Posted on 11/02/2011 11:00:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
So far, neither of the two alleged complainants from Herman Cain’s tenure at the National Restaurant Association have come forward publicly, although it appears at least one would like NRA to release her from her confidentiality agreement to do so. However, a pollster who worked for NRA at the time told KTOK in Oklahoma that he witnessed both incidents — and that if the women talk, Cain’s candidacy would be over:
Interviewed today on KTOK’s Mullins in the Morning, [Chris] Wilson, of Wilson-Perkins-Allen Opinion Research headquartered in Washington, D.C. explained he was a witness to the incident. “I was the pollster at the National Restaurant Association when Herman Cain was head of it and I was around a couple of times when this happened and anyone who was involved with the NRA at the time, knew that this was gonna come up.”
Wilson described the woman as a low level staffer who was maybe two years out of college. “This occurred at a restaurant in Crystal City (Virginia) and everybody was aware of it,” he continued. “It was only a matter of time because so many people were aware of what took place, so many people were aware of her situation, the fact she left—everybody knew with the campaign that this would eventually come up.”
Wilson claims that he also can’t discuss the specifics, for legal reasons. I’m not quite clear as to what that might be. He may have signed a broad non-disclosure agreement with NRA to get the polling work, but if that’s the case, he just violated it with this statement today. Unless he also participated in the settlement/severance agreements with the women, he’s as free to discuss the details as the fact that he witnessed them. And it’s difficult to see how Wilson would have been involved in a settlement between NRA and the two employees.
However, Wilson isn’t only linked to NRA and Cain from years gone by. His firm has conducted polling in this presidential race for the Make Us Great Again PAC. And guess which candidate is favored by MUGA-PAC? Why, none other than … Rick Perry. The PAC has no formal connection to Perry’s campaign, but it’s certainly boosting Perry as the Republican nominee in the primary.
Could Wilson be more than just a witness in this story? Could he be a source? It could just be a coincidence that a witness to these alleged incidents did work for an organization pushing Perry, and that the story mysteriously got to Politico as Cain took support away from Perry in mid-October. If he is the source, then conducting an interview on the topic has to be one of the dumber political moves I’ve seen.
Update: Some are saying that this indicates Romney as the source of the leak, but I’m not terribly convinced that a one-time donation means much. Romney has less to fear with Cain as his main opponent than others in the race, and besides, no one knows whether Anderson ever knew about the incidents at all. Other board members say they didn’t. YMMV, however.
“Cain recused himself, had no part in the investigation, was completely unaware of the settlement details, and did not even sign off on it. What would you like him to do? Produce digital nonpictures of a virtual nonevent that he was literally not involved in?”
Do you really believe that if someone was accused of sexual harrasment, even though the accusation had no merit, is going to completely ignore how the case was settled?
If you believe that, I have some land to sell you.
Confindential agreement means confidential. Neither party can release information without the other’s approval. And for all you know I HAVE seen the agreement.
OH! I also think that when the parties agree on a figure and a confidentiality agreement, it is with the understanding that NO ONE ADMITS BLAME.
That’s part of these type of “settlements”.
So yes, Cain can say that if the results were revealed, he would be proven “blameless” - that’s how these settlements work.
I am not saying he did anything.
I am pointing out the nature of this type of settlement.
Just so we are all clear on where I’m coming from. :)
“Stop posting lies, the stupid womans attorney does not have a copy of the paper work and said so, also said it was handled by mail/fax. No one was sued for jack.”
Can you please tell me what lies that I am posting.
I was responding to the Cain harrassment allegations.
Are we all supposed to stick our head into the sand and ignore this issue?
You can bet Cain’s opponents are milking this for what it is worth.Especially Romney.
Cain should just release the info, and be done with it.
It was probably just a minor thing, but if you let this issue simmer, it will be blown way out of proportion.
“My BS Meter pegged on this one.”
So did mine espeically after I saw the punks picture.
>>If they’re really trolls, they’ll show themselves over time. <<
Just did.
Yes, and add to that his OBVIOUS lack of knowledge in foreign/military affairs and there is no way he'll even place in the primaries. In fact, I suspect he'll withdraw from the race.
Herman Cain is over. Right or wrong.
I like Cain, but I haven’t settled on anyone yet.
My biggest fear is that Cain might drop out and throw his support behind Rommney. That he will encourage all of his followers to switch to Rommney.
Who was sued for sexual harassment? What court was it sued in? Do you have a case number?
If you really want to nitpick on my words, sued was not accurate.
Although, what difference did that make?
The whole issue involved attorneys and a settlement.
Same players and results just like a lawsuit.
Drop out when you're in first place and rising?
“Now the woman and attorney are saying she is unlikely to talk any time soon:”
I haven’t gotten through the whole thread, but,,,the dems probably got to her, and told her to hold off until next October.
“I havent gotten through the whole thread, but,,,the dems probably got to her, and told her to hold off until next October.”
That is why Cain needs to get this behind him.
We cannot afford to have him nominated, and have the nomination blow up in our faces, which results in an Obama win.
If Cain said some off color jokes, no one is going to care.
If it is worse, we need to know what it is now.
We conservatives aren't sleazy dims, and we expect our candidates to show a higher degree of integrity. I hope this there is nothing to this, but Cain' s response to this crisis has me concerned.
Problem is that the conservative ranks are being quickly culled. Romney is definitely out, and Perry is an awful second choice. A quickly assembled Demint or Palin candidacy may happen after all if Cain crashes and burns.
You post on a blog where I imagine others with your political leanings post.
Let us in on it, don't be ashamed.
We conservatives aren't sleazy dims, and we expect our candidates to show a higher degree of integrity. I hope this there is nothing to this, but Cain' s response to this crisis has me concerned.
Problem is that the conservative ranks are being quickly culled. Romney is definitely out, and Perry is an awful second choice. A quickly assembled Demint or Palin candidacy may happen after all if Cain crashes and burns.
Thats not very nice.Who do you support?
Well that's the how agitators and troublemakers act, no biggie.
I guess he's ashamed of the blog where he and his ilk hang out and harangue conservatives.
Probably supports Romney or RomneyLite, Obama.
Say, this “harassment” thing gets real traction, or his campaign can’t raise enough money to get through to the end, or some other unforeseen thing does happen.
Who do you all think he will throw his support to if he bows out?
Cain is an amature. It’s showing and if he gets the nomination, the Left will run circles around him. It’s Romney or Perry.
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