# Cain has a Clarence Thomas problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 31, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387 "2011-10-31T15:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/81 "2011-11-02T20:15:20Z")
Big promise but no details. The initial Politico story intimated that Cain invited one of the two women up to his hotel suite at some event, which sounds like it’s more clearly in sexual harrassment territory compared to ‘he made hand gestures that were not overtly sexual but made the women uncomfortable’ or whatever. Eventually somebody just needs to explain. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/82 "2011-11-02T20:28:39Z")
A third woman pops up. [Via the AP](http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/ap-exclusive-third-worker-1215150.html): > [@](#): > > A third former employee says she considered filing a workplace complaint over what she considered aggressive and unwanted behavior by Herman Cain when she worked for the presidential candidate in the 1990s. She says the behavior included a private invitation to his corporate apartment. > > She worked for the National Restaurant Association when he was its head. She told The Associated Press that Cain made sexually suggestive remarks or gestures about the same time that two co-workers had settled separate harassment complaints against him. Sounds as though this isn’t going away or being weathered any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/83 "2011-11-02T20:42:18Z")
Nonsense! If he just refuses to answer questions, the press will get tired of asking them and go back to talking about how 9-9-9 is great because it either raises or lowers taxes for everyone, and makes the system much simpler or more complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/84 "2011-11-02T21:19:22Z")
Damage control at its finest! Cain’s campaign director draws the media’s attention to the fact that [a conservative talk radio host in Iowa was unhappy with how Cain talked to women at the radio station.](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67478.html) ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/85 "2011-11-02T21:20:36Z")
Cain should release the women from their confidentiality agreements, that that each can tell their version of events. The mere fact settlement money was paid is not any admission of anything. Cases have what is called “nuisance value” which is the amount of money the defendant pays to make the Plaintiff shut up and go away, even if the defendant wasn’t legally guilty of anything. Is anyone besides me bothered by the fact that Cain has claimed to be just a businessman with no government experience, but who in fact spent considerable time as an insider lobbyist? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/86 "2011-11-02T21:27:45Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Cain should release the women from their confidentiality agreements, that that each can tell their version of events. The agreements are with the National Restaurant Association, not Cain. One of the women has asked to be released from that agreement and the group says it will meet with her lawyer tomorrow. > [@](#): > > Is anyone besides me bothered by the fact that Cain has claimed to be just a businessman with no government experience, but who in fact spent considerable time as an insider lobbyist? It was around three years, but yeah, people should be pretty skeptical of your “Washington outsider” cred if you spent three years leading one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the country. Speaking of things that the candidates don’t talk about, did you know Mitt Romney used to be the governor of Massachusetts? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/87 "2011-11-02T22:19:19Z")
Cain’s accusing the Perry camp of leaking the information. I’m guessing Perry got it from Chris Wilson: [Wilson is a Rick Perry supporter and does polling for a Super PAC that supports the Texas governor’s presidential bid.](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67473.html) The radio host story is weird. What is Block DOING? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/88 "2011-11-02T23:16:53Z")
Why do the Cain people think anyone cares who leaked the info? Perry is already done. Flailing around like this doesn’t help them. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/89 "2011-11-02T23:54:46Z")
I guess the campaign thinks they can shift the story to where the leak came from? I have no idea what they think that gets them, it only adds fuel to the fire. > [@"\[source](#): > > ([http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/02/cain-camp-accuses-perry-campaign-leaking-sexual-harassment-claims/](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/02/cain-camp-accuses-perry-campaign-leaking-sexual-harassment-claims/))"]The Cain campaign suggests the source for that story was longtime GOP consultant Curt Anderson, who worked for Cain’s failed 2004 U.S. Senate bid and had been debriefed on the harassment allegations by Cain himself. Anderson now works for Perry. So Cain briefed people about this problem when he ran in a Georgia Senate primary in 2004, yet claims now that he was blindsided with these allegations? Despite being asked for comment 10 days before the story broke? Please. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/90 "2011-11-02T23:57:13Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Cain’s accusing the Perry camp of leaking the information. [Perry Camp Denies Leaking Cain Harassment Story, Fingers Romney Campaign](http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/perry-camp-denies-leaking-cain-harassment-story-fingers-romney-campaign-20111102?mrefid=election2012) We need an “eating popcorn” smiley… ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/91 "2011-11-03T04:19:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Speaking of things that the candidates don’t talk about, did you know Mitt Romney used to be the governor of Massachusetts? To be fair, many of us here in Massachusetts don’t like to talk about those years too much either. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/92 "2011-11-03T19:52:46Z")
Can’t he just say he wanted so much to be like MLK Jr ?? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/93 "2011-11-03T19:57:56Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Can’t he just say he wanted so much to be like MLK Jr ?? Yes, that would make him look great. Being CEO of a pizza company is a lot like fighting for civil rights. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/94 "2011-11-03T20:02:35Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > [Perry Camp Denies Leaking Cain Harassment Story, Fingers Romney Campaign](http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/perry-camp-denies-leaking-cain-harassment-story-fingers-romney-campaign-20111102?mrefid=election2012) > > We need an “eating popcorn” smiley… QFT. I read that Lawrence O’Donnell has offered to pay the Cain accusers’ legal bills if they come forward and then are sued for violating confidentiality agreements. This is more fun than a three-ring circus. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/95 "2011-11-03T20:10:22Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > QFT. > > I read that Lawrence O’Donnell has offered to pay the Cain accusers’ legal bills if they come forward and then are sued for violating confidentiality agreements. This is more fun than a three-ring circus. Well, we have the elephants, so all we need are the clowns. Oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/96 "2011-11-03T20:56:35Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > QFT. > > I read that Lawrence O’Donnell has offered to pay the Cain accusers’ legal bills if they come forward and then are sued for violating confidentiality agreements. This is more fun than a three-ring circus. Is O’Donnell going to pay for damages awarded against them too (for defamation, I assume), or just for their attorneys fees? Because if I were one of the people in question I wouldn’t take the risk of being found liable for damages even if someone was paying my legal bills. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/97 "2011-11-03T21:10:29Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Is O’Donnell going to pay for damages awarded against them too (for defamation, I assume), or just for their attorneys fees? Because if I were one of the people in question I wouldn’t take the risk of being found liable for damages even if someone was paying my legal bills. You’ll have to ask him yourself. I’m not the one who made the offer, I’m just reporting what I’d read, and I found it amusing. Here’s [the video](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/11/03/odonnell_to_cains_accusers_you_can_come_forward_you_have_nothing_to_fear.html), if you’re interested. I’m sure some board legal eagle can weigh in on your question. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/98 "2011-11-03T21:38:11Z")
As someone who was out of town until yesterday and had not watched, read or listened to ANY news for almost a week, this story is all brand new to me. That said, will it make any difference, politically speaking, if Cain’s accusers, assuming they come forward, are white women or black women? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/99 "2011-11-04T00:58:28Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > As someone who was out of town until yesterday and had not watched, read or listened to ANY news for almost a week, this story is all brand new to me. > > That said, will it make any difference, politically speaking, if Cain’s accusers, assuming they come forward, are white women or black women? No not really. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387/100 "2011-11-04T02:51:40Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > It’s funny how all these sexual harassment allegations always seem to come to light when someone’s running for public office. Yawn. Yeah, it’s like news agencies care more about leading POTUS candidates than fast food CEOs no one’s heard of. So weird. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cain-has-a-clarence-thomas-problem/601387.md?page=6)