Politico dropped a bombshell on the candidacy of GOP front-runner Herman Cain tonight; what remains unclear is if this turns out to be a hit of the Anita Hill, or Monica Lewinsky variety. What is clear is that when Democrat John Edwards was accused of far worse, there was no immediate media feeding frenzy, as we’re already seeing play out. At the same time, it isn’t as thin as were the charges used in the attempted media lynching of Justice Thomas. As Philip Klein writes, blaming the establishment, the media, or another GOP campaign may not be enough to end the controversy for Cain’s campaign.




During Herman Cain’s tenure as the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, at least two female employees complained to colleagues and senior association officials about inappropriate behavior by Cain, ultimately leaving their jobs at the trade group, multiple sources confirm to POLITICO.

The women complained of sexually suggestive behavior by Cain that made them angry and uncomfortable, the sources said, and they signed agreements with the restaurant group that gave them financial payouts to leave the association. The agreements also included language that bars the women from talking about their departures.

The Cain campaign has responded here:

Inside the Beltway media attacks Cain

Fearing the message of Herman Cain who is shaking up the political landscape in Washington, Inside the Beltway media have begun to launch unsubstantiated personal attacks on Cain.

Dredging up thinly sourced allegations stemming from Mr. Cain’s tenure as the Chief Executive Officer at the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, 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 are trying to attack him in any way they can.

Sadly, we’ve seen this movie played out before – a prominent Conservative targeted by liberals simply because they disagree with his politics.

Mr. Cain — and all Americans, deserve better.