Cain reportedly faced sexual harassment complaints
The big political news of the moment involves allegations that as president of the National Restaurant Association, Herman Cain was the subject of complaints of inappropriate sexual behavior by two separate female employees, both of whom received cash settlements and left employment from the association.
The story was broken by Politico, which reports:
In a series of comments over the past 10 days, Cain and his campaign repeatedly declined to respond directly about whether he ever faced allegations of sexual harassment at the restaurant association. They have also declined to address questions about specific reporting confirming that there were financial settlements in two cases in which women leveled complaints.
POLITICO has confirmed the identities of the two female restaurant association employees who complained about Cain but, for privacy concerns, is not publishing their names.
Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon told POLITICO the candidate indicated to campaign officials that he was “vaguely familiar” with the charges and that the restaurant association’s general counsel had resolved the matter.
The latest statement came from Cain himself. In a tense sidewalk encounter Sunday morning outside the Washington bureau of CBS News — where the Republican contender had just completed an interview on “Face the Nation” — Cain evaded a series of questions about sexual harassment allegations.
Cain said he has “had thousands of people working for me” at different businesses over the years and could not comment “until I see some facts or some concrete evidence.” His campaign staff was given the name of one woman who complained last week, and it was repeated to Cain on Sunday. He responded, “I am not going to comment on that.”
The story has several levels. On the most basic of facts — two women complained of harassment by Cain and received financial settlements — it seems solid. Cain’s supporters are nonetheless charging foul, with his campaign responding that “sadly, we’ve sadly, we’ve seen this movie played out before – a prominent conservative targeted by liberals simply because they disagree with his politics.”
As you’ll see in this clip from Fox News, however, the Cain campaign is having a hard time bringing itself to deny that the payments were made:
Assuming the payments in question were indeed made, Politico has a journalistic obligation to report them. Such a record is absolutely relevant in assessing a candidate for president of the United States, just as it would be relevant in assessing a candidate for a corporate executive job.
Furthermore, the claim of conservative victimization doesn’t seem accurate. Democrats Bill Clinton and Gary Hart, you may recall, also had to face allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior during their presidential primary runs. Clinton survived it; Hart did not.
From there, however, things get much murkier. It is difficult to impossible to assess the validity of complaints made well over a decade ago by women who continue to remain anonymous, especially since we still have with no idea how extensive or candid an investigation was mounted at the time.
Politically, it is entirely feasible that such charges can redound to Cain’s benefit, at least temporarily, depending on how he handles them and whether additional cases emerge. His supporters are already defined by a deep alienation and distrust of both the political system and the media; such allegations could do more to inflame those resentments than to cast doubt on Cain’s fitness for high office among his followers.
It’s certainly not how Cain hoped to spend this week.
– Jay Bookman
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777 comments Add your comment
Aquagirl
October 31st, 2011
10:37 am
You joining keep with his fascination with my body?
No, I’m joining Midori in searching for that puke emoticon.
I think you’re just joking, but given some of your past statements I’m not entirely sure. Men who let their own self-fascination slip out are sincerely clueless that others (especially women) don’t share their view. Now that I do find fascinating, as long as it’s at a safe distance.
Ayn Rand's Medicare
October 31st, 2011
10:37 am
Is this Thus-a Maroon & GLL’s first foray into trolling,
or have they been active trolls since they were 16 ?
Paddy O
October 31st, 2011
10:37 am
Housing & easy money is what has caused this recession. But long term weakness in OUR economy is directly due to free trade agreements. Obama recently signed 3 of them I believe. Obama also blew 600 billion in a stimulus that was so poor conceived it failed to generate NATIONWIDE jobs. It created jobs for those who are certified contractors for the federal government, but what % of businesses is that nationwide? How has obama dealth with high gas prices? anything? high food prices (ethanol stupidity)? Obama has not properly addressed the problems due to utter ineptitude. He owns this economy.
