Cain: Wife didn't know about friendship, ‘financial assistance' to Ginger White

Union-Leader ^ | 12-1-2011 | John DiStaso

[smoothsailing]

Cain: Wife didn't know about friendship, ‘financial assistance' to Ginger White

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain is questioned by New Hampshire Union Leader publisher Joe McQuaid in Manchester Thursday. David Lane

MANCHESTER - In his most candid interview since the latest allegations emerged, Herman Cain adamantly maintains that he and Ginger White were no more than friends. He told the New Hampshire Union Leader that in about 70 text messages she sent him between Oct. 22 and Nov. 18, she was "asking for financial assistance. She was out of work and had trouble paying her bills and I had known her as a friend."
By JOHN DiSTASO
Senior Political Reporter
MANCHESTER - Herman Cain acknowledged Thursday that he repeatedly gave Ginger White money to help her with "month-to-month bills and expenses" without telling his wife.

In fact, the embattled presidential candidate said, his wife, Gloria, "did not know that we were friends until she (White) came out with this story."

In his most candid interview since the latest allegations emerged, Cain adamantly maintained that he and White were no more than friends.

He told the New Hampshire Union Leader that in about 70 text messages she sent him between Oct. 22 and Nov. 18, she was "asking for financial assistance. She was out of work and had trouble paying her bills and I had known her as a friend.

"She wasn't the only friend who I had helped in these tough economic times, and so her messages to me were relating to ‘need money for rent' or whatever the case may be. I don't remember all the specifics."

Cain said White, who has alleged that she and Cain had a 13-year extramarital affair, told him that she did not have a job and was unable to get financial help from her family, "and that quite frankly, I was the only person who was a friend at the time - and I underscore ‘friend' - that was in a position to help her.


"I'm a soft-hearted person when it comes to that stuff. I have helped members of my church. I have helped members of my family.


"And I know a lot of other people who had done the same thing, and sometimes, quite frankly, it was desperation," Cain said.


Cain said that in 17 reported text messages back to her, he would respond with messages such as, "What are you doing to get a job?"


Cain said he did give Ginger White money, although he would not say how much on the advice of counsel.


And, he acknowledged, "My wife did not know about it, and that was the revelation. My wife found out about it when she went public with it.


"My wife now knows," Cain said. "My wife and I have talked about it and I have explained it to her. My wife understands that I'm a soft-hearted giving person."


He said his wife "is comfortable with the explanation that I told her."


He said he told his wife about White only after White went public.


Cain said that in retrospect he should have told his wife about his friendship with White, "but retrospect doesn't necessarily change what's going on now."


He also said his wife "did not know we were friends until she (White) came out with this story."


He said White did not threaten to go public with the allegation of an affair if Cain did not give her money, "nor was there any indication that there might be blackmail or anything like that.


"I thought I was helping a friend, end of story," he said.


Cain said the two "struck up a friendship" many years ago when she attended a conference in Louisville, Ky., where he was the keynote speaker.


Cain said he does not know why White has gone public with the allegation.


"But I have very strong speculation that someone offered her a lot of money," Cain said. "I was helping her with month-to-month bills and expenses and somebody _ this is speculation only _ offered her a lot of money.


"And one of my objectives is to clear my name and my reputation," Cain said.


(This story will be updated throughout the evening.)

[org.whodat]

I am sure his phone was lying on the dresser while he took a shower. And the early morning stuff is reported to be current, seems to me nothing more than black mail. Wonder how newts current wife was calling him when he was still married, was he running up the old jewelry charge account then as well.. was he giving jewelry to other hill staffers for services, shall we say provided, newts track record, I bet there was dozens of sexual harassment claims. Women paid off by tax payers and kicked up stairs.

[org.whodat]

I am sure his phone was lying on the dresser while he took a shower. And the early morning stuff is reported to be current, seems to me nothing more than black mail. Wonder how newts current wife was calling him when he was still married, was he running up the old jewelry charge account then as well.. was he giving jewelry to other hill staffers for services, shall we say provided, newts track record, I bet there was dozens of sexual harassment claims. Women paid off by tax payers and kicked up stairs.

[GlockThe Vote]

Cain is done - next. The fact that he never told his wife speaks volumes.

[VinL]

I highly doubt you are smart enough to run for office. Since you can’t seem to catch on to the Forum protocol and courtesy rules.
***************

You’re right. I’m not that smart, my friend. But smart enough to discern hypocrisy; and also smart enough to know your last comment is grammatically in error. -:)

[beandog]

You make me laugh. Everybody else who supports a candidate is some sort of unthinking “bot”. You, on the other hand, are the smart one who is only supporting their candidate because he is “capable and strong”. What an arrogant person you are.

