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Cain Reassessing Candidacy Amid New Allegations

Nah-nah, nah, nah... Hey, Hey, Hey...

Good-bye...
 
I don't think superficiality or cheap cynicism is limited to political party.
 
Thunder said:
without evidence, its just baseless speculation, like any other conspiracy theory.
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Wow, that's what Penn State's Sandusky was thinking too. All these victims are just liars, every one of them.
 
I think Herman Cain is done for the following reasons:

1. Two allegations of inappropriate behavior.

2. Two allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior.

3. One allegation of a long-term extra-marital affair.

4. All accusers are White females.*

5. Atleast three witnesses have come out in support of atleast two of the accusers validating their claims - all men!

6. (And this is the big one!) Herman Cain has accussed three different people (or political "camps") of dredging up false allegations against him:

- Perry

- Romney

- Democrats (in general)

*I know it shouldn't matter in this day and age, but to some people it does. There will be some White people who will say "How dare he?," and there will be some Black people who will say, "Sell out!" I fall in that camp that says, "conduct of character". The racial makeup of his accusers doesn't matter to me. But I will admit when accuser #3 came out I did mention to my wife and coworkers that if it was ever revealed that Cain's accusers were all White females, the court of public opinion would be all over him on both sides of the racial divide.

For some Whites, Cain likely will be viewed as someone who has gotten out of line (i.e., going after White women). For some Blacks, he will likely be viewed as a sell-out (i.e., not only did he put poor Black people down but every one of these women are White!). Cain can't rebound from this. Whether he gave generously to accuser #5 or not, he and his attorney dug his grave when they did the following:

1) Cain placed blame everywhere else as far as who leaked stories about the allegations. Sure, he has denied every accusation, but the fact that there seems to be a pattern of conduct here is enough for many people to question if he is a man of good moral character and sound judgment.

2) Cain's attorney made a very questionable statement that was intended to speak to the higher issue of personal privacy, but he forgets that in politics nothing is private when it is alleged to have happened outside marital bounds, the board room or the bedroom.

...this appears to be an accusation of private, alleged consensual conduct between adults - a subject matter which is not a proper subject of inquiry by the media or the public. No individual, whether a private citizen, a candidate for public office or a public official, should be questioned about his or her private sexual life.
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But the big kicker will be those cell phone records especially the one where the reporter texts Herman Cain's private cell phone - the same number Cain's alleged mistress has - and Cain reportedly answered back!

Cain may as well hang it up. I really don't think he can recover from this.
 
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Cain had no chance of winning the GOP ticket regardless of the accusations. Whether this is character assassination from the left or the right, it still doesn't matter. I fail to see how infidelity is even a factor in the race. If you want to point out that is shows Cain has some moral failing, guess what, I bet the same could be said for every candidate. Fix our economy, bring back jobs to America and give people their personal freedoms and I will vote for you, regardless of how many women/men you keep in your harem.
 
Chaddelamancha said:
Cain had no chance of winning the GOP ticket regardless of the accusations.
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Why do you say that? What about him do you think limited his chances of getting the GOP nomination or even winning the GOP primary?

Whether this is character assassination from the left or the right, it still doesn't matter. I fail to see how infidelity is even a factor in the race. If you want to point out that is shows Cain has some moral failing, guess what, I bet the same could be said for every candidate. Fix our economy, bring back jobs to America and give people their personal freedoms and I will vote for you, regardless of how many women/men you keep in your harem.
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I think it does matter because it speaks to character. Our entire national value system is based on good moral character rooted in Christian values. Once you go outside that value system, all bets are off!

We hold our politicians to a higher moral/ethical standard than we do ordinary citizens because the President represents the nation. And when that individual conducts himself (or herself should we ever elect a woman President) in an immoral manner or performs an unethical act, it not only reflects negatively upon the President but the nation as well.

So, it does matter what Herman Cain has done in his private life if a pattern of inappropriate conduct or behavior can be illustrated. I think it has been. The question, obviously, is whether what's being reported about him is true or not?
 
