Sharon Bialek

Sharon Bialek, a Chicago woman who worked at the National Restaurant Association in the mid1990s has come forward to say that Herman Cain sexually harassed her while she was looking for a job. In graphic detail, Bialek said an encounter with Cain that happened in July of 1997 in Washington D.C. that left the woman shaken and embarrassed.

After being let go by the NRA foundation, Bialek, who had met Cain on many occasions during conferences and at a dinner, approached out to Cain to obtain help on getting a new job. The NRA confirmed on Monday afternoon that Bialek had worked for its education foundation from December 1996 to June 1997.

During their meeting, Bialek alleges that Cain put his hand under her skirt and reached for her genitals and also pushed her head toward his crotch while they were in a car.

She recalls saying: “This isn’t what I came here for, Mr. Cain.”

The now-GOP presidential candidate responded, according to Bialek, “You want a job, right?”

At that time following the incident, Bialek, who is a registered Republican, homemaker, and single mom, said that she told her then-boyfriend and another person, according to her lawyer, Gloria Allred. Allred presented the two sworn statements of the people Bialek told at the news conference.

Speaking at a news conference in New York, Bialek said that she spoke out in order to “to give a face and a voice to those other women” who end not to, referring to two women who filed complaints against Cain, but have thus far remained anonymous.

“I want you, Mr. Cain, to come clean,” Bialek said. “I implore you, make this right..”

In the intervening week, two more women — including Sharon Bialek who went public with her allegations this afternoon — have come forward while Cain and his senior campaign team have been tried without much success to beat back the story.

How is Cain doing it?

In conversation with a handful of Republican strategists as well as an analysis of how past presidential scandals have played out, a some reply make sense.

1. The women are silent: Up until today’s press conference, none of the women who made these allegations against Cain have been agreed to speak out publicly. That silence makes it harder for people to empathize/sympathize with the accusers since they remain in the eyes of the public both faceless and voiceless.