Herman Cain At The National Press Club

Posted on | October 31, 2011 | 71 Comments

by Smitty

UPDATE 14:53 the bottom line on the allegation:

“In my over 40 years of running businesses and corporations, I have never sexually harassed anyone,” he told an audience at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
“I was accused — falsely, I might add. When the charges were brought, I recused myself, and allowed my general counsel and human-resources officer to deal with the matter.
“After a thorough investigation, it was determined there was no basis for the complaints,” Cain related.

UPDATE 3:41 PM ET (RSM): The media scrum waited around in the Press Club to catch Cain after his speech, but he eluded us, exiting via a back way down the garage. Then we all raced to the elevators and down to the street. I went around to the exit of the garage and spotted one of Cain’s advance men on lookout duty. Cain had evidently left by another route, but in a couple of minutes, chief of staff Mark Block walked out — smoking a cigarette, naturally. The advance man on lookout duty was giving me the Evil Eye, so I didn’t approach, but shouted out, “How’s it going, Mark?” He made a hand gesture: “call me.” And I shouted, “Hey, I been calling you all day.”

Block was ushered to a waiting Cadillac sedan and they paused briefly before pulling away from the curb, so I trotted up to the open rear window and said, “What’s going on, man?” Block answered: “Gotta got to the next thing.” And off they went.

I’d parked my car a block away at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, and stopped in the ornate lobby to call Smitty and consult as to updates, etc. Then down to the car and out Constitution Avenue, across the river to Rosslyn and the offices of the American Spectator, where I’m now logged in on a borrowed computer. People have asked me how I thought Cain did today, and I answered — striking a John Travolta gesture — “Stayin’ alive.”

There’s a deadline looming, so I’ll update more tonight when I get home. As for now … Hit the freaking tip jar!

*** PREVIOUSLY (11:59 a.m.) ***

Stacy is in shoe leather mode at the National Press Club, standing by for remarks.

The luncheon will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Remarks will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session.
Luncheons are webcast live on press.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NPCLunch, or on Facebook at (facebook.com/PressClubDC) and Twitter (@PressClubDC).
Submit questions for speakers during the live event by sending them to @QNPCLunch on Twitter. Or email a question in advance; type CAIN in the subject line and send to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on the day of event.

He has interviewed sources close to the campaign who said that the campaign had known for some time that Politico was pursuing the allegations of sexual harassment that are in circulation. During a conference call of Cain operatives on Sunday, the Politico story was discussed. The story had been expected within 24-48 hours as of yesterday afternoon, and was published sooner than the campaign had expected. However, there was ‘no sense of doom’ about the story, which is ‘not something that is going to derail the campaign’.

Stacy is seated in the balcony section with a sandwich and coffee, where Cain is expected shortly.

Via Beltway Confidential, we have Herman Cain responding to Jenna Lee on Fox discussing his National Restaurant Association settlement.

UPDATE 12:05 PM EST (RSM) Herman Cain just arrived at NPC. He evaded the sidewalk stakeout by coming in through the parking garage.

UPDATE 12:52 PM EST (RSM) There was a small press gaggle with Mark Block on his way into the luncheon. Have audio, video and photos but am currently poaching a computer in the NPC library and can’t access that now. Security is pretty heavy here.

However, Block denied any knowledge of whether the Politico story was the result of another campaign’s opposition research.

Right now, Politico is looking worse than Cain. Dana Loesch at Big Journalism writes: “Cain has a right to face his accusers and the American public has the right to know the details of a story and not be expected to rush to a judgment predicated on ‘unnamed sources.’” It’s a pretty heavy situation to be sourced so lightly.

UPDATE 13:11 PM EST Linked at Nice Deb and Haemet.

UPDATE 13:21 PM EST Welcome, Instapundit readers!

UPDATE 13:36 PM EST (RSM) In an impromptu press gaggle before the luncheon, Cain campaign chief of staff Mark Block was asked if he believed the Politico story came from another campaign. Block said,

“I would find it hard to believe that anybody with another campaign would do that. But then again, this is politics.”

UPDATE 13:42 PM EST CNN has some talking heads who are concern-milking the scandal cow in a desperate attempt to make cheese:

UPDATE 13:55 PM EST Found the C-Span live stream. We do not have a health care problem; we have a health care cost problem. His interest in running for president was piqued by BHO’s performance.

UPDATE 13:59 PM EST Singing a variation on “Amazing Grace” for a closer. Sans teleprompter.

