tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623438328827408121.post2292228060186949856..comments2024-01-03T18:00:06.854-06:00Comments on Webutante: End of the Line For Herman CainWebutantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02139954791621532194noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623438328827408121.post-66634439772813176002011-11-03T14:48:29.124-05:002011-11-03T14:48:29.124-05:00Greg, I agree with you on the way Politico handled...Greg, I agree with you on the way Politico handled the story. Editorial rooms are filled with conversations on how best to break a story like this, or whether to sit on it and let it ride.<br /><br />On one hand it was unfair to Cain by using anonymous sources. Several days ago, I was defending him vehemently. But as time has gone on with other people chiming in, I think Politico was right in breaking it and letting a progression of events unfold, including the woman's lawyer filing to break her silence agreement with the Restaurant Association.<br /><br />It appears with new details emerging, Cain would have had to know the incident (s?) and the woman (women?).<br /><br />Anyway it's all going to come out soon and we can decide again if Politico did the right thing, if not the most ideal right thing with this story.<br /><br />Thank you as always for your keen observations.Webutantehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02139954791621532194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623438328827408121.post-74934115066701244192011-11-03T14:28:37.416-05:002011-11-03T14:28:37.416-05:00I have no problem with reporting facts about any c...I have no problem with reporting facts about any candidate. I do not even have a problem with rival campaigns pointing media towards facts about a candidate. <br /><br />I do have a problem with the way Politico handled this story: I gave specific objections in a previous comment. Most importantly: when Politico allows unnamed accusers to allege sexual harassment, then Politico creates a state of media anarchy.<br /><br />It is ... harsh ... that a victim of harassment is required to go public in order to get her story out. However, the alternative is anarchy. The alternative is the conducting of an ongoing metaphoric Salem Witch Trials ... which will be conducted against every conservative male politician in America ... and which are currently being conducted against Herman Cain. Salem Witch Trials is an accurate metaphor, even if Mr. Cain is a very guilty sexual harasser: Mr. Cain is being accused by persons who are not going on the record (with exception of the Christian radio broadcaster, and even that broadcaster refused to give specifics about what Mr. Cain did - which means even the named radio broadcaster has accused Mr. Cain via via vaporous inferences. There is no way to defend against that. Justice - informal justice amongst fellow human beings - demands that Mr. Cain be accused in a way which allows Mr. Cain to defend himself against something which is concrete, i.e. which allows Mr. Cain to mount a defense. No one can defend themselves against vaporous unspecified inference). I am not, here, defending Mr. Cain. He is not my preferred candidate, and he might be guilty as everything. Rather, I am criticizing the conduct of Politico, and of Mr. Cain's accusers. <br /><br />The proper conduct, and the proper comparison, is with allowing a guilty criminal to remain free ... due to lack of evidence. Such is TREMENDOUSLY frustrating for victims, and for all who love justice, yet such MUST be done. The alternative is anarchy. This is the case in both the justice system, and in the media, and amongst human beings of good will who wish to live together in a successful society. <br /><br />So, I am ranty - am churning out scores of words per minute, and am barely stopping for breath. Thank you for providing a forum for me to get this stuff off my chest.gcotharnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10912428161978690599noreply@blogger.com