Cain Tops the Polls - After Allegations by Anonymous Sources - photo Iowans for Cain
There are limits when it comes to credibility – and this may be the limit – from the Los Angeles Times article headlined: ”Restaurant group to respond Friday to Cain accuser request” – speaks to one of three anonymous women who have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against the GOP frontrunner. Apparently, a lawyer who originally negotiated a severance package (not a settlement, note) for his “client”, is now seeking permission from the Restaurant Association Board, which would allow is client to release a statement on her side of the “story” (emphasis now on story) – anonymously. His client, apparently, does not wish to reveal her identity due to the backlash received by one Anita Hill. Hill, the woman who claimed improprieties against Justice Clarence Thomas while he was going through the nominating process for the Supreme Court remains one of the most figures associated with egregious false allegation claims based on political bias. Justice Thomas, an African American conservative, continues to sit on the lands highest court, while Hill is virtually obscure.
Cain’s accuser remaining anonymous does not make for good book deals and/or continued suits brought by lawyers against an association – hoping for more likely than not, “hush monies” instead of a simple “severance package”. The service package, it should be noted, was not of such a high amount that it would even have reached the board of the Association. Apparently, the amount was considered so minuscule, that a former board member during Cain’s tenure noted: ”Severance agreements, he said, were — and remain — “common” in human resource management. “You offer people severance agreements, unless they are for cause, all the time,” he said. (Daily Caller).
The phrase “for cause” is the key to this particular case – if there had been cause (i.e. the allegations had “teeth”), then the amount would have been much higher reaching the board and giving both Cain and the Board members knowledge of the case. Therefore, the allegations were considered to be baseless at the time the claims were made, and the staffer (accuser) released with a small severance. Severance s packages can run up to six figures or more depending upon the reason for release of an employee, a $35,000 to $45,000 severance suggests an annual salary, more of a “lay-off” than hush money.
More over is an anonymous statement going to have legs against the Cain Camp?
Very doubtful – if anything it would increase his capital among the rank and file Democrats, who stood firmly behind Bill Clinton through an Impeachment! (Fact and Satire).
The proof is in the latest polling: Rasmussen Reports released yesterday where Cain tops Romney outside the margin of error, giving him the first lead in a national poll – the poll was taken 3 days after the “story” broke about these “anonymous accusers”, and 76% of respondents were well aware of the accusations.”
In other words, unless they’ve got the 8 X 10 color glossies, there’s little more that the opposing political teams, or opposition press for that matter, will be able to do to stymie Cain’s popularity – apparently the reverse is true – his stock is raising.
Importantly, Cain, who has not backed down – not one bit – regardless of his vague recollections of the incident (which if it was such a low level severance, that may have been the reason why he had difficulty recalling the incident at all) is considering a suit against Politico. (The Washington Post): Cain’s statement on a talk radio program: “When Anderson Cooper asked someone from Politico point blank, were you tipped off by a rival campaign, the person from Politico would’t answer. What does that suggest?” Cain continued. “All I’m saying is we are just looking at all the facts.”
What that suggests is a hatchet job, perpetrated by a press organization in order to kill a campaign by publishing statements without checking facts, or knowingly publishing a story that did not hold water, hoping the outcome would be that Cain would drop out of the race. Cain may have a case against Politico, and the Washington Post may want to put a muzzle on Dana Millbank before they are faced with a similar suit.
What is most likely occurring: those who no longer trust the media to deliver a fair basement, and also have a healthy distrust of anonymous hatchet jobs, are now more interested in Cain as a candidate – it is because Cain is authentic. Although he sat on boards (by invitation and by eventual salary) that were tied into the government (Restaurant Association – lobby, and the Federal Reserve Board), they were seats held as an “outsider” and short in duration, rather than a “career” in the public sector. His claim of being a Washington Outsider, therefore, holds water. He’s more popular now, which must make those ideologues a bit more contrite. One other note on the other two accusers – both working within the federal government – have not, yet, found lawyers willing to try and get them more cash, while increasing Cain’s popularity.
Crystal Ball: (Definitely way too early, but for the sake of some fun). Since Obama is most likely not to be reelected, although a third party candidate may peal enough votes away to make it a very tight race, should he run up against any of the GOP candidates, it is unlikely he will retain a second term. Unless he steps aside, and Clinton takes the helm (see past blogs for constitutional procedure to get this done), the Democrats will be lucky to hold onto house and senate seats, let alone the Presidency.
The Primary – Iowa – Cain, New Hampshire, Romney, South Carolina, Cain, Florida, Cain, Texas Cain, Massachusetts, who has a late primary – and is not winner take all, may even be a split between Cain and Romney. Romney should handily take Utah, Wyoming and Michigan and then bow out. Gingrich may take Huckabee’s place as GOP cheerleader, and hang in there long enough to keep the GOP candidate and process in the spotlight.
Cain can take one more item off his bucket list, become President of the United States, fix the economy and go onto his next challenge. Short of the New York Times, Politico, the Washington Post, the Republican establishment and Rham Emanuel literally kidnapping Cain and keeping him in an undisclosed location until the primary is over – he will remain a very competitive, if not the most competitive GOP candidate in 2012.
As this story, has all but collapsed at this point, it is the last word on “Cain” from this blog on this story, unless someone comes forth without cover of atomicity, and has the 8 X 10 color glossies to confirm.
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