All Three Networks Hype 'Bombshell Blast' Against Herman Cain
All three morning shows on Monday hyped a "bombshell blast" against Herman Cain, playing up a story in Politico charging the Republican presidential candidate with sexual harassment back in the 1990s. ABC's Good Morning America led with the allegations.
Co-host George Stephanopoulos, whose former boss, Bill Clinton, repeatedly faced sexual harassment claims, touted, "And this morning, bombshell blast. Major allegations against front-runner Herman Cain. Two former female colleagues accuse him of sexual harassment."
Only NBC's Chuck Todd on Today made sure to specifically note: "And we need to emphasize that NBC News has not independently confirmed these allegations."
CBS's Early Show mixed in the charges with an overall piece on Cain.
Reporter Jan Crawford began by oddly focusing on Cain's abortion position: "Now that he's a front-runner, he's facing increased scrutiny, especially when opponents question whether he would support abortion in some cases, like in the case of rape or incest."
Crawford also connected the allegations, linking, "...This reminds me of similar allegations that were levied just 20 years ago against Justice Clarence Thomas who, of course, was accused of sexual harassment himself."
She pointed out that Cain has predicted attacks against his character, relating, "[Cain] says he's read ready for the same- quote, 'high-tech lynching' that Justice Thomas said he received from the news media and the left."
Host Erica Hill weirdly described the allegations as occurring "several years ago," a rather loose term for events from the '90s.
GMA's Stephanopoulos interviewed Maggie Haberman, a co-writer of the Politico piece. The show gave the story the most play, leading off with it. Stephanopoulos did hit Haberman with some reasonable questions, pressing, "The sources are anonymous for the most part...Did you speak to the women involved?"
He added, "And, as I said, there were some board members on the record saying they knew nothing about this. How could that be?"
But he also teed up queries for Haberman, allowing her to expand on the claims: "You also say that there was documentation. Can you describe it and characterize the documentation?"
Stephanopoulos' previous career as a Democratic operative included squashing sexual harassment stories against Bill Clinton. On page 267 of his book All Too Human, Stephanopoulos recounted, "My goal was to put Paula Jones in the category as Connie Hamzy [who accused Clinton of propositioning her]- women whose stories were so suspect that their accounts couldn't be dignified by the media."
A transcript of the October 31 GMA segment can be found below:
Story Continues Below Ad ↓7am tease
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And this morning, bombshell blast, major allegations against front-runner Herman Cain. Two former female colleagues accuse him of sexual harassment. Did they take a big payout to keep quiet? We talk live to the reporter live who broke the story.
7:02
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, let's get right to the allegations against Herman Cain. The website Politico reporting late night that when Cain was head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, two female employees complained about his inappropriate, sexually suggestive behavior. Politico adds that Cain's advances made them "angry and uncomfortable" and that they left the association after receiving monetary settlements. Maggie Haberman is one of the reporters who broke story. She joins us now. Maggie, thanks for coming in this morning. Herman Cain would not comment on these allegations. His spokesmen have denied it to the AP. And they sent us this statement. They did not want to appear on the show this morning. They call these unsubstantiated personal attacks. Quote, "dredging up thinly sourced allegations, political trade press are now casting aspersions on his character and spreading rumors that never stood up to the facts. Since Washington establishment critics haven't had much luck in attacking Mr. Cain's ideas to fix a bad economy and create jobs, they're trying to attack him in any way they can." You're response?
MAGGIE HABERMAN (Senior political writer, Politico): Uh, I think the story was extremely well reported and it really speaks for itself. We gave the campaign ten days to respond to this. They repeatedly did not directly address the specifics of this. And when one of my colleagues, Jonathan Martin, approached Mr. Cain directly yesterday. And he did not say these allegations are false. He didn't really even address it. So, I think the story is thoroughly reported and, again, I think it really does stand.
STEPHANOPOULOS: The sources are anonymous for the most part. You speak to some members of the board of the National Restaurant Association. They said they knew nothing about this. Did you speak to the women involved?
HABERMAN: You know, we spoke to many sources. I'm not going to specify who we spoke to. I think we spoke to a lengthy roster of people who were around the NRA at the time, former board members, former staffers, as we said in the story. But, I think I'm going to let the sources have protection.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Why can't you say you spoke to the women?
HABERMAN: Because, I think, people typically don't identify their sources. And I just think we're not going to do that here.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You also say that there was documentation. Can you describe it and characterize the documentation?
HABERMAN: There were documentation about allegations that were made in one case and also documentation about a formal resolution, as we said, that also related to a-
STEPHANOPOULOS: So, is this a settlement sheet?
