Two women accused Herman Cain of inappropriate behavior

Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

Exclusive: Two women accused Cain of inappropriate behavior By: Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman and Anna Palmer and Kenneth P. Vogel October 30, 2011 08:00 PM EDT

During Herman Cain’s tenure as the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, at least two female employees complained to colleagues and senior association officials about inappropriate behavior by Cain, ultimately leaving their jobs at the trade group, multiple sources confirm to POLITICO.

The women complained of sexually suggestive behavior by Cain that made them angry and uncomfortable, the sources said, and they signed agreements with the restaurant group that gave them financial payouts to leave the association. The agreements also included language that bars the women from talking about their departures.

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.

[MNJohnnie]

I say the accusations are complete lies feed to the media by either the Democrat smear machine or the Romney campaign.

Prove me wrong. The accused is innocent until prove guilty. They are not guilty because they have been accused.

So PROVE your accusations true. The burden of proof rests on you, the accusers, not the accused.

[MNJohnnie]

I say the accusations are complete lies feed to the media by either the Democrat smear machine or the Romney campaign.

Prove me wrong. The accused is innocent until proven guilty. They are not guilty because they have been accused.

So PROVE your accusations true. The burden of proof rests on you, the accusers, not the accused.

[MNJohnnie]

I say the accusations are complete lies feed to the media by either the Democrat smear machine or the Romney campaign.

Prove me wrong. The accused is innocent until proven guilty. They are not guilty because they have been accused.

So PROVE your accusations true. The burden of proof rests on you, the accusers, not the accused.

[MNJohnnie]

I suggest you take your own advice and wait and see rather then perpetuated the smear at Cain with utterly nothing but highly suspected “anonymous” sources to back up your accusations

[MNJohnnie]

I say you are total liar with NOTHING factual to back up your accusations.

Prove me wrong. See I know people who know Herman Cain peronally, and I know your accusations about him are lies.

So you have made an accusation, I have refuted it. The burden now rest on YOU to prove your accusations.

Shame on you for engaging in this sort gutter political tactics

[MNJohnnie]

I find your tag-line ironic. Since you cannot debate Cain on the issues, you have decided to engage in shameless slander.

What a complete hypocrite you are.

Hildy ("When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser." - SocratesH)

[Puddleglum]

I call bullsh-t. Accusations are the easy way to money for the vengeful and talentless.

[MNJohnnie]

I say you are total liar with NOTHING factual to back up your accusations.

Prove me wrong. See I know people who know Herman Cain personally, and I know your accusations about him are lies.

So you have made an accusation, I have refuted it. The burden now rest on YOU to prove your accusations.

Shame on you for engaging in this sort gutter political tactic

[MNJohnnie]

I say you are total liar with NOTHING factual to back up your accusations.

Prove me wrong. See I know people who know Herman Cain peronally, and I know your accusations about him are lies.

So you have made an accusation, I have refuted it. The burden now rest on YOU to prove your accusations.

Shame on you for engaging in this sort gutter political tactic

[MNJohnnie]

I say you are total liar with NOTHING factual to back up your accusations.

Prove me wrong. See I know people who know Herman Cain personally, and I know your accusations about him are lies.

So you have made an accusation, I have refuted it. The burden now rest on YOU to prove your accusations.

Shame on you for engaging in this sort gutter political tactic

[MNJohnnie]

I say you are total liar with NOTHING factual to back up your accusations.

Prove me wrong. See I know people who know Herman Cain personally, and I know your accusations about him are lies.

So you have made an accusation, I have refuted it. The burden now rest on YOU to prove your accusations.

Shame on you for engaging in this sort gutter political tactic

[Puddleglum]

I allege that unnamed sources have led me to believe that Rick Perry is behind this (but is not responsible for profiting from any shady land deals made with Texas political king-makers).

[MNJohnnie]

Then produce the settlement docs. But you cannot do that can you Romneybot?

What a pathetic and shamless liar you are.

[MNJohnnie]

How about this. I say the accusers are liars paid for by the Romney campaign.

My accusation is as valid as theirs. Let see who is right. Prove me wrong. YOU are making the accusations, where is your proof?

[central_va]

I dunno, this might help Cain in the long run. He is proving he is human like everyone else. I think the MSM may end up putting some ice on it.

[ken5050]

Reading the Politico story..the big bombshell is that a woman says that "he invited her up to his suite one time."

Probably just to discuss business, but Cain didn't even realize how this could leave him vulnerable.

Back in my corporate days, I had over 50 female employes..brokers, assistants, support staff..who reported to me. After the Lewinski mess broke, I never again closed the door to my office when there was just a female with me, even a client. When it was necessary to do so, for privacy reasons, I always had my secretary in the room.

[deport]

True, False or Hit Piece .... it will play out and Cain will have to address the issue personally, not his spokesperson.

Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/10/31/cain-camp-allegations-sexual-harassment-smear-campaign#ixzz1cMLpoB8k

.....Cain himself will have a chance to respond to the allegations today, as he is set to appear live on Fox News at 11:15 a.m. The presidential candidate is also scheduled to deliver remarks at the American Enterprise Institute and at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Monday.....

[ken5050]

Absolutely..In the Politico story..the BIG accisation is that he invited one of the women up to his suite..BUT FOR WHAT??..to give her a memo?..to have a place to talk privately?..

It's very carefully written...it really says NOTHING..Assuming as I do that nothign happened, he needs to be forthright, forceful, and absolutely smack it down HARD..

[magritte]

True believer to the end, aren’t you. Enjoy the Perry treatment your candidate has just started to get.

[Sacajaweau]

I have made zero accusations. In fact, just the opposite.