So now Senator Al Franken has also been accused of being inappropriate with women. Update!

This is from Leann Tweeden's statement: 

On the trip was Tweeden's now-husband, an Air Force pilot, along with country music artists Darryl Worley, Mark Wills and Keni Thomas, Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and Franken, who was the headliner for the show. 

Tweeden said Franken wrote skits for the show, and, like many USO shows before it and since, she says "the skits were full of sexual innuendo geared toward a young, male audience." 

She said, "As a TV host and sports broadcaster, as well as a model familiar to the audience from the covers of FHM, Maxim and Playboy, I was only expecting to emcee and introduce the acts, but Franken said he had written a part for me that he thought would be funny, and I agreed to play along." 

In the script, Franken wrote in a kiss between him and Tweeden, and, she says, he asked to rehearse the kiss before the show. Though she said they didn't need to rehearse the moment, since she planned to deny his advances for a laugh, he "continued to insist" and then "came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth." 

Tweeden wrote that she felt "disgusted and violated."

Later on the trip home Franken also acted inappropriately toward an unconscious Tweeden:

"I couldn’t believe it. He groped me, without my consent, while I was asleep. I felt violated all over again. Embarrassed. Belittled. Humiliated," she wrote. "How dare anyone grab my breasts like this and think it's funny?" 

First I would say that I am heartbroken by this revelation as I am a big fan of Senator Al Franken.

Secondly I would say that this young woman has every right to feel humiliated and victimized by what Franken did to her.

Having said that I am not certain that Franken's hands are making contact with her bullet proof vest, so I am not certain that "groping" is the appropriate term here. However once again she is quite right to have felt taken advantage of while she was unconscious.

For his part Al Franken issued a statement:  

“The first thing I want to do is apologize: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women. There’s more I want to say, but the first and most important thing—and if it’s the only thing you care to hear, that’s fine—is: I’m sorry. 

“I respect women. I don’t respect men who don’t. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed. 

“But I want to say something else, too. Over the last few months, all of us—including and especially men who respect women—have been forced to take a good, hard look at our own actions and think (perhaps, shamefully, for the first time) about how those actions have affected women. 

“For instance, that picture. I don’t know what was in my head when I took that picture, and it doesn’t matter. There’s no excuse. I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isn’t funny. It’s completely inappropriate. It’s obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture. And, what’s more, I can see how millions of other women would feel violated by it—women who have had similar experiences in their own lives, women who fear having those experiences, women who look up to me, women who have counted on me. 

“Coming from the world of comedy, I’ve told and written a lot of jokes that I once thought were funny but later came to realize were just plain offensive. But the intentions behind my actions aren’t the point at all. It’s the impact these jokes had on others that matters. And I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to come to terms with that. 

“While I don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe women’s experiences. 

“I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate. 

“And the truth is, what people think of me in light of this is far less important than what people think of women who continue to come forward to tell their stories. They deserve to be heard, and believed. And they deserve to know that I am their ally and supporter. I have let them down and am committed to making it up to them.”

I think that Senator Franken should be given at least some credit for taking responsibility for his actions, and for supporting an ethics investigation.

That is certainly a lot more than Roy Moore or Donald Trump have been willing to do.

Unfortunately for Franken another woman has just come forward with a similar allegation, and I would not be surprised if there are more to come.

I think at this point all of us should brace themselves for more allegations, and to see some of our favorite people, in politics and entertainment, facing their own accusations.

After all if people like Al Franken, George Takei, and George H. W. Bush are capable of this kind of thing, it stands to reason that there are a whole lot of other men out there, in positions of some power, who demonstrated poor judgement as well.

I sort of feel obligated to make an attempt to recognize that some of these incidents are far more egregious than others, but ultimately I am not sure that it makes any real difference in the perception of the people being accused.

Which brings me to my next point.

2018 and 2020 are going to be tough election cycles for men in both parties.

ANY male candidate for office is going to have to have a VERY serious conversation with themselves and really ask if there are ANY women, or men, in their past who may make an accusation of inappropriate sexual contact.

In 2020 for instance Al Franken was one of my fantasy football picks for either a Presidential or VP candidate, but now that is simply not going to happen.

People are talking about a potential run by Joe Biden, but with all of these pictures out there clearly that idea needs to be quietly smothered in its sleep.

