Let’s Just Tell It Like It Is…
Posted: November 7, 2011 Filed under: Republican presidential politics, U.S. Politics | Tags: Gloria Allred, Herman Cain, sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sharon Bialek, William A. Jacobson 35 Comments
Sharon Bialek
Herman Cain is a sexual predator. Here, from Politico is a portion of Sharon Bialek’s description of what she says Herman Cain did to her. Bialek is the fourth woman to accuse Cain of “inappropriate” behavior and the first to come forward publicly and talk about what he did to her.
“I met Mr. Cain in the lobby of the bar at the Capitol Hilton at around 6:30 p.m. We had drinks at the hotel, and he asked how I liked my room, which is kind of normal, and I said I was very surprised. I said, I can’t believe it, I’ve got this great suite, it’s gorgeous. Mr. Cain kind of smirked, and then said, ‘I upgraded you.’
“He then took me to an Italian restaurant where we had dinner. During dinner, Mr. Cain looked at me and said, ‘Why are you here?’ I said, ‘Actually, Herman, my boyfriend, whom you met, suggested that I meet with you ‘cause he thought you could help me because I really need a job. I was wondering if there’s anything available at the state association level or perhaps if you could speak to someone at the foundation to try to get my job back, perhaps even in a different department.’ He said, ‘I’ll look into that.’
“While we were driving back to the hotel, he said that he would show me where the National Restaurant Association offices were. He parked the car down the block. I thought that we were going to go into the offices so he that could show me around. At that time I had on a black pleated skirt, a suit jacket and a blouse. He had on a suit with his shirt open. But instead of going into the offices, he suddenly reached over and he put his hand on my leg under my skirt and reached for my genitals. He also grabbed my head and brought it toward his crotch. I was very, very surprised and very shocked.
“I said: ‘What are you doing? You know I have a boyfriend. This isn’t what I came here for.’ Mr. Cain said, ‘You want a job, right?’
“I asked him to stop and he did. I asked him to take me back to my hotel which he did, right away.
Is this rape? No, but it certainly fits the definition of sexual assault:
Sexual assault takes many forms including attacks such as rape or attempted rape, as well as any unwanted sexual contact or threats. Usually a sexual assault occurs when someone touches any part of another person’s body in a sexual way, even through clothes, without that person’s consent.
It may also fit the EEOC’s definition of sexual harassment:
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.
Bialek had been working for the organization that Cain headed and was seeking his help in getting a new job with the organization. Therefore, Cain was in a position of power over Bialek.
Quite a few writers seem to be unclear on these concepts. At the NYT Caucus blog Cain’s actions are called “lewd behavior.” CBS calls it “sexually inappropriate behavior.” The AP calls it a “bold sexual advance.” Let’s start calling it what it is: sexual assault. No one has the right to touch another person in a sexual manner without permission, period.
I found this bizarre rationalization for and misrepresentation of Cain’s behavior at a right wing blog called Legal Insurrection, operated by William A. Jacobson of Cornell Law School.
Summary of press conference: Woman alleges that in 1997 after her employment terminated with a National Restaurant Association affiliate, Cain made a single sexual advance at her which she rebuffed and which he stopped after she said no. So the allegation is not one of workplace “sexual harassment” but of an alleged attempt at infidelity.
A variety of people on Twitter are characterizing this as a “serious sexual assualt,” but that is farfetched. Assuming what she says is true, he stopped when she said to stop and she did not allege any actual sexual touching, only an attempt. She says she mentioned to two people at the time that Cain was sexually inappropriate, but did not mention to details to them.
Wrong. Bialek says that Cain “suddenly reached over and he put his hand on my leg under my skirt and reached for my genitals. He also grabbed my head and brought it toward his crotch.” Despite what Jacobson thinks he heard, Bialek clearly said that Cain touched her in a sexual way. The fact that he stopped when she told him to doesn’t change that.
Bialek is a Republican and a Tea Party supporter, not a liberal who wants to destroy Cain’s campaign. This should be really bad for him, but so far he isn’t backing down; and many Republicans like Jacobson are still making excuses for him.
