CAIN FIGHTS BACK – AT 10:29 P.M. ET:   I was able to watch the entire Herman Cain press conference today, in which Cain hotly denied all of the accusations against him.

Actually, the highlight of the affair was the opening statement by Cain's lawyer, Lin Wood, who gave an eloquent and reasoned presentation about false accusations, the justice system and the concept of fairness.

Then Cain came on.  Look, he was passionate, and defended himself with vigor.  However, he didn't add anything new, and presented nothing that would lead an impartial viewer to say, "He's nailed it."  He simply denied.  It was an emotional performance, but free of great substance.

Cain, though, was helped today by revelations that the accuser who came forward yesterday, fronted by Gloria Allred, has a troubled financial past, and has made charges like this before.  She didn't help herself by being all over the tube, obviously trying to start a new career.  And Gloria Allred is a well-known Democratic activist and contributor.

At the same time, the first accuser, who spoke through her lawyer last week, saying she wanted to remain anonymous, came forward and identified herself.  She's an employee of the Treasury Department.  In other words, she works in the Obama administration.  She said she would speak publicly, but preferred to  hold a joint press conference with all the other accusers.  I wonder why.

I have no idea whether Herman Cain did the things he's accused of doing.  He clearly botched the handling of these accusations in the first days, and has made wild, unsubstantiated charges about people he says instigated the charges.  But the accusers have not been able to prove their statements.  What we need here, and will probably not get, is some first-class investigative journalism.

This story isn't over, so stand by.

November 8, 2011