No, the Democratic candidate for President in 2020 is going to HAVE to be female in my opinion.

At this point I am not sure WHICH female candidate would be the best choice (And no not Hillary.), but whoever she it she will have to be squeaky clean and very pro-woman and anti-sexual harassment.

Update: Well this is somewhat troubling.

Roger Stone appeared to know Franken allegation was coming https://t.co/gvbOe8CI1q pic.twitter.com/V66oDFQP9H

— The Hill (@thehill) November 16, 2017

Not sure if this means this is a set up, or if this story from Leann Tweeden was talked about before she came forward.

Update 2: Unbelievably Roy Moore actually weighed in on these Franken allegations.

Al Franken admits guilt after photographic evidence of his abuse surfaces.

Mitch: "Let's investigate."

In Alabama, ZERO evidence, allegations 100% rejected.

Mitch: "Moore must quit immediately or be expelled."

— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 16, 2017

Of course he was destroyed on Twitter.

Sarah Palin decides to instruct journalists on how to do their job, using creepy, sexually suggestive language of course.

"Rubbing the Back of Obama"... Media: Your rubbing shoulders with, er, rubbing the back of, Barack Obama may get... http://t.co/jOOxOYGICG

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) August 5, 2013

Courtesy of Nellie Blah's Facebook page:

 "Rubbing the Back of Obama"... 

Media: Your rubbing shoulders with, er, rubbing the back of, Barack Obama may get you access to ask hard-hitting questions like the status of steroids in pro ball (you know that's coming next, while the rest of America notes the real State of the Union and we offer this reply to politicians' take on recent baseball "scandals": Who cares?!), but you still squander opportunities to do a respectable job asking the President what needs to be asked. You continue to embarrass yourself.

I'm sorry "Rubbing the Back of Obama?" Does EVERYTHING have to relate to Palin's abusive childhood?

There is a reason that psychiatrists exist in this world, and it is to help damaged people whose emotional and mental development was stunted by an unfortunate occurrence which keeps them trapped in a depressed or angry state of mind, forever lashing out at others in order to assuage their guilt and pain.

The crazy lady who lives by the dead lake might want to give one of them a call sometime.

The first thing they might address is this delusion that Palin has that she knows ANYTHING about journalism, and should therefore give advise to professional reporters.

I mean let's face it, somebody with a curiosity about, or knowledge of, journalism would have had little trouble answering Katie Couric's famous question.

Palin includes at the end of her snotty post an article written by a Teabagger in the Colorado State Senate, which mocks the media for not asking the questions that HE wants them to ask.

Not that anybody gives two shits what his opinion of the media might be.

You know, besides the Wasilla Wendigo that is.

I kind of found it interesting which illustration he included at the top of his little rant.

I thought damn, now why does that look so familiar to me?

And then I remembered.

Toad, Sarah, John P. Coale (Greta's husband). and Greta.

You know somehow I think the second one is more connected to reality. Well at least it was once upon a time.

What destroyed Herman Cain's candidacy was not the women, it was Herman Cain.

"Hey I'm not quitting. Herman Cain's no quitter! I am just suspending my campaign. Herman Cain is a suspender."

Courtesy of the Daily Beast:

It’s the end of the line for the hit (for a month anyway) situation comedy The Herman Cain Show—as something worth tuning into, anyway. As the obituaries are rushed to press, most of the experts will chalk the demise up to the candidate’s inexperience and his staff’s ineptitude. It’s not that those things aren’t true, but they miss the real point. The real culprit is Cain’s bottomless vanity, and even though he may no longer be very interesting, there is a lesson in his collapse for all the candidates. 

First, on the subject of the Herminator (a nickname he seems to have bestowed on himself, which is always a bad sign). I urge you, when you next find yourself in a bookstore, to pick up a copy of his newish book, This Is Herman Cain!, and flip through it. You need only reach page three to read how he “redefined campaign history” (he may have, but not in the way he means). Then flip ahead to the closing chapter to read how Cain will handle his first 90 days in office. The tone of serene self-adulation leaches so fulsomely out of every page that it practically gets on your hands. Many pundits have assumed that Cain wasn’t really “serious” about his candidacy—that he was just trying to raise his profile, sell some books. But the book, it’s clear from page one, is not the work of man who wasn’t serious about his candidacy. He thought that the presidency was his destiny. Actually, I wouldn’t be shocked if he still thinks it.