HABERMAN: It was a formal resolution.
STEPHANOPOULOS: A formal resolution and this involved a payout to the women-
HABERMAN: Correct.
STEPHANOPOULOS: -if they would not speak in the future?
HABERMAN: There was language in the agreement of their separation from the NRA that they would not get into details of this.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You know, the language that you use, sexually suggestive inappropriate behavior," what exactly did Cain do?
HABERMAN: I think- I think it's a legitimate question. But, I think as we said in the story, there were, you know, gestures. There were comments. There were certain suggestive overtures. For instance, things that made these women uncomfortable, made them angry and made them feel as if it was untoward.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And they made formal complaints to the board?
HABERMAN: There were complaints made and there were specific allegations involved.
STEPHANOPOULOS: To?
HABERMAN: To the NRA.
STEPHANOPOULOS: To the National Restaurant Association?
HABERMAN: Correct.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And, as I said, there were some board members on the record saying they knew nothing about this. How could that be?
HABERMAN: Uh, because I think when you have a large board, I think that, especially when you've got members all over the country, perhaps not everyone is aware of every specific action. Different corporations have different structures. But, again, as I have said, we reported this extremely thoroughly and feel confident in it.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So, you're confident the denial from the Cain campaign will not stand?
HABERMAN: I would be interested to see Mr. Cain has to say later today.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Maggie Haberman, thanks very much.
Update/Related: Be sure to read NB publisher Brent Bozell's statement about the media's attention to this story.
- Scott Whitlock's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
"Bombshell blast"...
Submitted by ontheright on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:01pm.
...really?
Until we see the spent cigar rings and/or stained blue dress; interesting unsubstantiated hearsay - yes / but "bombshell blast"?
Who are these cowards and why are there no cited sources? Not citing anonymous and/or unnamed sources that have the potential to end a career, or ruin lives should be illegal - unless you just so happen to be a white democratic president from Arkansas, of course.... /s
Yeah, some Bombshell
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 2:01pm.
Let me re-write the story:
Once upon a time, two people charged Herman Cain with something, which resulted in the people getting anywhere from $10,000 to $99,999 each to feel better. The people can't talk about the charge, but we talked to other people who either did or didn't remember something. The charge is so serious, that the women were happy to take money for not talking about it, and we are so responsible that we won't name the people or the other people who either did or didn't remember anything about the charge, which was really, really bad.
bombshell blast
Submitted by Sefton on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 2:41pm.
BTW, isn't "bombshell blast" against the New Tone edict of Dear Leader? ;-)
Clinton, the impeached former
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:01pm.
Clinton, the impeached former President and convicted war criminal was accused of rape, it was swept under the rug. Cain did 'something inappropriate' and is called on to resign.
time to charge the accusers
Submitted by dmacleo on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:22pm.
if the nda said never speak then its time the 2 pay the money back.
just like any sex scandal
Submitted by Agnostic on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:26pm.
They are going after Cain in the same manner they went after Edwards, Wiener, Spitzer and Clinton - they are refusing to say anything until all the facts are in and it is printed in the National Enquirer or Drudge.
What? They rushed to judgment because he is a Republican - Again! Never mind, what bias?
Within hours ..
Submitted by Fredy on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:29pm.
Within just a few hours of Herman Cain stating clearly that Planned Parenthood was created to promote genocide in black communities, the far left operatives are swamping the airwaves with this UNCONFIRMED story.
The left will make up any story to hide the truth of their murderous ways. They do not want to talk about Margret Sanger in any context outside of the cartoon character they have made of her.
And of course, any day not spent talking about the failing Obama economy is a good day.
Ding Ding Ding Ding!!!
Submitted by retrocon on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 1:09pm.
Give this man a cigar!
I'm amazed at the Schieffer interview, literally, Schieffer responded so casually to Cain when Cain brought up the eugenic nature of Sangers quest:
Cain: ..."but she did talk about preventing the increasing number of poor blacks in this country by preventing black babies from being born."
Schieffer: "So you would not see any advantage ... I mean, with so many black babies born out of wedlock?"
wow, and all the press is worried about are unsubstantiated allegations of possible inuendos, about things that might have happened 10+ years ago, or some such crapola.
wow!
The left is showing it's colors... so to speak.
wow!
Who didn't see that coming? (No pun intended)
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:30pm.
Sexual harassment allegations against a Black Conservative. Where have I heard that before?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Backfire
Submitted by Seashell on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:31pm.
I think that Cain will get more support than ever. People are tired of the media pulling these stunts and I hope that his poll numbers hit the roof after this.