Paddy O
October 31st, 2011
10:38 am
global warming may be occurring. but, what is the specific cause? and any genuine impacts that we can also alter?
Adam
October 31st, 2011
10:38 am
Thulsa: I think for Adam blogging on Jay’s blog is a 24/7 job
Who has an obsession?
Speaking of employment I gotta get going
Funny that it took Granny to remind you of your need to do your job.
You, and people like you, certainly aren’t going to get me to shut up and stop posting on here just because I happen to have a few free moments. I suggest you look very carefully over the past few pages and tell me just how many times I have posted compared to yourself. A rational person would take that and go “well, I guess I post more and gee maybe I should take my OWN job a little more seriously.”
I have two jobs, one of which is me running my own business. I take breaks. Good luck finding actual REAL fault with my choices at work or at home.
Jeez, seriously guys. You post on here all the time, yet you do not live in your mother’s basement or collect unemployment checks yourself, or get paid to blog here (hopefully), so why do you think anyone who has an opinion other than yourself fits this description? I’d really like to know.
godless heathen
October 31st, 2011
10:39 am
Muller never was a Climate Change / Global warming skeptic. He was concerned about the “Climategate” data so he did his own research, partially funded by the koch’s. MSM has decided the results of his study play better if he is characterized as former GW skeptic.
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
10:39 am
Is it too early to start celebrating President O’s reelection? What if I just took a few sips of the bubbly rather than swigging the whole glass?
1811/0311
October 31st, 2011
10:39 am
A couple of points:
1) Any police officer out there who doesn’t have a few “citizen complaints” is too timid and not doing their job agressively enough …………… or earning the money you taxpayers pay.
2) The same is true of managers ……….. if you don’t have a few complaints against you …….. then you’re not MANAGING ! People don’t like being told to work harder, perform different assignments, be to work on time, etc., etc. and LAZY employees (I have found from personal experience) are the first to trump up charges (sexual, racial, age or whatever other types of harrassment there are) to cover their poor work performance.
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
10:39 am
“With all due respect that’s just your opinion and is not hard evidence. ”
Actually Doom, it’s not:
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/297/5585/1292.abstract
Little light reading when you’re bored.
Of course nature will find it’s way, no one is arguing that — it’s the effect it will eventually have on humans is what’s important to me — I like being top of the food chain.
But one only has to logically connect the dots to see that these effects (affects? I can never get those two right) are having effects on humans already — every ecological system is reliant upon another, and it is starting to take it’s toll.
I watched a documentary too not too long ago, and for the life of me I can’t remember what it was called or what channel, but it talked about how the planet really doesn’t care what we do to it, because it will always win out — it’s what we humans have to be aware of and do if we want to remain on it.
I just tried to google it, but it’s been a while back and I can’t remember the exact title, but the google searches I just did were “human + effect” and “human + era” and you’ll see some of the hits I got. It’s interesting stuff.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
10:40 am
Not a – too bad the D party is stuck with a loser
Not a Neil Boortz Redneck
October 31st, 2011
10:41 am
Paddy O – crude oil hit $147/bbl in 2008 and is $91/bbl now.
Active rigs in the USA have tripled since 2009 (Baker Hughes data). The US is the #3 producer of crude oil and is headed to #1 by the end of Obama’s second term (Goldman Sachs projection).
Granny Godzilla
October 31st, 2011
10:41 am
Thulsa
You don’t need a job?
But what about all those stats you posted????
Your successful employment (- what is it you said -) strains credulity.
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
10:41 am
Oh and Doom, here’s another googly search I did:
“rate of ecological changes and adaptation” – not in quotes though…
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
10:41 am
Oh, and the google is so awesome wicked cool today….
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
10:43 am
So Scout, are you assuming these women were just the lazy employees?
USinUK
October 31st, 2011
10:43 am
“Don’t listen to the charlatans”
don’t say that! I love the charlatans!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhSA8FwdS2A
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
10:43 am
Will the Dems reclaim a majority in the house and supermajority in the senate? I sez they will. Wanna bet?