I urge you to click the link at the top and read the rest of the article.

And when you are finished tell me if Cain does not seem to be Sarah Palin's chocolate male doppelganger in many important respects.

Like Palin he believes he is destined to be the President.

Like Palin he believes the media is attacking him when they ask him hard questions,

Like Palin he refused to apologize for anything he was accused of doing, and seemed to believe that when the facts came out he would be vindicated even though time and time again the opposite proved true.

And like Palin he said he was getting out of the race to protect his family, and simply could not admit that he had too many skeletons in his closet, and deficiencies as a candidate, to really make a run for the White House.

Really the only major difference between Palin and Cain comes down to pigment, and penis. (Though considering which appendage of Todd's I believe Palin carries around in that purse of hers, perhaps it really only comes down to ONE difference.)

By the way , in case you missed it, here is Herman Cain on SNL this weekend.

There are some very amazing testimonials over at Men for Cain. Like this one for instance.

If you check through the various messages left on the Men for Cain website, you soon stumble across this little gem.

For those who cannot enlarge the image, allow me.

Herb I know how you fill. People are always makin' stuff up about me too, also. Maybe I can get you a job at FOX! It's easy, they just put the teleprompter jokes right there on the TV thingy and you read them and people send you money! Oh and Herb, if you get busted and decide to come clean, leave me out of it or I will blow you away like that chained down drugged Caribou I shot five times (well, four missed) on TV.

I know this is a parody site, but you have to admit this one sounds awfully close to the real thing. (I am going to say its her until she goes on the Greta/Hannity show and tells me I'm wrong. Hey she responded before!)

It is only a little more than an hour before Cain decides to demonstrate to the world whether or not he is a man of great delusion, or one who recognizes that the jig is up and it is time to fold up his circus tent and ride off over the horizon.

So what do you think he will decide? 

You knew it was coming, "Men for Cain" website is now up. Well this makes more sense actually.

From the Men for Cain parody site:

Men For Cain" is a national online high-five of men dedicated to giving props to the ultimate ladies' man Herman Cain, our next President of the United States. Mr. Cain, beyond any other candidate with exception of maybe Newt, has done more to get into women's pants throughout his lifetime, defending and promoting the negative issues associated with quality PDA, T&A and serious office groping. Forget the 9-9-9 plan, let’s talk about the 6-9 plan. When the liberal lame-stream media calls his skill with the ladies "exploits," Mr. Cain calls them conquests. As the nation is struggling to find work, Mr. Cain has found countless jobs for women, right there in his pants. And the best part, his wife has no idea. His erection will win this election for GOP. Join us and voice your support to Herman Cain, our next Philander in Chief.

According to Rachel Maddow there are strong indications that Herman Cain will end his campaign tomorrow. That me the only intelligent decision this man has made in quite some time.

God I love the internet sometimes!

In answer to allegations of misconduct with women, Herman Cain campaign launches "Women for Cain." Oh yeah, THIS is convincing! Update!

Courtesy of TPM:

While Herman Cain weighs whether to stay in the race after being accused of carrying on a decade-plus affair, the campaign is looking to repair the damage his various alleged improprieties have caused with women supporters. His website just went live with a new “Women For Cain” section where female supporters can share their stories —and slam his accusers as “vindictive,” “jealous,” “unstable,” and “husbandless.” 

The initiative, the site says, is chaired by his wife, Gloria Cain, who has been virtually 100% absent from the campaign trail so far and only recently gave her first interview — and that was after canceling previous ones first. 

“Mr. Cain has been a strong advocate for women throughout his lifetime, defending and promoting the issues of quality health care, family, education, equality in the workplace and many other concerns so important to American women,” the website reads. 

The real prize, however, is a section — which appears to be curated by the campaign — featuring female supporters’ personal testimonials, many of which are brutal attacks against the women who have accused Cain of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and infidelity. 

“Dear Mrs. Cain, don’t pay attention to these pathetic husbandless women who are jealous of women like you in happy long-term marriages,” a supporter from California writes. “These vindictive women can’t find a husband or keep one. They are like stalkers who try to latch on to any man who shows a bit of kindness or attention to them. When these unstable women come out of the woodwork to make accusations about Herman just say, ‘Honey, get a life, I believe my husband.’ We want you to be our First Lady Mrs. Cain!”