You would think the media would have learned how foolish they were in putting Obama in a protective cocoon during the 08 campaign and not vetting him where his inexperience would have been revealed. Hillary would have won and probably reelected (she is married to one of the county's most savvy politicians) and then Obama could have stepped in for 8 more years (after 8 yrs in the Senate). The dems could have had the White House for 16 year!. Now, because of Obama's obvious inexperience, he will lose reelection and go down in history as a failed President.
The Obama plan backfired, and I think the Cain attacks will too.
more support than ever.
Submitted by CarlosS on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:34pm.
I for one sent in my support (campaing contribution) to the Hermain Cain web site over the weekend.
The media not vetting Obama in '08????
Submitted by no tingly legs on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 4:31pm.
Unfortunately, they knew all about his inexperience and radical views/associations. Heck, anyone listening to talk radio back then for even 15 minutes knew all about Obama's lack of qualifications. The MSM purposely didn't want to reveal what a radical, unqualified fool the Dems selected as their nominee. To make matters worse, the Republicans selected an idiot to run against Obama who was terrified at saying anything against Obama for fear of being labeled a racist.
no tingly legs
Submitted by Seashell on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 5:48pm.
Of course the MSM didn't want to reveal what a radical, unqualified fool Obama was/is. That's my point. Had they done it-Hillary would have been elected and most probably served a 2nd term and then Obama would have stepped in (with 8 yrs. of experience under his belt) and been elected and perhaps served 8 yrs. The main point was that the MSM shot themselves in the foot. They could have conceivable had the White House for 16 years. but they decided they were going to put an African American in the White House regardless of his qualifications and now they have a 1-term President (hopefully) and a failed one at that.
Having said all this I still don't count Obama out in 2012. We can't take it for granted that our side will win.
Seashell,
Submitted by Agnostic on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 9:46am.
I have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of Hillary's chance at winning 8 years.
Hillary was as divisive then as Palin has become now, disregarding the reasons why and the role of the media, and that would have allowed even McCain to win. Remember McCain was still very close to Obama in polling numbers until the financial collapse and the Chicken Little response of McCain. Plus Hillary's healthcare plan was a main reason the Republicans won the Congress during Bill's term and she was still going to move ahead with that idea in the same fashion that Obama has accomplished. If she somehow managed to get elected she would have stood no chance to win re-election. At best in your scenario I could see Obama running against her in the 2012 primaries.
One other note: if Hillary was running against McCain the voter turnout wouldn't have been near as high for Democrats and they perhaps would not have picked up so many seats in the House and Senate.
"There was documentation."
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:34pm.
"There was documentation."
Was? Past tense? OK, so where is that "documentation" now? Are you waiting for it to be faxed from a Kinko's or something?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Kinkos
Submitted by Agnostic on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:39pm.
From Kinkos to Dan Rather's hands. The story is real - even if the facts aren't true.
And I'm sure that these
Submitted by Free Stinker on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:40pm.
And I'm sure that these documents will be of the same authenticity & veracity as the Kilian (rathergate) documents.
/// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
There is nothing more infuriating than being falsely...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 12:54pm.
accused of doing something that you haven't done. Years ago, I tapped a co-worker on her shoulder while saying something to her in a cafeteria line.
To be charitable, she was a plain Jane and I thought I was just being friendly.
Later, I was called into our Supervisor's office and was told that she had just accused me of "snapping" her bra. I was shocked to say the least.
Needless to say, all these years later, I still get mad when I think about it, so I know exactly how Herman Cain feels.
Well...
Submitted by retrocon on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 1:11pm.
That makes you a target if you ever run for office as a conservative.
It makes you the candidate of choice if you ever run as a lib.
If you ever ran for office the libs would put out the word
Submitted by no tingly legs on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 4:34pm.
about how you tried to rip the bra off a co-worker and only quick action by others prevented her from being stripped of her clothes and raped by you. You should be ashamed of yourself. (roll eyes)
That is why I would never vote for a Democrat. They...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 5:49pm.
will stop at nothing to besmirch their foes, even lie if necessary. Of course when it came to their hero, JFK, they lied by omission. Who knew he was a womanizer while he was in the White House? I sure didn't, thanks to the media that covered for him during the 60's.
As a general rule, webster...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 6:06pm.
the media had historically turned a blind eye to the personal peccadilloes of politicians, irrespective of party. Gary Hart, Bob Packwood and later Clinton were examples of a gradual and then dramatic shift in that willful disregard. Oddly enough, Gingrich was a beneficiary of the old school attitudes and got a pass for his adulterous affairs during the 90's.
Jer
Jer
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 7:33pm.
I don't think it was as much, reverting to the old ways that saved Newt. I think the Media had spent so much of their energy defending everything Clinton had just done that even they couldn't do an About Face that quickly.