[MHGinTN]

So bearing false witness is your style is it. Figures. Who is it again you think you’re supporting with this innuendo mongering?

[GlockThe Vote]

Support is one thing. Acting oblivious and in denial to obvious shortcomings that Obama would crush that person with is called delusion.

The Canebots have gotten more delusional as his shortcomings have gotten worse.

We need to defeat Obama and need to go with the strongest and best we can. Cain is a decent guy, a good guy, but he cant beat obama.

[stillafreemind]

Cain’s wife already said she would not do that.

[org.whodat]

Where is the false witness, a person that harasses normally has a track record and normally does it repeatedly. That is the fact I pointed out. Just look at the recorded of your pal bill clintoon.

[EDINVA]

If my husband were in a position to financially help out someone (male or female) in desperate straits I would not expect him to tell me or to explain. I know he’s done it in the past, and never questioned his motivations. Ever. Thank God when you are in a position to help someone.

[Mountain Mary]

“Mrs Tick would have Tick Junior stuffed, mounted and hanging on her(formerly our) mantel”....

LOL, NT. and I love your tagline.

[writer33]

The crime could be.... that you would ask such a question.

LOL! That's a good one.

[Yaelle]

Reading through the thread, most of you would dump him if he had cheated but not if he were truly innocent.

To me, I assume there was at some time a dalliance, but still would support him because the Dems get to keep their cheating spouse candidates without the anal exam; why can’t we? They said sex didn’t matter for Clinton, and they ignored all the evidence about Edwards and Obama.

But Herman should get out there and tell America that he’s caused pain in his marriage and give no details because it’s not our business, and smack the MSM for their double standard.

[Engedi]

With Cain bein a Minister at his church, I am so surprised that he didn’t protect himself more; like Billy Graham who always had men around him, no women when he travelled.

First rule of ministry- you have to tell your spouse of any outside friendships with the opposite sex.

I though in his original statement he said Ms. White was friends with he and his wife...but now, he is saying his wife didn’t know he was friends with her?

Not looking so good-poor judgement with guarding his reputation.

[tjd1454]

If my husband were in a position to financially help out someone (male or female) in desperate straits I would not expect him to tell me or to explain. I know he’s done it in the past, and never questioned his motivations. Ever. Thank God when you are in a position to help someone.

Hey "Ed" - Question: if your husband carried on a relationship with a woman for 13 years without telling you, talked with her on the phone in the middle of the night without telling you, and gave money not just once but apparently on numerous occasions, again - without telling you, do you mean to say you wouldn't give it a second thought? Maybe you should...

[writer33]

Yes, where has a crime taken place? I didn’t say poor judgement. I said where has the crime taken place.

[tjd1454]

With Cain bein a Minister at his church, I am so surprised that he didn’t protect himself more; like Billy Graham who always had men around him, no women when he traveled. First rule of ministry- you have to tell your spouse of any outside friendships with the opposite sex. I though in his original statement he said Ms. White was friends with he and his wife...but now, he is saying his wife didn’t know he was friends with her? Not looking so good - poor judgement with guarding his reputation.

Agreed - excellent post. Billy Graham set the gold standard in ministry - never a hint of scandal. And he was always very circumspect with regard to "avoiding even the appearance of evil." A man like that you can trust.

[jcsjcm]

I hate to say it, but I have been in this situation before as well.

I had a really good friend that was receiving an eviction notice if she didn’t pay the rent. She asked if I could help her out and that she would pay me when she received her tax return. Mind you it was September/October when I loaned her the money. I gave her enough for 2 months.

I did not tell the husband. This was money I had put aside for an addition I wanted to put on our house. Tax time came and went. In April she expressed to me that she was so tired of living on the edge, she deserved to go on a vacation. She took herself and 2 children to Disney World.

Yep, I felt like such an idiot! But, she did eventually pay me back before the year was out. I never said anything to her since I was the one that put myself in that position in the first place. But, it can happen to anyone.

I think if she hadn’t paid me back, the friendship might have been lost over it. But all is well! Other than I don’t think I’ll lend to her again!

Moral of the story - it happens when you think you are doing the right thing and possibly your partner may not think the same.

[writer33]

First of all, I didn’t say I didn’t have a problem with what he did, but why should he drop out? And why should I throw my full support for Newt before one single vote has been cast? Explain it all now so I get it.

[writer33]

You didn’t tell your husband, you harlotte. It’s obvious you need to reevaluate your entire life! LOL!

Just kidding, jcsjcm. And people can see, it’s easy to take these things completely out of context, and blow them up into some mountain of a problem. In the end, it’s what Cain’s wife thinks.