Herman Cain: Viable Candidate?

Cain is probably done as a candidate, who knows how far he would have made it if these allegations did not come out. Job well done to whoever brought these allegations to light.

Here's a quote from feminist Gloria Steinam:
"If the latest accusation is true, he is not guilty of sexual harassment. He is accused of having made a gross, dumb and reckless pass at a supporter during a low point in her life. . . . In other words, he took ‘no’ for an answer.”

 

Honestly I think the "evidence" against him is pretty weak. Truthfully though when I consider the Romney alternative I'm still planning on voting Cain and yes, even donating a couple of bucks to his campaign. As I recall Clarence Thomas had a similar problem and it didn't sink him. It's not as if he was "cigaring" an intern or anything Now if they find a dirty dress...

 

Well, here's where my back gets up about consent:

Woman: Cain reached under skirt for her genitals, pulled her head toward his crotch (The Associated Press via The Washington Post, published to the web November 7, 2011)

(Media criticism moment: What a blunt choice for the lede there. And this is the Associated Press!)

I guess I can see how you, and Gloria Steinem as Cory quotes, would take this as a pass that he then properly backed away from when she expressed her disinterest.

But looking at these details, she really should have had a chance to express her disinterest, or interest, before, in this account if it's true, he "reached under skirt for her genitals" and "pulled her head toward his crotch."

Any one - and anyone's daughter - deserves a chance to express disinterest, or interest, before a point like this.

And "You want a job, right?" really doesn't help.

In the most sympathetic interpretation I guess it's play on the word "job" entirely empty of context, and it doesn't in any way invoke the fact that she's there about looking for an employment job after losing hers, and that as her former or outgoing employer he has the power to write her a good, or a poor, recommendation, etc. The most sympathetic interpretation seems like a bit of a stretch.

Of course I would want to see or hear more evidence if I were a juror in a criminal or civil trial. In a criminal trial especially, Cain would deserve the benefit of the doubt. Outside in the world, in the face of competing claims, we're allowed to give benefits of the doubt to other claimants too.

 

Seriously, I have to question the veracity of any accusation that magically appears when someone runs for office.

While it is important to desire justice when a crime has been committed, why now if it is true? Why not right after the alleged infraction?

I am not a supporter or against Mr. Cain. I would ask the same of anyone in this situation...

 

Well, for one,

Cain Accuser Got a Year’s Salary in Severance Pay (Jim Rutenberg, Jeff Zeleny and Mike McIntire, The New York Times, November 1, 2011)

Also, I can think of sadly ample reasons a target or victim might not take the costs, emotional and also practical, that can come from pursuing a complaint of sexual harassment or assault.

Meanwhile, can we take this as 100% proven evidence that Herman Cain is at least a creep, has terrible judgment, and is suited for the presidency of nothing more important than the Friars Club?

From 1:14 to 1:37 in the video. Herman Cain on Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 1 (JimmyKimmelLive on YouTube, November 7, 2011, from Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC)

 

I believe you missed a part of my presentation before inserting your logic bomb, thus creating an illogic bomb.

 

As far as this whole thing goes with Cain being a womanizer.

1. Have his wife go on the air saying something like: Herman is a womanizer.
2. Have Herman agree that he likes women and is accustomed to having a few around.
3. Be straight about the situation and say.. hey, I never raped anyone. I thought they were down with it, they said no.. I walked away.
4. New campaign slogan: Don't ask none, Don't get none.

This all blows over in a few weeks. Definitely not right, but definitely true. Best way to deal with the media is to make things a non-story by saying "Yeah, what of it.. F Off. By the way, Romney's daughter is carrying Justin Bieber's kid out of wedlock.."

 

What you described above worked brilliantly well for last idiot Governor Scharwnegger. However, once he was in, Californios were sorry. They/we couldn't wait for his sorry to ass to leave.

Caveat Emptor - Once these types of guys get in the gate, other surprises seem to come up.

Abner

 

The extent of the unconsented physical contact, coupled with the "You want a job, right?," in Bialek's account, if true, would push that incident past the edge of "womanizing."

 

Wait, you actually expect me to know about and have an informed opinion about what I'm talking about when we're having a conversation about political candidates.. when it's absolutely certain that none of the political candidates know anything about what they're talking about?

Um.. double standard..

 

The only problem is that there are way more of "these types of guys" out there than there are the "right kind of guys". "The right kind of guy" never runs for public office because he's generally disgusted by the stench of the neighborhood.

 

Yes, correct. The statement "you want a job, right?", clearly pushes the envelope into several labor law violations, using one's position of authority to harrass sexually, etc.

Since I collaborate with a number of labor law attorneys and have listened to decisions regarding these types of cases, I will venture to say a settlement and severance package would not be issued by the employer if there was absolutely ZERO there. Corporations just don't like handing out money for any old reason. They probably thought, let's settle this here and now, and walk away. So, a settlement is not an admisstion of guilt, but it sure raises some red flags.

I personally don't care if Cain survives this or not. In the long run, it would probably be good for the Dems.

Abner

 

It is a sad day for the Cain Campaign. Herman lost an endorsement from one of the most prestigious American institutes. He is no longer a viable candidate. arty:

Herman Cain loses endorsement from American Mustache Institute | The Ticket - Yahoo! News

 

I largely agree with this although I think that there are plenty of good people (male and female) who run for public office at a local level.