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Accusations of sexual harassment are serious business…as they should be. As serious as the matter is, though, that’s still not enough to stop some Republicans from demonizing the women who’ve come forward to put a face on the allegations.
If they have competent legal representation, the women were advised of the ugliness that would follow their revealing their identity and speaking publicly about their experience with Herman Cain. That being said, though, I’m not certain how anyone could possibly be adequately prepared for the ugliness and the inhumanity being thrown in their direction. Herman Cain has left the dirty work to his surrogates. You’ll notice that he’s made no attempt to distance himself from the ugliness being thrown at his accusers on his behalf.
If Cain had a shred of humanity and decency (never mind anything resembling a soul) he’d disavow the insults and the name-calling. Judging by his silence, I can only assume that he condones what’s being doing by his surrogates- if he hasn’t planned and organized it himself.
Herman Cain Accuser Karen Kraushaar works for Obama and she’s ugly
And that’s a more family-friendly example. It promises to only get worse.
The post on Herman Cain’s PAC website is particularly offensive, showing a picture of Karen Kraushaar with a horse.
Ew, gross! Who the hell does this ugly b1tch think she’s fooling?
Just to be clear, Karen Kraushaar is the one on the left.
Already, Republicans are taking shots at Kraushaar and Sharon Bialek, using words that no decent human being should ever use to describe a woman. This sort of behavior, while thoroughly inexcusable and beyond the pale, is the sort of thing we’ve come to expect from Republicans, who generally care about one thing and one thing only: winning.
I won’t begin to pretend to know the truth of what happen in any long-ago interactions between Cain and his accusers. What I do find telling is Cain’s silence as those who are defending him have stooped to the level of vile insults and immaturity as they seek to destroy the women who have come forward. If he doesn’t condone what’s being said and done on his behalf, why isn’t he asking those involved in the calumny and demonization of his accusers to stand down? He’s not, of course, because he knows the mud-slinging serves his purpose, even as he portrays himself as standing above he fray.
Herman Cain is, of course, innocent until proven guilty, and he deserves the opportunity to defend himself. Conversely, the women deserve to be able to tell their story without being demonized and vilified by those who see it as their role and responsibility to defend Cain. If Cain is a serial skirt chaser with a history of inappropriate behavior towards female subordinates, that that story needs to be told, because it speaks to the character of the man who would be President. Under no circumstances, though, should Cain permit, allow, or even condone supporters treating his accusers like trash. That Cain is standing idly by while his surrogates do his dirty work tells me pretty much every thing I need to know about Cain’s (complete lack of) character.
We should (and must) be able to expect that a Presidential candidate would conduct his campaign with dignity and respect for all Americans, not just those who happen to support him. That Herman Cain is condoning this sort of vile immaturity and disrespect by his silence is as reprehensible as it is inexcusable. Cain’s belligerence in the face of being accused of a history of sexual harassment is unforgivable and completely unworthy of anyone qualified to be President.
If Cain has nothing to hide, all he has to do is be completely honest and transparent. It’s not something pleasant to contemplate, but the fact that several women are known to be accusing Cain of untoward behavior speaks to a possible pattern of inappropriate sexually suggestive behavior. For a man so clearly proud of his self-proclaimed morality and integrity, his failure to be open, honest, and transparent would seem to be indicative of a hypocrite with a good deal to hide.
You might think that Herman Cain would be contrite in the face of the allegations of sexual harassment being leveled against him. If you’re thinking that, you’d be sadly mistaken. Instead of being open, honest, and transparent, Cain and his surrogates have gone on the offensive, attacking his female accusers in ways that are mean-spirited, insulting, and degrading. Cain’s attorney has threatened women who might consider coming forward, telling them they need “to think twice.”
This is not something I say lightly, because I generally try not to impugn a candidate’s character- they’re usually more than willing to do that all by themselves. Since Cain is questioning the character, morality, and physical appearance of his accusers, it’s clear that he deserves no consideration.
Herman Cain is demonstrably a miserable excuse for a human being and by no means a good or decent human being. His self-proclaimed morality and integrity are both jokes; he’s neither moral nor a man possessed of any degree of integrity. His campaign is focused on one thing and one thing only: winning the Presidency. Anyone or anything with the temerity to get in his way will be crushed without consideration or recourse. His is a campaign that lays bare his lack of character, absence of humanity, and lust for power. It’s as mean, evil, and venal as any campaign I can remember since Richard Nixon…and Nixon set the bar high when it comes to immorality and evil.
For my money, Cain’s a liar and a hypocrite- just the sort of Republican who’d be appropriate to carry the GOP’s banner into the 2012 Presidential campaign. A man devoid of character and integrity for a party devoid of character and integrity.
It’s time for Cain to be honest and call off the jackals. Failing that, it’s time for him to drop out of the race for the GOP nomination. It’s his choice.