At The Grio, Zerlina Maxwell argues that the fact the Bialek is white will finally destroy Cain, but at the NYT, T.R. Frank says not so fast.
…if you think the end of the Cain campaign is at hand, remember this: The end of the Cain campaign has been at hand for months. And yet the end doesn’t arrive. In fact, inspired by Cain’s example of thrusting face exuberantly into fan, I’ll offer my own face: the end isn’t about to arrive now either. I believe that Cain will weather this latest storm. He will suffer embarrassment. People will cringe at what emerges. And he will continue to poll far better than reason should allow.
And check this out:
is it any wonder that Herman Cain has shed a lot of high-level campaign staff members, both within his national organization and in crucial early states like Iowa and New Hampshire? Most of these former staff members have signed nondisclosure agreements, and others would speak to me only off the record. None of them recall their former boss as a sexual harasser. But they do speak of a man so egotistical that careful self-policing would never really enter into the realm of consideration.
They also speak — bitterly — of a candidate with zero interest in policy. They speak of events canceled at the last minute to accommodate any available television interview. They speak of unrelenting self-absorption, even by the standards of a politician.
But they don’t speak of someone who can’t win.
Personally, I think Cain should be gone already. But maybe Frank is right. The latest Gallup poll has Cain still tied with Romney for the lead in the race for the Republican nomination. And we know how much Republicans don’t want Romney.
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Rush Limbaugh mocks Sharon Bialek’s name.
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201111070011
asshole…
Yes, he is totally out of line!
Well, that’s thoroughly disgusting. Is there a low that Limbaugh isn’t willing to descend? Obviously not.
How disgusting is Rush Limbaugh, insinuating a sex act (‘Buy a lick’) to defend Herman Cain. Rush Limbaugh is a pervert!
especially when the woman said Cain pushed her face into his crotch!
I know Rush Limbaugh is a PERVERT! I finally listened…what a sicko and Herman Cain too.
Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually comes out that Cain raped someone. And there are probably hundreds of women who could tell stories like Bialek’s.
BB, even Krauthammer says it is sexual assault: Krauthammer: If latest Cain allegations are true it’s ‘sexual assault’ | The Daily Caller“If true, it’s kind of sexual assault, which is an order of magnitude worse.”
Ya think? I mean would any of these men excuse this behavior against their own wives or daughters? If true, Herman Cain must of been having meltdowns or a midlife crisis during the 90s. Either that or his ego is out of control.
I’m just listening to the lawyer of the woman who decided not to come forward. He’s saying that his client experienced something similar to the Bialek story. Seems to be a pattern. No wonder she didn’t want to go public.
Yes, I would hope more women are made aware of their rights and that these incidents become a thing of the past, as it sure is shocking that thus far four women have said Herman Cain has sexually harassed them.
I did note that his wife never made that press conference.
I can’t believe this guy didn’t get slammed for the foreign policy gaffs…immigration gaffs…etc.
That he is actually getting money from idiots who support him in this sexual harassment/assault matter makes me sick.
Herman Cain raises $2 million, heads to late-night TV
I was going to link this article in my evening news post…but forgot to.
China HAZ Nukes! Yup, he is all marketing and no experience in foreign policy.
I meant to add this link as well, but I got called away. Bumbles and Sarkozy don’t love Israel!!!
Asshats.
Hillary 2012
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4145266,00.html
actually it sounds like their problem is with the PM
It does confirm a bunch of ‘rumors’ about Bibi. I was looking for the quote by the State Dept. official being critical of him as well. You would think that those two would wait til later to talk about him, though…..
Hillary 2012
I support the women (four thus far), I felt (Knew) Herman Cain was trashing these women in the media and that one (given the information I heard via radio) woman seemed to have been fired post complaint and have been upset with the way the media has treated them. Most people may not know, but most women that file similar complaints, simply want to keep their jobs and it is a painful effort for them to come forward to file said complaints.
