Sexual Harassment and GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-11-01/sexual-harassment-and-gop-presidential-candidate-herman-cain
GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain faced an onslaught of questions yesterday related to sexual harassment claims made in the late 1990’s. The National Restaurant Association allegedly paid two female employees to settle harassment complaints against Mr. Cain who was, at the time, head of the trade group. He first denied the report and then said he’d been falsely accused: Join us to talk about what the allegations may mean for Herman Cain’s presidential prospects and current perspectives on the issue of sexual harassment.
Guests
Emma Coleman Jordan
professor of law at Georgetown University.
John Harris
editor in chief, politico.com; author of "The Survivor" and co-author of "The Way to Win."
Erica Salmon Bryne
Erica Salmon Byrne
senior vice president, compliance advisory services and assistant general counsel, Corpedia Inc, an ethics, compliance and risk assessment consulting company.
Ruth Marcus
columnist and editorial writer, The Washington Post.
Comments
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When will the Rehm team do a whole hour on how many people have died in Iraq based on an intelligence snowjob. When will they explain why no one has been held accountable for the Niger Documents or the rest of the WMD lies.
Oh I know "move on, don't be about retribution, vengeance, next chapter, witch hunts" get on with it go focus on blowjobs
Ladyingreen wrote:
"but is not qualified to be president regardless of what he has or has not done. "
So what qualifies one? Previous elected office?
You mean like Washington who had none? Or Lincoln who had none? Or Eisenhower who had none? There are at least a dozen others!
Lets face it. You don't like Cain because he is black. Oh ... and a conservative. Pure and simple.
This is a hack job by Politico at best. My company gave a five figure settlement to a co-worker who was on a ladder wearing shorts and the male co-worker was getting a box from her hands while standing on the ground and she filed a suit and our company paid her because she claimed he looked up her shorts. These large corporations pay these suits to save legal fees. If we have a candidate for president that never misspoke then I'm definitely not voting for that person. I'd ignore you guys also, this is a joke. Just because Cain's staff are idiots, it does not exonerate Politico. This is the definition of "Yellow Journalism".
The focus on "what defines sexual harassment" misses the point totally. The point is that Herman Cain had a "situation" that had to be settled with a cash payment. Obviously Cain knew this "situation" was a risk to his campaign if it came to light.
Quilty or not, Cain could have defused this situation by admitting "an incident" in the past was settled privately without a public hearing. The victims should not be required to come forth since they did not bring this matter to the public light. He should have been contrite, stating that he learned and has moved on.
Politico did their job, as is Diane Rehm, to pursue this matter. As an African American male, I reject the notion that is a racial matter. It is a matter of character.
I am concerned about the suggestions that fairness to Cain requires that these cases be opened and tried in the public media.
The relevant information is fully available, and we don't need to know who the victims were to know that:
1. There was a settlement on two charges of sexual harassment by Cain.
2. When asked about it, Cain tried to turn it on the reporter, and asked whether that reporter hadn't also been accused of sexual harassment, as if these complaints were made against all men.
3. The Cain campaign and the candidate himself have issued conflicting responses about whether he knew of such a complaint.
Cain could have addressed this simply by saying that, yes, there were complaints filed, from his perspective and his employer's they were not meritorious, but they agreed rather than spend money on litigation.
When people who break law are allowed to pay off the victim and avoid prosecution it is a bribe. This should not be allowed. Political candidates, Judges, Catholic priests and other high profile people routinely bribe victims through payoff agreements to avoid prosecution. The case should be heard in court and if they are guilty then the court should award damages and the guilty should go to jail. The current system allows the rich to avoid prosecutions. Persons receiving the 'bribes' should also go to jail.
If as a candidate this is how he handles adverse conditions, how will he handle adverse conditions as a president?
The accusations arising from Cain's reaction to this are complete BS.
Any one of you ... think about that Christmas party you were at 15 years ago. Now. Tell me everyone you talked to and what was said.
THIS IS A HIT JOB!!! Why does no one see that???!!!
Susan from Boston wrote:
"Cain could have addressed this simply by saying that, yes, there were complaints filed, from his perspective and his employer's they were not meritorious, but they agreed rather than spend money on litigation."
That's essentially, what he SAID! Except that he didn't know about the "settlement" which was nothing more than severance pay!
The left is going to read into this what they want, but it is a HATCHET JOB!!!
You and I were writing at the same time and in the same vein; I agree with your post completely.
And you know there was no incident because? i'm a black democrat and I wish Cain would be the one running against Obama. So what you say is just wrong.