Yes, Herman Cain's character matters very much. I wouldn't even consider voting for a serial philanderer, period, which is why I didn't vote for Clinton twice. But I'm not convinced. The more details that emerge about the women, the more dubious I am.
 
Objective Voice said:
Why do you say that? What about him do you think limited his chances of getting the GOP nomination or even winning the GOP primary?
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This is opinion based. I don't believe he has fared well in the debates he has been in and I don't see him getting any better about convincing the American people that he knows what is going on.

Objective Voice said:
I think it does matter because it speaks to character. Our entire national value system is based on good moral character rooted in Christian values. Once you go outside that value system, all bets are off!

We hold our politicians to a higher moral/ethical standard than we do ordinary citizens because the President represents the nation. And when that individual conducts himself (or herself should we ever elect a woman President) in an immoral manner or performs an unethical act, it not only reflects negatively upon the President but the nation as well.

So, it does matter what Herman Cain has done in his private life if a pattern of inappropriate conduct or behavior can be illustrated. I think it has been. The question, obviously, is whether what's being reported about him is true or not?
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I am against the usage of the term "we" as it seems to imply that every American shares your opinion. Clearly I do not as I am sure others don't. That being said, I do have a set of values that I treasure and were he to break them, it would be a deal breaker for me. This is not one of them. I don't believe a man cheating on his wife makes him less able to handle matters of National Security. I don't believe it affects his/her ability to balance a budget, but again, that is just me.

It would be nice if the accusations were proven to be true before they become public, that way someone cannot be falsely accused and then judged by the American public unnecessarily. It seems to easy today for people's reputation to be tarnished and I find it funny when people with "Christian values" decide to judge others. But, again, that is just me.
 
Chaddelamancha said:
Cain had no chance of winning the GOP ticket regardless of the accusations. Whether this is character assassination from the left or the right, it still doesn't matter. I fail to see how infidelity is even a factor in the race. If you want to point out that is shows Cain has some moral failing, guess what, I bet the same could be said for every candidate. Fix our economy, bring back jobs to America and give people their personal freedoms and I will vote for you, regardless of how many women/men you keep in your harem.
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Then why do you think that Cain has no chance at the nomination?
 
nota bene said:
Then why do you think that Cain has no chance at the nomination?
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Personally, I don't feel he has enough experience and it comes through. Prime example, flubbing the Libya question. Not being able to name any leader in the Middle East. I'm sure there is more that I am missing. Plus, the way things are going with the GOP, it's only a matter of time before Cain is no longer the flavor of the week. Look what happen to Perry and look who is soaring in the polls now, Newt. So, sure, Cain has a chance, but I could also hit the lottery.
 
President Obama hit the lottery. Why not somebody else?
 
That's true, so true. Enormously different backgrounds. Quite a plus for Cain.
 
Sheik Yerbuti said:
At this point, it's nothing more than 'he said, she said.' I see no difference between Ginger White and Gennifer Flowers (Pre-Clinton presidency, that is).
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I agree its the same...and just like clinton, cain is calling her a liar...and I dont believe him just like I didnt believe Willy
 
IMO, Herman Cain was out of his league in the campaign. He lacked gravitas in so many areas that once the focus shifted to issues, ideas, and experience he was doomed.

Having said that, the alleged "casual affair" raises questions of judgment. From today's edition of The Washington Post:

Herman Cain said Thursday that he was helping Ginger White with her “month-to-month bills and expenses” and that his wife did not know about the payments or the friendship with the woman, who has alleged that the two had an extramarital affair...

