Cain on harassment claims: In long career, "Someone will complain"

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain speaks at a conference Nov. 2, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Cliff Owen

Hours after the first of four accusers went public Monday with a specific account of sexual harassment alleged against Herman Cain while he was head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, the presidential candidate e-mailed supporters a 917-word commentary chalking the controversy up to a long and successful career.

After outlining the rungs of the business ladder that led to his being named CEO of Godfather's Pizza and eventually his NRA tenure, Cain argued that he "can't even begin to recall how many conversations I had with people during that time, how many directives I gave, how much friendly banter might have taken place."

He went on to observe that "at some point during a career like this, someone will not like things you do, or how you do it. Someone will complain. That is just the nature of things if you've ever done much in your life."

"So once the editors of Politico started looking for people who would make claims against me, their chances of finding a few takers were probably about 100 percent," Cain continued. "These people will not give their names. The so-called 'witnesses' who purportedly corroborated their stories also will not give their names."

In fact, Sharon Bialek, one of four accusers, came forward in a press conference Monday morning in New York City to outline an incident in 1997 in which Cain allegedly tried to bargain a job for Bialek in exchange for sex. Bialek had previously worked at the National Restaurant Association.

But Cain said he's not going to play by "the media's rules," and admonished political strategists who have suggested he come forth with his own account of the allegations against him. Recently, Cain has dodged media inquiries of the subject; in a post-debate press conference Saturday night, he told reporters he wouldn't answer questions about the matter ever again.

In the e-mail to supporters, Cain lamented, "when you haven't 'calmed the firestorm' - if only because the people wielding the blow-torches have no intention of putting them out - more experts are put on the air to say this proves you are 'not ready for prime time.' Maybe that would matter if I was trying out for the cast of Saturday Night Live. But this should be a slightly more serious undertaking than that."

[2happy2ride]

Success led to assaults? Are you kidding me? Your ego IS your problem. If you were innocent you NEVER would have approved an $80,000 payoff, a non-disclosure agreement and you CERTAINLY would have told your wife.
We already have an overachieving, ego maniac with no legislative experience in the WH. Pull the plug Herm, it's over.

[Orca_Nunchuka]

He just has selective memory. He was found out in 2004 and now seems to forget his past.

[lifepanels]

Um, isn't this the same excuse his buddy Newt gave for why he committed adultery? Too busy and passionate about caring for the country to keep his own house in order?

[slightlyoffthewall]

"friendly banter" isn't sticking your hand up somebody's skirt.

[sandy 1027]

There are a lot of men ( and some women) who characterize sexual misconduct in the workplace as "friendly banter".Maybe that's why it's a good idea not to engage in it.It's true that successful people are more prone to be targets of false accusers, but most aren't.Usually it's those who have compromised themselves in some way that makes that allegation more believable, like flirting, "friendly banter", or direct sexual propositions.

[trooper4truth]

re are many guys who know what it is like to be falsely accused. There may only be a few sick and disgusting liars but don't be too surprised by the kind of reactions that come. There can be women most foul.

[trooper4truth]

That isn't surprising that CBS News has no entries about the subpoena for Eric Holder to appear before congress for He and the Department of Justice lying about Operation Fast and Furious. DOJ was in charge. Here Cain hasn't had a single civil or criminal charge against him. What do we need to do when Eric Holder and the DOJ has become a danger to the public safety and welfare? Do a lot of finger pointing.

[sandy 1027]

One reason may be because he, and/or the NRA, chose to settle at least 2 of the cases out of court to avoid litigation.

[trooper4truth]

Cain should challenge these gold diggers to take a polygraph test. The gold diggers are lining up. Like that's suppose to bother me. My money has always been on Michelle Bachman. Don't settle, bring in a tough negotiator. Reagan was a very tough negotiator. Ironically, Reagan finally did give amnesty to the illegal alien population in 1986-87 but then he and the conservatives restored energy independence and economic growth. Unemployment was only 5.4 percent. Americans were more receptive to the idea of amnesty then. We're adverse to the idea now because today we can't even afford gasoline for our school busses. Not really getting off subject. We need a tough negotiator, we need Michelle Bachman.

[sandy 1027]

But he DID settle with 2 of them out of court.

[mick7744]

So there you have it, boys and girls...Herman Cain is not the sleazy horn-dog he's being made out to be...

HE'S THE VICTIM...

Of greedy jealous ho's looking for a payout and of the "lamestream" media that keeps trying to prevent him from getting the "truth" to the American people.

But he won't knuckle under to the media's rules...he won't give his version of what happened...especially not when most of the lying b:tches have had their silence bought and paid for...

Most, but not all...

WOTTAGUY!

Gee Herman, with a little luck, you might have been Sarah Palin's choice for VP...

[busterdawggy]

He went on to observe that "at some point during a career like this, someone will not like things you do, or how you do it. Someone will complain. That is just the nature of things if you've ever done much in your life."

===============

Odd, I had a thirty year career in university settings, which are hotbeds of sexual politics, and engaged in "friendly banter" at all levels and not once was I ever the object of a sexual harassment complaint. But I suppose Cain thinks sexual complaints are in the natural order of things if you are to be successful. In this, in an effort to CYA, he lies.