Herman Cain and the women accusing him

[Mich the Tester]

I've seen this story on the news the last couple of days and I can't help asking why the women concerned didn't make accusations earlier. I don't want to get into Mr Cain's politics, as there are probably many things on which I would disagree with him, and many issues on which I would agree with him; that's not the point though.

Many years after he is alleged to have made sexual approaches to some women, they come out accusing him, when they don't seem to have taken action straight after the alleged incidents. That makes me rather skeptical about the whole story. It also brings a more serious consequence; it can be made even more difficult for women who really have been raped to actually get justice, simply because there seem to be so many crankies who make accusations that are many years past. The one woman on the news this morning, giving a press conference, was reading her story from some notes; it seems to me that if she has such vivid memories of what supposedly happened, she wouldn't need to read the story for the cameras.

Herman Cain is a monster, says second woman - Telegraph

In short, I have more reason to doubt their stories than to believe them. Maybe that makes me a cold, unfeeling sexist pig, but I don't think so.

[Spacecadet]

I've seen this story on the news the last couple of days and I can't help asking why the women concerned didn't make accusations earlier.

She DID!


From the FIRST ******* paragraph

Karen Kraushaar, a US Treasury spokesman, was revealed as one of two women to have received five–figure payouts from the National Restaurant Association after complaining about Mr Cain in the 1990s.

[Mich the Tester]

She DID!


From the FIRST ******* paragraph

Did she go to the police? Or did she just get a tulipload of money from her employer?

I feel this is important, because when justice is about getting some money out of someone who's done something wrong, it's very attractive to make accusations.

[xoggoth]

Who really knows? Allegations like this probably doom any politician, except Italian ones obviously.

[BlasterBates]

Does this have any bearing on whether he would be a good president?

Nope not really. An Alpha male that chases women is probably a good sign.

I think when men chase women it's fairly normal actually. There was a time when it was fairly normal to pinch the secretary's bum; which is basically what it's about.

[Mich the Tester]

Who really knows? Allegations like this probably doom any politician, except Italian ones obviously.

Well it's not a very good thing if it makes it more difficult for women with genuine complaints, and certainly not a good thing if it discourages very accomplished people (and Mr Cain does have some good credentials) from standing for office.

[mudskipper]

Did she go to the police? Or did she just get a tulipload of money from her employer?

I feel this is important, because when justice is about getting some money out of someone who's done something wrong, it's very attractive to make accusations.

I don't know the details of this incident.

Sexual harrassment can take various forms. Sometimes harmless teasing can be misinterpreted (either deliberately or accidently). But sometimes it can make the recipient feel very uncomfortable and maybe even anxious. Most people wouldn't actually do anything about it. But if, later, someone else accuses the harrasser, you'd be likely to come forward and say "Hey, that happened to me too".

I don't know how you determine the truth in cases like this. Money/spite/jealousy are always strong motivators for false accusations, but that doesn't mean the incidents didn't happen. I'd go with innocent until proven guilty. No idea how you find that proof years after the incident though.

[TheFaQQer]

Does this have any bearing on whether he would be a good president?

Nope not really. An Alpha male that chases women is probably a good sign.

It shows whether they are likely to have their mind on the job.

It shows how they react to a crisis when these things come out - a series of denials, half-truths and ineptitude over something which could be construed as relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, does not bode well for someone with their finger on the button.

[Mich the Tester]

It shows whether they are likely to have their mind on the job.

It shows how they react to a crisis when these things come out - a series of denials, half-truths and ineptitude over something which could be construed as relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, does not bode well for someone with their finger on the button.

A bit like Churchill and Roosevelt, you mean?

[BlasterBates]

A bit like Churchill and Roosevelt, you mean?

....JFK, Henry VIII, most of the Popes, actually virtually all rulers, primeministers of democratic countries since time began. Some notable exceptions include Stalin, Pol Pott and George Bush.