2012 Tuesday: The response, not the allegations, got the worst of Cain
Welcome to the big time, Herman Cain.
One of the ugly sides of politics is that people perceived as threats tend to have mud thrown their way. And the definition of mud is a thinly — and anonymously — sourced story that just happens to land on the evening before a fast-rising candidate is due to get some positive “earned” media (meaning news coverage they get for talking about their ideas, as Cain did yesterday in Washington).
It’s clear that someone, somewhere, considers Cain’s spike in the opinion polls something more than a temporary blip.
I will issue a caveat here that there could well be more details and facts to come out about the sexual harassment allegations leveled against Cain while he was head of the National Restaurant Association in the late 1990s. Without such details and facts, I’m not very troubled by these allegations alone: They’re just allegations that, from what we know so far, seem not to have had much merit. But if they do come out, and they are bad for Cain, he will have a serious problem on his hands.
Absent such revelations, the biggest problem for Cain is one of his own creation — and undoubtedly the precise problem hoped for by whoever brought the allegations to the Politico reporters’ attention. I’m talking about his response.
Cain’s biggest asset as a candidate is not so much his 9-9-9 plan, because all such plans are subject to change. It’s his credibility: as an “outsider,” as a genuine man and authentic conservative, as a trustworthy and respectable human being.
If you’re Herman Cain, that credibility has taken almost 67 years to build, and you are the person best capable of throwing it all away.
Had Cain immediately acknowledged the two settlements, noted that they were small and based on unproven charges, and explained his side of the story, I and others probably wouldn’t be writing about them today. But for whatever reason — because his advisers gave him bad advice, because he thought he could put a lid on the story with a less-complete explanation, because he’s so convinced of his innocence in the cases — he didn’t do an adequate job. (This kind of thing is one reason I’ve had my doubts that, in the year 2011, the presidency could be the first elected office a candidate had ever won.)
Instead, his story has, to put it charitably, evolved over the past 36 hours. And he’s fallen back on a tactic we’ve seen on stories such as his stances on abortion and on swapping prisoners at Guantanamo Bay for captured American troops: chalking it up to not hearing the question properly or his choice of words being misinterpreted.
On its own, a story based on innuendo from second-hand sources probably wouldn’t have been enough to drag Cain down. Cain’s response may ultimately hurt him more with GOP primary voters.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
241 comments Add your comment
MarkV
November 1st, 2011
6:44 pm
I am not at all certain that Herman Cain was guilty of anything serious in this matter. What I am certain of is that Herman Cain has a difficulty with the truth and openness. His denials are unconvincing and his changes of stories and views make it difficult to take anything he says at a face value.
Woody
November 1st, 2011
6:47 pm
Let’s just hope that if he gets elected, Cain chooses a different bunch of ‘trusted advisors’.
clem
November 1st, 2011
6:48 pm
just watched his clips at press club and sustern again…..i suggest you do the same……if you do not believe he prevaricated i must say, sir, you are guilty of that offense yourself.
he was approached by politico on this story on oct 20th, several times afterward and had plenty of time to recall or assign staff to investigate so he could get his story straight. he seems to have chosen the prevarication path
John
November 1st, 2011
6:51 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate! @6:38.
Evolving is a slow process that happens over time…not within minutes or hours. Within hours (after being given 10 days notification for a response) he went from not remembering to remembering (in detail) what he supposedly said and the exact hand gestures he used. He said there was no settlement then said there was a agreement and maintains there was not a settlement…that settlement and agreement are 2 different things. There is a word to describe you believing he is not lying when he keeps changing his story and calling it “evolving”…that word is gullible.
Aquagirl
November 1st, 2011
6:56 pm
I do not attack someone for a difference in wordsmithing.
Yep, complete spinal collapse. The d00d calling these women liars won’t disagree with Kyle who is right here, right now. The swagger and the claim to be a lightning rod of hate have dissolved into backpedaling and excuses. Have a good evening, Sir Robin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4SJ0xR2_bQ
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
November 1st, 2011
6:56 pm
John, someone can ask me about an event that happened to me about 10 years ago, and I might not remember even the barest outline of it. Then, when prodded with certain details about it, more details become clearer from my own mind. It’s called human memory, and it isn’t even remotely perfect.
But, I’m sure that if you are truly looking for perfection in your Presidential candidates, you have refrained from voting since you became of age, haven’t you?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
November 1st, 2011
6:57 pm
“The d00d calling these women liars won’t disagree with Kyle who is right here, right now.”
Oh, is someone calling these women liars, Aquagirl? I hadn’t noticed. Please provide any and all quotes to back up that statement of yours.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
November 1st, 2011
7:00 pm
“he was approached by politico on this story on oct 20th, several times afterward and had plenty of time to recall or assign staff to investigate so he could get his story straight. he seems to have chosen the prevarication path”
Or he merely has an incompetent staff.
clem
November 1st, 2011
7:01 pm
and cain is incompetent at selecting staff then…..
