Searching Herman Cain's Soul. In Iowa.
By Andy Kopsa
Standing before a crowd of reporters at the Friar’s Club in New York, Sharon Bialek told her story. With her lawyer Gloria Allred at her side, Bialek painted a picture of an unwanted sexual encounter in a parked car in Washington DC: what she was wearing – pleated skirt, suit jacket; a pleasurable dinner and cocktails; and to her surprise, an upgrade to a suite at her hotel, courtesy of her host for the evening, Herman Cain.
Bialek shockingly revealed that Cain “reached for my genitals” and then pulled her head toward his crotch. She resisted and asked, “What are you doing you know I have a boyfriend?” Cain’s reply was simply, ‘You want a job, right?’
For a man who has likened himself to Moses, claims God* told him to run for presidency and is a registered minister at Antioch Church in Atlanta, these charges should be troubling. Instead Cain’s personal response has been indignant, his campaign’s ham-handed and somewhat juvenile. Cain’s lawyer recently cautioned that women considering going public with claims of harassment by Cain should “think twice,” a threat like that of a playground bully.
What Bialek has described is sexual assault. While sexual harassment is serious, sexual assault is, criminally speaking, a whole other level. In Washington DC, where the alleged Bialek – Cain incident occurred, a misdemeanor sexual abuse charge carries a $1000 fine plus up to 180 days in jail. If a case reaches into 3rd or 4th degree assault territory fines can reach $100,000 and jail time soars to 10 years in prison. Continue Reading →
Searching Herman Cain’s Soul. In Iowa.
By Andy Kopsa
Standing before a crowd of reporters at the Friar’s Club in New York, Sharon Bialek told her story. With her lawyer Gloria Allred at her side, Bialek painted a picture of an unwanted sexual encounter in a parked car in Washington DC: what she was wearing – pleated skirt, suit jacket; a pleasurable dinner and cocktails; and to her surprise, an upgrade to a suite at her hotel, courtesy of her host for the evening, Herman Cain.
Bialek shockingly revealed that Cain “reached for my genitals” and then pulled her head toward his crotch. She resisted and asked, “What are you doing you know I have a boyfriend?” Cain’s reply was simply, ‘You want a job, right?’
For a man who has likened himself to Moses, claims God* told him to run for presidency and is a registered minister at Antioch Church in Atlanta, these charges should be troubling. Instead Cain’s personal response has been indignant, his campaign’s ham-handed and somewhat juvenile. Cain’s lawyer recently cautioned that women considering going public with claims of harassment by Cain should “think twice,” a threat like that of a playground bully.
What Bialek has described is sexual assault. While sexual harassment is serious, sexual assault is, criminally speaking, a whole other level. In Washington DC, where the alleged Bialek – Cain incident occurred, a misdemeanor sexual abuse charge carries a $1000 fine plus up to 180 days in jail. If a case reaches into 3rd or 4th degree assault territory fines can reach $100,000 and jail time soars to 10 years in prison. Continue Reading →
Gay Marriage, GOP Secret Weapon
Gay Marriage, GOP Secret Weapon 05 November 2004 Was the “moral value” of homophobia this election’s X-factor? By Jeff Sharlet My colleague Ann and I decided to tune out of Continue Reading →
The Marriage Campaign
The Marriage Campaign 01 November 2004 Anti-gay marriage proposals may draw voters to the polls on Nov. 2, but the media storms that surround them drives democracy out of the Continue Reading →