UPDATE 14:19 PM EST (RSM) Stacy McCain on stakeout duty awaiting Cain’s departure.

UPDATE 14:21 PM EST Further linkage at:

UPDATE 14:45 PM EST (RSM) Cain evaded the press scrum in the parking garage.

UPDATE 16:38 PM EST (RSM) Linked at Maggie’s Notebook.

Category: Election 2012, Herman Cain

Comments

71 Responses to “Herman Cain At The National Press Club”

Politico Runs Hit Piece On Herman Cain Based On Vague Allegations Of Two Anonymous Sources « Nice Deb
October 31st, 2011 @ 12:29 pm

[…] See also The Other McCain’s exclusive coverage of Herman Cain At The National Press Club. […]
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 12:32 pm

I very strongly suspect that these allegations are complete BS.

Thus the campaign should respond in very aggressive Alinsky-mode, basically implying that Politico is a bunch of raaaaacists – i.e., this is the treatment that any black conservative will receive when he gets close to the highest corridors of power (Supreme Court, presidency).

The point of the Politico attack is to stimulate in the minds of low-information white voters the old raaaaacist Birth of a Nation paranoid imagery.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 12:35 pm

p.s., if Cain’s campaign ends up running out of steam, since he is not a career politician, I’d hope that he would eventually take the opportunity to sort of double-back and use this episode as a “teaching moment” or platform to talk about the real raaaaacists in this county – you know, get Medieval on the “progressives”/Dems, since he wouldn’t have anything to lose at that point.
Maybe it’s because I’m such a feminist at Haemet
October 31st, 2011 @ 12:56 pm

[…] my response to this nonsense is, ‘Ladies, grow a pair’. Some unnamed sources accused Herman Cain of sexual harassment: “[C]onversations allegedly filled with innuendo or personal questions of a sexually […]
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:12 pm

When asked in the coming days about this He should refer the questioner back to his statement. When pressed further he should reply that he has said all there is to be said and that He’s not going to talk about this for next two weeks and that if that’s what the press wants to talk about they can talk to each other.
He should also stock up on cheap Bic pens.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:24 pm

This kind of thing is one reason why false sexual harassment allegations should never be “settled out of court.”

It may seem like the easiest thing to do at the time, but it creates the lingering appearance of guilt.

And Cain just gave the story more legs with his completely unbelievable statement to the effect that if the organization he was CEO of settled over an allegation against him, he didn’t know about it.
smitty
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:31 pm

Arguably, the answer is “it’s settled”. We have a system, and if we allow allegation to equal guilt, then doom on us.
Steve in TN
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:34 pm

J Rubin states Politico was in discussions with the Cain camp for 10 days before publishing.
richard mcenroe
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:36 pm

“Aw, c’mon, unseal it!”
“No.”
“But we don’t have a story if you don’t!””No.”
“You won’t like us if you don’t…”
“We don’t like you now….”
richard mcenroe
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:37 pm

“The point of the Politico attack is to stimulate in the minds of low-information white voters the old raaaaacist Birth of a Nation paranoid imagery.”

You mean, Democrats?
Cain To Be Able To Respond To Harassment Charges « The Camp Of The Saints
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:39 pm

[…] and Stacy are live-blogging the event here. The speech will be broadcast at the NPC site, […]
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:40 pm

Smitty,

Allegation doesn’t equal guilt.

Settling allegation by paying the accuser off to go away and not talk about it, however, puts one in a weak position from which to claim innocence.

That’s why if the allegation is false and you have future aspirations, better to stand up to the allegation in the open and knock it down. If you don’t, you look guilty later, and you bear at least part of the responsibility for that.

Finally, claiming that if the organization you were CEO of so settled an allegation against you, you didn’t know about it, puts one in the position of looking like a desperate liar.
richard mcenroe
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:40 pm

Concerned Women for America (A DC-based conservative Christian Group whose convictions include prohibitionism and the belief that gays can be cured) say they have questions for Herman Cain.

Interesting. According to their posted history they never had any questions for Kennedy, Dodd, Packwood, Gingrich, Clinton or Edwards… but Cain they have questions for.

The involvement of a Beltway operation like CWFA and their lightning response (Sunday night? Good Christians working on the Sabbath, yikes!) seems to point to Romney more than Perry, FWIW…
Edward
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:43 pm

Frankly I don’t like the race card no matter who wants to play it or why. Even if it is about race, it should never be about race.

The simple fact is that any and all legal agreements that those two women signed are now broken and by them. This means we should get to know who it is that are making these allegations, what the precise nature of these allegations are and what the settlements were.

