(Image source: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)
BY NICOLE THOMPSON
“And boom goes the dynamite.”
Slate political reporter and MSNBC contributor Dave Weigel launched that tweet Sunday night - and attached to it, an exclusive article from POLITICO with a shocking report about GOP presidential contender Herman Cain. HLN has more.
“Two women who worked with Herman Cain allegedly left their jobs after complaining about sexually suggestive behavior by the GOP candidate. Now that’s in a report anyway from POLITICO, and it says the women worked with Cain when he headed the National Restaurant Association.”
According to the Politico story, those women received five-figure payouts not to talk about the incidents. So what does this mean for Cain? The scandal launched the mainstream cable networks into a finger-pointing frenzy.
“It’s outrageous the way liberals treat black conservatives. This is another high-tech lynching.” (Video from Fox News)
“Once again it shows that this guy is not equipped to let alone to be president of the United States but to run for president.” (Video from MSNBC)
“This is the conservative Republican establishment going after Herman Cain...” (Video from Fox News)
“This is obviously, conceivably a campaign-ending set of allegations.” (Video from MSNBC)
“If people like him and they do believe him, then I think it won’t hurt him at all.” (Video from CNN)
Now, news outlets are looking for answers, and Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera wasn’t pleased with the ones he got from Cain spokesman JD Gordon.
“Was there or was there not a cash settlement to two female employees of the National Restaurant Association?”
“Geraldo, all I’ve gotta tell ya is this is a typical attack on a conservative that’s doing well. He’s number one in the polls.”
“JD, what you are doing and what you are saying right now is a recipe for disaster mate.”
POLITICO blogger Ben Smith says, there’s no reason for Cain’s campaign to be skirting around these allegations. In fact, politicians have gotten out of worse situations in the past by playing their cards right.
“...he hasn't been accused of something to which there is no answer other than flat denial or going into hiding. People who have been involved in unflattering settlements typically say, ‘My lawyers/board insisted I settle, over my objections, and I insist I never did anything wrong.’”
At least one person on the Cain train has made an attempt to deny the allegations. ABC News reports ...
“[Cain’s Chief of Staff Mark] Block said he is not aware of any cash settlement, and maintained Cain’s innocence.”
So what’s next? The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin writes -
“The question for the day will be: Can Cain beat back the Politico story? If he can, he gains strength. If he can’t, the most volatile GOP presidential primary race in recent memory will get even more volatile.”
These allegations come as Herman Cain and Mitt Romney are virtually tied in the Iowa polls.
Transcript by Newsy.