And don't forget Livingston (?) from Louisiana that was supposed to replace Newt, same deal with no fanfare.
Tugboat Phil...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 7:47pm.
I think if you reviewed the media coverage during that period, you would be surprised at how widely the criticism of Clinton's behavior was reflected by the MSM and by pundits and commentators across the board. Sure, there were those who questioned the propriety of impeachment over lying about consensual sex and who challenged the motives of Paula Jones and her backers, but very little countenancing of Clinton's reckless conduct.
Jer
Nice touch with the S there Jer, in Regards to Gingrich affairss
Submitted by upcountrywater on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 7:40pm.
Just one pal,
What! Are you having nightmares after posting, way back in early baby boom dazes blah blah I bagged a National Review blah blah and watched some TV show it's got William Frank Buckley, Jr. on it blah blah...
And now this post...Why on earth do you wonder..... as to why many folks here regard you as a troll.....
So here's a hint, when you unload this lefty of a kooksville linkless post, just maybe a re-read might be necessary before posting that failure of a post on a conservative site..
You seem like a bright guy....Snap out of it, will ya.
You Didn't Build That.
"Affairs" is correct, pal...
Submitted by Jer on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 8:22pm.
...but if it bothers you so much, I'll rearrange the syntax of my sentence in question to ..."got a pass during the 90's for his adulterous affairs." I can't give you the exact date of each one, but there definitely was more than one.
Do some research, pal. Here's a good start. This, too.
By the way, nice touch with the "many folks here regard you as a troll." How many, ucw? Have you taken a survey? What is your definition of a troll? Do you consider me one along with the many others? I'm very interested in your thoughts on the matter.
Jer
Stephanopoulos' previous career?
Submitted by Phryj1 on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 2:06pm.
He never left that career! Democrat operative/publicist is SYNONYMOUS with MSM anchor/reporter. He just transferred to a different office.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
How utterly predictable
Submitted by spepper on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 3:06pm.
How utterly predictable of the usual and suspect 3 networks to pile on the baseless accusations by their broadcast sensationalizing a complete fabrication of their philosophical co-conspirators on the left. They also still refuse to accept that by their obvious bias against conservative candidates such as Cain, it's the reason that people everywhere reach for the "clicker" to either change channels to ESPN etc or simply turn them OFF.
ESPN after Rush and after
Submitted by buddyc on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 4:57pm.
ESPN after Rush and after Wilbon and after the Mike Tyson interview about Sarah Palin is on my no watch list.
None of the 3 major networks report stories on Edwards or Weiner like this. Eventually the reported the Weiner story. They NEVER really reported the Edwards story at all. It should be obvious to all republicans and especially our candidates that ABC/CBS and NBC are in the tank for democrats. We need to boycott them. Our candidates need to learn how to use that prejudice against them.
what a con job.
Submitted by kata on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 3:22pm.
I see tall man in his past... he has... a settlement... wait, no... a formal resolution.. yes, that's it.... The rest is just a blur, I'm sorry.
I've heard better dialog on the Mentalist.
Either it's harassment, or it isn't. If it was harassment we wouldn't be enduring this journalistic seance.
This is just a con. What I want to know is - who leaked it.
Yeeeeeeah
Submitted by HockeyKid on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 3:34pm.
The Politico story says the allegations were of "sexual harassment involving gestures that were not overtly sexual in nature" (paraphrasing).
Huh?!!
That's a bit like accusing someone of murder by way of acts that did not overtly kill anyone. Or stealing involving actions that were not overtly theft in nature.
OTOH, libs engage daily in "thinking" that involves activities that are not overtly intellectual in nature, so I guess it all makes sense.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Nancy Grace uses the word
Submitted by TerryWest on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 4:38pm.
Nancy Grace uses the word Bombshell often, the mean stream media is like watching the tabloids at the check outs come to life.
What a horrible reflection these tabloid journalist and media give of our election process, it has to be better then this.
Cain will be the Vice
Submitted by buddyc on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 4:53pm.
Cain will be the Vice Presidential nominee if he continues to improve in the world of politics and if he handles these allegations properly. His being on the Republican ticket assures us that Obama will be a one term president. I don't see allegations made 20 years ago that don't seem to be that signficant changning Cain's momentum. And I expect that they will pay these women to come out (after Cain has responded) and make new allegations and rehash their old allegations. Cain needs to handle this carefully and it will cause him no political harm.
WTF?
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 4:58pm.
This would make Cain electable if he were a liberal. He'd be getting the NOW seal of approval.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
Barack Obama Cheating Scandal, Affair With Vera Baker?
