Looks like the political world really is starting to take Herman Cain seriously: Anonymous “sexual harassment” charges have been exhumed against him by Politico, the left-tilting, Web-centric press organization.
How else to explain the weekend hit piece, which reported that Cain -- now riding high in the polls -- was the target of sexual-harassment allegations some 15 years ago while head of the National Restaurant Association?
Cain strongly denies the allegations, insisting that “I have never sexually harassed anyone” -- though he acknowledges that a complaint had been made.
EPA
Herman Cain
And he says the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated and found “no basis” to support the charge.
However, the eatery trade group apparently delivered a “five-figure” payday to the two women who brought the charges.
Cain says he was unaware of any payments, largely because he’d recused himself and left the matter to the group’s counsel and human-resources department.
But, he said, “it couldn’t have been very much money, or I would have had to know about it.”
As for the story itself, Cain was adamant: It’s “a witch hunt.”
Clearly, questions remain unanswered.
But it’s certainly not up to Cain to provide the details.
He was ambushed anonymously -- neither of the women who reportedly accused him have been named -- though Politico says it knows who they are and is respecting their “privacy.”
As for alleged improprieties, it’s hard to understand what happened.
According to Politico: “There were also descriptions of physical gestures that were not overtly sexual, but that made women who experienced or witnessed them uncomfortable and that they regarded as improper in a professional relationship.”
Whatever the hell that means.
Politico certainly is no help -- one of the story’s authors yesterday declared: “We’re just not going to get into the details of exactly what happened with these women beside what’s in the story.”
Which leaves Cain trying to explain -- what exactly?
As he reportedly told his campaign manager: “Where there are facts, bring them to me, let me face my accusers and we will do this then.”
Fair enough.
Until then, Cain -- given the support he was receiving yesterday from those who have worked with him and say such allegations are unthinkable -- deserves the benefit of the doubt.
He won’t get it, of course.
But the incident just underscores why, increasingly, people are choosing not to run for high office -- especially the presidency.
There are always the bushwhackers.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/ambushing_herman_cain_YrUuflAA0rppB8SR5xQnyJ#ixzz1cT7NcBId
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