Behind the bedroom door

Posted at 4:33 PM on November 28, 2011 by Bob Collins (15 Comments)
Filed under: Media, Politics

How is running a country different than running a corporation? When you run a country, you don't get to make the rules.

Here's the response Herman Cain's attorney, Lin Wood, sent to a Georgia TV station which this evening is running an interview with a woman who claims she's had an affair with the presidential candidate for the last 13 years:

Mr. Cain has been informed today that your television station plans to broadcast a story this evening in which a female will make an accusation that she engaged in a 13-year long physical relationship with Mr. Cain. This is not an accusation of harassment in the workplace - this is not an accusation of an assault - which are subject matters of legitimate inquiry to a political candidate.

Rather, this appears to be an accusation of private, alleged consensual conduct between adults - a subject matter which is not a proper subject of inquiry by the media or the public. No individual, whether a private citizen, a candidate for public office or a public official, should be questioned about his or her private sexual life. The public's right to know and the media's right to report has boundaries and most certainly those boundaries end outside of one's bedroom door.

Mr. Cain has alerted his wife to this new accusation and discussed it with her. He has no obligation to discuss these types of accusations publicly with the media and he will not do so even if his principled position is viewed unfavorably by members of the media."

Fair game? Or is it out of bounds?

---

Comments (15)

Ken Starr made an art of asking. This horse is out of the barn.

Posted by Ann McKinnon | November 28, 2011 5:10 PM

---

For the position of President of the United States every candidate should be held to the highest standards of conduct as they will be representing our country to the world. I for one do not want someone making decisions that will affect my life and the life of my family and friends who thinks it is OK to have an affair when in a committed relationship.

Posted by Steve Metzger | November 28, 2011 5:21 PM

---

These allegations are not at all irrelevant to the business of vetting a presidential candidate (and far from out of bounds), particularly if Mr. Cain has any intention of playing to the "legislate morality" portion of GOP voters. That said, responsible members of the media will be careful to distinguish this from allegations of sexual harassment, abuse, or other misconduct. An extramarital affair (i.e., between consenting adults) does NOT equal sexual harassment.

Posted by Patrick Phenow | November 28, 2011 5:22 PM

---

The vast majority of (male) politicians are scoundrels, and lying is in the nature of the beast.

They should be held to high standards of honesty in all realms, public and private.

Posted by Jim Shapiro | November 28, 2011 5:41 PM

---

What I really wanted to say is that in the best of all worlds, one's sexual proclivities would be a private matter, granted that a consenting adult/animal/implement is involved.

The rub ( no pun intended, but I'll take it ) lies when dishonesty and/or hypocrisy occur, as tends to be the case in instances of extramarital affairs or closet homosexuality/bestiality/implementality by politicians pounding the "family values" drum.

Posted by Jim Shapiro | November 28, 2011 6:40 PM

---

Wow "not at all irrelevant" had me double take a few times. Stupid double positive. "Irregardless", I agree with (or disagree with--I'm confused)--this kind of stuff does matter.

Oh, and maybe even more pertinent, when does being CEO of a crummy, stuck in the 80's restaurant qualify you to be president? President of Apple, or Ford, or Chipotle... maybe...but Godfather's?

Does anyone have the #'s on Godfather's performance and growth during his tenure as CEO? Now that seems incredibly pertinent.

Posted by Kirk | November 28, 2011 7:48 PM

---

Sorry to ask instead of just Googling it..

http://2012frontrunners.com/herman-cain/cain-deceives-voters-godfathers-pizza-story/

Not so great. Not someone I'd count on for growing anything...

Posted by Kirk | November 28, 2011 8:05 PM

---

In general, media should use discretion. In this particular instance, absolutely fair game. I do appreciate the proactive defense though - NOT another case of sexual harassment in the work place; he paid her.

Posted by John P II | November 28, 2011 8:38 PM

---

Kirk - can we take that to mean that you aren't interested in purchasing a franchise?

And I think you meant to say "Stupid double negative".

( Don't you just hate it when you mock something stupid and immediately make a mistake yourself? I know I do. I think it has something to do with the Universal Instant Karmic Law of Judge Not Lest Ye... :-)

Posted by Jim Shapiro | November 28, 2011 8:38 PM

---

Kirk - Maybe not the place to make this argument, but I feel compelled. While "not at all irrelevant" might be a touch cumbersome, it was an intentional stylistic choice (and not a grammatically incorrect one). My choice of words has a decidedly different tone than simply "are relevant."

And yes, I do think this stuff does matter. And in the name of journalistic integrity, it also matters how it is reported.

Posted by Patrick Phenow | November 28, 2011 11:23 PM

---

THANK YOU Kirk...I have been waiting for the moment to vent about "irregardless"!!!

I do think that a certain amount of privacy is appropriate and I don't like the idea of a democracy whose only participants are without any flaws or faults. I like real people who have learned valuable life lessons. However, when your campaign is framed in such a way that honesty and flawlessness is part of the package, I do think that you better be honest and flawless. And this candidate is neither.

Posted by Bonnie | November 28, 2011 11:23 PM

---

if this were France, he would have just won the election.

Posted by jon | November 29, 2011 7:07 AM

---

Patrick--your writing was fine. It was my reading that was poor. Now rock on.

Posted by Kirk | November 29, 2011 7:23 AM

---

I think that it is just fine to talk about. This should ensure that this is talked about on a level where it is separate from his harassment cases (unless they get tied somewhere else).

This sort of act speaks to his character. As long as we realize that it is an consenting affair and not a one sided harassment, this should be fair game. When dealing with Presidential Candidates, generally we talk about their families and their wives and all that pertains to this and judge the person based upon their choice in partner. While it might not be fair or right, that's how it works. If someone comes to the media and says that they had a love child with Justin Bieber, we all listen for a little bit and judge based upon that. It isn't a statement on his qualifications, but his character. If you think that it is fine that our president cheated on his wife, that's just fine, personally, I think that what else might he have going on if he will be untrue to his wife...

Posted by Rick | November 29, 2011 11:36 AM

---

"However, when your campaign is framed in such a way that honesty and flawlessness is part of the package, I do think that you better be honest and flawless."

Hi Bonnie,
I need to correct you on your statement of flawlessness which appears to have a flaw.

honesty and flawlessness ARE part of the package.

Posted by Apostrophe Association | November 29, 2011 5:20 PM

---

Post a comment

The following HTML tags are allowed in your comments:
+ Bold: <b>Text</b>
+ Italic: <i>Text</i>
+ Link: <a href="http://url" target="_blank">Link</a>
Fields marked with * are required.

Name*:

E-mail Address*:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments*:

Comment Preview appears above this form upon pressing the "preview" button. Edit your comment and press "preview" again, until you are satisfied with your comment.

Your comment may not appear on the blog until several minutes after it was submitted.

• E-mail this page
• Print this page
• Tweet this page
• Share this

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories