Big Featured Discussions | November 07, 2011 | 17 comments

Do you believe Herman Cain's accuser, and does any of it matter?

Sharon Bialek, one of the four women accusing GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain of inappropriate sexual conduct, has come forward with her story and given a news conference. See video of the press conference from the Associated Press below.

The new development will further amplify the question of whether the accusers' stories are to be believe, but perhaps the bigger question is whether any of it matters.

Are such allegations and the candidate's response to them important to the conversation? Or are they just a distraction from a candidate's vision for the country?

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17 comments // Do you believe Herman Cain's accuser, and does any of it matter?

  • Dagum
    • +1
      Dagum  

    • Here is the thing, there is a record at time the incidents occurred.

      4 Women so far. Including the Sharon Bialek going public the evidence is there. There are Records filed at the time incidents occurred in the form of complaints with the NRA.

      http://current.com/community/93526447_buh-bye-herma...

      And in at least one instance Herman Cain signed a settlement agreement with one of these women over sexual harassment. I would have to see the terms of the settlement agreement to see whether he admitted liability.
      http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/herman-cain-hid...

      It does matter in that what the woman in the interview described, if truth, wasn't just sexual harassment, it was sexual assault. Normal people would put on the sex offenders list for it.

    • 1 year ago
  • tverdell
  • jimstoner
    • 0
      jimstoner  

    • Do you really want to screw with the far right? The next time someone has one of these revelations, give them every detail except what politician is involved. They would have absolutely no idea how to react. Their heads might even explode!

    • 1 year ago
  • truthglow
    • 0
      truthglow  

    • I absolutely believe this woman, and all of the others as well. Cain is nothing but another piece of right-wing, hypocritical garbage. The truth must come out so that people can know what they're voting for. If they want to ignore the truth, they will deserve what they get. But as much as I don't trust the intelligence of mankind, I believe the majority will do the right thing.

    • 1 year ago
  • jimstoner
  • Willis_Andrews
    • 0
      Willis_Andrews  
    • truthglow:

      You believe them because you wish to derail the "Cain Train" like them. That is why these woman are doing it. How do you destroy a black man? Have a white woman accuse him of rape with no evidence of their claim. Where is actual text messages? She can show book signings and a phone record. Show a text message or a mutual witness who have seen them together like she say. You can't hide 13 years of affairs. Their has to be more than this.

    • 1 year ago
  • Vic_Romano
    • +1
      Vic_Romano  

    • What's up with the press conference being held at the Friar's Club? Was this some kind of a roast?

      Doesn't matter though. I think Herman Cain is full of shit.

    • 1 year ago
  • jimstoner
    • +1
      jimstoner  

    • It"s not going to matter if she is believed or not. He's a Republican, so he will get a pass. What kind of moral character does the president of a country that tortures people need anyway?

    • 1 year ago
  • Cruzankenny
  • jimstoner
    • 0
      jimstoner  
    • Cruzankenny:

      No kidding. Water board him till he tells us what we want to hear. Just don't stick your hand up anybodys skirt. I would never defend Cains actions, and I believe the women in this case. I think they are brave souls for coming forward and telling their stories, but think of the things "Whore-man Cain" will do if he's elected president. " If your unemployed it's your own fault". I think that is just as morally bankrupt as sexual harassment.

    • 1 year ago
  • PegSue
  • alexandrek
  • PegSue
    • 0
      PegSue  
    • alexandrek:

      I agree that accusations need to be carefully verified. In this case there are four different women, there is a record of them being paid off, and when a woman comes forward with an allegation she can count on her own reputation being ruined. Look what happened to Anita Hill. The sad thing is sexual misconduct by men in positions of power is very common. There seems to be overwhelming evidence in the case of Herman Cain's misdeeds.

    • 1 year ago
  • Stephanie__Miz_Jenkins__Barnes
    • +1
      Stephanie__Miz_Jenkins__Barnes  

    • Yes it matters... 14 yrs ago and the man is 35 the perhaps he used bad jusdgement in his early adult ages but 14 yrs ago and the man is closer to 60 then he's STILL making bad judgements in his 'mature' state of mind. I would rather know before then after an election.

    • 1 year ago
  • averageAmerican
    • +2
      averageAmerican  

    • I believe Sharon Bialek and yes, it matters. There are three other women who, understandably, did not want to come forward. Ms. Bialek did not have to come forward, but chose to so these victims would not be considered a faceless enemy. Can you imagine suffering sexual harassment/assault, keeping it a secret out of shame, and then seeing the perpetrator running for the President of the United States of America??? Wouldn't you feel duty-bound to alert the American people as to the character of this person? If Herman Cain abused his power as the President and CEO of the NRA, what do you think he would do with the highest office in the world??? I don't want to find out. The last time I checked, companies don't just fork over $35,000 and $45,000 settlements to people who cannot prove their claims. Although I had pretty much decided not to root for Herman Cain due to his lack of foreign policy experience, among other things, these sexual harassment/assault issues, in which women were repeatedly sexually harassed and paid to keep their mouths shut, has solidified my decision. Herman Cain is right. He doesn't need to focus on his foreign policy experience, he needs to improve his domestic experience first, starting with the women whose lives he damaged right here at home. Something happened . . . and it is high time that Herman Cain stops denying it and comes clean to the American people. We deserve a morally and ethically honest President. The American people deserve a President who is a steward of the people and that is clearly NOT what Herman Cain is about. Herman Cain has made it abundantly clear that he is about one thing only, Herman Cain.

    • 1 year ago
  • totally_dilapidated
  • Cruzankenny
    • +1
      Cruzankenny  
    • totally_dilapidated:

      Right, we know how well off every woman has been that has blown the whistle on a high profile politician. Name one.
      There's no book here, there's barely a paragraph.
      Money? Who's paying her and how much? I don't see money changing hands for this, to easy to backfire. The woman's a Tea Partier, for crying out loud.
      I do wonder about a woman who has a married man with his hand on her vagina and pulling her head to his crotch and her question is, "What are you doing? You know I have a boyfriend!". Did she feel a married man, trying to coerce her into sex, gave a damn about a boyfriend?
      This is all irrelevant, Mr. Cain tried to use his position of power that could get her a job in order to try and get a blow job. That's what is important.
      They must have known each other for some time for him to have knowledge of a boyfriend.
      I wonder, but don't for a minute excuse Mr. Cain for his behavior.

    • 1 year ago
Victor_Balta
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