement to be silent.
If he can, Cain needs to hit this head on.
Moon, of course its because he’s a conservative candidate. If he wasn’t, no one would care. Where was the press coverage on Edwards? Clinton? Jackson? The press actually COVERED for Edwards and ignored Clinton. Why is it offensive to you to point out that Politico is a partisan site that seeks to help their own side? Notice that no one brought this up earlier, when he worked for the Federal Reserve, but, only when he became a prominent candidate. It’s the same reason Rubio was singled out. The left is seeking to tear down any opponents, present or future.
George is right. Better to just spill it all.
SA, why discuss Clinton? Is there any detail that hasn’t already been said, no matter how slight or gross? Did the American people not pony up millions of dollars ‘trying’ him?
How did that work out for you? He is still one of the most popular politicians in the United States and the world today. He was elected and re-elected with that kind of baggage. Will it work for everyone in a post Lewinsky world? I doubt it.
So….why was it you wanted to talk about Clinton?
@Moon-howler
The fact that Clinton IS so popular is just a reflection on how shallow some people are. He was a serial womanizer/abuser. He lied constantly. But, apparently, putting some ice on it is enough…..
Btw…I’m in moderation? Did I do something wrong? No links…email seems right.
Cain’s spokesman is J. D. Gordon, a retired Navy officer who was the public affairs officer for the military commissions at Gitmo. He and I got along well and I’ve seen him a couple of times since he retired in 2010. There was an episode in 2009 when J. D. accused Carol Rosenberg, a veteran female reporter for the Miami Herald who I also know, of sexually harassing him. He said, “I’ve been abused worse than the detainees have been abused.”
http://news.yahoo.com/senior-cain-aide-accused-female-miami-herald-reporter-135806801.html
Can’t get anymore cut and dried than this:
“I have never sexually harassed anyone, let’s say that. Secondly, I’ve never sexually harassed anyone, and yes, I was falsely accused while I was at the National Restaurant Association, and I say falsely, because it turned out, after the investigation, to be baseless. The people mentioned in that article were the ones who would be aware of any misdoings, and they have attested to my integrity and my character. It is totally baseless, and totally false, never have I committed any sort of sexual harassment,” Herman Cain told FOX News about claims from Politico that he was involved in the sexual harassment of two former employees.
@Cargosquid
You are in moderation because I didn’t get up early to let you out. Sorry. I only check moderation once a day now.
As for Clinton, I don’t believe he was an abuser. Ladies man yes, abuser no. “He lied constantly” prove it. Offensive remark.
I am just one of the shallow people you distain. Sorry. I have always liked Bill Clinton and I always will. I didn’t originally vote for him to be my spiritual leader. I don’t attempt to justifiy his womanizing. It was part of who he is/was. You either like the man or you don’t. Obviously you don’t but you obviously missed the part about him being one of the sacred cows of the blog.
My point to SA is this article isn’t about Clinton. Some of you Republicans always deflect to what some Democrat has done rather than looking at your own problem squarely in the eye. I find that just annoying. It doesn’t matter what Clinton did. It matters how Cain is going to handle a serious allegation.
Moe, that’s pretty interesting. Do you think he was being sexually harassed? That’s a good reminder that sexual harassment works both ways also. We always assume its men but I have seen it my entire life work the other way also.
As for Clinton, I don’t believe he was an abuser. Ladies man yes, abuser no. “He lied constantly” prove it. Offensive remark.
Juanita Broderick. “Put some ice on that.”
He used his authority to have women. How is that not abuse? That’s why I don’t understand why you like him.
We’re bringing him up because this is illustrative of the double standard of the media. It was a critique of the media, not Clinton. The media covers for the left until their noses are rubbed in it. And its not just sex scandals.
@Cargo said:
Why is everything always a personal attack on someone or partisan?
Politico is one of the least partisan places you can go. Edwards was covered very thoroughly, as it should have been by most of the press, once it broke through the tabloid papers. Why wasn’t it treated like Cain? Different type of story.
It has nothing to do with Cain being a conservative. I knew this whine would happen. I woke up knowing it was going to happen.
It has to do with the fact that there is a paper trail on the subject. Cain cannot say anything and neither can the women as to details but he can sure make a public statement about it and he should.
Here is another problem I see. Edwards never went around being the morals police. Someone like Mark Sandford did as did some of the other R’s who have been caught with their pants down. Lay off the holier than thou and perhaps the press wouldn’t take such delight.
Edwards is still catching it but he isn’t as much fun to go after now. His lovely wife is dead, he is a pig. Bunny Melon who he apparently duped is a million years old. We know all these things. There is no intrigue here. What’s left to say? John Edwards is a double pig?