Matti w/cream and splenda
October 31st, 2011
10:43 am
Sexual harassment in the workplace? **Yaaaawwwwwwwwnn!**
I hope the good kindly Republicans here will not let this silliness stop them from voting for Mr. Cain! WHY WOULD YOU? I’ve been working in corporate America for two decades now. Two out of three men who hit on me at work (some more rudely and aggressively than others, but all inappropriately), are MARRIED RIGHT-WING CONSERVATIVES. Fully half of the guys who seek my attention for directly-stated SICK, indecent purposes outside the workplace are right-wing conservatives, and about half of those are married.
In the debate over which group has more “moral character” regarding such matters, I have to say to ALL of you: STFU. Nothing you say trumps what I know: There are good, decent men — and a WHOLE LOTTA CREEPS — on both sides of the political fence. Mr. Cain behaved this way because it’s the accepted norm, and we all know it, so give up your lame objections, already.
Granny Godzilla
October 31st, 2011
10:43 am
I suspect Thulsa is worse off than he’ll admit.
I hope is family is ok.
Adam
October 31st, 2011
10:45 am
Bosch: AHAHAHA I love it! Google makes such awesome logo adaptations.
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
10:47 am
Adam – yeah! I love it when Google does the video things. It makes me smile.
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
10:49 am
THE PINK PIG is back!!! Childhood….remembering….now!!!
Jm
October 31st, 2011
10:49 am
Communists Unite 10:43. I’ll take that bet. $100 says they won’t get both back. You’re on. Jay, you going to make sure CU is good for it?
King Of All
October 31st, 2011
10:50 am
Some Food for Thought….Michael Jackson settled one case and fought the other in court. Do you believe Michael was guilty of child molestation?
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
10:51 am
jm,
Um, I think internet gambling is illegal.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
10:51 am
Actually, if Jay will verify CU is good for the dough and hold in escrow, I’d bet $1000.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
10:53 am
Bosch. This is a blog, not the Internet
It’s a gentleman’s bet. What say you CU? Where’s that loud mouth big talker gone?
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
10:58 am
Jm – yer on; i’ll even give – very good – 2:1 odds. remember this, though – we ‘mericans practice our own unique form of communism. accordingly, comrade, my profits will be capitalized whilst my losses will be socialized. may the best comrade win.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:02 am
Comunists Unite you’re crazy. Jay, you going to facilitate this and hold cash?
2-1 odds. $1000 wager that dems don’t gain a majority in the House AND a supermajority in the senate. You’ll need to get $2000 from CU here.
retired early
October 31st, 2011
11:03 am
All the proof one needs is verifying that “settlements” were paid and the 2 female employees left the Company. The company would never have paid for allegations that could not bear fruit in a court of law. This deduction comes to you courtesy of that well established source…it comes from…”common sense”.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:04 am
Oh and CU. I don’t play socialism. You’ll have to put up $2,000 fair and square
Or are you chicken?
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
11:05 am
Jm – i’m just glad you didn’t adjust bet amount upwards to reflect inevitable usd deflation. one more thing: i accept payment only in rubles.
1811/0311
October 31st, 2011
11:05 am
“So Scout, are you assuming these women were just the lazy employees?”
In all probability yes, or didn’t get the promtotion they thought they deserved, or the assignment they wanted or the parking space ……….. the list is endless.
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
11:06 am
oops. meant “devaluation.”
Ayn Rand's Medicare
October 31st, 2011
11:07 am
I thought for sure it would be Mittster/Cain – the Con Fundamentalist Gold ticket
who will they get now, Rubio? – and be the “Hair Helmet” ticket
The Thin Guy
October 31st, 2011
11:07 am
Herman must be doing pretty well if the libs are fabricating lies about his love life. Next expect stories that Slick Willie and the Bootlegger’s Brat JFK never held hands or kissed on the first 35 dates. If this is all they’ve got President Cain has nothing but smooth sailing ahead.
