Comments on: What the DSK affair taught Herman Cain

By: MohamedMalleck

MohamedMalleck — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:54:23 +0000

It is not exactly correct to say that “the strategy worked in the case of DSK”. My own interpretation of events (but, I have no proof, although I believe most people are of the same opinion as me) is that Nafissatou Diallo had, at some point, to balance the tradeoff between a degrading court litigation where DSK’s lawyers had used all legal means available to destroy the credibility of the accuser, and the offer of a pay-off for not obstinately blocking the prosecutor’s inclination to drop the case. The very indigent lady rightly chose to be practical. Feminists don’t put food on your table for long.

By: deerecub1977

deerecub1977 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:21:00 +0000

He sure likes the stripper types with the butterfaces

By: Ebbygirl

Ebbygirl — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:09:43 +0000

There’s 5 accusers now, right? Well the truth is important but I have no way of assuring that the facts are on the table…so I must weigh what I do know and that is…Its five against one that’s it…I won’t take a chance and give him my vote..

By: YuseL

YuseL — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:58:57 +0000

There is a reason why the scale is a symbol of justice, in very few cases is right and wrong as clear a difference as day vs. night.

Let’s assume Herman Cain is innocent (as we are supposed to do, it is part of the system), is it wrong for him to defend himself by going on the offensive? Of course not. However, the damage has already been done and there is no way he is going to fix it. The author forgot to mention that despite DSK’s offensive, he still lost his job as head of IMF. If Cain was taking a leaf from DSK’s book, he should know now that his shot at presidency is over.

Sure, Cain will successfully defend against the accusations and the women will likely receive no further monetary compensation, but in the end they won. The only explanation as to why they would come out now is to prevent Cain from taking office. Perhaps they feel sacrificing their reputation is worth it. I think that speaks volumes.

Our justice system may seem unfair at times, but that’s only because the scale sometimes fails to tip in one direction or the other.

By: AndiV

AndiV — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:08:39 +0000

Whatever happens, it seems that we will never reach balance and that media is opened to extremists just because they create controversy. Not to say that there isn’t sexual harassment, racism, chauvinism but there are studies that show that when one gets the view that he/she is discriminated, anything, even the most innocuous statement, will be perceived as part of the same ongoing harassment or discrimination. Just as these women remembered only now that they were victimized by Cain’s harassment, and not when it happened, Cain can say whatever he feels it would help his case. Bialek didn’t say that the “palatial suite” was inappropriate or that a very expensive dinner was inappropriate and weird to be given to somebody who sought you for a job-connection. Was she as naive as to think that Cain was offering these to any job-seeker?!

By: TigerPantz

TigerPantz — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:22:02 +0000

I’d like to address the comments by JaredWhite and Vestar regarding “facts, evidence, DNA and only words of the accusers – who only came forward when it became profitable to do so”. I’d like to point to a a case of sexual misconduct currently being investigated at Penn State. The accusers have only words, some eye-witnesses who did nothing when wrong-doing was happening, no DNA, the words of an emotional female making outlandish claims to officials regarding a high profile person, nameless vitims and documented ones. What about the victims of Penn State; what about their situation at the time, were gifts exchanged, favors given and does this negate the sexual misconduct? Do you believe a man is innocent because no one retained evidence, because no one came forward, because it was repeated over and over? Do you believe accusers profit from such claims or do they want justice? Are the claims against Mr. Cain that difficult that plausibility is absurd? Our society requires us to responsiblity investigate such claims ESPECIALLY against individuals in high profile, positions of power to avoid further deceit to the public and that is what’s happening now. We must listen to the accusers and make a decision about his innocence because this man intends on us handing over our trust to him in major proportions.

By: fred5407

fred5407 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:10:05 +0000

I think that both political parties are at fault for not checking out the candidates prior to letting them run for office. Too much time is spent listening to useless tabloid junk speak. Like Obama, nobody is checking out the ability of the candidates to lead the country. The reason Perry is not being considered seriously is because he is trying to follow in the footsteps of loser Bush from a so called position of leadership in Texas.

By: Global55

Global55 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:06:03 +0000

Just from the brief description (Freelance, feminist, political) we can know where the writer plans to go with this piece. Barely high school quality.

Reuters can do better than this – and better do better if it wants me to keep tuning in.

By: upstater

upstater — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:35:18 +0000

Some of the commenters ought to think about how THEY would feel is it was THEIR daughter or wife that had Herman Cain’s groping paws up their skirts.

There is something about the culture of powerful men that leads these people to think they can get away with it. Indeed, probably 999 times out of 1000 they do.

By: geesam47

geesam47 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:08:52 +0000

Both the Republican and the Democratic Parties have developed a joint comedy of hypocritical candidates. And the Republican debates are 4 star laugh shows.