Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice, Shame on Herman Cain

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright November 4, 2011
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     Yesterday’s denials by GOP presidential frontrunner Herman Cain of sexual harassment allegations gave way to today’s abrupt media shunning, raising more eyebrows about the 65-year-old African American former CEO of the God Father’s Pizza chain.  Conservatives, like radio talk show host Rush Libaugh and combative pudit Ann Coulter, defended Cain against what they called a liberal “high-tech” media lynching.  Today’s revelations released by the Associated Press raises a disturbing pattern by the once head of the National Restaurant Association.  A lawyer for an anonymous accuser asked the National Restaurant Assn. to release Cain’s alleged victims to come forward and tell their stories.  Because of confidentiality agreements, the alleged victims are forbidden from disclosing anything about the settlements.  More allegations surfacing now make Cain’s strategy untenable.

            Revelations about Cain’s past shenanigans raised eyebrows on the GOP tour, leaving fellow presidential candidates tongue-tied.  Atty. Joel Bennett, who represents one of Cain’s unidentified accusers, asked the National Restaurant Assn. to release the past confidentiality agreements associated with any out-of-court agreements or settlements.  NRA “ought to waive the confidentiality and non-disparagement agreement provisions and let the two women, if they chose to do so, come forward and tell their stories so that it can get a complete public airing,” said Bennett.  New York Times reported that Cain’s accusers received about $35,000 or a year’s worth of severance pay for resolving sexual harassment cliams.  Whether or not Cain continues shuns the media or continues his denials, his candidacy for all practical purposes is over.  So far, his damage control has backfired.

            Among the many socially inappropriate actions or politically incorrect behaviors, sexual harassment ranks up there with racism or gay-bashing.  For anyone who hopes to be president, they must show the kind of good character and reputation necessary under media scrutiny.  Cain’s reluctance to speak to the media about past sexual harassment allegations reflect the kind of ineptness that spells the end of his campaign.  Republicans embraced the African American Cain as the Obama-basher in-chief, hoping he could continue ridiculing the president with impunity.  His recent media problems are welcomed relief for his GOP rivals, especially former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.  Both relish the chance to see the ever-popular Cain knocked off the pedestal.  Even former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice chimed in on the Cain controversy and possible mutiny.

            Rice warned Cain not to play the race card, blaming the media for another public “lynching” of an uppity black man.  Cain spoke today at the Northern Virginia Technology Council referring to forces trying to “destroy” him politically.  When asked about the sexual harassment charge, Cain got testy with reporters.  His reluctance to answer questions indicates he’s got something to hide.  Blaming the hubbub on a left wing conspiracy plays well to the GOP choir but turns off mainstream voters that view any past indiscretions as proof of a flawed character.  Refusing to talk to the media throws fuel on a fire now burning out of control.   Cain can’t have it both ways:  Bashing Obama in the media without any restraint, then ducking the press when the controversy falls on him.  It’s too late for Cain to hang low until the controversy eventually blows over.

            With the New York Times reporting that at least two victims at the NRA received severance packages, it doesn’t work for Cain to pretend nothing happened.  Cain’s spokesman J.D. Gordon told popular Internet site Politico that he was “vaguely familiar” with settlements with the NRA.  Only a day before, he called any sexual harassment charges “baseless.”  Instead of coming clean with media via a press conference, Cain continues to let surrogates work the damage control, especially passing the controversy off to left wing dirty tricks. Whether Cain admits it or not, it’s far more likely that any allegations surfaced about his past indiscretions were dug up by the Romney or Perry camps seeking to torpedo his campaign.  Cain’s unabashedly assault on Obama won him plaudits from his Party’s right wing, seeking any way possible of bashing President Obama.

            Cain’s damage control problems have gone from bad to worse.  Becoming testy with the media is the surest way to self-destruct.  While his options are limited, the 65-year-old former Godfather’s Pizza CEO must own up to his past mistakes or face a rapid slide from grace.  His frontrunner status has deteriorated quickly, giving Romney and Perry the needed boost heading into next year’s early GOP primaries. “I was a pollster at the National Restaurant Association when Herman Cain was head of it and I was around a couple of times when this happened and anyone who was involved with the NRA at the time knew that this was gonna come up,” said Chris Wilson in an interview on Oklahoma radio station KTOK.  Whether Cain continues the denials or comes clean, the damage has been done to his candidacy.  While he had fun playing the GOP’s Obama-basher in-chief, his days are numbered.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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