Who among us hasn’t gotten a little handsy?
I really was trying to stay away from this circus. I have commented on a lot of political scandals this year, as have my fellow contributors to twoday magazine, and I really wanted to let one slide. I figured, let’s see where this party bus is headed before I jump on.
But, alas, I can no longer sit on the sidelines and let all the other online bloggers have all the fun. Herman Cain is his own worst enemy (and I don’t mean because of his 9-9-9 economic proposal...save that bag of awesomeness for another blog). I mean because it seems as though every single day another woman has come forward suggesting that Cain has inappropriately made sexual advances towards her.
Yes, I know it is hard to believe that a wannabe politician would abuse his power and sexually harass or assault a woman. It’s difficult to imagine. But, yet another has stepped forward.
Yesterday, Sharon Bialek, represented by the oh-so-subtle Gloria Allred, publicly stated that Cain sexually harassed her in 1997, explaining that he became physically aggressive with her after she inquired about a job. Cain is, of course, rebuking this accusation (he must sound like a broken record at this point) stating this her claim is nonsense and that he is 200% married (wonder if you get double the tax break for that?) and that his wife is standing by her man, disgusted by the women who seek to shame him.
Cain, like many of the other politicians before him brought down by sexual allegations and scandals, needs to find a way out of this mess or it will be game over for his presidential campaign. All of these allegations are embarrassing not only for him, but for the entire Republican party as the try and rework their image to the general public. The last thing they need is yet another sex scandal involving a presidential-hopeful with his hand in the cookie jar.
Frankly, I don’t really care much if he is having affairs or sleeping around on his wife, but if he is engaging in acts that are nonconsensual or manipulative, then we have a problem. What goes on in his marriage is his business, but sending a message that it is okay to harass, demean, belittle or assault women cannot and should not be tolerated. If any of these allegations should prove to be true, he needs to be a man and own up to what he did and do whatever needs to be done to make things right.
****************************
What are your thoughts on yet another political sex scandal? Are we even shocked anymore? Facebook twoday magazine your thoughts!
Follow @nataliestweets on Twitter for updates in relationship news as well as healthy lifestyle tips!
erikdolnack
This story reminds me of another Republican African-American politician who was guilty of sexual discrimination years ago. Yes, you all may recall the infamous “Long Dong Silver” trials where Clarence Thomas was scandalized. So where is Clarence Thomas today? Well, he’s sitting on the US Supreme Court for life, that’s where.
When a Democrat politician gets caught in a sexual scandal (Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Anthony Weiner, etc). But when a Republican gets caught in a sexual scandal (Newt Gingrich, Clarence Thomas, and now Herman Cain), nothing seems to happen. The voting base stays loyal.
Maybe liberal voters would do well to do what their conservative opponents do: ignore the sexual scandals of their own constituency and use the scandals of their political opponents as fuel to destroy their political careers. It is Class Warfare, after all.