TaxPayer
October 31st, 2011
11:07 am
Ah Yes. It is indeed the one day of the year that is deemed acceptable for celebrating the thriller that is Vincent Price.
Normal
October 31st, 2011
11:10 am
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
10:43 am
My money is with you. I think the GOP is going to be amazed at how fast their political value is going to fall come November, 2012…
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:10 am
CU is chicken
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
11:10 am
Aynd Rand’s Medicare – I’m thinking Bristol Palin.
Pizzaman
October 31st, 2011
11:11 am
This ain’t no “Liberal” plot. It’s the excuse thr Republicans need not to nominate a black man.
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
11:11 am
Jm – chicken? i took the bet; gave favorable odds; not backing out. what’s chicken about that? bet i could down a bottle of vodka quicker than you. and then another. and another.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:12 am
Normal, you want to finance Turntail comrade CU?
I don’t care who puts up the money. Hop on board.
Normal
October 31st, 2011
11:13 am
CU is chicken
Nope, Cu is copper…
Normal
October 31st, 2011
11:15 am
jm,
I bet you that if I lose, I’ll wear “I’m a Republican” sign on my car for a year. If you lose, you have to wear a “I love Obama” sign on your car…deal?
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:15 am
CU. Intrade says you have way less than a 10% chance of being correct
Chicken……. Typical for a commie
Let your mouth write checks you can’t cash
Paul
October 31st, 2011
11:16 am
Hi Midori!!!
“Doom + speedos?
where’s the puke emoticon?”
This is my standard Halloween pumpkin:
http://tinyurl.com/pf5d
USinUK
October 31st, 2011
11:16 am
one can only hope Scout doesn’t have daughters
if he does, I pity them.
TaxPayer
October 31st, 2011
11:17 am
I like Normal’s wager. I wonder if Jm will take him up on it.
Adam
October 31st, 2011
11:18 am
Manly chest thumping on a thread about sexism. Downing vodka better than that guy? Calling someone chicken?
Do you guys get how awful that is?
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:18 am
Normal 11:13
true enough
11:15 I’ll take that bet too. Jay will have to prove via photos.
TaxPayer
October 31st, 2011
11:18 am
Just when you think that scout has bottomed out, he proves that his shovel is still fully operational.
DBCOOPER
October 31st, 2011
11:19 am
4 MORE YEARS! 4 MORE YEARS! 4 MORE YEARS!
Can America survive?
How stupid are we?
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
11:19 am
Jm – intrade woulda put the odds of one george w. bush completely and utterly wrecking the us politically, economically and militarilly at probably less than 1%. and yet it happened. i like my chances. NO PERESTROIKA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Normal
October 31st, 2011
11:21 am
jm,
Fair enough…you’re on.
Tom(Independent)
October 31st, 2011
11:21 am
Ok, since we are opening the door to all politician’s personal lives, I have always wanted to know is Hilliary Clinton a lesbian or not? Wonder if that is why Bill constantly wandered throughout his life? Only serious answers please?
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
11:23 am
Tom(Independent)
Why would you wonder about such things?
Tom(Independent)
October 31st, 2011
11:25 am
Bosch – Just curious, nothing more. It would explain Bill’s propensity to wander, doesn’t it?
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
11:27 am
Tom(Independent)
Sure, but so would alot of other things like his ego, etc. No offense, but there are only two people whose sexual stuff I ponder.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:27 am
CU aka Trotsky, whatever. Go to Popeye’s and make yourself dinner
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
11:27 am
Tom(Independent) – no, she isn’t, but like any good liberal lady, she did dabble in college (though only when she forgot to exhale) and found it, well, a little fishy,
Recovered Demoholic
October 31st, 2011
11:28 am
Who is Larry Sinclair?
