I think I’ll just go ahead and say it. No predictions on whether it will doom him or not, but ...
The reason this story has legs now is simple. He was not consistent with his message. Didn’t know. Agreement vs. settlement. Did know.
He knew it was coming and didn’t just say “yes, I knew about the settlements; the allegations against me are baseless, and they were severanced from the NRA with x number of weeks pay. As is typical with all severance agreements, there is a non-disclosure clause, and I will respect that.”
Simple, true, and verifiable.
A presidential candidate who does not know that inconsistent responses to the media are like blood in the water? Who is advising him?
Agreement v. settlement? Are you serious?
First of all, how would Cain know this? He was NOT a party to the action between the complainants and the NRA. He would only know through some kind of hearsay.
Further, this case was so inconsequential and business-as-usual that (1) the HR director at the time said she was unfamiliar with any complaints having been filed against Cain, and (2) the lawyer for the complainant said he couldn't remember her name, or WHO the complaint had been against, that he had accomplished the case with a few phone calls and that was it.
These type of terminations happen EVERY DAY. No one would pay the least bit of attention to it. Especially since there is also evidence that the woman was likely to leave or be fired anyway.