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AP
Presidential hopeful Herman Cain (R) at the American Enterprise Institute this morning, takes a question on his 9-9-9 plan.
Herman Cain acknowledged there were allegations of sexual harassment while he headed the National Restaurant Association, declaring on FOX this morning that he was “falsely accused."
"I have never sexually harassed anyone, anyone," he said, "and absolutely, these are false accusations."
But he said he was unaware of any settlement with the accusers, though he didn't deny it.
"If the restaurant association did a settlement, I wasn't even aware of it," he claimed, "and I hope it wasn't for much. If there was a settlement, it was handled by some of the other officers at the restaurant association."
If more accusations are made, Cain said they, too, would be false.
“If there are more allegations, people will make them up,” Cain said.
He acknowledged the allegations could damage his campaign.
"Some people are going to be turned off by this cloud," he said, adding, of course, that he hopes they do not.
Asked why his family hasn't been a notable part of his campaign, particularly his wife, Cain said, "You will meet my wife publicly, in an exclusive interview we are planning and anticipating."
But, he said, "You won’t see my family out on the campaign trail. … My wife represents that calm and tranquility I look forward to when I go home."
He also noted that his children are adults with their own children.
In a separate potential scandal, the following was reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel this morning:
"Herman Cain's two top campaign aides ran a private Wisconsin-based corporation that helped the GOP presidential candidate get his fledgling campaign off the ground by originally footing the bill for tens of thousands of dollars in expenses for such items as iPads, chartered flights and travel to Iowa and Las Vegas - something that might breach federal tax and campaign law, according to sources and documents.”
But Cain said he hadn't heard of it.
“I’m not aware of this report," Cain said, adding, "We are going to look into this report to see if there is any validity. … We will take a look at it. I didn’t even know about it until you brought it up on this show."
Leave a Comment:
I'll give Herman credit, he is very slick when it comes to splitting hairs!
The problem is - this is denial is going to come back to haunt him...
Mark my words!
The Hurricane should take a chapter out of the Anthony Weiner playbook and fess up before it's too late!
Honestly, because sometimes it's cheaper to pay now than to defend yourself in a court room.
Oh boy........."pissing" accusation is what you don't want to be answering especially when running for office. Now, like Feisty asked, how much did you pay and on on on the questioning will keep coming.......damn it.
Bye, bye Herman.
The displeasure was all ours... unfortunately. Hey, but you did get a nice book tour out of it.
Politicians, sex scandals and "splitting hairs."
The best still is asking what the definition of 'is' is.
Pen - if it was the association that paid, then he may not know.
An organization often has many reasons, and most are different than those held by the alleged harassing party.
I wonder if we'll be hearing from the women? Likely not. Confidential settlements.
Just remember Noid - "cost of defense settlements are very common across the litigation spectrum.
@Spanky - he was the President of the association wasn't he? You're telling me he doesn't know these details? And everybody's being paid off to protect the association's reputation?? uh huh.... yeah, right
Any bets on how long it takes before Herman trots out the Mrs. to 'stand by her man'?
spanky
"is" Cain dream turned into a once upon a time there was a wannabe president.
I'm betting this is it for Herminator. He should be bowing out some time this week, if not today. Yes, it's THAT bad...
Dang it! When I buy someone's silence I expect them to keep it. It's is a legal agreement you would think they would follow the law... Oh wait... yeah, back to I don't recall.
It seemed to be the most logical explanation.
Hmmm ... Why would he anticipate more accusations?
Political campaign corruption on the Republican side in Wisconsin? Imagine that.
I thought it was only unions that were corrupt.
Or wait ... there IS that little John Doe probe against the governor, isn't there, in which one of his cronies has already been convicted. You know, the one in which Walker himself may be "John Doe."
Extra, extra.
http://american-idle.newsvine.com/_news/2011/09/26/7973620-walkergate-wisconsin-governor-may-be-john-doe-in-fbi-corruption-probe-state-politics-rattled
Feel free to read all about it.
"When I buy someone's silence I expect them to keep it."
Sounds to me like they did. If the source of this news was the women involved, we'd know their names. This was funneled to Politico by someone else who knew about it. Maybe someone at the association who doesn't like Cain so much. Or maybe someone at the association who was paid/encouraged by the Romney campaign?
Very interesting that the harrassment alegations appear simutaneously w/ the possible campaign wrongdoing. Al Qaeda and Karl Rove have similar tactics including hitting on several targets at once
Ok, let's summarize:
1. The President of the organization is accused.
2. He admits knowing of the false accusations.
3. He never gave it another thought. He never asked what happened to the accusations? He was never made aware of the disposition of the false accusations?
I see. He will make a great President.
Awwwwwww.........Let Herman be Justice Thomas.
Hey Buzz - did you happen to catch Sniffy's Halloween costume?
She's going as the 'head'-less Horseman...
"Herman Cain acknowledged there were allegations of sexual harassment while he headed the National Restaurant Association, declaring on FOX this morning that he was “falsely accused.""
Uh....why is he running to FOX on this?
DBO
Why on earth will you bring Thomas into this.........damn you libbies. And by the way, you only run to FOX NEWS to FIX the NEWS so back off.
Feisty- I thought she was going as the other end of the horeseman's trusty steed??
PEN-24
"DBO
Why on earth will you bring Thomas into this.........damn you libbies."
Uh....because Clinton was already taken? (repeatedly)
Drive By - how very racist of you.
Is it because Cain and Thomas are black?
Just terrible Drive By, even for you.
Oh yeah, those people must have known he was going to run for President someday. He should have fought this in court no matter the cost. The decisions we make dictate the life we lead...
And that's disingenuous of you, Spanky (nothing new there). You know Drive By wasn't making a racist remark; he was referring to Thomas having a history of sexual harassment.
You've got that right Jack. The typical Spanky spin.
I know nothing.... nothing. If anything bad happens when i'm prez, I won't know anything about it..therefore I can't be blamed. Period.
1.) If they are groundless accusations, why pay them?
2.) How do you justify using the Restaurant Association's money to pay them??
3.) Did you tell the Restaurant Association's membership that you made these payments?
Not to jump to a conclusion, but ..... if this is true ..... would you really want this man as President???
It is doubtful that the Restaurant Association settled without Cain's knowledge; he may not have known the final dollar amounts but settlements do not happen without an investigation and information from both sides.
Exactly Jody!
Which is why I I find Herman's denial, skeptical as best...
So, uh, Jody, I don't suppose you can tell us the basis of your assertion?
Are you readily familiar with settlements? With investigations?
Upon what, other than pure speculation, do you base you comment?
I don't suppose you can tell us any of the details Jody? Like the nature of the allegations and types of acts alleged. The amount of the settlements? Say Jody, who paid, and what funds where used?
I wonder Jody, and given your statement you must know - is there a policy for this type of issue at the Restaurant Association? Are there defined amounts where if a demand to settle comes in below an administrative call is made?
Jody, I would just love to have you walk us through this statement of yours.
Jody,
Yes and don't forget it was paid for by membership dues and contributions! Silly members, they thought the money they gave to the association was to represent their best interests ....
Spanky,
Don't be so Republican lazy. Do your own research. Two separate five figure settlements would be significant to most lower and middle class voters, even if the guy in charge of the association was somehow unable to recall the amounts or the incidents or the facts that the "hush money" was paid out of the association's budget.
Who would have thought the National Restaurant Association had so much going on? I guess there was more to it than "portion size" issues.
Five figures? That's it? These women only got less than $100,000k each for supposedly having the goods on the association president?
Sounding more and more like go-away money.
Why would they need go-away money if their is no truth? I couldn't go to court with a sexual harassment charge without some kind of proof or witnesses or something.
The sexual harassment firing I witnessed they had to have two collaborating witnesses. Then the entire management teams were sent to classes.
You don't just go firing someone or handling out money to everyone who just suggest improprieties may have happened.
[Jody, I would just love to have you walk us through this statement of yours.]
Nice try, Jr...lol...you crack me up.
Oh, by the way...no need to post that Al Gore quote...I found it.
Shades of St. Ronnie's I don't recall...
Cain just another lying GOTPer.
I'd rather beat up on Romney. I kind of like Cain.
Pubic hairs on the Coke Cain train?
Like his whacky 999 plan wasn't bad enough to get him thrown out, now this....
Like I said, Herman Cain is front man for the Koch Bros. so that they can broker the GOP convention without a clear winner in the primaries. Then they put forward an unvetted candidate of their own choosing. All Cain supporters are being duped into thinking that their guy really had a chance....
It's Koch puppets Chris Christie and Scott Walker in November 2012....
It took Cain and his team almost an entire 24 hour period to come up with this pathetic defense? Sometimes the most important aspect of a burgeoning scandal is what isn't said rather than what IS said. Herman Cain dodged and squirmed away from these allegations without forcefully denying them. This ought to be the end to his bizarre little "presidential campaign" that appears to be nothing but a Ponzi scheme run for his own personal profit. If his offensive behavior towards women doesn't kill his bid, the growing scandal surrounding his campaign finances surely will. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Thats BS........ You and Clarence Thomas ! Don't believe a word from either ! Not one but 2 women !
good point. One woman could be a misunderstanding but two women making the same allegation points to a serious problem.