Cain told reporters Wednesday that he has not spoken with his wife in person about the allegations of infidelity but that he plans to discuss them with her Friday. He said that the matter is taking a toll on his family, and that he is “reassessing” whether to remain in the presidential contest. He told the Union Leader that he will decide by next week.
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Herman Cain says wife did not know of payments to alleged mistress Ginger White - The Washington Post

One would reasonably assume that one's family is a key priority. Apparently, for Mr. Cain, other issues seemed to take priority over his speaking to his wife in person about the allegation. When it comes to the broader political context, this conduct raises two questions as to whether:

1. Mr. Cain would conduct his Presidency in a reasonably open and transparent manner with the Congress and the public.
2. Mr. Cain would be able to prioritize, as Presidents face multiple issues/problems that simultaneously compete for attention, though some are far more critical than others.

If he couldn't do the former, any support he might have at the beginning would give way to doubt and mistrust rendering him increasingly unable to get things done. If he couldn't do the latter, the consequences of bad policy choices would take a toll on the nation's overall wellbeing be it economic, national security, or some combination of the two. In the end, even as the alleged affair is a completely private matter, Mr. Cain's post-allegation conduct raises genuine leadership questions that transcend the private matter. If The Post's report is accurate, it doesn't inspire much confidence in Mr. Cain's leadership abilities.
 
ARealConservative said:
the nation elected a candidate based on hope and change platitudes, so the adoration for Cain is hardly surprising.
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Oh come on, you know for Dav no one will ever be worth a **** except Ron Paul.
 
lpast said:
I agree its the same...and just like clinton, cain is calling her a liar...and I dont believe him just like I didnt believe Willy
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Are you voting Republican? If not what's your beef?
 
A few points about the allegations and their effect on the Cain campaign...

(1) Herman Cain has displayed an alarming ignorance of many important topics throughout the campaign, particularly for someone who has ostensibly been a radio talk show host on national issues for several years. Obama is a prime example of why the presidency is not a learn-as-you-go job. Every complaint about his lack of experience during the 2008 campaign will be echoed against Herman Cain, who has never held elected public office. Whatever the merits of being a Washington "outsider", there is a substantial difference between a CEO running a business and the Chief Executive of the United States.

(2) Cain's repeated blunders in how he and his campaign staff have handled not only his own missteps but attacks on his campaign demonstrate an incompetence destined to severely wound him in a general campaign against Obama should he be the nominee. It also demonstrates a grave lack of judgment. Cain shoots his mouth off and repeatedly changes course, telling people he was misunderstood. He has garnered support more through marketing ("9-9-9", "my four-point plan", etc.) than any real substance. This has been visible since the earliest debates when Cain was the most vocal conservative facing Romney, Pawlenty, Paul and Johnson. Cain has rarely given specifics and has a bad tendency to oversimplify things, often getting it wrong in the process (like the 9% sales tax portion of his tax plan). Cain's policy positions and remarks are absolutely saturated with his naivete about the political process and how government actually works. The best example is his response to the question of what happens when future congresses or presidents raise 9-9-9 to 19-19-19 or whatever. Cain's response? That would never happen because "the people" wouldn't let it. Really, Herman? "The people" have let an awful lot happen that our Founders never dreamed possible. Answers like this raise the specter of just how much Cain has been paying attention the past forty years. I'm sure Cain would have told people five years ago that the people would never elect an overt socialist like Barack Obama to the presidency.

(3) Yes, character assassination by the Left is an established and inevitable tactic employed against virtually any prominent black conservative. The initial sexual harassment claims, as vague and unspecified as the anonymous accusers, smacked of Anita Hill redux. Conservatives rallied around Cain, protecting one of their own and circling the wagons against what appeared to be fraudulent accusations.