If you interject yourself into politics then you must expect the detailed and in-depth examination that follows. If you signed a non-disclosure agreement in conjunction with a settlement, which I assume is the case, and you violate that agreement then any expectations of privacy are null and quite possibly the settlement as well.

And no I’m not talking about a torch and pitchfork witchhunt of the accusers either. But the weasel words used so far by Politico are frankly just simply not credible. I’m supposed to be horrified about Herman Cain because supposedly he used non-sexual terms that made someone somewhere uncomfortable?

I do that every single day; it’s called talking.
steve benton
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:43 pm

I had a former employee who filed a complaint because I wouldn’t sleep with her. Any employee can file a complaint. That leaves it pretty wide open. They are grasping at straws- trying to slow Cain down.
GayPatriot » Herman Cain, sexual harassment & the media:Once again, more scrutiny to a Republican candidatethan to a Democratic President
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:47 pm

[…] waging in the media — and across the blogosphere — about two women who, in the 1990s, accused Republicans presidential candidate Herman Cain of “inappropriate behavior.” Well, […]
Steve in TN
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:49 pm

I’m getting the uncomfortable feeling that Politico is trying to do a Breitbart on Cain. They haven’t released everything they have.

@knappster:disqus

And Cain just gave the story more legs with his completely unbelievable
statement to the effect that if the organization he was CEO of settled
over an allegation against him, he didn’t know about it.

And that bothers me big time. Perhaps this is yet another instance of Cain being unpolished…
smitty
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:52 pm

If he recused himself, then what he’s said is accurate. They’re going to have their pound of flesh in any case. The proposition “Herman Cain has not phrased his response well enough” is non-falsifiable: somebody can always tack on a shade of meaning to keep the story going.
Welcome to our truth-free postmodern world.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:54 pm

Richard,

CfWA is not likely to be carrying any water for Romney. It’s an evangelical Christian group headed by the wife of Tim LaHaye. The LaHaye’s supported Huckabee in 2008, then urged McCain to pick Huck rather than Mitt for VP.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 1:59 pm

Yeah, there’s probably some “gotcha” material sitting in the safe at Politico.

I’m perfectly willing to believe that Cain is innocent of the harassment allegations, but he’d be in a better position now if his posture when it first came up was “if you think you’ve got a real complaint, I guess I’ll see you in court.”

One reason that claim of no knowledge of the settlement rings false is that for a five-figure settlement, there were almost certainly lawyers involved on both sides, and any gag order almost certainly ran both ways. Which means Cain would have had to agree, which means he would have had to have known.
Religio-Political Talk (RPT) Herman Cain Muck Being Drudged Up-Ann Coulter Responds (Updated with Cain`s Statement)
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:05 pm

[…] Here is a video from The Other McCain: […]
smitty
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:07 pm

I have been under the hint of false accusation before. We can’t let the system turn false accusations into mission kills. Next thing you know, sealed court records will be opened, and warp elections.
smitty
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:09 pm

I mostly agree with you, but there is a non-zero cost associated with calling the bluff.
We’re not operating in pursuit of simple justice here.
It’s all about what can be spun for polls.
An odiferous buzz « The Radio Patriot
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:10 pm

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Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:16 pm

I don’t like the race card, either, but I doubt that we can move beyond the old dynamics until or unless we take them on directly and without mercy. The goal is to turn-the-tables on the accusers, only temporarily using their methods against them. Hopefully, the end result would be to turn race-mongering into a silly, tired cliche. We’re part of the way there, but still have a ways to go, obviously.
Joe
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:18 pm

They should respond strongly. And you know something, it is not Alinsky to point out the truth, they probably are a bunch of raaaaacists for going after Herman Cain like this.
Joe
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:20 pm

Even if it is about race, it should never be about race.

Huh? Listen, I do not care for the race card either, but let’s hold those who want to engage in dirtly mud slinging to their own rules. Republicans and Conservatives need to call BS on BS.
Joe
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:21 pm

That should be verifiable. But I agree such cases should never be settled.
Joe
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:22 pm

Jen Rubin is getting all excited thinking about Cain going down.

Romney Rising.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:23 pm

This is roughly how Coulter responded to this BS story.

Of course, it only works if large numbers of activists and media organs on the right all scream raaaaacism at the same time.