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
November 1st, 2011
7:04 pm
He could be, or he merely has the best available to him, given his earlier status.
sheepdawg
November 1st, 2011
7:12 pm
did cain attend uga? wasn’t he with crowell and his peeps over the weekend?
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
November 1st, 2011
7:16 pm
Cain attended Morehouse.
John
November 1st, 2011
7:20 pm
Tiberius – Your lightning rod of hate! 6:56 pm,
Politico approached him several days before they ran with it…they gave him time to respond. He choose to ignore it. He had several days to gather his thoughts and figure out how to handle it…that was several days to “evolve”. Kyle’s article was about how the campaign has handled the entire issue. What you are calling “evolving” Republicans used to refer to it as flip flopping and we are seeing it with both Republican front runners on a host of issues.
Oduma & Dumber Company
November 1st, 2011
7:38 pm
Hmm… Republicans flip flopping? After three years of Oduma’s change and what Republicans used to call FLIP FLOPPING, it all amounts to what most of us used to call, PEAS IN A POD!
Louis Nardozi
November 1st, 2011
8:09 pm
Cain has broken confidentiality, giving those women free reign to come forward. Further, they’ve almost certainly been contacted and given very sweet offers from the Democrats to hold off on coming forward until (if) Cain gets the nomination. Then, they’ll hammer him like a ton of wet cement, crushing the life out of his campaign. He has the sword of Damocles hanging over him now. We’d have to be imbeciles to nominate him.
clem
November 1st, 2011
8:12 pm
“recolate” sayeth the hermanator…..loofah-falafel man throwing softball questions…holy moly…..
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 1st, 2011
8:23 pm
Clinton raped, assaulted and plundered while Cain appears to have made a harmless gesture about his wife’s height.
Notice which one the dummycrats attack?
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 1st, 2011
8:26 pm
dummycrats pound their puds in the park, rape fellow protestors, run off the homeless from their free food, crap on cop cars, trash public spaces, smell horrible and babble against free and unfettered commerce, again, tell me which side you are on?
clem
November 1st, 2011
8:27 pm
did not know clinton running dumb arse
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
November 1st, 2011
8:34 pm
obozo hung out with murderous bomb throwing terrorists, went to a church with a pastor that thinks America deserved 9/11, said that ragheads yelling allah akbar is one of the most beautiful sounds on the Earth, gave a major automobile company to the union, created the fewest jobs since Herbert Hoover while Cain appears to have made a harmless gesture about his wife’s height.
Notice which one the dummycrats attack?
@@
November 1st, 2011
8:50 pm
I watched Greta (the lawyer) question Cain last night. I got the impression he was mildly annoyed by the distraction. He doesn’t strike me as the kinda guy who would cross the line.
There’s been many a time whern I experienced unwanted advances in the workplace…an off-color remark. I looked at the guy(s) and asked…”I wonder if this would qualify as sexual harassment?”
That’s all it took. Never did I file a complaint.
To me, sexual demands in exchange for job security are the only claims with merit.
I feel bad for guys, these days. Always having to walk on egg shells.
@@
November 1st, 2011
8:58 pm
“whern”???????
IHB
tar and feathers party
November 1st, 2011
9:00 pm
Cain is now damaged goods, I can see the cartoons – “Where the white women, where the white women?” – He has no chance of being elected with this hanging over his head.
Welcome to the Occupation
November 1st, 2011
9:00 pm
This thing has Karl Rove’s fingerprints all over it.
clem
November 1st, 2011
9:22 pm
herm’s crack team has screwed up on election financial reports too….
godless heathen
November 1st, 2011
9:45 pm
Is the Hermacane guilty of sexual harassment. Depends on what the definition of “is” is?
godless heathen
November 1st, 2011
9:54 pm
First, I am not a Cain supporter. I do not think he should even be taken as a serious candidate. Unelectable being the operative word here. That said, I find it so hilarious that so many that would excuse Bill Clinton’s actions with “It’s his personal life.”, “He can compartmentalize.”, “Republicans are on a witch hunt.” can take such umbrage about allegations of Cain making the workplace uncomfortable for 2 employees. Blood in the water and the hypocrite sharks are circling.
Uncle Jed
November 1st, 2011
11:13 pm
Kyle Wingfield
November 1st, 2011
2:27 pm
Uncle Jed: See my 2:21 to Filter. Same answer. It’s up now.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Going forward…just what word was considered “offensive” to your filter? I have no problem with comments being moderated when they are patently offensive or inflammatory, but…
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
November 1st, 2011
11:16 pm
“Cain has broken confidentiality, giving those women free reign to come forward.”
Really, Louis? In what way?
"I did NOT inhale"
November 1st, 2011
11:21 pm
Cain only is/was accused of “harassment”… Some one “GOT AWAY” WITH “SEX” in our WHITE HOUSE and “tons of LIES”!!!!
