Politics: Leave Herman Cain Alone!

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Politics Leave Herman Cain Alone! The three arguments Republicans are using to defend him. By David Weigel Posted Thursday, Nov 03, 2011, at 01:45 AM ET Rep. Steve King represents the conservative bluffs of western and northwestern Iowa. He has personally shepherded the Republican Party's would-be presidents around his state. He hasn't endorsed any of them yet, but he sees Herman Cain fighting off a scandal, and it gets his blood pumping hot. "Where's the Anita Hill?" he said. "This is an Anita Hill issue, and from what I see, without substance, this shouldn't have been a story." King is not the only conservative saying this. Three days into a scandal that's collecting mass and speed like some fast-rolling lava floe, a third woman and a Republican consultant have emerged with more reports of "very uncomfortable" 1990s-era Cain harassment. Yet Republicans are not abandoning Cain. The people who stand to gain if Cain implodes are mostly quiet about the stories. The rest of the conservative movement has risen up in anger at the media for even covering this stuff. On Wednesday, as Cain bounced from suburban Virginia to Capitol Hill, dodging TV cameras and pissed-off reporters, it was basically impossible to find a Republican who wanted to pile on. As of Wednesday there are three main arguments being mounted in Cain's defense. Let's count them down, from flimsiest to Most Likely To Succeed. Argument No. 1: Why, This Is All Just Racist Cain has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the "race card." He hates it, and he thinks no one should use it. Months ago, I was in ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate The Three Reasons Republicans Are Fervently Defending Herman Cain Bank of America Learns It Must Be More Subtle About Screwing Its Customers Ruth Madoff's Nationwide Sympathy Tour: Does Anyone Feel Bad for Her?	Advertisement
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