We know it’d be an effective short-term strategy and, by hijacking the race-card, we might help to hasten the demise of the disgusting race-mongering industry in the long-run, but it’s not in our natures to counterattack in such ways – which is both a blessing and a curse.
DaveO
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:49 pm

This event is a fishing trip designed to make Cain create the story, and sink his own battleship. This happens every cycle:

1. Cast a nebulous charge that counters the intended victim’s strongest attribute: in Cain’s case – common decency

2. The charge can’t be proven or disproven. If court records are unsealed (not without a lot of money transferring), folks will only be exposed to what the MSM says is in the record. At best, nothing. At worst, more rumours. For example, after 9/11, the Twoofers were forced to use WTC-7 as their bastion in defending their conspiracy.

3. Should Cain clear himself, former employees at Godfather’s, or the Fed – who have never voted Democrat in their lives, have someone deathly in need of cash, or have been unemployed until just recently – will come forward with corroborating allegations of sexual harassment.

This episode presents Cain, and others, with an opportunity: describe the ethics of the POTUS’s friends who are looting the Nation; and go into great detail about the Congressional Ethics Committee and how Charlie Rangel skated.

Lastly: whomever is the Republican POTUS: GE isn’t a bank, nor is the Politico a news agency – time to make the journalists accountable to the truth.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 2:59 pm

Problem is, it isn’t necessarily your call. If your liability insurance says, “We’re settling, and if you want to take your chances with the OJ jury, you can pay all the bills”, most people don’t have the legal or financial resources to pursue.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 3:05 pm

With all due respect, you’re FoS on this one, pardner.

Cain need not “claim innocence” in a legal sense as he was never charged with any crime or legal sanctions. As for ethical innocence, is that the standard which you wish to apply to politics (purity)?

Your writing, “puts one in the position of looking like a desperate liar” is a weasel phrase. Do you think he’s a liar or not? Speculating on how others will perceive Cain’s statements is “above your pay grade” (hat tip: SCOAMF, the master debater).

I’ll write very clearly, without using passively aggressive, backhanded phrasing: Obama is a pathological liar.

One of two possibilities . . .

1). Your suggestion that former CEO Cain should have single-handedly taken on the fake SH racket: it’s easy enough to say and/or do such a thing if you have nothing to lose (which is not necessarily true in your case; see possibility #2 below). It might be irresponsible for a CEO with a family to fight an unprovable/un-disprovable SH accusation. Whereas it might be much easier for – I don’t know – an unmarried anarchist to tell other people to tilt against windmills.

2). Men who would propose to take on the fake-SH racket, or who would actually do so, while having everything to lose, are men of profound moral courage, or so those who’ve never accused of SH tell us.

Btw, please remind me: as a leftist “market anarchist,” what is your purpose in frequenting the comment section of this blog? I read your manifesto, which argues that although different kinds of anarchists disagree about many different points of doctrine, all anarchists ought to rally around the common cause of destroying the state. Consequently, in pursuit of your first principle, you’re much more likely to have common cause with OWS people than anyone on this site. How does your participation here further that first principle?
Adjoran
October 31st, 2011 @ 3:07 pm

Sealed records opened? You mean like Obama’s Senate opponents’?
Adjoran
October 31st, 2011 @ 3:16 pm

WHAT “allegations” are we talking about. Politico offered none. Instead, they gave a vague description of the TYPE of allegations made by the accusers – very non-specific except in saying what they did NOT allege: actual sexual harassment. Only that two women “felt uncomfortable” at what he said.

Look, you can “feel uncomfortable” from freakin’ PMS. They have nothing, and the so-called “victims” apparently are NOT talking (probably because their contracted confidentiality clause provides that if they do, they must pay back the money).

So we are left with . . . Politico’s word that there might be something there. Remember all the investigative work they did on John Edwards’ mistress and love child? Me either.

I have not picked a candidate yet, so I’m not biased toward Cain. I do know lying leftist propagandist hacks when I see them, and that’s all I’ve ever seen at Politico except for the occasional plagiarist. Never even seen a chalk outline of a real journalist.
Edward
October 31st, 2011 @ 3:16 pm

IMO you’re never going to win in a battle over race. The Democrats are too good at that game and they have the MSM to help them.

As an Asian guy I’ve encountered issues of race. In work, dating, etc. In every case, in any case, you can’t let the issue be about race.

MLK made a race based movement and turned it into something that wasn’t about race. Re-read the “I have a Dream” speech. Why does it still resonate? Because it addresses an issue of race, but the solution it offers is not about race.

This isn’t about a black man being attacked. This is about a conservative being attacked.

my 2 shekels.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 3:41 pm

What I don’t understand is why Cain didn’t have a smack-down strategy ready if they knew Politico was working on this story. If there’s nothing to the story, he should be able to explain in detail why there’s nothing to it and that rebuttal should have been presented quickly and strongly.

