With No Specifics to the Accusations, Herman Cain Wins This Fight

National Review ^ | 11-4-2011 | Jim Geraghty

[smoothsailing]

With No Specifics to the Accusations, Herman Cain Wins This Fight

Jim Geraghty

November 4, 2011

Joel Bennett, the lawyer for one of the former employees of the National Restaurant Association who accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment, spoke to Wolf Blitzer live on CNN moments ago.

Bennett said that in his legal opinion, what occurred between Cain and his client met the legal definition of sexual harassment. But despite repeated questions from Blitzer, he refused to specify what the alleged actions were, and he said his client would not be appearing to shed any further light on the matter.

When Blitzer pointed out Cain’s vehement, blanket denial, Bennett replied, “In all my years of lawyering, I’ve never seen anyone accused of sexual harassment say, ‘I did it.’”

In short, Mr. Bennett is arguing, ’I won’t say what he did, but trust me, he’s guilty of wrongdoing.’ This is ridiculous. To Politico, the public is supposed to take this into account in their assessment of Cain but we can’t even get any sense of what triggered the original complaint, and whether this was much ado about nothing or whether Cain actually did something wrong.

Without the basic details, the public cannot take this into account in their assessment of Cain, or ought not to. Despite all the drama of the week, we know about as much as we did Monday. Two employees made complaints, but we don’t really know much about what the complaints were. Was there some bad behavior on Cain’s part? Were the NRA payments just designed to avoid the cost of litigating the claims? Who knows?

“It’s over, from our perspective,” Bennett said of the controversy.

Yes, this story ought to be over. While this story does not reassure much about Herman Cain and his campaign – i.e., blaming Perry, walking back the accusation, then having Cain seem to walk back the walk back – he’s been wronged by having a politically damaging accusation widely aired but never being able to cross-examine his accuser or refute the charges.

[montag813]

CAIN WINS! And now NO ONE will be talking about this all weekend, because the jury is about to convict "Dr" Conrad Murray (or not) in the death of Michael Jackson. CAIN WINS AGAIN!

The Obama staffer group called "POLITICO" must be FREAKING OUT. Because if Cain wins they have a little over a year left as a viable "journalistic" entity. There is no way in hell a President Cain will let them anywhere near the White House.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Cain shouldn’t let this continue to fester. Sue Politico and get EVERYTHING out in the open so it can’t be revisited next October. Never trust commies. They are some slick lowlifes.

[SueRae]

And so it ends. Bennett, thy name is mud.

[MNJohnnie]

Statement from the National Restaurant Association

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2802677/posts

Cain accuser attorney: Client sees ‘no value’ in revisiting issue

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2802657/posts

This is Cain winning. Complete abject surrender to Cain by the smear bots. They were offered the chance to defend their accusations in the open and the smearbots ran.

[normy]

Cain wont say anything because he hasn't yet. the accuser wont speak because she probably has been offered more to hold it.

What a lovely story for say Oct. 25th 2012.

"Breaking News! Cain's accusers speak"

This a general election bomb now.

[libstripper]

FTA:

While this story does not reassure much about Herman Cain and his campaign – i.e., blaming Perry, walking back the accusation, then having Cain seem to walk back the walk back – he’s been wronged by having a politically damaging accusation widely aired but never being able to cross-examine his accuser or refute the charges

Garbage. Cain has shown remarkable courage, resilience, and persistence in the face of potentially destructive false charges, beaten them, risen in the polls, and is now raking in massive contributions. When has any otheR pubbie shown such BALLS?? Herman is THE MAN!

[FlingWingFlyer]

Yup! This can’t be buried with hopes that it will go away. This zit needs to be squeezed right now.

[Diogenesis]

Joel Bennett enjoys a good scheme with John Podesta

THE REAL DEAL:

“Former President of National Restaurant Association has Ties to the Mitt Romney Campaign
Steven C. Anderson … took over the helm as Chief Executive Officer at the National Restaurant Association
Herman Cain's departure in 1999”

Whenever Team Romney had rumors they wanted to start about other candidates,
Jonathan Martin has been their go-to guy to get those rumors in writing in front of a national audience.

