Response to the hit peace from Politico on Herman Cain - those who worked closely with Cain for years are speaking out: “It’s just not Herman,”; “Never once have I ever seen anything but professional behavior”; “This is a man of incredible character,”; "The allegations seem completely unbelievable to me,"; "He was never anything but a completely perfect gentleman." The Weekly Standard has all the details.
What gesture did Herman Cain make that so offended one woman?
[Greta] Van Susteren asked what Cain did that led to the accusation. There were reportedly more than one accusations in the complaint, but Cain said he recalled just one incident. "She was in my office one day, and I made a gesture saying -- and I was standing close to her -- and I made a gesture saying you are the same height as my wife. And I brought my hand up to my chin saying, 'My wife comes up to my chin.'" At that point, Cain gestured with his flattened palm near his chin. "And that was put in there [the complaint] as something that made her uncomfortable," Cain said, "something that was in the sexual harassment charge." (Campaign 2012, continue reading)
Was there a payoff or settlement as the Politico article claims?
There was a termination amount of 2 to 3 months salary, "in the five-figure range." Big woop! If there were anything there, these women would have filed suit or have been given a payoff. Something really stinks.
Cain Calls Harassment Issue a ‘Witch Hunt’
At the National Press Club Herman Cain denied any unprofessional behavior toward any women as totally baseless and totally false, and broke out into song, Amazing Grace, this song, causing some on Twitter to proclaim he's already won not only the GOP primary nomination, but the actual general election as well. (Sounds good but let's not celebrate yet.)
In spite of all the attacks on Cain, he leads in the polls.
It is true as of today Cain leads in all the polls I have seen, he wins in Texas over Rick Perry, Ron Paul, and beats Mitt Romney and even beats Barack Obama in national polls.
Politico writer backtracks? - Politico's Martin Dodges Question On Cain Details
Herman Cain has been taking heat for his response to questions about Politico's story on alleged sexual harassment. But today on Morning Joe, it was Politico's own Jonathan Martin, lead author of the story, who was being evasive about the details of the allegations against Cain.
The first real test for Herman Cain?.
How should we react? The instinct to defend a conservative is a good instinct. We’ve seen too many times, with Sarah Palin and recently with Rick Perry, how the MSM will give every benefit of the doubt to those who make accusations. We must fight against the use of mere accusations as evidence of actual misconduct. (Legal Insurrection)
Who is responsible for this witch hunt?- Cain campaign manager: “Hard to believe” a GOP rival would plant the sexual harassment story
At this point, we have no idea who the source for the article is. If it comes out that one of the Republican candidates happen to be a source, this will not be good for their campaign. I doubt it was a Republican.
Trash a Conservative, Choose a RINO.
Well, they can't seem to derail Herman Cain on the issues so they have reverted to smear tactics. [snip]
The liberal media along with the establishment Republicans and the Fox News pundits want to choose the RINO, Mitt Romney, for us so badly they can just taste it, ...(The Grouch)
Herman Cain on Fox News:
"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 Asks Politico’s Jonathan Martin ‘Have You Ever Been Accused Of Sexual Harassment?’ (video)
They. Are. Scared. That's it folks, the non-Conservatives are afraid of Herman Cain because he is real, he isn't a politician, he is Conservative, he is not one that they can control. They are scared to death, so scared they will resort to anything. Look out, this is just the beginning. Herman Cain falsely accused.
John Hinderaker at Powerline notes Herman Cain at Pillsbury:
Politico’s story makes this article in today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune timely: “Herman Cain’s career at Pillsbury is a tale of two turnarounds.” Cain made his reputation as a businessman at Pillsbury, to the Strib was pursuing a local angle on his candidacy. The article is both flattering–it almost seems that the paper forgot that its subject is a Republican–and highly relevant to today’s attack in Politico
[snip]
... Herman was very quantitative and analytical, but he demanded that everybody be engaged and every employee must be appreciated and respected.”
I think that history tells a great deal more about Herman Cain’s character than unknown and untested allegations by two former NRA employees.
UPDATE I:
I never thought I would agree with Bob Beckel, but I do when it comes to Herman Cain. He suggested on Fox News today that Cain should hold a press conference, answer questions, and let that be it... move on with his campaign. I think this is good advice, because Cain seems to be digging himself into a hole with all these interviews. It is obvious that he is NOT a politician, that he has not learned yet to answer questions this way: Short. To the point. No rambling. No contradictions.
I don't question that his answers on Greta tonight were honest, but the way he answered them produced this follow up article from Politico "Herman Cain's misconduct allegations bring out conflicting accounts". His answers were NOT conflicting, but in his efforts to be completely honest, he did himself no favors.
November 1, 2011:
UPDATE II:
Human Events is reporting that Cain Campaign Manager Mark Block says the campaign raised $250,000 in online donatinos in one day. However, one Cain campaign source confirmed to me that the fundraising for Monday is well over $300,000. (Washington Times)
UPDATE III:
Support for Herman Cain grows. The attempts by the Politico ad to get rid of Cain have backfired.
