Posted on 11/02/2011 8:23:04 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry says his campaign didn't provide the media with information about sexual harassment allegations against his GOP presidential rival Herman Cain.
In an interview with the conservative blog RedState on Wednesday, Perry said he and his campaign learned about the allegations in a Politico story published Sunday.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I heard the audio on Red State and he sounded convincing. I guess Cain and his right hand man don’t mind throwing out unfounded false allegations.I wonder if Rahm Emmanuel will also deny it. Apparently it was Perry and Rahm according to Cains team
Perry is absolutely adamant that his campaign had nothing to do with this story. What is Cain’s proof that the Perry campaign is behind it? Does he actually have any proof or is he just guessing.
Sounds like Rahm. Or any Democrat.
This was a media hit on Cain that was brewing. Cain has used race as a reason for it and now is accusing Rick Perry and Rahm Emmanuel.
Maybe they are right, but so far I haven't seen any proof at all that the Perry campaign had anything to do with it. Cain's camp has basically bungled the story even though they had 2 weeks to prepare, and then blame Perry's team. And their proof looks like guesswork. Not saying there isn't more, but so far I have not seen it.
Now if Cain would have come out day 1 and said "12 years ago a there was a false accusation against me but that was resolved" it probably would have gone away because the truth sounds pretty bland. Cain screwed this up so bad the whole Republican field is gonna look bad by the time this is over.
They might not have leaked the info but if someone on his staff didn’t know about it until they read it on the net, he needs to supplement his staff with people who have worked on the national scene. One of the most important jobs when you are in this arena is to have your pipelines to other campaign offices and know what is going on.
Perry denied mandating Gardisil too, didn’t he?
This response to Marc Block was just posted on Greta Wire at Fox from Perry’s communication director Ray Sullivan:
“HIS CHARGE IS BOTH RECKLESS AND FALSE. For a candidate and campaign that claim to be the victims of unfounded and unproven accusations, they are awfully quick to hurl unfounded accusations themselves. Contrary to the Cain campaigns false accusations, there is not one shred of evidence that any member of the Perry team had anything to do with the recent stories regarding Herman Cain because it isnt true.
And while hurling unfounded accusations may serve as a temporary distraction from Mr Cains ongoing troubles, we hope we can all get on with the serious business of issues and selecting the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama.”
Just wonder, given how easy it is to make “allegations” - who’s now digging to see what Newt, Perry, Willard, Santorum, et al might have in their past
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67485.html
In a meeting at the Capitol Hill Club, Cain said he and his campaign had found out who was purportedly leaking word of his behavior toward female employees at the National Restaurant Association and that a report was coming out that would disprove the charges, according to the chief of staff to one of the Georgia members.
looks like his only plan was to accuse Perry of being the POLITICO source and hope that would distract from him being accused of trying to sex up some employees. Problem for him was that nobody is buying it and now there are at least 5 women. (2 from the original story, 1 the AP is now reporting and at least 2 that work for Steve Deace). Added to that, one of the guys he hoped to pin it on, Chris Wilson, actually turned out to be a witness to Cain's actions and said it was so bad that other people at the table tried to get Cain to knock it off. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67473.html
In an interview with POLITICO, Wilson said he was present for the episode and that it took place in the late '90s.
Wilson declined to say specifically what Cain said or did to the woman, but that the CEO's actions made other individuals at the table uneasy.
"It was very uncomfortable," said the pollster, recalling that other individuals present asked Cain to stop.
You mean other than the fact that Cain is a buffoon and his “campaign” is a circus?
Cain is playing “every” card. Race card, dummy card, buffoon card. You name it and he got it.
That doesn't make sense at this point. They would bring that baby out next year probably September or October 2012. I 100 percent believe Perry is behind this. He is so mad that he crashed and burned that he delusion-ally thought he could win the nomination if he got rid of Cain....Jokester that his is.
Its worse. Cain looks bad because he has been acting like a buffoon since this story broke. Now, he is dragging down Perry with this false bomb throwing. Who escapes clean? Romney, of course!
Go to your cave please!
Go take your gardisil, Perrybot.
Rove play for Romney? Rove could professionally place info and spin it so everyone thinks Perry is behind it. Dems wouldn’t play this card so early in the game.
Cain should STOP BS’ing his way through this issue and STOP accusing others for his troubles. He MUST do one and only thing and that is to come clean and set the record straight with FACTS. End of story.