“And The Most Irresponsible Journalist Award Goes to The Politico’s Jonathan Martin!
So tell me, how do you write a “news” story about an organization paying for a speaker when you don’t even know if the organization is paying for the speaker?
Ask “journalist” Jonathan Martin. He knows all about it.
You see, Jonny wrote a piss poor story the other day about how the Iowa Family Policy Center will be paying a large speaker fee if Sarah Palin comes to Iowa to keynote the IFPC’s fall funderaiser.
The only problem is that Jonny has no sources confirming that any exorbitant fee is being charged or paid.
Jonny also got some inside info from David Kochel, who was a top aide to former (and future) presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.
Hey Dave, didn’t I just read a story about how Mitt Romney tried to buy off the Iowa Christian Alliance?
I heard you helped facilitate that little scheme. And somehow you are shocked at the thought of a well-known political figure (who very likely isn’t running for president) getting paid a speaker’s fee for (gasp) a public speaking appearance? ..
and then we’ve got Tim Albrecht quoted. He was the Iowa spokesman for Romney’s 2008 caucus campaign.”
And it always seemed like, whenever the Romney people had rumors they wanted to start about other candidates,
Jonny was their go-to guy to get those rumors in writing in front of a national audience.

---

"Who's the Palin Leaker from the McCain Campaign?
National Review Online The publication of a Vanity Fair profile of Sarah Palin
appears to have opened old wounds in the McCain campaign.
... the source of the “Diva” leak was Nicolle Wallace’s husband."

---

Who benefits most from Sanford meltdown? Californian (that's right) Mitt Romney

---

"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"

"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"

"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"

"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"

"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"

---

[JohnLongIsland]

One wonders how many millions the ambulance chaser sued for and ended up settling for 40Gs...

[Evil Slayer]

Well Cain and his staff have almost a year, now, to get their story straight by then.

[normy]

Man I said this at the beginning because we need to beat Obama. I was disappointed so many Freepers couldn't grasp what was going on and blaming it on other Republicans.

Good point, this zit needed popped.

Another Freeper mentioned “nips and tucks” are in order for their Oct 2012 unveiling.

[normy]

So does Soros.

[smoothsailing]

Garbage.

Sadly, it's not.

Cain owes Perry an apology. He pulled a similar stunt with the dumb rock story.

I'll defend Cain all day long against Politico and it's smear, we all should. But when he engages in similar tactics, he shows a petty and mean spirited character trait that diminishes him in my eyes.

[ozzymandus]

The RAT media really screwed the pooch in public this time. I hope this kills Politico.

[newnhdad]

this is sitting in her back pocket and will return if Cain wins the nomination, you can take that to the bank.. or she will take a hefty check to the bank from the DNC, Soros or whomever backs the publisher.

Remember, Obama never really won an election based on himself, he wins by tearing down his opponents and clearing the field. McCain helped him out by not fighting in 2008 so they’re prepared to tear down whomever is the opponent this time.
She’ll be on 60 minutes, 20/20, Today Show, Meet the DePressed, This Week without David Brinkley, and become the poster child for aggrieved women crime victims, yet another special interest group heralded by the NAGs and if she’s black, the NAACLPs and CBC.

We have not heard the last from this woman, they’re just testing what will work better.

[org.whodat]

Comments from a blogger, next PJM, will tell all the made up details, science fiction at 6 o'clock.

[hobbes1]

Bennett? Are you joking?

With all the airtime, every reject with a gripe will be calling his office.

[hobbes1]

Cain Owes Perry Nothing until Wilson, Perkins Allen is off the campaign.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67473.html

Don’t fall for the Bait and switch. Anderson may not have done it, but Wilson was quoted in the press and HIS FIRM is working for Perry.

[Political Junkie Too]

Sue Politico and get EVERYTHING out in the open so it can’t be revisited next October.

Or, sue Politico and get a judge to place a gag order on it to prevent it from from being tried in the court of public opinion.

-PJ