I’m starting to think this is a woman who felt scorned by Cain.
For example, perhaps Cain is a bit of a flirt, the kind of man that, while faithful to his wife, does enjoy mild flirting with pretty women. Also, his southern personality is the type that uses a lot of terms like “darling” and “lovely woman” when it’s not a sexual context.
Occasionally, those women will interperet it as far more than it really is, and, when ultimately rejected, I think this woman lashed out.
If she were truly so distraught by him, why would she have attended this Tea Party meeting, and, according to this account, voluntarily go talk to him, hug him, etc?
Well, the other scenario that was running through my mind is that she actually lured him into an affair (or one-night stand). Now, she comes out accusing him of harrassment, and basically dares him to say it was consensual, and thereby publicly admit to adultery.
This is just a theory, mind you; not saying he did anything at all.
I think you make a lot of sense. My husband is just such a man. He likes to flirt with women and means nothing by it. Doesn’t do the “darling” thing, though; he’s a Jersey boy.
I hope this cougar gets her comeuppance.
There is a good chance you are right, and at minimum it's a plausible explanation for Cain's behavior.
This is why avoiding even the appearance of suggestive actions is important for men, especially men in positions of power who might be attractive targets for stalkers or who could have their actions grossly misunderstood by a young female employee.
I realize there is a double standard here for men; professional women are expected to dress attractively and a certain level of smiling and social grace is virtually mandatory for female professionals or they get accused of being hard-core feminazis, but men can't get away with even mild flirting.
Too bad. Guys, get over it, and stop the flirting. It will come back to bite you in the butt.
After nearly a decade in the South, I am still very uncomfortable when someone calls me or others around them “honey,” “darling” or similar terms which are, at best, open to misunderstanding. In virtually all cases I am certain the people mean nothing by it; it's just the way people of a certain generation were raised.
We don't live in that generation anymore and unless you're a white-haired grandma sipping mint juleps, it needs to stop — ***ESPECIALLY*** in business when you have a power relationship with the person you're addressing in those terms.
In cases where I can deal with the situation privately without offense, I do so. In some cases I simply cannot do anything about it — and in those cases I put as much emotional and professional distance as I possibly can between myself and the person using such language. I cannot afford to be associated with men who act that way around women, and women who act that way around men are downright dangerous.
Personally, I think one of the best solutions to the problem is very public flirting and situationally appropriate public displays of affection with one's own own wife which observers can see are appreciated by her and not just endured. That's far from a guarantee the guy isn't two-timing his wife, but it sure does deter a whole lot of nonsense.
From what I’ve observed, it’s actually very difficult for a guy to be friendly and sociable with women WITHOUT seeming flirty.(And vice-versa.) This would mean that the potential for misunderstandings is practically built-in whenever men and women interact.
Just my own observations, and I’m certainly no sociologist.
I think he rejected HER and she is getting back at him.