I would like to suggest that perhaps Herman Cain has more serious problems than a little sexual inappropriateness.
See #8. Apparently he doesn’t. According to him…he was cleared of false accusations and the people were given “go away” money.
Politico is a left leaning partisan site. They used anonymous sources without details to smear a candidate prior to a major news cycle. Typical media attack.
I’m not saying that the GOP doesn’t do the same. Both sides have political agendas. But that’s what this seems to be.
And its not a whine to point out that if Cain WASN’T a conservative candidate…this would not have happened. If he was a leftist black candidate….well….we already saw how the press vetted Obama.
It isn’t up to the press to ‘vet’ anyone. That isn’t their function.
I haven’t heard Cain give any explanation. Perhaps I missed it.
Cargo, with you, everything leans left. Trees, houses, people. Politico has a good reputation for giving everyone a fair shot.
There are sources, just not the women’s names. Good grief. How about offering up some proof for these allegations. I don’t feel like playing the prove the negative this morning. You know, when did you stop beating your wife kind of gotcha.
A question from Instapundit:
Meanwhile, a question: Would Jonathan Martin, Maggie Haberman, Anna Palmer and Kenneth Vogel have put their names on a similar piece, with no named sources, aimed at Barack Obama? Would Politico have run it?
If Politico can answer “yes”, THEN they can be considered non-partisan.
@Cargo
Why would they do that? Obama has no such accusations made at him. Woulda coulda shoulda.
@Cargosquid
Why do you assume the attack was partisan? Do you think Cain has no Republican competition who could benefit from this info? And why is Cain denying anything and dismissing these complaints if there’s a confidentiality agreement? I don’t hear the particular women speaking up to offer their side.
@Cargosquid
Head Nods and Harupmphs here! Couldn’t agree more.
Steve, you are usually one who doesn’t deflect a problem.
It isn’t about Edwards or Clinton or Sanford. Its about Cain and should it matter?
It sounds to me like the O’Reilly situation. Was that ever resolved? No. Go away money.
@Censored
Excellent point. It could very well be one of his opponents. In fact, I would bet the ranch that it was. I don’t think the Democrats see Cain as a big threat, rightly or wrongly.
I still see Politico as one of the more evenly distributed web periodicals. I don’t think there is a pass for anyone.
Well, his denials are a blanket declaration of innocence. So if he did not defend himself, it would be said that he is guilty. That would be a no win situation. According to him, he’s not under a confidentiality agreement. He says that those that investigated cleared him, and that whatever else they did, he has no knowledge of it.
I’m sure everyone will see his statements on TV today.
The attack was partisan because the Politico is a liberal site. There are rumors that the Perry camp may have started it, but, if that was true…Perry would be the loser once that came out. If any GOP candidate had leaked this, that candidate would be the loser.
@Cargosquid
Yeah, he’s in a tough situation. But the women appear to be honoring their side of the agreement. It’s hardly fair that he speaks out and declares his innocence while they stand bound to their word.
Oh, well. I think we’ll be hearing much more – agreement or not.
@Moon-howler
While the details are still unfolding, this smacks of the Clarence Thomas hearings. The press is very selective over what it chooses to report, regarding a candidate’s background (Obama/Ayers/Wright/Reczko, Clinton/Flowers/Broddrick/Willey, Edwards/Hunter (initially, until the Enquirer bulldogged it)) when the “accused” is a Democrat, (inspite of all the evidence) but will get all in a frenzy, (GW Bush ANG Service, Clarence Thomas, Marco Rubio Cain) and will run with stories at the drop of a hat, present inuendo as fact, and do as much damage as possible, before the truth comes out. This Cain accusation stinks. Looking at what little is known about the case, the press has already convicted him, and on what?
@Steve, oh dear God, Cargo is rubbing off on you. That sounds horribly paranoid. Plus, I never heard that GWB had a zipper problem. I will defend him.
As for Clarence Thomas, I believe Anita Hill with every ounce of my being. I did then and I do now, still. The evidence was there. He was given the benefit of the doubt. However, it doesn’t matter now.
I don’t know who Rubio supposedly had an affair with either. Never heard it. Must not have made a big splash.
As for Cain, I believe since there are already sealed records of a settlement, then there is your conviction. We are just not sure about what. And does it matter? It wouldn’t make me vote or not vote for him.
In a post Watergate world, I think the press is pretty quick to investigate all matters of the zipper. You forgetting about the Moneky Business? Sen. Packwood, Gary Condit? Edwards got shown no mercy after the Inquirer broke the story. Meanwhile, who believes the Inquirer? No one quotes the inquirer without verification. Next thing you know you will have to buy a tinfoil hat.