(4) The Ginger White accusation, however, is something entirely different. Ms. White alleges a 13-year affair and has produced evidence that, at the very least, she is personally acquainted with Herman Cain very well and has a long history of odd correspondence with him. Cain's denials began with a very Clintonesque statement to the effect that marital affairs, as distinct from incidents of sexual harassment, are the private concern of those in the public eye and that the American people have no business prying into the sexual peccadilloes of presidential candidates. Innocent people may say "no comment" to the press, but I've never heard one say "it's none of your business". Innocent people are keen to clear their name. That Cain even carried on a close friendship with a woman without his wife's knowledge for 13 years, that he communicated with her by phone and text regularly, sometimes at odd hours, and that he gave this woman money frequently to "help out" with bills, as he claims. Even if he's telling the truth about all that it shows a disturbingly poor marriage. If I did that without my wife's knowledge, regardless of how plutonic the relationship might be, it would cause BIG problems in my marriage. Every good relationship is built on trust and by Cain hiding it from his wife demonstrates that his wife cannot trust him. And if a man is willing to deceive his wife, how much more so is he willing to deceive the American people? This accusation smacks more of the truth than Cain's denials. While I hope the details come out sooner rather than later and I will reserve final judgment until they do, it certainly appears at this point that Cain has been paying a former mistress hush money while he ran for president and since the harassment allegations broke this past month (whether they are true or not), Cain's mistress has decided she has more to gain by going public about the affair.

In summary, regardless of the truth of any of these accusations, they highlight a pattern of disturbingly poor judgment in a salesman asking us to entrust our future to him. And while I hope that Mrs. Cain's husband has been faithful throughout their marriage, I have to pass when he asks me for my vote.
 
lpast said:
I agree its the same...and just like clinton, cain is calling her a liar...and I dont believe him just like I didnt believe Willy
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Not me. I didn't believe Flowers and gave Clinton the benefit of the doubt. I figured it was character assassination to take Clinton out. Even though I turned out to be wrong, I feel the same way now about White and sans proof, I am willing to give Cain the benefit of the doubt.
 
nota bene said:
That's true, so true. Enormously different backgrounds. Quite a plus for Cain.
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Seems to be working out for him. Right?

I can handle a President who has had affairs, these things can happen to everyone and all walks of life. Does that mean he wouldn't be upfront and truthful with the American people while President? Not necessarily, but if you think any President has been 100 percent truthful, then you are kidding yourself. If he had a track record of accepting bribes, extorting monies, things of this nature, then that is a different story.
 
Sheik Yerbuti said:
Not me. I didn't believe Flowers and gave Clinton the benefit of the doubt. I figured it was character assassination to take Clinton out. Even though I turned out to be wrong, I feel the same way now about White and sans proof, I am willing to give Cain the benefit of the doubt.
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You'll be wrong 2x then.
 
Chaddelamancha said:
Seems to be working out for him. Right?

I can handle a President who has had affairs, these things can happen to everyone and all walks of life. Does that mean he wouldn't be upfront and truthful with the American people while President? Not necessarily, but if you think any President has been 100 percent truthful, then you are kidding yourself. If he had a track record of accepting bribes, extorting monies, things of this nature, then that is a different story.
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The real issue with Cain is his constant shucking and jiving and heted denials in the face of what almost all the Democrats, and over half the Republicans (make that 90% of women Repubs) see to be lies. I could care less if he's got the sexual morals of a baboon or a Bill Clinton. I do care that he's ignorant on so much that a President needs to know, and that his demeanor just reeks of a B.S.'er.
 
Dav said:
He was never a serious candidate, and it's ridiculous that people wanted to pretend otherwise
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It was pretty clear that he didn't join the race as a serious candidate, but did the rise in polls change his mind? Many sources I have seen says so. It is not ridiculouss at all that he may have been serious after the rise in polls. What is ridiculous is your certainty.

(and even more ridiculous that some people supported his faux-candidacy).He never bothered reading up on any important issues, even at the peak of his popularity, and never showed any grasp of economic issues that he couldn't relate to 9-9-9. Says a lot about how terrible the GOP field is that he ever got more than 5% support.
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I supported him in the beginning after Jon Huntsman. But how should I know what is going on in his brain. If he did read up on the issues, had no sex scandals, did talk about other things than 999, then he would have been a good candidate. He didn't and lost my support.

Also, remember his competition. It is either him or Newt Gingrich. Newt Gingrich is not a good candidate, he is just better than Romney.
 
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