[There was a video here]

Herman Cain's latest defense against the sexual harassment charges dogging his campaign: you should really pay attention to the many, many people in the world who have not accused me of inappropriate behavior, not the five or so women who have.

Cain was asked about the harassment charges at the CNBC debate near Detroit Wednesday night. He again dismissed the charges and, with a Sarah Palin-esque red meat flourish, he lashed out at his critics and the media reporting on them.

The question about the scandal was booed, and Cain's response was given huge cheers. There may be some Republicans rethinking Cain, but it doesn't sound like they were in the audience at the debate.

"The American people deserve better than someone being tried in the court of public opinion based on unfounded accusations," Cain said.

Big cheers.

"And I value my character and my integrity more than anything else," he added. Then came the big finish:

"For every one person that comes forward with a false accusation, there are probably thousands who will say that none of that sort of activity ever came from Herman Cain," Cain said, referring to himself in the third person, as is his custom lately.

Republished with permission from TalkingPointsMemo.com. Authored by Evan McMorris-Santoro. TPM provides breaking news, investigative reporting and smart analysis of politics.