Today I truly felt for this brave woman who came forward to give her statement of what happened to her, difficult as it was to do and hope that more information is given to women as to their recourse when they encounter similar situations.
I will never vote for VP Joe Biden as I feel he betrayed his duty to the American people and made Anita Hill out to be a liar, when he prevented the other women from testifying and kept them in a hotel, thereby insuring Clarence Thomas’ confirmation. I believe Anita Hill and today Sharon Bialek stood fast and tall when she came forward to take away the stigma that has been present since the Clarence Thomas hearings, where women were called liars for standing up for their rights in the workplace. Thank you Sharon Bialek, thank you…
BB, thank you for covering this important topic, a topic that needs more attention by the mainstream media.
This reality show campaign with its various grotesques is making me very embarrassed for our country.
Oh yes Edward, definitely.
I believe this is sexual assault and Cain should be run out of public life on a rail. However, the TP hypocrites don’t seem to care about much of anything except the initial after his name. The Republican race for the nomination has become a clown show and nothing more. What a bunch of creeps.
What bothers me most about this is how sanctimonious this guy was about how he never benefited from anti-discrimination laws and that he said racism wasn’t a problem. Then, when 4 women are identified as having being sexually harassed/assaulted by this man, he screams it’s a high tech lynching and it’s racism. Same with the rest of the misogynist right wing. Women who report assault and harassment are liars. Racism doesn’t exist UNTIL it happens to one of theirs. Then out comes the race card and the indignation! Did you hear this woman actually attended a tea party event and is obviously a Republican and they still act like she’s out to get him? The contradictions are just so incredible and hypocritical! I can also think of wingers defending Quitterella against sexism that are saying misogynistic things against this woman and the three others. Two of the women are bound by gag orders basically. Plus, it takes a really brave woman to come out and say these things knowing full well that the right wing will just do anything to destroy you.
She is a brave lady and she did the right thing and I respect her for speaking up. Rush ‘my housekeeper’ bought the drugs Limbaugh is out of order in making fun of Sharon Bialek.
I couldn’t agree more. Basically the right wing’s entire schtick seems to be whining about how they are “oppressed” because they can’t get everything they want all the time. And, in the midst of their whining complaints, they accuse everyone else of being whiners.
Too many people have bought that BS line for too long. It goes all the way from reproductive freedom and contraception to the phony war on christmas. Furious pushback is needed for all these “issues”, the phony as well as the real ones.
And thinking of Palin, I’ll bet she’s sorry she’s not running or still grifting. Just think of the millions she could be soaking up in the middle of all this.
she’d lose here gig at FOX and I think that’s GInrich and Cain’s goal, but she’d get to do another book tour
Ailes would probably hire her right back. He said he hired her because she was hot and got viewers. That wouldn’t change much.
PoliticalTicker CNN Political Ticker
Cain to hold press conference Tuesday bit.ly/vuNsT2
Wonder if he’ll answer questions?
Don’t count on too much, this is the guy that wants to be POTUS and didn’t know ‘China HAZ Nukes’…it would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
Okay…let’s make it five: Report: Cain sought dinner date with fifth woman – Maggie Haberman – POLITICO.com
I can’t believe how the republicans think this is normal behavior, like we wouldn’t know what is normal? I’ve never seen a man so fugged up.
Aw, the poor guy. He was probably abused as a boy./snark
Anyway, what a lecher.
Herman Cain ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Appearance: GOP Candidate Addresses Sharon Bialek Press Conference During Interview (VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/herman-cain-jimmy-kimmel_n_1081190.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
Herman Cain is making fun of Gloria Allred trying to say he wouldn’t hire her for well, you get the point. He just doesn’t get it.
The Daily Show
Monday November 7, 2011
Indecision 2012 – He Said, She Said, She Said, She Said, She Said
As Herman Cain tries to move on from his sexual harassment scandal, Sharon Bialek, the fourth woman to accuse him, goes public with her charges.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-november-7-2011/indecision-2012—he-said–she-said–she-said–she-said–she-said?xrs=rss_tdsvids&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter