Can Cain explain?

What you hear from some conservative commentators, that this is a “high-tech lynching” of an “uppity black conservative” and the media punishing him for being “black while conservative,” is either ludicrous or boring. Ludicrous, because you can’t for a minute tell me Politico wouldn’t have run the story if it had been Romney, Perry, Paul or Bachmann. It has nothing to do with his skin color and everything to do with the fact that this is what news does today, and maybe the fact that he’s a Republican. That’s what newspapers do today in the Age of Twitter — they report first, ask questions later. And if it’s not ludicrous, it’s boring, because we already know the media is biased against Republicans. So what? We’ve been saying that for years.

But on the question of race. Don’t Republicans hate it when they oppose Democrats "of color" on policy or make a personal accusation — and the first response of that Democrat "of color" and his/her defenders is to say, “You must be a racist.” Don’t Republicans hate that? Well, why is the first response from some conservatives that this must have to do with Cain’s race? That makes them guilty of the same race-baiting we accuse Democrats of. Let’s stick to the issue.

The real question is, why is Cain’s response so inconsistent and incoherent? Most Republican voters find it hard to believe he didn’t remember details about a significant accusation only 12 years old. Put yourself in his shoes, Bruce. You’re successful. You have ambitions. You have a career and a reputation. And two women make accusations that could end it all today. You’re telling me you wouldn’t have that episode seared into your brain and soul for the rest of your life? So Republicans are right to have questions about all this and wonder why he’s having so much trouble remembering.

Republicans are a forgiving group. If he’d been clear, consistent and open about this from the beginning, and if the accusations truly were baseless, he’d be fine and it would be yesterday’s news. Especially if it turns out this wasn’t about sex or infidelity but was instead about inappropriate office humor, as Cain is suggesting.