Cain’s Lawyer Warns Other Accusers To ‘Think Twice’ Before Coming Forward Or They’ll Be Smeared Too

[demmiblue]

Source: Think Progress





A story in today’s New York Times offers a disturbing look at the smear tactics and threats the Cain campaign is using to intimidate the four women accusing the candidate of sexual harassment, and any women that might come forward in the future:

L. Lin Wood, the lawyer hired by the Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain to fend off sexual harassment accusations, has warned that any other women who might be considering coming forward with similar allegations “should think twice.”

On Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after Karen Kraushaar identified herself as one of two women who had received monetary settlements relating to harassment allegations against Mr. Cain while working for the National Restaurant Association in the late 1990s, Ms. Kraushaar faced questions about a workplace complaint she filed at a subsequent job… Hours later, Rush Limbaugh seized on that report to argue that Ms. Kraushaar has “a pattern of whining.”

She and the others confronted the challenges of taking on a presidential candidate: intensive scrutiny of their backgrounds and motives, encouraged and amplified in this case by conservative news outlets and commentators whose support for Mr. Cain as he battles the allegations has helped him weather the crisis so far.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/11/10/366144/cains-lawyer-warns-other-accusers-to-think-twice-before-coming-forward-or-theyll-be-smeared-too/

[Xipe Totec]

1. Don't know about you, but to me it sounds like witness intimidation. nt

[MADem]

2. Who knew Ari Fleischer was a lawyer? Watch what you say, watch what you do!!! NT

[tabatha]

3. What is he scared of ?

the truth.

[unblock]

4. another in a long list of "things you would say if you were guilty as hell".

[salin]

5. regardless of how you were victimized - the penalty for speaking will be relentless...

as an '80s rape survivor - that was the societal message at the time that kept me and many others fearful and silent. It says nothing about the veracity of the charges and all about the brutal threats of further victimization.

Cain isn't going to be elected. All this does is continue the authoritarian trend of some in our society who view women as secondary citizens - subject to our will, and if we abuse that subjectation, submit again or we will abuse you again - and we will never have to take personal responsibility for our own behavior.

GRRRR.

[liberal N proud]

6. This how these people keep their power

The make threats and when those don't work, they smear those who come forward.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. I don't know that being called a "whiner" by Rush Limbaugh is a smear.

That fat, two-bit white punk on dope has a long track record as a right wing shill with no sensitivity for women, racial or religious minorities. He has no credibility.

Any journalist who asks questions based on a Rush Limbaugh tirade as a source should hang his have his press credentials pulled. Rush is not serious nor reliable. He will say anything to defend a fellow right wing moron or denigrate anybody who challenges one.

[JuniperLea]

8. Sounds like a challenge to me...

Or a threat. Either way, it's unethical!

[madrchsod]

9. that`s called intimation..

that`s something you don`t do if you want to win a case.


what`s he really trying to hide?

[Major Hogwash]

10. This is better than a confession -- it's an outright admission of guilt.

There would be "no other women" to come out, if the first 4 women's stories weren't true.

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. So far, this strategy is failing miserably

What is it about right-wingers that makes them think that "Doubling down" on stupid is always a winner.

[nc4bo]

12. Herman Cain: Angry black man.

He's like a Pandora's box full of all sorts of nasty.

:puke:

[Solomon]

14. But notice: Cain, like Thomas, is allowed

to be an angry black man because he's right wing. One of "our blacks".

[Sanity Claws]

13. Sounds like unlawful retaliation

Title VII prohibits retaliation for making discrimination complaints.