Perhaps it would have been better to read the Politico article on this before making judgment. They are the ones who initially released the information. By last night NBC had confirmed one of the cases. If the accusations were not legitimate why did the NRA insist upon non-disclosure agreements.
You do know you are playing the race card don't you? Does this mean I get to play it when I want to?
FREE SPEECH, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, PORNOGRAPHY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND ORGANIZED CRIME:
The Show's conversation on the topic was well balanced, and the issue of sexual harassment is important and even urgent in our society.
Our society ought to look deeper at the issues of sexual harassment, pornography, human trafficking, and organized crime in the context of free speech. We should be examining the societal definition of free speech with a finely toothed comb.
Males and females in our society suffer harassment every day due to the laxity of free speech and the behaviors encouraged under the guise of free speech. It is impossible to walk through a supermarket or go to the computer and not be accosted by images of females of all ages in all matter of undress. It is impossible to walk on the street and not see the same exposure.
Is it any wonder that the counterfeiting of humanity in this way parallels the national and international counterfeiting of all means of exchange? Is it any wonder that organized crime and human trafficking have become the de facto societal standard?
There is a dramatic downward slope from the heights of truly great free speech to the depths of speech anarchy. Our society has reached such depths that it no longer knows the difference.
Why didn't the press expose Jesse Jackson's smarmy history or Al Gore's transgressions? Of course, this is a rhetorical question. The press supported Al Gore, and didn't want to appear racist by digging out dirt on a another staunch Democrat, Jesse Jackson, while is was running in the primaries...
Mr. Cain is considered "a traitor to his race" by the left, so of course, he will be exposed for his alleged transgressions.
However, Mr. Cain is not qualified to be President on many grounds. His handling of the allegations, shows he is not an effective problem solver, as he claims he is.
Mr. Cain's lawyer may have settled the claim out of Mr. Cain's own account, and the woman involved signed an agreement to keep silent...an agreement which she obviously broke. What's Mr. Cain going to do, sue her for breach of contract? Obviously, he is in a bind. Remember, also a large number of these suits are frivolous, and settled by the defendent just to make the person go away.
Ed in Indianapolis wrote:
"And you know there was no incident because?"
And you know there was because some woman SAID there was and then left the RA with severance pay?!
And from that you get the accusatory, guilty-until-proven-innocent ...
"Most husbands tend to hide workplace incidents from their wives."
Give me a break!
"i'm a black democrat and I wish Cain would be the one running against Obama. So what you say is just wrong."
Well you're not the Democratic party are you? Democrats, and for sure Obama does not want to run against Herman Cain. He knows Mr. Cain would mop the floor with him in debate. As I've said here before, Obama v Cain REMOVES the race card which is the ONLY card BHO has to play. He sure can't run on his record, and he can't run against Congress, he's got to run against another candidate.
netstoyou wrote:
"Mr. Cain's lawyer may have settled the claim out of Mr. Cain's own account"
nets, I think we are on the same side here, but you support this "may have" how?
"If the accusations were not legitimate why did the NRA insist upon non-disclosure agreements."
Because settlements of this nature ALWAYS have non-disclosure agreements associated with them. Duh.
Next!
Some of your listeners were comparing the news reporting about Mr. Cain with that of Clinton and Edwards. The major point they are missing is the concensual, non concensual nature of the topic. Clinton and Edwards, as well as Gary Hart, were caught cheating on their wives. Cain has been caught forcing his attentions (unwanted) on women. There is a major difference.
I think it is possible, which is why I said "may have". I bring this up as HR would otherwise have been involved I think. I have no inside knowledge.
Personally, I like Mr. Cain, but don't support his candidacy because he has no experience in government at all, and is very deficient in foreign policy, an area which is crucial, considering we are a part of a global economy, and there is enormous instability in the world.
I think a person with his lack of experience in foreign policy is extremely vulnerable to control by neo-cons or other groups which are, in my view, not acting sometimes in the well being of the country as a whole. Look at the neo-cons support 3 years ago, of Sarah Palin. They can't control Mitt Romney, in my view.
RE: How to catch washing machine lint.
Diane, use a nylon stocking or a steel mesh discharge water "sock" (sold in grocery stores) to filter the washer's discharge water. This is used to prevent the discharge lint from going into your drains. You will be amazed at how fast these fill up with lint. I've used these for forty years at least. These are pretty darn cheap, and free if it's an old stocking. There is a cinch, or use a rubberband, to fasten on the discharge water thingy in your utility sink.
