by Carolyn Tytler

Created on: November 09, 2011

Three women have recently accused Herman Cain of acts of sexual impropriety. A fourth woman, Sharon Bialek  has now come forward alleging that she was also sexually harassed by the U.S. presidential hopeful. His three former accusers declined to be interviewed, but it was revealed that Mr. Cain settled one of the former allegations by paying off the complainant. Ms. Bialek's appearance will probably put an end to Cain's chances of  becoming president. In this writer's view, that is a fortunate occurrence for the following reasons:

The president as family man.

The family is the basic unit of society. The nation's perception of their president's family life is especially important because he should represent society's norm, the prototype of a conjugal relationship to which all citizens should aspire. Herman Cain has been married to his wife Gloria for 43 years. He is a father and grandfather. So far so good, but four allegations of sexual harassment, one of which required a payoff to be settled out of court, casts a dark shadow over his supposedly ideal marriage.

The president as role model.

All American youngsters want to grow up to be president. As the leader of the most powerful nation on earth, the holder of that high office has greater authority and power than any other leader. Every good parent wants his or her children to emulate a person of honor, honesty, and sterling character. At present, it is very questionable whether Herman Cain embodies any of these qualities. The stakes are too high to gamble on a candidate of dubious moral standards and personal ethics. Our youth are the future of the nation and they deserve a quality role model. 

The president as leader.

The role of president is demanding, and his decisions bear serious consequences for America and the entire world. The welfare of millions of people depends on his wisdom, good judgement and self-control. If even one of the accusations levied against him is true, Herman Cain lacks all these qualities. An effective president must have the respect of his country's citizens and that of other world leaders. Unfortunately for Herman Cain, if the allegations are proven true, he will command no respect. He will be the target of jokes and snide remarks. He will not be trusted or taken seriously because he will be recognized as a deceptive cheater.

Could this be the reason why Gloria Cain has not been with her husband on the campaign trail? Perhaps she lacks the strength and emotional resilience of Hillary Clinton who was able to overlook her husband's sexual indiscretions and move forward. Throughout history, there have always been philandering spouses on the local, national and international scene, but to elect one as president of the United States at this crucial juncture in that nation's history, would be a tragedy indeed. 

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