Sitting where i am sitting, that charge looks pretty ludicrous. The press seems to pile on top of those who have been holier than though, much more so than on the difference in D or R.
Not sure you want to go to Anita Hill Steve. Both Moon and I agree that she was very credible and remains so, Clarence Thomas, not so much.
Here is what I would say about this whole thing. Cain will fit right in to the policitcal landscape apparently!
I honestly am more interested in his qualifications as President. I like the guy, would I want him as President, probably not, but not because of these allegations.
@Elena
“Not sure you want to go to Anita Hill Steve. Both Moon and I agree that she was very credible and remains so, Clarence Thomas, not so much.”
Elena, no adjudication thereof. So, by your rationale, Bill Clinton should be doing 20-to-life in the Arkansas State Penn, because I believe Janita Brodderick over Bill Clinton?
No one wants anyone to go to jail over their zipper. Lots around here with that same problem. I don’t want them in jail. That’s between them and their spouses.
@Cargo
Politico isn’t a liberal site. Honest. It might be to YOU but not to the rest of the world. Even if it is so liberal it glows, why would we call a site ‘partisan’ if it targets one R over another R? If the Perry camp started it, isn’t he an R?
Let’s be serious here. Do you think Obama really fears Cain that much? Cain is the least of his worries.
Herman Cain has stated that he warned his staff that these allegations may surface, and they should expect the attacks.
If Cain was smart enough to anticipate the attack (based on his personal knowledge of the facts and circumstances that occurred during his tenure at the Restaurant Association), they why was he not smart enough to get in front of this story when he announced (or shortly thereafter)?
The narrative of the Cain campaign has been to convince voters he is not the typical politician; that he is a breath of fresh air in politics; and what you see is what you get — let Cain be Cain.
What it now looks like is that he indeed a typical politician (hide the ball from voters); he is the same stale air of opportunistic politics; and he is only what he lets us see.
A big disappointment.
I am a Republican. I am also an American that had hope for that new face to truly capture the essence of a citizen’s politician.
None of these scandals seems partisan. They only speak to the frailties of men (and arguably women, but I believe the evidence shows it to be more typical of the male gender) whose egos drive them to the spotlight that politics provides — and then they fail to respect the boundaries of decency and morality because the apparently convince themselves they are invulnerable.
A pox on all of their houses, but our tolerance of it condemns us to mediocrity.
Politics 2nd, you make some excellent points. I guess the American people have to decide if this matters. I would love to live in a world where zippers didn’t unzip except at home but I think that is a pipe dream.
@Gainesville First – Politics 2nd
LOL. Just what was he supposed to say, exactly?
“I’m Herman Cain, and I’m running for President. By the way, I was once accused of sexual harassment 15 years ago.”
Fox News usually makes big deals out of picadillos and major flings. If the person isn’t a Repubican the Friends usually have a great time making snide remarks and wink wink nudge nudge fun of the person. I never saw such delight as I did when Rep. Weiner got caught with his pants down–almost as much glee as when Arnold got caught.
Now here’s the rub….Fox News sports sex. The Foxies all dress up with cleavage showing in their vickie secrets bras and lots of leg. They know how to sit just right and pull in the right ons. Then they are the first ones to squawk if someone says something inappropriate. Back in the day we had a name for it. Yup. CT.
I think we have to send the same message if we are going to walk the walk.
The women who were the real standard bearers with professional women in the work place didn’t dress like that. I watch Pan Am with amusement. I am not sure much as changed at all. Perhaps things have just gotten worse.
Hey Moon, what’s a CT? Is that were you make fun of this guy? http://www.crazyblogger.info/wp-content/uploads/MY-BIG-ROOSTER.JPG
Are you saying there’s a reason they call it the boob tube?
@Cato the Elder
Perhaps Cain would approach the “disclosure” more elegantly, but yes, I would have thought the “Citizen Cain” would have done exactly that.
In the alternative, a self-assessment about the fact he had been subjected to that sort of allegation PRIOR to making the decision to run for President, would have either led to the conclusion that a campaign would not be a good personal decision OR declare it — all of the relevant public sins — and tell the public he truly was seeking to be honest about who the real Herman Cain is [and that applies to other candidates equally].
I would prefer to hear it in that fashion that the slow bleed “die by a thousand cuts” that invariably follows non-disclosure.
@Moon-howler
When you say “Fox News usually makes big deals out of picadillos and major flings” do you mean they hire them at Fox News and call them “political analysts?” (See Mark Sanford, Dick Morris and The Newt).
@Morris Davis
Aren’t those people eminently qualified to offer political analysis? After all, politics is all about screwing people, no?
@Censored bybvbl
Coulda come from Perry? He sank while Cain rose.
@Cato the Elder
Point taken. Touché.