Okay by a show of hands, how many of you ACTUALLY believe that a woman, who cares about women,  would write that message on this website?

I think a more believable post would read more like this:

"Honey, you need to get copies of his cell phone records and bank statements, and drive your ass over to an attorney TODAY! Change the locks, empty the accounts, and keep him out of the bedroom until he PROVES he did not do what we all know he did!"

What is really insulting about that website to me is that whoever made it really believes that having a few models photographed giving the "thumbs up" signal is enough to convince REAL women that he didn't do anything wrong.

In other words, EPIC FAIL!

Update: Okay apparently that picture posted on the "Women for Cain" website, of four young models who have clearly never met Herman Cain that you see up above, is in fact a stock photo that the Cain campaign purchased. My assumption is that Cain could not find four women that actually knew him to degrade themselves on his behalf like that.

Apparently after too many people noticed it, and made disparaging remarks about it, they took it down.

You literally cannot make this stuff up folks.

Fourth woman comes forward to accuse Herman Cain of sexual harassment. And this one does so on camera!

Courtesy of EurWeb:

Sharon Bialek of Chicago became the first woman accusing Herman Cain of sexual harassment to go public Monday, describing an alleged incident in Washington in 1997 in which the presidential contender, then the president of the National Restaurant Association stuck his hand up her skirt and tried to pull her head toward his crotch. 

“I said, ‘What are you doing?’” alleged Bialek, who said she had contacted Cain for help getting a job. “You know I have a boyfriend. This isn’t what I came here for.”

According to Bialek, Cain answered, “You want a job, right?” 

Bialek claims that after the incident she rejoined her boyfriend and told him that Cain had been “sexually inappropriate.” She also said she had confronted Cain recently at a Tea Party event and asked him, “Do you remember me?” and that he had confirmed that he remembered her and “he kind of looked uncomfortable.” 

Cain campaign spokesman J.D. Gordon immediately responded with a statement that said, “All allegations of harassment against Mr. Cain are completely false. Mr. Cain has never harassed anyone.” 

Bialek appeared with attorney Gloria Allred at a press conference at New York’s Friars Club. Two other women filed complaints of sexual harassment against Cain while he helmed the NRA, but neither has spoken publicly. On Friday, Joel Bennett, an attorney for one of the first two accusers said she would decline to come forward and discuss the case further. On Monday, Bennett described Bialek’s story to ABC News as “similar conduct and corroborating evidence.”

I don't see ANY way for Cain to survive this.

It was one thing when these women were faceless, and nameless, accusers who were too terrified to come out in front of reporters and the glare of their cameras, but this woman has dramatically upped the ante.

There she is looking very confident, and presenting her story in a well spoken, and definitive manner.

And perhaps the worst news for Herman Cain's continued support from the Teabaggers is that she is WHITE! I do not see those closet racists letting that one slide.

Somewhere Rick Perry just breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Herman Cain: "I never sexually harrassed anyone!" Now where have I heard a similar denial before?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I don't think Cain helped himself much there. I mean mopping your brow while answering questions about sexual harassment is not an image you want played over and over again people's television sets while running for the GOP nomination. Am I wrong?

NBC had this up after Cain's denial:

NBC News has confirmed that one woman received a settlement from the National Restaurant Association after complaining about inappropriate sexual conduct by Herman Cain. 

NBC News is not disclosing the name of the woman nor characterizing who she is.

Michael Smerconish, who I only occasionally agree with, made an excellent point this morning, saying that IF Herman Cain was the head of the National Restaurant Association at the time the hush money was paid out, he would have HAD to have known the payments were made.

Which means that Cain, who we know has difficulty with the truth, may have just lied himself into a corner.

And don't forget this, if the NRA and Cain had not had something to hide, they would NEVER have paid these women anything. Let's face it if the NRA was not somehow complicit, or were not pressured by Cain and his attorneys, they would have sent Cain packing and held a press conference afterward telling the whole world that their company does NOT tolerate this kind of behavior, even from the man at the top.

In other words, if Cain thinks this is about to blow over he is in for a rude awakening.

Did he learn nothing from seeing Bill Clinton get impeached? It is always the lies and coverup that ultimately does you in.

Herman Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon responds to Politco story.