Submitted by jmigyanka@msn.com on Mon, 10/31/2011 - 6:50pm.
May 1st, 2010 SMSEO
Barack Obama Cheating Scandal, Affair With Vera Baker?
Wow, this news is interesting to say the very least. Last night news was breaking via The National Enquirer that President Barack Obama is having an affair with a woman named Vera Baker.
According The National Enquirer, Barack Obama and Vera Baker were caught in a Washington, DC hotel together.
Vera Baker photos here.
The Obama scandal says: “a confidential investigation has learned that Obama first became close to gorgeous 35 year-old VERA BAKER in 2004 when she worked tirelessly to get him elected to the US Senate, raising millions in campaign contributions.”
The ENQUIRER has also learned that on-site hotel surveillance video camera footage could provide indisputable evidence.
This is news that will definitely start spreading like wildfire this weekend if there is even a remote chance of evidence or truth to it.
According to reports, independent anti-Obama agencies are offering more than $1 million dollars to reports and resources that come forward providing substantial evidence to confirm these rumors.
Here’s the news that The National Enquirer is breaking:
A confidential investigation has learned that Obama first became close to gorgeous 35 year-old VERA BAKER in 2004 when she worked tirelessly to get him elected to the US Senate, raising millions in campaign contributions.
While Baker has insisted in the past that “nothing happened” between them, the ENQUIRER has learned that top anti-Obama operatives are offering more than $1 million to witnesses to reveal what they know about the alleged hush-hush affair.
Among those being offered money is a limo driver who says that he took Vera to a secret hotel rendezvous where the President was staying.
On the condition of anonymity, the limo driver said he took Baker “from a friend’s home in the DC area to the Hotel George where I learned later that Obama would be spending the night.”
The driver recalled that he “waited in the lobby while she went to change her outfit.
“But to the best of my knowledge she did not have a room at the hotel and she was not staying there so I thought that it was a bit odd.”
The driver said he then picked up Obama at the airport and drove both he and Baker to various locations while he was campaigning for funds. Vera accompanied him to each meeting.
“About 10:30 PM, I drove them to the hotel and they went in together!”
“My services for the evening were done – and there was no indication she was going to leave the hotel that night.”
A top DC source told The ENQUIRER exclusively that the driver’s account had been independently corroborated by investigators who believe the couple spent the night together at the hotel.
The ENQUIRER has also learned that on-site hotel surveillance video camera footage could provide indisputable evidence.
“Investigators are attempting to obtain a tape from the hotel (that) shows Vera and Barack together,” the DC insider confided.
“If the tape surfaces, it will explode the scandal.”
http://socialmediaseo.net/2010/05/01/barack-obama-cheating-scandal-affai...
Forget Cain I want more about BHO and his GAY MEN
Submitted by DOC Freeman on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 3:46pm.
You never heard them talk about BHO and his gay men. I would rather hear more about this than Mr. Cain.
Mom of Murdered Obama Gay Lover Speaks Up
The story about President Barack Obama’s bi-sexual past will not go away. Now, in an exclusive interview with The Globe, Norma Jean Young, the 76-year old mother of the late Trinity United Church of Christ choir director Donald Young, has spoken out and declared that persons trying to protect Obama murdered her son at the height of the 2007 Democratic presidential primary to protect Obama from embarrassing revelations about his homosexual relationship with her son. Donald Young’s bullet-ridden body was found in his Chicago apartment on December 23, 2007, in what appeared to be an assassination-style slaying.
Some facts:
In late May, Wash. DC-based investigative journalist Wayne Madsen had a bombshell revelation about Obama’s membership in a Chicago gay club, Man’s Country. Madsen also reported on Obama’s sexual relationships with other men, including named D.C. politicians and Donald Young, the openly-gay choir-director of the church in Chicago of which Obama was a member for some 20 years — Jeremy Wright’s Trinity United Church of Christ black liberation theology. Obama’s relationship with Young was confirmed by Larry Sinclair, who claims to have had two sex-cocaine trysts with Obama.
There were two other openly gay men in Wright’s church: Larry Bland and Nate Spencer. In late 2007, as Obama began his ascent to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, in a span of 1½ months, all three men “conveniently” died:
• Bland was murdered execution-style on November 17, 2007;
• Young was murdered execution-style on December 24, 2007;
• Spencer reportedly died of septicemia, pneumonia, and HIV on December 26, 2007.
• Death certificates of Bland and Young, http://www.rense.com/general82/cdet.htm
Now, Young’s elderly mother is speaking out about her suspicions that her son was murdered to protect Obama’s reputation and assure his political future as President.