UPDATE IV:
Destroying Cain: When Is a Politico ‘Update’ Really a Correction?,
MSNBC’s Chuck Todd Calls Upon Mainstream Media To ‘Just Stop Playing The Race Card’,
Herman Cain: Someone Is Encouraging These Accusers Now Because I’m Doing So Well
Santorum strategist urges Cain to come clean on harassment allegations (Aaron Blake/Washington Post)
Destroying Cain: Revealing Video Rundown of Politico’s Refusal to Disclose Details,
Cain says he never changed his story on allegations,
UPDATE V:
Journolist Redux?….The Herman Cain Witchhunt, By: Curt, Flopping Aces
Politico is the crew that “broke” the “sexual harassment” story.
Interesting.
It’s also interesting how this thinly sourced story, with third hand informants, was timed for release on Sunday, knowing it would make front page news on Monday.
Journolist redux?
UPDATE VI: Politico receives requests to answer questions, to clarify sources, but fails to respond.
William Jacobson asks Politico:
... I understand that you refuse not only to name the person or persons, but also refuse to characterize them as being affiliated or not with another campaign or otherwise. This would seem inconsistent with your frequent use of terms such as “senior administration official” which protects the identity of the person, but permits readers to put the source in some context....
The GAY PATRIOT has some Questions for Politico. I doubt we will ever hear the answers.
at this point it would be good to go back 9 entries and replay the beat obama with a cain video...like the refrain in a song, end each discussion with this litany
Posted by: Brian | October 31, 2011 at 06:34 PM
I just watched the interview with Greta. I'm hoping that Herman Cain isn't digging himself a hole. It's obvious by his answers, he is not a trained politician, which is a bad thing when trying to explain something like this.
His answers, while they seemed to be completely honest, should have been more concise and to the point.
Posted by: Debbie | October 31, 2011 at 10:05 PM
It is past time Cain hired some advisors who understand the realities of politics, Debbie. If Obama had blurted out the truth, he would have lost to McCain, for better or for worse.
Posted by: David (DW) | October 31, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Snake Hunter Sez,
November 1st signals the beginning of one full year of smear politics; charges & counter-charges are dead ahead.
The top-two leaders in the polls at any given time should expect a barrage of mud and sleaze as a part of the political strategies from the far-out left and right-wings...stay on course, Herman Cain is a mature fighter. Focus on the goal...
Beat B. Hussein Obama..send him back to his chicago's acorn snake-pit & 'neighborhood organizer' sleaze-balls, and Trinity (Black Liberation Jeremiah Wright) Church, where jew-hating, and Louie Farrakhan lovin' is par-for-the-course.
reb
___ ___
Posted by: Ralph E. | October 31, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Snake Hunter said it right. The Republicans had better be ready to rally around their people fast. The bastard left will do whatever it takes to get that empty-suit buffoon of theirs in for another 4 years.
No matter how incompetent and idiotic he is or how much he has ruined your fine country, they won't care, they'll smear even a black republican and be as vicious as they can be to get what they want.
Posted by: MK | November 02, 2011 at 05:31 AM
Sounds like something that Santorum would do. He's been on Cain's case over abortion from day one.
Santorum and Perkins ReligiousFarRight base would love such a scandal.
Posted by: afticker | November 02, 2011 at 12:39 PM
I thought maybe it was Newt, but who knows.
Posted by: Debbie | November 02, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Newt likes Cain, Saint Santorum doesn't.
Posted by: afticker | November 02, 2011 at 02:37 PM
has cain been vetted? gov perry said "if you want to know a person (character) look at their past". just look at what we got in obama and there is very litlle information linking to his past, for whatever reason. obama was never vetted. shouldn't herman cain be vetted also?
Posted by: hg | November 05, 2011 at 03:21 PM
hg: Yes, Cain should be vetted just as all candidates should. Politico isn't interested in vetting, they are interested in destroying.
Cain is fine with the NRA releasing the women and allowing them to tell their side of the story. When given permission, the women declined.
There were no charged of anything sexual, only words or gestures that made the women 'feel uncomfortable'. Is making someone feel uncomfortable reason to keep them from serving this nation? I don't think so.
If there is anything substantive to the complaints against Cain, I will be the first to denounce him. But let's see some facts, let's see what Cain was supposed to have done and let's see if he actually did it.
Posted by: Debbie | November 05, 2011 at 04:58 PM
One of the accuser's attorney spoke for the woman (victim). The attorney as representative for the victim said "there was a "series" of offences from Herman Cain directed at his client". The attorney and the woman wrote the response to Cain's denial together. The attorney also stated "the National Restuarant Assocciation invetigated the sexual harrassment charges and agreed to pay the woman a cash settlement without admitting guilt". Actually there were two women who were paid, one $35,000 and the other $45,000. These payments were NOT simply monies for "severence(s) pay per agreement". Rather these payments were for "A settlement agreed to by the NRA and the victim to settle the sexual harrassment charges. Businesses do not poney up $80,000 just to get a complaint "off the books". Cain is another Obama in an older body. He is in the process of vetting himself through his own actions. His numbers in the polls are now dropping, as they should.
Posted by: hg | November 06, 2011 at 07:36 AM