If he had immediately responded that he's denied this in the past, no charges were ever filed agaist him, no new accusations were being made and that it served no purpose for him to go through it all again, this would all die down a lot faster than if he refuses to comment on it at all. He doesn't have to call anyone a liar; he just has to state that he doesn't wish to go though it all again - he's done that already.

The choice he has made has backed him into a corner now. I don't think this will end well for him.

JR

Of the several good comments Rick posted I'll choose this one as the most on-point.

The tactic is to badger the target, Cosby in this case, until he can no longer endure the attack and finally offers a monetary settlement. The monetary settlement is all they're after--they'll take a public apology and contrition but not before the money is agreed upon and paid out. It's been 30 years for his accusers and life ain't getting any cheaper so it's time to try to get the big payday one more time. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Death by a thousand cuts. Etc.

In O'Reilley's case we must assume that because he is a Fox News asset that the corporation paid a large portion of the settlement in his case. Cosby's past his big earnings potential, especially after this, so they need to get him now.

I'm not saying Cosby and O'Reilly didn't do it. I am saying they are juicy financial targets for such accusations.

Your lovin' gives me a thrill, but your lovin' don't pay my bills, I want money.

As the Japanese say, kill it with silence.

The news media abhors silence. So do the accusers' lawyers. They need noise and lots of it. This isn't Watergate (where if Nixon had fessed-up right away it may have saved his presidency) (but probably not), this is yet another celebrity sex case where there are several accusers who cannot afford to pursue their claim(s) indefinitely. They need quick action, loud and in the open on TMZ and CNN, and Cosby's lawyer(s) know that if they stall long enough this too shall pass. Or at least cost less to settle. Or maybe nothing at all and the accusers fade into oblivion.

I have witnessed many Hollywood North antics, over the last 30 years.
The things that people will do, for an opportunity to be in show business, truly unbelievable.

This. And the days of "hush hush Hollywood" are long gone. Thanks to TMZ, Perez Hilton, etc. No one can stay in the closet (like Rock Hudson, James Dean, Montgomery Clift, etc.) and any extra marital affairs these days are usually found out by the spurned spouse the next morning on network television.

Bill Cosby loses control: Comedian no longer dictating the narrative — and it’s about time - Salon.com

The Bismarck might be circling in the ocean, its rudder jammed by an attacker, and if that's the case then we launch an all-out attack NOW.

Expect more silence from Cosby. This will have to explode in the media before he rolls over and sinks.

Sure makes ya wonder though...the power of accusation. Even a guy like Cosby who so many think are not capable of this kinda does make ya wonder if it is possible. Seed planted...

They can't legally get any money. That time is long past. He knows it, they know it, their lawyers know it. He would have to wake up someday and just decide to be a nice guy and just hand them a check, out of the kindness of his heart. That isn't going to happen.

It's not about money for them. It's about trying to repair the damage from 30 or more years of guilt, shame, frustration and other emotions.

JR

They obviously weren't in enough pain to do something about it 30 yrs. ago, probably because their careers would have been jeopardized. And since their careers were more important then than the "guilt, shame, frustration and other emotions," I'm still having a hard time finding Cobsy guilty of anything. When (not if) Gloria Allred gets involved here, I will be 100% in Cosby's corner.

Back when he was just a popular comedian with a couple LP records out, he came to my Jr. High School to talk about our future.
The school was in Oakland, Ca. and was 90% black.

During his talk to us, someone yelled out to him to "Tell us some of your funny jokes."

He looked out at us and said... "The only joke here today is that if you don't stay in
school and get an education... the joke will be on you."

I have always remembered that day because he was a huge influence on everyone
back then.

It's particularly big business in the UK at the moment. Making money from someone famous you had a fling with in the past. Usually it's some chick (or guy in a few instances) who's looks have run out and they want some attention and money.

Any good lawyer just laughed out-loud at that. Never say never. Keep up the pressure. Keep it up as long as you can and hope you can outlast the defendant. The plaintiffs attempt to keep the noise level as high as possible while the defendant remains in seclusion and attempts to kill the problem with silence.

No money? Sorry honey, you'll have to get another lawyer.

Cosby was REALLY powerful then too. The network (Cosby Show) suits would have sent out their legal department and quashed this posthaste. Yes, with money. (See: O'Reilly and Fox News.) You don't take on Goliath unless you have an air-tight case. Photos, letters, recordings, etc. If you don't have any of that then Goliath pays you off, if he has to, and your career, in this case, is over.

That's just the way power works, fair or not.

Oh, and you can bet your last dollar that lawyers like Allred have sniffed this case over long ago. They have entire staffs out sniffing around for cases--cases with money involved, hopefully big money. Allred is waiting for this to explode into something really big before she enters the scene. She doesn't want to jump in prematurely and have the case fail and tarnish her image. Timing is everything.

Why is it easier to assume that FOURTEEN women are lying and scheming, than it is to believe that one famous guy misused his power and influence?

It takes victims of abuse 30 years to come forward because they know they will be distrusted, blamed a vilified.

Is it so inconceivable that they are coming forward because they want to see the perpetrator held accountable?

Not true. O'Reilly opened a show saying, and I paraphrase, 'This is going to be the only statement I make on this subject and I will never mention it again: These awful allegations made against me are false…'

Ok, I forgot about that and think I may have seen it. But he did exactly the right thing. He made a short, firm denial, didn't attack his accuser and then refused to discuss it again. Then again, he did so after paying the girl off. So she was already bound by a non-disclosure by then.

The two things are not mutually exclusive, first of all.

Second, if that were their motivation, they would have come out 30 years ago.

If indeed there is any veracity to these claims, why are they coming out now? That is the question that begs to be answered

People speak out when they think they will be believed:
-Society has changed in the past 30 years, so things like this are more likely to be pursued and taken seriously.
-when a victim hears that someone else has opened up about abuse by a perpetrator, they are going to feel they are more likely to be believed.

We had a case up here in Canada where there were a couple vague accusations about a popular radio host, and within a week almost a dozen women came forward with similar stories going back 20+ years.

On a more personal note, 2 people very close to me have disclosed sexual abuse. In one case a close friend who suffered abuse from a coach over 25 years ago, in another case a family member who was abused over 50 years ago.

In both situations, they only came out and spoke about the abuse when they heard others were making accusations as well. It's not about a "bandwagon", it's being able to unload that burden without being subjected to doubt and shame.

It certainly changed my perspective on these things, and believe me... just about everyone here knows people who are silent about abuse they've suffered... we just haven't created a safe environment for them to talk about it.

Was in the UK when the story came out. It the famous "everybody new about it" but nobody said anything.

The latest up here, after this one... http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/835900-cbc-radio-versus-50-shades-jian-ghomeshi.html , is that of 2 members of parliament acussing 2 others member from another party of harassment. Even some journalist knew about it but said nothing. Some other member of parliament says it should have been kept "in house" :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Ottawa to address issue of harassment on Parliament Hill behind closed doors - The Globe and Mail