"I am not going to come out and say 'I did not have sexually suggestive contact with those women' but it is inferred by my spokesman's carefully worded non-denial."

As you read in my post last night Herman Cain has been accused of "sexually suggestive behaviors" directed at, at least, two female employees from his past.

Late last night his spokesman issued this response:

Inside the Beltway media attacks Cain (Nice title. Not overly defensive or anything.)

Fearing the message of Herman Cain who is shaking up the political landscape in Washington, Inside the Beltway media have begun to launch unsubstantiated personal attacks on Cain. 

Dredging up thinly sourced allegations stemming from Mr. Cain’s tenure as the Chief Executive Officer at the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, political trade press are now casting aspersions on his character and spreading rumors that never stood up to the facts. 

Since Washington establishment critics haven't had much luck in attacking Mr. Cain's ideas to fix a bad economy and create jobs, they are trying to attack him in any way they can. 

Sadly, we’ve seen this movie played out before – a prominent Conservative targeted by liberals simply because they disagree with his politics. 

Mr. Cain -- and all Americans, deserve better.

Okay I read it twice, but perhaps I missed it, where is the denial that Cain every engaged in any "sexually suggestive behaviors?"  And is it just me, or this statement a little vague, and carefully worded?

It appears to me that the Cain campaign is relying on the legal agreements those women signed to keep them quiet, while they just wait for this story to blow over.

Sorry folks, as far as I am concerned there is a STILL a very high likelihood that Herman Cain is "Guilty, Guilty, Guilty!"

The negative hits keep on coming for Herman Cain who is now being accused of "sexually suggestive behavior" by two female employees from his past.

"You know until I see a picture I don't know if I was a sleazeball to them or not!"

Courtesy of Politico:

During Herman Cain’s tenure as the head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s, at least two female employees complained to colleagues and senior association officials about inappropriate behavior by Cain, ultimately leaving their jobs at the trade group, multiple sources confirm to POLITICO. 

The women complained of sexually suggestive behavior by Cain that made them angry and uncomfortable, the sources said, and they signed agreements with the restaurant group that gave them financial payouts to leave the association. The agreements also included language that bars the women from talking about their departures. 

In a series of comments over the past 10 days, Cain and his campaign repeatedly declined to respond directly about whether he ever faced allegations of sexual harassment at the restaurant association. They have also declined to address questions about specific reporting confirming that there were financial settlements in two cases in which women leveled complaints. 

I would like to give Herb Cain the benefit of the doubt here but apparently even when given the chance to refute the allegations Cain simply cannot do so.

The latest statement came from Cain himself. In a tense sidewalk encounter Sunday morning outside the Washington bureau of CBS News — where the Republican contender had just completed an interview on “Face the Nation” — Cain evaded a series of questions about sexual harassment allegations. 

Cain said he has “had thousands of people working for me” at different businesses over the years and could not comment “until I see some facts or some concrete evidence.” His campaign staff was given the name of one woman who complained last week, and it was repeated to Cain on Sunday. He responded, “I am not going to comment on that. 

He was then asked, “Have you ever been accused, sir, in your life of harassment by a woman?” 

He breathed audibly, glared at the reporter and stayed silent for several seconds. After the question was repeated three times, he responded by asking the reporter, “Have you ever been accused of sexual harassment?” 

WTF?  Is that his answer?

Let me see if I have this straight. 

Herman Cain has had "thousands of people working for" him in the past, so he CANNOT answer whether or not he was sexually inappropriate with any of them until he sees "some facts or concrete evidence?"

Not to put too fine of a point on this, but doesn't that essentially say that in the past he WAS guilty of sexually suggestive behaviors, but is not sure he is guilty of sexually suggestive behaviors in THIS particular circumstance?

Here let me break it down for you. I have worked much of my life in occupations where there were always more women than men.  So ask me if I have ever been accused of, or brought up on charges of, sexually suggestive behaviors.

Nope.  And I don't even have to know which job, or which fellow employee, you might be talking about.

So in my opinion, considering Cain's refusal to answer with a straight forward denial, he is "Guilty, Guilty, Guilty!"

Let's see how long he holds onto that lead in the polls now!

I can see Mitt Romney's new campaign slogan now: "Hey I don't say sexually suggestive things to women and I don't give drunken speeches. How do you like me now, GOP?"