Chris Matthews Speculates Herman Cain Sexually Harassed Women While Drunk
Appearing on Wednesday's NBC Today, MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews urged Herman Cain to admit to sexually harassing women and even predicted what the Republican front-runner might say: "I think even if it's really bad he has to put the context to it. He has to say, 'It was an extraordinary night, I had too many drinks, I normally don't act like that, this is not me.'" [Audio available here; view video after the jump]
The segment began with co-host Matt Lauer going after Cain for suggesting racial motivations behind the dredged up accusations: "He believes race is playing a role in this but he has no proof to support that. Is that a dangerous statement on his point?" Matthews replied: "I think he's struggling to come up with some rationale why he's not talking....At some point we're going to find out, maybe by the end of the week, what he actually did that caused all of this trouble. He clearly did something wrong."
Lauer noted that voters support Cain because they think he's a "straight shooter" and noted: "...in the last several days it appears he's playing a game of semantics. Is this going to hurt him?" Matthews argued: "Yes, it's built the story, it's built it to a crescendo. When it finally comes out what actually happened, it's going to be a much bigger crash to him....he's the David against Goliath. If this story turns out that he's Goliath, that he abused his authority as head of an association, it's going to hurt him badly."
Here is a transcript of the November 2 exchange:
7:05AM ET
MATT LAUER: Chris Matthews is host of MSNBC's Hardball and he's also the author of the new book, "Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero." Chris, good to see you, good morning.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Matt, thanks.
LAUER: Herman Cain says he believes race is playing a role in this but he has no proof to support that. Is that a dangerous statement on his point?
MATTHEWS: Well, I think he's struggling to come up with some rationale why he's not talking. I still think, Matt, that this has two aspects to it, the hunt for him, the hunt for the information, which is almost a Perry Mason case, and what actually happened. At some point we're going to find out, maybe by the end of the week, what he actually did that caused all of this trouble. He clearly did something wrong.
LAUER: In one of the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls that Herman Cain did pretty well in, we asked voters what it was about him that they like, and a lot of them said that he is a straight shooter.
MATTHEWS: Right.
LAUER: And now in the last several days it appears he's playing a game of semantics. Is this going to hurt him?
MATTHEWS: Yes, it's built the story, it's built it to a crescendo. When it finally comes out what actually happened, it's going to be a much bigger crash to him. But there's – you the question is – he's kind of a David and Goliath, he's the David against Goliath. If this story turns out that he's Goliath, that he abused his authority as head of an association, it's going to hurt him badly.
LAUER: He says fundraising has not been damaged by this, raised a half a million dollars on Monday alone. Do you think he needs to get out there and sit down with someone and do one full scale interview, lay it all on the line, whether the truth is pretty or not, before one of these accusers gets out there and speaks?
MATTHEWS: Right, I think even if it's really bad he has to put the context to it. He has to say, 'It was an extraordinary night, I had too many drinks, I normally don't act like that, this is not me.' But he has to say it, you're right, that way.
(...)
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Comments
ZERO Self-Awareness
Submitted by Annie Ashe Fields on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 10:40am.
"He believes race is playing a role in this but he has no proof to support that."
YOU MEAN LIKE YOU AND THE TEA PARTY, CHRIS?????????????????????
And don't you dare give me this happy horsesh*t about some fool showing up with a sign.
WE POLICE OUR OWN AND SHUN THEM IMMEDIATELY AND YOU KNOW IT YOU DISHONEST BROKER, YOU!
The Republican Party was HOME to the OVERWHELMING majority of American blacks until the 1960's - And the timing of the break is INEXPLICABLE since it was DEMOCRATS WHO FILIBUSTERED CIVIL RIGHTS IN '64 & '65...
Oh.. Wait... PROGRESSIVES WROTE THE HISTORY BOOKS, RAN THE PRESS, AND PROPAGANDIZED THAT TRUTH AWAY, DIDN'T THEY?
The KKK was started by DEMOCRATS as a DOMESTIC TERROR ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY...
Funny how that's been FORGOTTEN, huh?
UNIVERSITIES ARE THE BIGGEST SINGLE MONEY LAUNDERING MACHINE FOR THE PROGRESSIVE MAFIA AND IT'S RUINING THE COUNTRY.
I, for one, and raising my chidren - even here in MA - to KNOW THE TRUTH.
YOU WON'T GET MY KIDS, YOU B*STARDS.
If anyone would know about
Submitted by lesterwink23 on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 10:39am.
If anyone would know about using alcohol as an excuse for questionable behavior, it's Prissy. It's bad enough that he spews this idiotic crap on his own show, now he's forum shopping to spread his spittly ignorance to a larger audience.
This is what happens when conservative candidates . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 10:50am.
. . . are unprepared to answer questions about past conduct.
The feeble minded like Matthews, Schultz, Maddow, and just about every MSM anchor with too much time on their hands, start speculating and feeding on each others wild speculations.
Matthews introduces alcohol. Papantonio calls Cain a "disgusting old sex freak."
Is it right? Of course not. But unfortunately it's the nature of the American political arena, and conservative candidates have to be ready to play aggressively in it.
The Left has the same treatment planned for Rubio if he changes his mind and gets into the race as either a Presidential or VP candidate.
To the white masters of the Left, Palin, Cain, and Rubio are traitors to the respective group stereotypes that have been crafted for them.
Their unsubstantiated rants
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 11:28am.
allow them to say all the things they'd like to have said about the Kennedys, Clintons and other Democrat deviates, but couldn't due to fear of reprisal from their puppet masters.
Same game -- different rules
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 3:21pm.
I actually think that many of them -- like Matthews and Schultz -- don't see the difference in their treatments of like stories. Matthews is so enthralled with "Jack" Kennedy (His book came out this week) and Schultz is so in love with Obama, that they would never even think of writing or uttering negatives stuff about their private lives.