Otherwise, he will continue to prove that he is a buffoon and his “campaign” is a circus.
I see Cain a smart businessman and happy warrior who is nowhere even close to being ready to run a serious presidential campaign. If he got the nomination I think he would be destroyed in Christine O' Donnell fashion - ie, lose by a landslide with a core of supporters who simply can't understand that their candidate was an awful general election choice. I just can not take him seriously and don't see why so many people are throwing all in on a political novice who really has no chance whatsoever to beat Obama. I guess every so often some of the base is willing to commit electoral suicide to make a point?
Anyway, just because Perry's campaign denied it doesn't mean they aren't lying. Cain's team could well be right, but it is seriously ill advised to make such an accusation without proof. Until they can demonstrate any convincing evidence, Cain's team is making ugly allegations against another Republican while at the same time complaining that they are being unfairly attacked with ugly allegations.
Whether Perry’s campaign did it or not is irrelevant. Politics!!!
Your point about Cain being Christine O’ Donnell is right on spot. He will melt and wilt under the glare of a Presidential campagin.
Here’s a transcript of Perry’s words from Red State:
Our campaign had absolutely nothing to do with it. You know Im disappointed that theres finger pointing going on and the sooner we get back to talking about the issues that are important to the people of this country the better, and thats how we get Americans working again.
Theres not anybody in my campaign that knew anything about this thats associated with my campaign in any form or fashion. I mean it, end of story, I mean this is - its one of those thats about as clear cut as I can tell ya. We found out about the allegations against Mr. Cain same time everybody else did.
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/11/02/the-rick-perry-statement-on-herman-cain/
This Cain mess sounds like it has 0bama team fingerprints on it...smells like the stunt 0bama pulled to destroy his competition when he ran for US Senate.
It seems pretty stupid for another GOP wannabe candidate to pull something this stupid when it well could backfire...I smell a liberalRAT.
Rove play for Romney? Rove could professionally place info and spin it so everyone thinks Perry is behind it. Dems wouldnt play this card so early in the game.
That is possible I suppose. I still think Perry is 100 percent guilty in this though.
Considering that nobody had to take the shot if they didn't want to, I wouldn't consider that much of a mandate. But I guess that's different.
No he didn't and you know it. He said it was wrong because it had an opt-out and should have had a opt-in. He has paid for that mistake.
Do yo have a full quote from Wilson saying that he was present or are you just repeating Politicp misinformation?
The Smoking Man is still searching for his Smoking Gun.
This Cain implosion is getting quite noisy, don’t cha think?
Funny Rove was behind that smear, also.
Cost the GOP a senate seat.
Oh Pshaw, this is the direct work of the Obama campaign and Obama’s modus operandi. Remember what he did to Jack Ryan when he got his divorce files unsealed in his bid for the US Senate? Remember Obama knocked all of his opponents for his Illinois Senate seat.
Cain is gaining in the polls and gathering momentum. Cain is a black man that could steal a lot of Obama’s voters. What better way to slow down Cain’s momentum than false allegations that he will have to defend.
Why isn’t Cain pointing at the Obama team which is much more likely than a republican opponent.
I believe him. The flailing of the Cain campaign is alarming. I don’t see myself supporting Cain (as a first choice anyway) after this. Mark Block was an embarassment on Special Report. Really pathetic.
In an interview with POLITICO, Wilson said he was present for the episode and that it took place in the late '90s.
Wilson declined to say specifically what Cain said or did to the woman, but that the CEO's actions made other individuals at the table uneasy.
"It was very uncomfortable," said the pollster, recalling that other individuals present asked Cain to stop.
Wilson said there were at least three other people at the gathering but wouldn't share the name of the woman for publication.
The Cain campaign didn't respond to an email asking if they had a comment on the incident.
You can delude yourself that Christine would have won that seat. No worries.
Is Mark Block the “Smoking Man”? IF so, I felt this when that horrible ad came out: Cain doesn’t have the gravitas to surround himself with quality staff. I would cringe at who he’d appoint to his cabinet. (and all those Czar positions).
We have the Smoking Man
Looking for a Smoking Gun
While the campaign he manages becomes a Smoking Hole.
Thank you so much for granting permission to think.
You must be really blinded in your idiocy of Cain to say that. I am too old for taking that Vaccine - you fool.
