While on the campaign trail in Michigan on Thursday, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain laughed along with a voter who joked about his having the support of Anita Hill. In 1991, Hill made sexual harassment accusations against then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas during his confirmation hearings.
Like Thomas then, Cain finds himself fighting harassment accusations, which he flatly denies and says are an attempt to ruin him politically. Comparisons between Thomas and Cain have been made since the allegations against the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza surfaced in the media last week. (SEE ALSO: Complete coverage of presidential candidate Herman Cain)
The joke first aired on FOX News Channel’s Special Report with Bret Baier.
The audio available shows a person in the crowd first bringing up the subject, asking Cain if he had heard “the latest news today” about Hill. While the whole question is inaudible in the video, Cain responded, “Is she going to endorse me?” to the raucous laughter of those present.
Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon told The New York Times that “it was a joke.”