The rules a politician is subjected to by the MSM has everything to do with which team he/she plays for.
Matthews is drunk again!
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 10:45am.
Every American racist who is registered to vote is registered Democrat.
I'm sure of it.
You wanna know the funniest part?
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 10:49am.
Old Prissy Chrissy can't even 'fess up about being gay!
Lean Forward, Prissy. Tell it all, sista, tell it all!
Confession is good for the soul, and may get you a hot date with Barney Fwank.
Not Drunk...
Submitted by JLin on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 11:24am.
I heard from reliable sources that Cain was high on medical paint thinner, airplane glue, spicy kielbasa, and PCP. Do not follow his trip to the bathroom!
So at what point...
Submitted by LinTaylor on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 11:34am.
I have to say, this whole thing with Mr. Cain has me wondering something. Not whether he actually harass these phantom women, of course. What I want to know is, with all these clowns like Chris Matthews and Matt Lauer acting like he DID do something despite the incredible murkiness of the accusations, how long is it before Herman can sue these clowns for slander?
McCain / John Edwards / NYT Coverage
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 11:35am.
Compare and contrast the coverage and there is your answer. And McRino isn't even a conservative.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
You might as well add FOX News.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 11:39am.
While Cain is not my pick, I'm increasingly disappointed by their tone, projecting "disastrous" results and dodging any idea that there may not be much to this.
Having said that, now I understand one of the "ladies'" ambulance chasers has said he "believes Mr. Cain has violated the confidentiality agreement" - translation: We're going to throw more fuel on the fire.
I don't know why Herman didn't make full disclosure immediately. I'm sick of all this already.
This is a well thought out
Submitted by buddyc on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:14pm.
This is a well thought out and fully prepared hit job involving Obama's campaign and their media allies. It starts with Politico, escalates to "entertainment" news and then moves to real news. WIthin a few weeks the women will come forward. There are too many rich liberals willing to pay them millions for them not to come forward. So I doubt Cain will be able to sue anyone.
I would love to see Romney, Huntsman or Perry or Newt or Bachman standing up for Cain. They can't. What if the charges are really bad? Cain is on his own. No one can help him. He is going to have to sink or swim dealing with this. So far he is losing the fight. I hope he can turn things around.
A Perry/Cain, Romney/Cain, Cain/Romney or Cain/Perry ticket will beat Obama as would the same group with Rubio as the VP. That is why you have the attacks on Rubio and Cain. There is no viable woman because the media has already destroyed Palin and Bachman. The attacks are only going to grow and expand. Progressives/Media want two old white men to run on the republican side. They will never allow there to be a woman/black/hispanic on the ticket. NO WAY.
Chris Has Clearly Never Been Accused of Sexual Harassment
Submitted by Avitar on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 11:43am.
Sexual Harrasment accusations are generally sparked by a social policy disagreement. I was once accused over a disagreement that using a keyboard should be a union only job. I was fortunate that I was never in the same room as the woman leveling the charge with fewer than sxz other people. But usually an acusation is a union toolto hurt the nonunion employeee. Just as the NOW always went to bat for Bill Clinton no matter how guilty he was the same is true of Union members since their union dues go to support the goals of radical feminists.
The number one targer of Liberal feminists is almost certainly Black Republicans.
In one chair you have a
Submitted by buddyc on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:15pm.
In one chair you have a reputed bi-sexual pervert interviewing another "expert" in the other chair who is a reputed alcoholic over allegations that Hermain Cain sexually harassed two women 15-20 years ago and whether Cain's alleging he is being attacked because he is black. It just so happens the two having the discussion are whites and Herman Cain is black.
That is rich isn't it.
Tingles is clearly
Submitted by Immortal Fish on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:21pm.
Tingles is clearly projecting.
Here is why Cain is correct
Submitted by buddyc on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 12:34pm.
Here is why Cain is correct and this is racism.
The media is attacking Cain not just because he is black but because he is both black and a republican. If he were a "white" republican he would not be attacked. They fear that a black or hispanic or a woman on the republican ticket is dangerous to their candidate.
When you attack someone solely because of his/her race or because of their gender that is sexism or racism.
The proof is:
Edwards vs Cain
Kennedy vs Thomas or Cain
Clinton vs Thomas or Cain
Biden vs Cain
The attacks were purely based on race! Lauer and Matthews ignore the obvious proof.
The Drooler is projecting again
Submitted by frank14 on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 2:27pm.
He thinks everyone is a fall down drunk just like him.
Projection again?
Submitted by Injest on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 3:02pm.
Chris Matthews Speculates Herman Cain Sexually Harassed Women While Drunk
Projection again?
Crissy, I speculate obama
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 3:34pm.
Crissy, I speculate obama paid off or threatened the life of Larry Sinclair for outing him as a homosexual, drug using deviant.
I also speculate that during your time dodging the draft in Africa you were a sex slave for numerous African men, hence your black fetish.
LAUER: Herman Cain says he
Submitted by TerryWest on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 3:41pm.
LAUER: Herman Cain says he believes race is playing a role in this but he has no proof to support that. Is that a dangerous statement on his point?
-------
Can you believe the hypocrisy of that statement?
at no point did these tabloid journalist have proof of racism within the Tea Party!
Speculation is the same as an
Submitted by jessieH on Wed, 11/02/2011 - 9:53pm.
Speculation is the same as an assumption. They both make an ass out of someone.
Character Assassination by any other name....
Submitted by Lee Hazel on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 11:49am.
The kind of speculative invective spewed by the likes of Matthews, Stewart, Olbermann, et al should get them censored or canned.
I will guarantee that shortly someone will come up with Cain's inebriation as fact.