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Cain Clarifications

By W. James Antle, III on 11.7.11 @ 8:30PM

My point in the post below isn't to defend Herman Cain or deny the seriousness of the charges. Not knowing the facts, I take no position on Cain's guilt or innocence. But in order to derail Cain's bid for the Republican nomination, a meaningful number of the GOP voters supporting him in Iowa, South Carolina, and other key states need to decide to stop supporting him because of the issues discussed in today's press conference. Maybe the fourth allegation will convince these Republicans a.) that Cain is guilty, b.) at least something is amiss here or c.) that this will be a constant distraction that is not worth living with either way.

So far, the evidence shows Cain's supporters rallying around him. The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows Cain holding steady in a statistical tie with Mitt Romney (Romney 28 percent, Cain 27). More problematic for Cain, it also shows his negatives rising from 18 percent to 35 percent. This poll was obviously conducted before the Bialek bombshell. I'm also starting to see more criticism of Cain's conduct from commenters on conservative sites like this one, so maybe the scandal is starting to take its toll.

Aaron writes about Gloria Allred's role below. Strictly speaking, Allred has no bearing on the veracity of Bialek's accusations. But as a matter of human nature, it will have an impact on who finds these charges credible just as the role conservative Christians played in Paula Jones' lawsuit against Bill Clinton influenced who was inclined to believe Jones. Ross is right that there is enough smoke to worry about fire, but there is also enough uncertainty to give people strongly inclined to give Cain the benefit of the doubt reason to do so.

View all comments (12) | Leave a comment

Chuck| 11.7.11 @ 9:03PM

Cain had a 10 day way ahead before the initial accusations and completely mishandled it. That speaks volumes considering what happened today.

Bob Grant| 11.7.11 @ 9:19PM

Waaaay too much smoke coming from the Cain Camp.

I supported him during the summer but it seems to me a picture is forming about Cain and it is not pretty. Krauthammer is correct when he says Cain wings it way too much.

So why does he wing it? ....Perhaps he relies on his charm skills to accomplish what needs to be done, including getting busy with the ladies?

Perhaps we've all been bamboozled by Mr. Cain? ...Don't be too quick to dismiss this.

Wayne| 11.8.11 @ 1:53AM

So you are willing to hang him without proof.

Bob Grant| 11.8.11 @ 8:26AM

Wayne,

So when will you say Uncle? After the 6th lady comes forward? 7th, 8th, 14th...?

MikeN| 11.7.11 @ 10:00PM

One free grope rule. Let's ask Hillary to adjudicate.

Bob Grant| 11.8.11 @ 8:00AM

I've attempted to use that "one free grope" rule in bars for years but to no avail.

Bumr50| 11.7.11 @ 10:21PM

And yet the Cain train rolls on...

It's amusing to watch the DC conservative punditry befuddled as to why people support Cain in the first place.

I hope Cain gets the nod and Kristol and Krauthammer are left mumbling into their snifters, lamenting the "intellectual decline."

Conventional wisdom is dead. Get used to it or get out of the way.

Sunnyr| 11.10.11 @ 4:02PM

The "Cain Train" is about to be derailed by 4 small women. There is no way this guy is a 'victim' of the Democrat Party or opponents in the Republican Party. He is a victim of his own lack of character. He is all but finished.

Wayne| 11.8.11 @ 1:52AM

Allred most certainly does impinge the woman's veracity. Just as Wright affected Obama's. Seeing this post reminds me how conservatives crumble. This will be how Obama wins. Just give the front runner (unless its Romney) the Palin treatment. Politico and Allred will drum up the lies and opinions like this show how we crumble.

W. James Antle III| 11.8.11 @ 2:20AM

Who her lawyer is may make a difference in whether we decide to take her charges seriously or not, but the charges are true or false independent of who her lawyer is. Sorry.

If she is lying, then she would still be lying if Robert Bork was her lawyer. If she is telling the truth, she is still telling the truth if Janet Reno is her lawyer.

Clint| 11.8.11 @ 7:25AM

" Poll: Cain's support drops after harassment allegations surface

A new poll shows presidential candidate Herman Cain losing support among GOP voters after reports of past allegations of sexual harassment.

The poll from Reuters/Ipsos found that 57 percent of Republican voters view Cain favorably, a drop from 66 percent a week ago, before claims of sexual harassment surfaced from when Cain was president of the National Restaurant Association.

The poll found the former Godfather's Pizza CEO's favorability rating declined from 37 percent to 32 percent among all registered voters."

Sunnyr| 11.10.11 @ 3:58PM

Herman Cain has managed to hire the most incompetent "Chief of Staff," who was kicked out of Wisconsin politics because of Voter Suppression, and has made a dozen lame excuses for his own personal gaffes. Now he wants us to believe he didn't sexually harass these 4 or 5 women and that they are all LYING about him. Really, Mr. Cain? Do we all look like we were born under a Turnip Truck, YESTERDAY?

This guy is a disaster waiting to happen. No way do I trust him to be POTUS ! Are you kidding me?