Herman Cain: Practice What You Preach

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain opined in the New York Post that protestors on Occupy Wall Street should stop protesting, look in the mirror, and "examine their own failures ."

But almost a week after a Politico reporter confronted Mr. Cain about decade-old sexual harassment allegations against him , Mr. Cain refuses to take that advice himself.

Saturday, after a one-on-one debate with fellow rival Newt Gingrich, reporters asked the former CEO if he refuses to address further questions about accusations made by two women of "inappropriate" and "sexually suggestive" behavior while he was head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. His reply: "You got it."

But Mr. Cain would be wise to remember what he does not have: the Republican nomination for President of the United States. He needs to remember what President Obama said to members of Congress during his American Jobs Act speech, that the American people, "hired us to work for them."

And right now Mr. Cain, you don't have the job.

We rely on our press to ask hard questions so that we can make our decision as to who would best represent this country. As a former CEO he knows how important first impressions make. According to the Huffington Post, when a reporter tried to ask again about the allegations, Cain immediately interrupted:

"Don't even go there," Cain said before the reporter from The Washington Post could finish his question. "Can I ask my question?" the reporter said.
"No," Cain snapped.
"Please send him the journalistic code of ethics," Cain instructed his chief of staff, Mark Block.

Please send him the journalistic code of ethics. Can you imagine saying this to an interviewer for a job that you want? I wonder how quickly an interview would end, if a job applicant at Godfather's addressed an interviewer the way Mr. Cain addressed the press, the interviewers on behalf of the American people.

If Mr. Cain really wants to preside over the American people, then he must answer our questions. This includes lingering questions on the allegations of sexual harassment. If he doesn't, he shouldn't be surprised when what he told protestors on Occupy Wall Street, actually happens to him: "If you don't have a job, blame yourself!"

Memo to Herman Cain: You Don't Have the Job originally published on the Yahoo! Contributor Network

Bishop Eddie Long's Little Church of Horrors

I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt

Some ministers wear robes. Others wear suits. Still others, dress casual.

Then, you've got Bishop Eddie Long.

Tyra Banks Would Be Proud
Now, there's nothing wrong with men wearing spandex tops. It's just that we're used to seeing men in them, at say, sporting events or working out at the gym.

He's doing neither.

All I'm trying to understand is this:

How did members at New Birth Baptist Church explain these pictures to themselves?



Did they say, "Maybe he's entering a Mr. Universe contest and no one was around to snap the picture?" 

Where Is The Outrage?

Bishop Eddie L. Long- Wardrobe Change

How else could members read the chilling details of the lawsuits that describe grooming, seduction, and abundance of gifts to boys who just needed a father figure to love them, without being outraged? 

As if it wasn't bad enough, he rapes them and tells them that its healthy, normal, a part of living as a Christian.

And you know what, maybe he's telling us a little bit about his truth. That he learned the crime of sexual abuse was really love.

It wouldn't be the first time. Check out the stacks of evidence from the 11,000 victims of sexual abuse found in the Roman Catholic Church.

Still after all of that, your pastor settles out of court for a reported $15 million dollars - money probably that came from their own pockets - you'd think that members would feel outraged or betrayed or at least demand answers. 

Hardly. What did they do instead? They had a celebration!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On

Isn't that what anyone would do?

Robyn Rushing thought so.

According to the Christian Post, Ms. Rushing, apparently still intoxicated from the previous night's festivities, took to the virtual streets of face book:

“Love you Bishop Eddie Long. So Still in Awe of Your 24th Pastoral Anniversary,” she wrote. “You deserve every bit and some. That was a good thing to see so many honor you.”

This should not surprise us.  Jesus warned that His sheep know His voice and follow Him, so too does Bishop Long's sheep hear Long's voice and follow him...

... Right to the Collection Plate

The bloggers at AT2W,  report that when it was time for offering, the announcer made his sales pitch short and sweet: “Those who rule over us, should not lack for anything.”

Of course not.

No respectable predator gives something away or participates in activities that does not reap a substantial benefit for themselves. The announcer underscores this point, quickly telling the congregation that the Bishop “has serviced well and they should sow well.”

To those who left this congregation, I would imagine you feel betrayed, just as those young men did and still feel today. My prayers are with you for strength in grieving and trying to trust again.  I also pray for those left behind consciously denying the reality right in front of them.

If these allegations are true, which I believe they are, you are putting your children in harms way.  You are putting your children at risk of encountering a sexual predator who doesn't care about you are your child, only what he can get from you.

I, sadly, speak from first hand experience. And I share my warning as those brave young men shared theirs. 


What do you think?  Please feel free to comment.  Let me know your take.