I like Cain, but his crisis control concerns me. I honestly don’t hold a lot of stock in the accusations, being that we don’t have a face. However, I look at how President Bush handled 9-11, and I compare his reaction to how Cain has handled this. I would honestly contact Bush if I were him and get some pointers in crisis management. Otherwise he’ll be blaming the Free Masons tomorrow.
I’ve noticed that about Perrywinkes.
Kind of defensive.
Like to dish it out. Freak out when they receive in kind.
Cain curiously abhors Rick Perry. We all saw the quotes and video of Cain cheerfully willing to serve with any and all other candidates as their VP, particularly with Romney he said, but then firmly denounced ever serving with Rick Perry, saying he is the ONLY ONE he would NEVER serve with as VP. Something is up here. I just can’t figure it out. It’s fishy. This curious revulsion toward only Rick has but one known link. It always dove tails with Romney’s opinion and dread of Perry. Cain never gives a reason for abhoring Rick Perry. NOW IT IS CAIN ACCUSING RICK PERRY OF SMEARS. There is just as much innuendo and suspicion of Romney pulling this, willing to pull this, desperate to change the game, and what do we hear from ole’ Herb about Romney? Damn crickets.
Until this sleazy affair lifts the veil on Cain’s motivations for pointing fingers at Perry I am so DONE with my generosity toward Herb Cain. DONE. Anybody can see that this race has become, wholly now, more about destroying Rick Perry than even winning the damn nomination!
Let me say, I am done with the dark side of Herb Cain’s odd tricks, trade and treachery. This guy is suspicious all around. Two weeks ago I read ONE story that he was seen drinking white wine with his breakfast! Never heard THAT have you? Not one word since that report. The surprised reporter thought it unusual. Are we going to find out that the guy is a drinker? Herb has made the point he drinks only wine. What is that about? Maybe the reason will turn out to be linked to his now third woman accuser. Perry would not risk tagging Cain with this stuff and Perry wouldn’t be so desperate. After all, this is the guy that just barely was willing to enter the dang race in the first place. Puhleeeeeeeze.
I am open to other candidates who might enter late, but both Romney and Perry are on my vote write in if nominated list.
Cain seems to be weathering this well.
You think Bush handled the media right?
Really?
No. I mean. Really?
I said handling a crisis. If you think he bungled 911, then I don’t know what to tell you.
"It was very uncomfortable," said the pollster,
Just what I thought. You can supply of full quote from Wilson saying that he was present.
You’re right on that.
But the media ate him for lunch, every other time, on every other issue.
Because he chose not to respond. That was a big mistake. Our side doesn’t seem to have learned from that, except for Palin, and now Cain. Those two seem to relish pushing back.
Which is why the left is afraid of them.
If this drags on and Herman Cain falters in his bid for the GOP nomination, I think the majority of his supporters will turn to Newt. I think that Newt is the closet thing to Herman Cain in the field. I dunno.... just sayin’ . I hope Herman survives and comes out of this stronger than ever.
Guessing, deflecting.
Your flailing again. We have one year to go. Cain is no distance runner and has a past in the corporate world with women, which has resulted in permanently putting his butt in some dark hole doing a radio show. Now do you have the brains to wonder why? Cain fell apart in the pizza bread and Pillsbury dough career and turned flakey. We are seeing why he had to leave it and take up flaking a radio show in a padded room. The guy is suspicious. Eventually he folds, or it comes out something is going on with him.
Rick will be the train at the station, on time, in the end.
I don’t think Romney “escapes clean” from this. I think if Cain and Perry end up destroying each other’s campaign, the likely candidate to pick up their support wouldn’t be Romney. I’m thinking Newt; maybe Bachmann or Santorum.
I have to agree with Sullivan on this. Frankly, it was very disappointing to see Cain first charging Steve Anderson, then his campaign charging Wilson, when no one knows for sure who leaked the story originally.
If the story was as well known as Wilson says, and apparently it was, the ‘source’ could have been any of dozens of people. I was told 2 weeks ago that some ‘stuff’ about Cain was going to come out, and that by someone with only tertiary connections to the NRA. So if that person knew, there were already dozens of people in DC who were aware of this. Could have been a Republican or a Democrat.
Cain is learning the hard way that if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. But HE should not be hurling unfounded accusations.
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