@Morris Davis
Yes, I am saying that. Thanks for spelling it out because I forgot to.
You are exactly correct. Mark Sanford seems to be the most egrecious lately. Will they make room for Arnold? He’s BAAACCCK.
Put them on the payroll! There are also allgations about Brit and Megyn. That just keeps everyone stirred up.
Meanwhile Steve Doocy writes Mr. and Mrs. happy Marriage and takes cheap shots at everyone else. Its quite a dicotomy of values.
Perhaps the most sleazy was Dick Morris. He brings out the EWWWW factor like no one else does. He even makes Newt look semi acceptable.
@Cato the Elder
Precisely.
Nice rooster.
CROW! Cocka-doodle-doo
@Gainesville First – Politics 2nd
I believe I need to tell you that you are a welcome addition to the blog and I am glad you stumbled on us. You add considerably to the conversation.
Not too long ago, while visiting my dad, we all went out to dinner. We had a very interesting discussion about Presidents and zippers not staying up. Do good politicans often have issues with their libido?
I think Clinton was a one of a kind politician and he CLEARLY had zipper issues!
Some also haven’t gotten caught. There is one in particular who the opponents decided not to bring the information to light.
Remember that Watergate was all about how a 2nd rate burglary was handled. It wasn’t the break in.
Herman Cain needs to take a sesson from that. News shows are showing that he is really handling this situation badly.
@Elena
I can only go back to FDR–zipper issues, Truman–don’t think so, Bess would have killed him, Eisnehower–zipper issue, Kennedy–zipper issues, (Bobby and Teddy–zipper issues), Ford and Nixon–are you kidding me?–they couldn’t find their zippers, Clinton–zipper issues, the Bushes–again–are you kidding me? Obama–why would he have zipper issues? Again, Michelle would kill him! And s ome of the Founding Fathers would have had zipper issues but they didn’t have zippers.
Funny how the Dems are being blamed by some – because, this is something that was clearly let out of the bag by a Republican opponent. If it were the Dems, they would be holding this for another year. Kinda like when Karl Rove planted the false story of McCain being the father of the daughter he adopted. Shameful.
What is doing in the Cain campaign is how he is handling the issue now. I do not have the facts to know what happened – and if the victims do not speak up, then I must assume that nothing happened.
Good post George! 😉
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/mark-finkelstein/2011/11/01/unable-produce-more-cain-evidence-politicos-allen-brags-big-number
Basically….its “LOOK! A squirrel!” because they have nothing and all they care about is that Cain is now being talked about in a negative way.
@George S. Harris
George, think again about the Bushes. Talk to the outcast friend who rides with me. She lived on Capital Hill and saw her neighbors.
Cargo, I am trying to figure out what you are doing….are you still using a right wing media buster to denigrate Politico? You are aware that Joe Scarborough writes for Politico also?
The problem is not so much the original problem at this point. The problem is that Cain has fumbled.
Politico is a rather cautious moderate publication. Trashing Politico is not the answer. It gets you into when did you stop beating your wife territory.
At some point you have to decide it was a long time ago or that it simply doesn’t matter if you are going to stand by Cain. (having had to do that myself once)
Absolutely. Cain HAS fumbled. But…Politico ran with a very weak story, using anonymous sources, that does not actually advance the news, except to possibly damage Cain. The entire thing was done, and he was exonerated. So, why bring it up other than to damage Cain. Cain’s mistake was taking too long to respond and too many versions of the answer.
And declaring that Politico leans left is not trashing. Its an observation.
Joe ain’t that conservative….. 😉
You need to listen to what the other news stations are saying about how long Politico sat on the story and what all they did to make sure there was substance. Blaming Politico is very unsubstantiated. Joe considers himself a conservative. He doesn’t consider himself to be a right nutwing. He will tell you that.
Who would want to consider themselves a right wing extremist. That really isn’t anything to be proud of.
I beg to differ regarding Politico leaning left. If it is an observation then it is a skewed observation. Being moderate isn’t ‘left leaning.’ The only people that are convinced by some of the far right wing tripe (yes, including the stuff I see left here) are other extremists. It convinces no one and only validates what people think in the first place. Where is the growth and learning if you just read stuff that confirms what you already thing?
@Moon-howler
You are very kind.
I have found the experience thus far to be worthwhile given the dialogue and diverse opinions. I regret only the lack of time to pursue this blogging more vigorously.
Hopefully you can find a little time for us, @Politics 2nd.
@Gainesville First – Politics 2nd
Welcome to the discussion.
C’mon in! The water’s fine!
@Cargo…..sssshhhhhh don’t mention the sharks.
@Moon-howler
Sharks? What sh—-urk…..