The way it’s being handled makes it seem like there’s something to hide and that’s never good. Plus, without that definitive rebuttal, this story is likely to hang around way longer than it should and end up reflecting badly on Cain even if the story turns out to be nothing, rather than casting a bad light on Politico for publishing an obvious hit piece.
richard mcenroe
October 31st, 2011 @ 3:49 pm

She has a ‘nickname’ for it?
richard mcenroe
October 31st, 2011 @ 3:53 pm

interesting tweet from Martin at politico:
@rcpvideo ” @Politico HACK @jmartpolitico: ‘It’s Up To@THEHermanCain To Explain What He Was Accused Of…” -http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/10/31/politicos_martin_its_up_to_cain_to_explain_what_he_was_accused_of.html

In other words, we demand the candidate provide the sordid details we couldn’t when we made our unfounded and weasel-worded accusations…
Roxeanne de Luca
October 31st, 2011 @ 4:21 pm

there were almost certainly lawyers involved on both sides, and any gag order almost certainly ran both ways.

Really? Cain is “almost certainly” under a gag order?

I’m sorry, but that’s just not reality. Unilateral gag orders and confidentiality agreements are extraordinarily common. What would the other side be afraid of Herman Cain saying? “They said that I was sexually harassing them and that I’m a sexist pig”? With little incentive for the potential defendants to let this out, potential plaintiffs do not worry about disclosure.

The money was given to those women to shut up and go away without costing the company six (or seven) figures in attorney’s fees to win and a huge public relations disaster. As I keep telling people, a lot of doing the right thing legally isn’t about winning in court; it’s about never getting to court in the first place.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 4:32 pm

If the organization were the defendant he may not have been part of the settlement. While he was almost certainly named in the suit that doesn’t mean he settled personally. It’s also possible that the association’s lawyers just kept told him not to worry about we’ve got it covered.
Herman Cain: The Anita Hills Crawl Out of the Woodwork – Cain Charged with Sexually Suggestive Behavior | Maggie's Notebook
October 31st, 2011 @ 4:33 pm

[…] 10-31-11 @ 3:30pm CDT: Stacy McCain was at The National Press Club appearance of Herman Cain. Again, Cain repeated that he was falsely accuse, that he recused himself from the investigation, […]
Joe
October 31st, 2011 @ 4:38 pm

Michael Medved is pronouncing that Herman Cain is going to fail because he was pro choice in case of rape and is now 100% against abortion even if the life of the mother is in danger.

Medved is mischaractorizing Cain’s position. Medved is also in the bag for Romney.

That said, Medved is claiming the Politico attack is from the left and that may be the case.

Rush was interesting today. I did not hear his whole show but he noted how the GOP establishment is letting Cain twist in the wind. Isn’t that the truth.
Anonymous
October 31st, 2011 @ 4:48 pm

It has been rebutted. What more do you want?
Adjoran
October 31st, 2011 @ 5:13 pm

Since this story is a whole 24 hours old, I wonder just what you expect “the GOP establishment” to do for Cain or any other candidate facing allegations? What COULD they do? What SHOULD they do for any candidate?

And more importantly, just who are THEY anyway? I don’t see “GOP Establishment” listed in the Yellow Pages. Sounds like unnamed innocent people are being asked to bear the blame for a leftist hack attack on a candidate because . . . WHY, again? Should they have ordered Jonathan Martin and his cohorts executed?
Steve in TN
October 31st, 2011 @ 5:13 pm

Bingo.
Steve in TN
October 31st, 2011 @ 5:15 pm

Yep. I’m wondering which @jrubinblogger:twitter hates more; Cain or Perry.
Adjoran
October 31st, 2011 @ 5:16 pm

Typically insurers don’t even ask. You get a notice that you are the subject of an investigation. The accusers and allegations aren’t specified. When it’s done, they notify you “this matter has been resolved” without details, including who it was and if there was any settlement.
Adjoran
October 31st, 2011 @ 5:19 pm

He probably had a confidentiality clause in his contract with NRA – most trade associations have something along those lines. It’s to protect all parties.

But there is no evidence presented by Politico at all: just a general outline of the accusations, not the specifics.
Steve in TN
October 31st, 2011 @ 5:25 pm

Even if he recused himself he should know what the disposition of the cases were. Saying he has no idea about the final result of allegations of sexual misconduct against him does not wash.