CAIN TRAIN DERAILED BY "PUBIC HAIR" TYPE SCANDAL
OK, Herman. As Chief Executive Officer, you would not know of two five figure payouts made to settle separate sexual harassment cases? Not knowing of those payouts is worse than being involved in the first place....and there's more....
http://www.therightperspective.org/2011/10/31/herman-cain-sexual-harrassment-uncovered/
A couple of thoughts here. Number one, for a woman to even complain of sexual harassment is very hard, and usually the outcome is not favorable to the woman, so for two to make the accusation is very telling. Number two, a financial settlement with a non-disclosure clause in it says that they (the National Restaurant Association) thought that might lose in court and settled to make the matter just "go away." As to who leaked this to the press, I would look to the GOP field and their backers who are nervous about Mr. Cain's rise to the top of the polls. The dems, I don't think, are that worried about a Herman Cain run.
Not really.
Lawyers are expensive, and often a judge wants the corporation to pay ALL the law fees even if they won, since they have more money readily available.
Even if they win, and they don't have to pay the plaintiffs fees, they still get stuck with a big law bill. So it's a cost/risk. Is it cheaper to just pay them to shut up and go away, or cheaper to fight it out in court?
Ask the lawyers around here. Often, it's cheaper to just pay to get people to shut up and leave.
It's certainly possible that Mr. Cain was falsely accused and that the National Restaurant Association decided to settle quickly. A more pertinent question here is whether or not Mr. Cain believes that sexual harassment is an issue germane to employers and employees. A person who feels that they are being harassed in the workplace should have the right to bring that issue to the attention of human services so that it can be investigated. In the cases presented in Politico, the women felt they were being pressured in a way they were uncomfortable with, brought their cases to the association and received a settlement. People who work in restaurants are always having to walk a fine line with regard to appropriate service to customers, and I would hope that Mr. Cain stands up for the right to file grievances when people feel pressured in an uncomfortable way,
Kate,
I think that goes right to the heart of the matter because Cain (sorry, in my view he hasn't merited the respectful "Mr." yet) is one of the "get government out of our lives" crowd, and it would be interesting to see how he handles the question.
Herman tells former co-workers he's got a 9-9-9 plan for everyone! "I've got nine for you at 9pm on the ninth, baby."
Interesting how this is playing out, isn't it?
Every front runner stumbles "upon further review"....Mitt, looks like you're next.......
The Teavangelical candidates all have the Humpidy Dumpity Syndrome......
To be fair "killer cain" needs to be investigated. A habitual predator like this needs to be exposed. Two women have came out now. How many more victims are there, to scared to speak. If it were one I could see doubt, but two. If "killer cain" says he didn't know that they were bought off, the restaurant association must have been real embarrassed over this not to tell him. Hermi its time to man up and admit it.
enough said! No denial just "if there was a settlement I hope it wasn't much!"
Of everything he said, I found this the most troubling. If I had been falsely accused of something, I would have made it my business to know everything about the case, including its resolution.
SF,
What's more, this the same strategy he uses for foreign policy. "I don't need the details...". Scary stuff.
Bingo Steeler Fan
His answers were bothersome to me and you nailed it when you said it is the fact he claimed he was innocent and yet had no interest about the resolution.
Think about times when you were wrongly accused and how you acted. It wouldn't be to hand it over to your buddies and then you pretend it never happened.
OMG Cain, being Black and an unfaithful husband is a big no no in America and people may never forgive you. You should have known better tsk tsk
Might wanna kiss your Presidential campaign bye bye...
He is just another member of the GOP Radical Right that we never be President.
I did not have sex with that woman. Er, women. Who's names are protected by legally binding clauses in out-of-court settlement agreements. Besides, it all depends on what your definition of "is" is.
Man this sucks!!! Why did this man not vet himself before running????? I already was skeptical about him being President not just because of his tax policy but his foreign policy skills left a lot to be desired. Now we have to deal with this???? Please Mr. Cain get out while the gettin's good because you don't want to destroy your family with this bull being said about you.
WHY isn't Cains wife standing by his side in support of his dirty deeds ........like all submissive Republican stepford wives are suppose to?
Mrs Cain? Time to STAND BY YOUR CHEATER MAN, mam
First Read - Five or six stories on this really. Isn't there any other stories going on out there? First the Weiner fixation and now this.
I will give Cain the benefit of the doubt.
I will reject him for his ideas and policies not his alledged misdeeds from more than ten years ago.
The guy always has to pay the "ho" unless your name is Bill Clinton!
Right after he paid these girls off, he switched his plan from "69" to 9-9-9. It just doesn't add up!
We'll see about that, I just don't find it necessary to pay someone, if you were falsely accused sir
I mean why paid her, if you are innocent ?
Don't tell me someone else is the real victim in this story, that might be another joke from you lol