Sex Scandals Sink Cain: Is That Just?

Shoot, I lost my bet. I thought Herman Cain would stay in the race no matter what came down.  But there could be no noble outcome in this story, whichever way it went. Anybody want to bet on when the divorce papers are served?

Herman Cain (Scott Olson - Getty Images)Arena Asks: Herman Cain will suspend his presidential campaign, the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO announced Saturday.

Does Cain’ characterization of himself as a victim of unfair media coverage ring true? Will he be influential as the Republican presidential races unfolds?

My Answer: There isn’t much justice here.

Cain had no business running for president in the first place. The level of attention and support he received was never justified by his qualifications for the role.

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If he had been qualified by virtue of his knowledge of domestic and foreign policy and even a soupçon of understanding how the mills of politics actually grind, he would not have been nearly as vulnerable to charges of sexual misconduct. Case in point: Newt Gingrich, whose sexual hypocrisies are as big as his inflated ego, and who is now pressing hard on Mitt Romney’s lead. Little justice there.

But let’s face it: there is also little justice in the tsunamis of media attention given to alleged or confirmed sexual peccadilloes of anyone running for or serving in office. Bill Clinton did have sex with that woman and still managed to be a very effective (an very popular) president. The nation’s history is replete with randy presidents, but the culture of earlier times ignored that aspect of their lives and focused on their political accomplishments rather than who they were bedding. Human beings are human beings, and America has such an unhealthy relationship with sex that very few candidates have ever even learned what appropriate behavior is.

Cain’s star will now fall as fast as it rose. He is over, he is toxic, and he will not be particularly useful to any of the other candidates except perhaps behind the scenes influencing a few of his diehard supporters. He will be bitter and he will soon turn his bitterness into another book that will garner highly yet more paid speaking engagements. Absolutely no justice in that.

Here’s the link to my original post on Politico

3 Comments

  1. Leigh WIlk on December 4, 2011 at 7:54 am

    I agree that Herman Cain is just another man who believed that his success as CEO qualifies him to be President of the United States. What I take issue with is not his (alleged) personal affairs but how power organizations like the Restaurant Association “take care of the situation,” as they did with their honorary President Herman Cain more than once.
    Even if the charges were not true…Did anyone tell him to stop?
    Did anyone at Penn State take action when Coach Sandusky crimes against children were discovered or did they do their duty to the honor of the school by brushing the misdeeds under the carpet. Great deeds do not make great men. Have we become a culture of acceptance?

  2. Gloria Feldt on December 4, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    Thanks Leigh. I suspect that every culture is a “culture of acceptance,” in the way power structures become embedded and the pressures not to speak up are always strong. That said, I think we have seen that college sports are among the worst subcultures. They bring so much money and alumni loyalty that wrongdoing is too easily overlooked.

  3. Aletha on December 6, 2011 at 1:11 am

    I hope these lies from the announcement Herman Cain made suspending his campaign haunt him for the rest of his life:

    But because of these false and unproved accusations, it has paid and had a tremendous, painful price on my family. These false and unproved allegations continue to be spun in the media and in the court of public opinion so as to create a cloud of doubt over me and this campaign and my family. That spin hurts. It hurts my wife, it hurts my family, it hurts me and it hurts the American people because you are being denied solutions to our problems.

    Here’s why it hurts. Because my wife, my family and I — we know that those false and unproved allegations are not true! … I am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife. And she is at peace with me. And I am at peace with my family, and I am at peace with myself.

    What a load of crap. Does Herman Cain expect people to believe he gives a damn about hurting his wife? He may have convinced her and his family that he does, but nobody should believe a word this man says.

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