Love the show. I will renew my green living commitment.
Mary
No person has ever been without unwise actions as some point in a life - but I keep listening for the admission, "Yes, I was involved in a problem, and I learned to change my behavior/ be more cautious/ after that."
There is a distinct difference between admitting the incident and moving on versus backing into incremental details and trying to brush over them. That level of personal ethics is what I have found lacking in other presidents and see in Herman Cain.
Had ONE sexual harassment claim against me.
Had become union steward as chaining and locking fire exit doors without keys on site seemed unsafe...
She made complaint and was then accepted as full-time career employee AND made my boss LOL. Probably contributed to my PTSD as my supervisor NEVER processed our submitted paperwork regarding FMLA etc.
But sexism, racism, favoritism, and nepotism are all alive and well out there... but as knowledge drives away fear(I am the one to fear in the dark) so does the light drive away hatred.
Some people DO just need a hug... BUT hear IT illegal today.
"Cain has been caught forcing his attentions (unwanted) on women. "
NO. He hasn't! That is a FALSE statement. There were two women 15 years ago who said they were "uncomfortable" around him. That's IT! That is not Cain "forcing his attentions (unwanted) on women." And NOTHING has been proven. Other than "feeling uncomfortable" there is not even an ACCUSATION of "forcing his attention" on anyone.
I get, that the left is going to try to crucify this man (sounds better than "lynching"), but are NONE of you capable of being the LEAST BIT FAIR???!!!
netstoyou wrote:
"Personally, I like Mr. Cain, but don't support his candidacy because he has no experience in government at all, and is very deficient in foreign policy, an area which is crucial, considering we are a part of a global economy, and there is enormous instability in the world. "
nets, neither did Washington, Lincoln, Eisenhower, J. Q. Adams and many others. They did ok. Obama had no experience either (unless you count less than two years in the Senate where he refused to vote 300+ times).
It is not about "government" experience at all. It's about judgment. It's a question of, "do you trust the judgment of a man once he has information in front of him". Herman Cain has a LOT of success based on that criterion and that is why I would trust him against "control" groups, neo-con or whatever. He may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night.
It sounds like you are a Romney supporter and I have been too since the 2000 election. I still like him and would vote for him, but I like Cain better.
By the way, I just heard a report that a survey of Iowa caucus voters shows that they have not had their minds changed one whit by this hatchet job.
"Had ONE sexual harassment claim against me."
Then you know how unfair such a baseless claim can be.
Were the allegations made before or after these women lost their jobs? I certainly would not be surprised to find out that this man or any other person in a position of authority committed sexual or other form of harassment of employees or peers however I also would not be surprised to find out that false allegations were made with profit as a motive. It does not matter how many different people made allegations they could easily have formed an alliance for this purpose. I have seen it happen.
What astonishes me however is how so many persons that seem to display such limited capability and intellect manage to attain positions with so much authority. Their only skill seems to be not interfering with the worker bees that never get any of the credit but are the ones that really make these corporations profitable. I would like to see a poll run of all the low level white collar workers to see how many believe their high level executives are complete idiots. I think if an in depth study were done we would find that the most profitable large businesses are those with senior executives that are so clueless the peons manage to do the actual running of the company.
Unfortunately this won’t work at the presidential level, and none of the candidates seem to be presidential material.
but are NONE of you capable of being the LEAST BIT FAIR???!!!
NO, all that's left here is mindless hatred of conservatism.
PDowd wrote:
"There is a distinct difference between admitting the incident and moving on versus backing into incremental details and trying to brush over them. That level of personal ethics is what I have found lacking in other presidents and see in Herman Cain."
Why would you "admit an incident" when there WAS no "incident" as far as you know. PDowd ... remember that Christmas party you were at 15 years ago. Remember talking to that woman and what you said? Remember the one LAST year?! NO! NOBODY can except one of those freaky memory people.
"That level of personal ethics " WHAT LEVEL OF PERSONAL ETHICS!!! What does that EVEN MEAN???!!!
This is a witch hunt and a hatchet job. Oh ... and one more thing:
Politico has just shot ANY credibility it MIGHT have had and this will BACKFIRE on Democrats.
"Were the allegations made before or after these women lost their jobs? "
Grade: Fail.
The women didn't "lose their jobs". They left voluntarily sometime later.
"What astonishes me however is how so many persons that seem to display such limited capability and intellect manage to attain positions with so much authority."
Yeah, Casca. Nobody is as smart as you! Which failing company was that you turned around again?
Unbelievable.