Granny Godzilla
October 31st, 2011
11:28 am
“It would explain Bill’s propensity to wander, doesn’t it?”
Ah nope.
Bill Like Rudi like McCain Like Jack K like Ike like HW like Newt like all cheaters…
Cheaters cheat because they can’t control themselves.
(Men or Women)
Soothsayer
October 31st, 2011
11:29 am
Climate change is a bunch of junk. Right?
TaxPayer
October 31st, 2011
11:29 am
That Sanford fella wandered all over North Georgia in search of South America, Tom.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:30 am
Oh good. Beacon power, another green energy firm backed with a federal loan has filed bankruptcy
DawgDad
October 31st, 2011
11:31 am
They put this story (repeat, story) out there without providing a shred of proof. Shame on them. If this story is true, step up and prove it. Otherwise, as-is, it is an irresponsible political hit piece.
Communists Unite
October 31st, 2011
11:32 am
Jm – are you paying? or is the government? you seem a little touchy this morning – herpaps you needs to puff the little liberal magic dragon. high blood pressure is bad for ya.
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
11:32 am
“HW”
?????
Naughty, naughty!!
Tom(Independent)
October 31st, 2011
11:32 am
TaxPayer – But that was his TrueLove, right? Wonder if she has a twin-sister?
snoqualmiefalls
October 31st, 2011
11:34 am
According to reports today “both women eventually left their jobs aftr recieving large payouts from the Association and signing agreements that they would not talk about the incident”.
HMMMM
JKL2
October 31st, 2011
11:36 am
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama Presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their President. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their President.” – from CZECH REPUBLIC OBSERVER
Mick
October 31st, 2011
11:36 am
jm
If you are going to use matthews to make a point, I’ll go with this guy-
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/gop-candidates-plans-on-economy-housing_n_1066949.html
Tom(Independent)
October 31st, 2011
11:36 am
Granny – Newt is 68 yrs old, silver hair, a little heavy. Don’t really think of him as a PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!! PS – He would probably bore you to death with his constant conversation about history! Just can not picture him as a ladies man.
moonbat betty
October 31st, 2011
11:36 am
Uh oh.
The flying monkeys have been released on Cain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SESI19h4wDo
Bosch
October 31st, 2011
11:38 am
betty,
Those flying monkeys always freaked me out.
TaxPayer
October 31st, 2011
11:38 am
Wonder if she has a twin-sister?
You think Sanford should take his ex along on a double date?
Jay
October 31st, 2011
11:41 am
Dawgdad and others, Cain just acknowledged on Fox that yes, he had been accused of sexual harassment. He also stated that the charges had been groundless.
However, his acknowledgement means that Politico reported the situation accurately.
Doggone/GA
October 31st, 2011
11:41 am
“Bosch – Just curious, nothing more. It would explain Bill’s propensity to wander, doesn’t it”
No, it wouldn’t
TaxPayer
October 31st, 2011
11:43 am
I just can’t wait for this campaign season to get in full speed ahead. The Republicans have laid out their strategy of calling for the poor to pay more in order to win over the votes of their wealthiest supporters. This is gonna be a great campaign season.
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:44 am
Mick
That guy offered not one specific example why the candidates were wrong and made blanket broad brush statements that especially don’t apply to Romney
In addition, almost every CEO that has spoken publicly disagrees with him on regulations
And they’re the ones that have to deal with Regs, not an economist
Finn McCool
October 31st, 2011
11:44 am
So Jay might as well be lynching Cain? You conservatives are disturbed people.
Here’s a news flash for you folks: No Democrat is afraid of Cain beating Obama. It will never happen – Cain will never be president.
Most Americans are smart enough to be able to do the math on the 9-9-9 plan and know it doesnt help them at all.
Recon (2nd.and 3rd.)
