Cain chief-of-staff walks back Perry accusations

The Hill ^ | 11/3/2011 01:34 PM ET | Justin Sink

[RoosterRedux]

Herman Cain's chief-of-staff Mark Block walked back accusations that Rick Perry's campaign was responsible for the leak of accusations of sexual harassment during the candidate's time as president of the National Restaurant Association, saying that he would "accept" the claim by a former staffer now affiliated with the Perry campaign that he was not the leak.

"Until we get all the facts, I'm just going to say that we accept what Mr. Anderson has said, and we want to move on with the campaign," Block said on Fox News.

Curt Anderson, the former Cain staffer, has flatly denied the accusations, saying earlier on Fox News that any reporters he had ever spoken to about the Cain were free to openly attribute those comments to him. In doing so, he opened up the door for Politico, who originally reported the story, to confirm him as the source. Politico has not done so, effectively eliminating Anderson as the source of the story.

[Def Conservative]

Block may be a good strategist but he is AWFUL with media/public appearances.

[MNJohnnie]

Good for them. Has the Perry camp addressed the behavior of their Pollster Chris Wilson and Perry’s Arizona State coordinator yet?

[MNJohnnie]

I think both the Cain camp and the Perry camp might want to take a good close look at Wilson. He use to work for Rove. Seems this is a twofer for the GOP Establishment machine. They slime Cain and Perry get’s the blame.

If you take a look at how Rove managed the 2000 Bush campaign, this smear job has his finger prints all over it.

[VanDeKoik]

Cain should put them all on notice that they are being watch closely.

[xzins]

This is getting ridiculous in terms of Mr Block.

You’re supposed to know your facts before you blame.

Stupid stuff.

[SamAdams76]

I think this is a brilliant maneuver that is sure to pay dividends down the road.

[Signalman]

Cain and his underlings are not handling this thing well. But more importantly, Cain was not aware that China has nukes.(And don’t think the libs won’t use this in any future political campaign ads).

I would vote for Cain in heartbeat over Obama, but I’m becoming less and less impressed by the prospects of a President Cain.

[org.whodat]

Walking back, now that is spin.. accepting the dirt bags statement is just that, accepting his statement is meaningless. Nothing more than saying he has a right to speak. Who are you going to believe me are your lying eyes.

[CPO retired]

Too late Block, you’ve been played. Trying to spit out the bait and hook now?

[varina davis]

From all I’ve been reading and hearing today, there were likely multiple sources leaking Cain’s history. He doesn’t sound all that popular within the National Restaurant Association. Can anyone say opportunist?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Good for them. Has the Perry camp addressed the behavior of their Pollster Chris Wilson and Perry’s Arizona State coordinator yet?

Seems I keep having to repeat this to your same post.

My response after research to an earlier thread

I don't "tweet" so I'm sorry not to get back to you sooner but I had to locate this "AZ State Coordinator" and THE "tweet" that you say was about this "smear."

Now, unless you know more than I do, this is your "evidence," [Oct 31 (Post #9) y af_vet_rr posted a photo of a tweet]

I went to see who she's (slmbolick) on a tweet with (victoria_29) and found an exchange between victoria_29 and "RB Jazzy" where Bolick was *pinged*

**************************

victoria_29 @ @RBJazzy Hon Facts are NOT slime....Cain is slimy you're just too damn lazy to research or maybe just too RINO@PROUDofTEXAS @slmbolick

*************************************************

victoria_29 goes on to exchange with RBJazzy Cain's flip-flops, pro-live and 2nd Amendment issues, along with his support of Pro-Choice Dems over GOP in Nebraska -- then let's RBJazzy know that talking about someone's record isn't an attack. This was a segment of exchanges in a longer list of tweets about an awful baseball game victoria_29 was watching and tweeting about.

Now I'm sure you'd like to make it that the AZ coordinator was talking about Cain's latest problems but it appears that only his previous "misstatements" and positions were being debated with the expectation more would come out when she tweeted: "This is the same thing I’m hearing in AZ! Wait until they actually do the oppo on @THEHermanCain. It’s not pretty."

Chris Wilson has stated he witnessed Cain's behavior along with many others but never shared this information with any clients.

[rogue yam]

This is getting ridiculous in terms of Mr Block.

You’re supposed to know your facts before you blame.

Stupid stuff.

I agree. Blaming Perry based on thin circumstantial evidence was wrong and bad tactics as well.

Plus Block looked terrible when he was doing it.

Mr. Cain should get someone else to do those sorts of media appearances for the campaign.

[DJ MacWoW]

Celebrate Jim's Birthday!

Click On The Balloons And Party!

[evets]

I'm not being defensive! You're the one who's being efensive!
Why is always the other person who's being defensive?
Have you ever asked yourself that?
Why don't you ask yourself that?

[Perdogg]

In all fairness, I thought he was referring to the Chinese further development of a nuclear navy.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Well then Cain needs to fire him, and I mean yesterday.

You don’t go off half-cocked with an allegation you can’t prove, especially when it could cause your party to implode.

[MizSterious]

But I wonder if any of the freepers who jumped on that particular bandwagon will also “walk back” their vile accusations? I’m not holding my breath. As I mentioned to someone in freepmail the other day, common decency on FR isn’t really all that common these days.

[shield]

This is what happens with amateurs running for president and their amateur staff.

[Irish Eyes]

This just goes to show that Cain Is just not ready to become President. I believe that he is nothing more than a fad,