http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/us/politics/woman-said-to-feel-work-hostility-after-alleged-encounter-with-cain.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&hpw&adxnnlx=1320419395-Wv0n16R3tK1BryuJCA28xwConsider:
Mr. Cain emphatically denied that any inappropriate actions had taken place at the National Restaurant Association and forcefully reasserted his innocence.
He said that he would not routinely compliment a female colleague or tell her she looked nice, “unless I know them well enough to know they won’t take it the wrong way.” Anyone see the wide opening there......? "unless I know them well enough...." Yeah right, Mr. Cain. This is a standard defense of the sexual harasser, that women are "taking it the wrong way."
In other words, they should just be overjoyed that I am paying attention to them and understand that I only joke with people I know well.....Did it ever occur to Mr. Cain that some women might prefer not knowing their boss so well, that they prefer to keep those kinds of jokes out of the workplace?
And from one of the apologists there is this:
In an interview, Thomas A. Kershaw, who served as chairman of the board of the association in 1997 and 1998, said that he was not aware of any allegations against Mr. Cain. But he said his sense of humor left room for misinterpretation. “Herman is kind of a kidder, kind of a jokester, particularly when he’s in a relaxed situation,” he said. “I think some people misunderstood what he was saying or what his intent was.” Again - the onus is placed on the victims of Mr. Cain's "humor." He's just a funny guy and the women should just relax and enjoy the man instead of being so prickly about it.
Anyone who has been through basic sexual harassment training put on by a HR dept will recognize the flaws in the "explanations" of Cain and his apologists.
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