October 31st, 2011
11:46 am
Wonder if Jay will post an update maybe a video clip of the recent Fox interview with Herman Cain. Cain stated that there was an investigation that proved the allegations were baseless and if there was any settlement paid by the association he was unaware. Denied any sexual harassment at anytime.
Kamchak
October 31st, 2011
11:46 am
It will never happen – Cain will never be president.
Cain won’t win the primary — if he even lasts that long.
Paul
October 31st, 2011
11:47 am
Taxpayer
Big difference between Romney and Perry for primary voters.
Romney said he wasn’t concerned about rich getting tax cuts, said they were doing just fine and he was concerned with the struggling middle class.
Perry, on Chris Wallace’s show on Sunday, acknowledged in the example given that a family making over $400K would get a huge tax cut while middle class taxes would go up, but that didn’t bother him at all because job creators need the money to hire more people.
Guess which position will resonate with Republicans?
Jm
October 31st, 2011
11:47 am
Jay 11:41
I hope Cain continues to do well in the race
He has something meaningful and valuable to offer in the dialogue, at minimum
Tom(Independent)
October 31st, 2011
11:49 am
Finn – On one hand you have a Community Organizer(like the Occupy folks) and on the other you have a former CEO. Which to choose?? Duh!!!
USinUK
October 31st, 2011
11:50 am
“Just when you think that scout has bottomed out, he proves that his shovel is still fully operational.”
which is why I like the expression: he hit bottom and pulled out a pick-axe
oy.
Doggone/GA
October 31st, 2011
11:50 am
“On one hand you have a Community Organizer(like the Occupy folks) and on the other you have a former CEO. Which to choose?? Duh!!!”
I don’t recall any of the R candidates being a community organizer, which one is it?
USinUK
October 31st, 2011
11:51 am
Bosch – I hear ya – the flying monkeys scared the crap out of me when I was a kid
Tom(Independent)
October 31st, 2011
11:52 am
If Granny accused me of sexual harrassment, would that be news-worthy?? What value do you place on an accusation(mispelled)?
Doggone/GA
October 31st, 2011
11:53 am
“If Granny accused me of sexual harrassment, would that be news-worthy??”
It would be if you paid her off and insisted she sign a non-disclosure agreement…and you were running for President
Finn McCool
October 31st, 2011
11:53 am
Hey Tom, Al (Chainsaw) Dunlap is a former CEO. You want him as President?
Dennis Kozlowski was the CEO of Tyco….you want maybe to elect him once he gets out of prison?
I see some folks are in awe of job titles. Tom, do you realize you can start your own company today and name yourelf CEO? You want to be President?
TaxPayer
October 31st, 2011
11:55 am
Guess which position will resonate with Republicans?
And yet! All of them on here have to always run off to work! They hardly sound like the job creators that the GOP, ex-Romney, is targeting.
Recon (2nd.and 3rd.)
October 31st, 2011
11:57 am
Unless Politico reported that there was an investigation, which proved the allegations baseless or if they issue a rebuttal to Cain’s assertion, they didn’t report accurately.
Paul
October 31st, 2011
11:57 am
TaxPayer
“And yet! All of them on here have to always run off to work! ”
When the questions get tough, the work calls -
RB from Gwinnett
October 31st, 2011
11:57 am
“Politico has a journalistic obligation to report them. ”
Funny how that “journalistic obligation” never seems to affect what you post here Jay.
Finn McCool
October 31st, 2011
12:02 pm
Funny how that “journalistic obligation” never seems to affect what you post here Jay.
RB is such a class act.
Peadawg
October 31st, 2011
12:02 pm
“Funny how that “journalistic obligation” never seems to affect what you post here Jay.” – That’s actually kind of funny. I don’t care who you are. It’s also funny how most people ignored Obama’s suspect character back in 2008.
Cain is not going to get anywhere near the White House. This new revelation just piles the stuff on.
Finn McCool
October 31st, 2011
12:04 pm
The closest Cain will ge to the White House is by delivering a pizza!