Uh oh: Witness found to Cain incidents? (Linked to ... Perry supporters??)

Hotair ^ | 11/02/2011 | Ed Morrissey

[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.

[achilles2000]

He hasn’t been evasive on this issue. If his flat denial proves to be a lie, then he is done.

[teddyballgame1]

Try “teddyballgame”. Not sure what that has to do with anything.

[netmilsmom]

You’re right.
The posting history on that one has Perry targeted then Cain.

Romneybot for sure.

[stars & stripes forever]

a liberal activist political hatchet man told KTOK in Oklahoma that he witnessed both incidents

Is this guy omnipotent?

[Jewbacca]

Alert the viking kitties!

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

if the women talk, Cain’s candidacy would be over”.

The logic escapes me. Did Anita Hill do in Thomas?
Did the slew of honeys do in Clinton?
Did the drowning of a woman and womanizing do in Kennedy?

[netmilsmom]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:teddyballgame/index?brevity=full;tab=comments

[ken5050]

Hey, maybe we can get Nina Burleigh to tell us how fragile and vulnerable women are..

[ken5050]

Hey, maybe we can get Nina Burleigh to tell us how fragile and vulnerable women are..

[Terry Mross]

The NRA can NOT release the woman from the agreement unless Cain agrees to it.

[MNJohnnie]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html

Check the Real Clear Politics poll average. Cain's support has gone almost vertical while Romney is fading

[wolfcreek]

Why don't ya’ll stick with the topic at hand instead trying to find someone to zot.

It's getting a little rediculous around here. One day you'll wake up and there will be 10 or 15 souls on FR.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Interesting:

Rick Perry’s Prime Directive: Destroy Cain

http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2011/10/23/rick-perrys-prime-directive-destroy-cain/

[SoJoCo]

Amazing how a witness suddenly comes crawling out of the woodwork, isn’t it? How lucky is that? </sarcasm>

[MNJohnnie]

Lying slander atacks from people with fudicary ties to other candiates Camapigns is not "Vetting"

Nice try Perrybot.

[fantom]

Huh ? This is not Cains decision. The deal is between NRA and the woman. He can ask the NRA to release her from the deal but that's it.

[KC_Conspirator]

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.

I live right next to this "restaurant" I bet.

[stormer]

[rogue yam]

Three people can agree on what conservatism is so long as two of them are zotted.

[MNJohnnie]

You made an accusation. Cain denys it

Provide proof to back up your accusation.

But that the beauty of these sleazy tactics. You will just make up a new lie once this lie blows up in your face

Sick and slezy tactics from the GOPbots. We will not forget in 2012 slimebots.

Your stupid tactics here may just buy the GOP Establisheemnt a 3rd party challenger from the Right for 2012.