Cain defends joke about Anita Hill

By SHANNON McCAFFREY, Associated Press Writer
2:10 p.m., Nov. 11, 2011

ATLANTA — Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain - facing allegations of sexual harassment - is defending a joke he made about Anita Hill.

Cain said he was approached at a recent event by a supporter who said Hill was trying to contact him.

Cain responded by asking whether Hill was going to endorse him. Hill famously accused then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.

In an appearance Friday on Fox News Channel, Cain called the supporter's comment "hilarious" and said his own reply was meant to be funny.

Four women have said Cain sexually harassed them when he led the National Restaurant Association more than a decade ago.

Some Cain backers have compared the Georgia businessman's treatment to that of Thomas, another high profile black conservative.

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