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
November 1st, 2011
11:22 pm
Uncle Jed, some larger words contain smaller words within them that are considered inappropriate and the filter catches the subset and holds the post.
BEST of Cain for donations to his campaign!!!
November 1st, 2011
11:32 pm
To Kyle Wingfield: Editorial subject… “The response, not the allegations, got the worst of Cain”
WRONG… WRONG!!! Cain received the LARGEST $$$$’s for his campaign the day this “scheme”
broke to the news!! TRY again, Kyle Wingfield!!! heeheeheehee
captguitarman
November 2nd, 2011
1:41 am
Once upon a time, powerful male executives could do just about anything they wanted to do with female subordinates, and these gals had no recourse but to quit and go elsewhere. Then the world changed for the better, and the pendulum swung in the other direction — but unfortunately, it swung 180 degrees. Did that finally create a much needed balance of power for the opposite sexes striving to make a living in the work place? No, it absolutely and positively did not. And today, women know that in the “He said -she said” dynamic or work place relationships, only what “she said” actually really matters. It wasn’t fair way back then, and it is isn’t fair now. Why Cain or his staff did not know this, or was not ready for this, and not prepared for the inevitable may be a mystery, but it also appears to be a fact that could totally derail him. Cain should have been readay with Johnny on the spot facts and figures the second it came up. This is what happened. These were the allegations. This was the results of the investigation. They were baseless. Because this was an embarrassment to me, my company, and the women making these false charges, this exact amount of money was paid to them to make them go away quickly and quietly. Settlements like this without any, or thin evidence happen every day because of their nuisance value. But, Cain blew it. It speaks directly to this competence and that of his staff that they were not ready with the facts and figures (exact figures) to repel this attack, if it was actually baseless. Now enought questions have arisen to put it all into play. And one of the “victims” is asking that the confidentiality agreement be set aside so she can tell “her side of the story.” Gosh, Herman, who’s version do you think will get the most press if that happens? Your and your guys blew it. It may really cost you in the end. The American public loves nothing more than it loves a sex scandal. You can claim race, etc. but that is just playing the race card. Don’t lower yourself to that. Fight this with the facts, and the facts only. And if they are not enough to save you, then so be it. Perhaps your can be a good lesson for the next guy, although I am not optimistic about that, since in this area, the same mistakes have been made by politicians over and over again. Remember this lesson, your remember if nothing else you budding male politicians. It is only what “she said” that matters . . . only what she said.
Morning Reads for Wednesday, November 2nd — Peach Pundit
November 2nd, 2011
7:02 am
[...] system off probation. – Four of America’s most broke cities are in Georgia. – Kyle Wingfield offers his two cents on Herman Cain’s bad week. – Occupy Atlanta will be back at Woodruff Park this weekend. In [...]
Ad $$
November 2nd, 2011
7:09 am
Cain needs another cool ad with that dude smoking cigarettes to get the attention off this sex stuff.
sircharles19
November 2nd, 2011
8:03 am
Here we have an ordained minister running for the highest office of these United States of America. Completely lied and lied again, then appearing on news network opening his mouth forgetting what he said before, during and after changing his story once he figure out he said the wrong things. What is right for Democrats is right for Republicians and anyone else. The facts remains are; he was involved with this case, he know it, the women know it and his 1990 documents will confirm it! Minister Cain, don’t keep putting yourself up for failure when you know you fail the public when this story first broke. You were involved from your own account based on what you have said!
LeeH1
November 2nd, 2011
9:00 am
When asked about this allegation, Herman Cain says, “That, I do not recollect, I have no recollection of this…”
Cain changed his story. He had to, someone on his staff suddenly realized that if he didn’t remember the incident, he also couldn’t remember that he was also innocent. Catch 22, dude!
MarkV
November 2nd, 2011
9:50 am
The facts remain:
Politico properly handled the tip they received;
What has been revealed so far confirms what Politico has reported.
Cain has been changing his responses and making ridiculous explanations for those changes.
mum
November 2nd, 2011
10:50 am
When asked if the “tip” came from another campaign, Politico side-stepped the question pointing to the story as being a valid one. How many of you executives would forget that you were accused of sexual harassment, however many years ago that was? Which CEO today would laugh off or treat this kind of accusation lightly? That’s beyond stupid, and you can’t blame is staff if he chose not to address it. Horribly judgement on his part.
MarkV
November 2nd, 2011
10:54 am
“There are factions that are trying to destroy me personally as well as this campaign,” Cain said Wednesday morning before the Consumer Electronics Association. ”
Cain misspoke. It should have been “There are facts that are trying to destroy me personally as well as this campaign,”
Ann Coulter
November 2nd, 2011
10:01 pm
Herman Cain and Clarence Thomas can sexually harrass me anytime they want. Just blame the commie Democrats.