Ex-Clinton Hand Gives Cain Some Advice
While the sexual harassment allegations against Herman Cain are drawing
some comparisons between him and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas,
there's also Bill Clinton.
A woman named Gennifer Flowers, you'll recall, claimed having an affair with Clinton as he was poised to win the New Hampshire primary in 1992. To quash the damaging story line, Clinton and wife, Hillary, appeared on CBS's "60 Minutes." You know, I'm not sitting here - some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette,'' Hillary Clinton famously said. Her husband went on to win the presidency.
Democratic consultant Chris Lehane, who worked on the Clinton campaign back then and went on to serve in the administration, said Cain needs to be careful about his initial response. In public appearances and nationally televised interviews on Monday, Cain categorically denied that he had ever sexually harassed employees, but his story seemed change as to whether he was aware of any legal settlements.
"He drew a pretty specific line in the sand, so his candidacy will rise or fall on whether than information is sustainable in the long haul,'' Lehane said. "A lot of times, people make mistakes in situations like these in that they take a position that ends up imploding. Then they are stuck with that, along with having lied to the public.''
As for whether Cain's wife of 43 years will be standing by her man, he said Monday that she would be giving an "exclusive'' interview but wouldn't be a frequent presence on the campaign trail.
A woman named Gennifer Flowers, you'll recall, claimed having an affair with Clinton as he was poised to win the New Hampshire primary in 1992. To quash the damaging story line, Clinton and wife, Hillary, appeared on CBS's "60 Minutes." You know, I'm not sitting here - some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette,'' Hillary Clinton famously said. Her husband went on to win the presidency.
Democratic consultant Chris Lehane, who worked on the Clinton campaign back then and went on to serve in the administration, said Cain needs to be careful about his initial response. In public appearances and nationally televised interviews on Monday, Cain categorically denied that he had ever sexually harassed employees, but his story seemed change as to whether he was aware of any legal settlements.
"He drew a pretty specific line in the sand, so his candidacy will rise or fall on whether than information is sustainable in the long haul,'' Lehane said. "A lot of times, people make mistakes in situations like these in that they take a position that ends up imploding. Then they are stuck with that, along with having lied to the public.''
As for whether Cain's wife of 43 years will be standing by her man, he said Monday that she would be giving an "exclusive'' interview but wouldn't be a frequent presence on the campaign trail.
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