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.)

[jcsjcm]

Do you really believe that he was helping her for 13 years just because she states she was with him. Isn’t it possible that he just knew her for 13 years, but as a friend only.

It has supposedly (allegedly) only been since Oct. that she has texted him 71 times and he has only replied back more than half the time.

I think she is setting him up. What gain does she get from bringing any of this personal information out? She isn’t sounding like this was a bitter (alleged) affair... He didn’t hit her, hurt her, throw her under the bus? What possibly is the motive of her stepping up and talking about whatever nonsense she is bringing up? There is no value to this whole thing other than taking Cain down in the eyes of his voters.

SO..... What’s her motive? Who’s behind this? Is it really true?

I don’t believe any of it and I do believe people are setting him up to go down and that is all they are doing. Notice how the other supposed people have all but disappeared - where’s Gloria and Sharon been lately?

[jcsjcm]

Let me just add to your Newt failings is that he has previously supported a national health insurance mandate.

Quote
“Unless you have 100 percent coverage, you can’t have the right preventive care, and you can’t have a rational system,” he said in 2005 at a health care forum where he shared the stage with his former nemesis Hillary Clinton. “And so I’m actually in favor of finding a way to say you ought to either have health insurance, or you ought to post a bond.”

But, I will say he would be an easier person if Cain drops out to vote for than Romney! I still want Cain!

[Free Vulcan]

I’m glad I’m not the only one in the room that sees the same thing. I’m upset that Cain as I can understand it gave what money he did within the last couple of months...very stupid. Even so, I’ve seen no proof of something improper. There isn’t alot of actual proof out in the open here right now.

[jessduntno]

“Do you really believe that he was helping her for 13 years just because she states she was with him. Isn’t it possible that he just knew her for 13 years, but as a friend only.”

I don’t know...and either do you. He says in the Union Leader that he met her many years ago...not specific...but many usually means a lot...it could be fewer than 13, but we don’t know. The only allegation is hers (13 years) and he won’t be specific. I just don’t know what makes her story so incredible. If I had a woman friend and was giving her money - ten bucks - my wife would know. My wife knows all of the long time friends I have. And I have a lot.

You don’t believe it. OK. I don’t know what to believe. But the story isn’t going away and this is the last thng we all need right now, giving Zero time to throw fund raisers while speculating on this shit.

Sorry I said anything, but it pisses me off.

[potlatch]

Lol, very attention getting post!
Que Sera.....what will be will be. Just watched him on Hannity and Hannity had to clarify some remarks. Cain’s explanations aren’t always clear, but they change the next day anyway.

[offduty]

So far, the only “proof” are statements made by annonymous sources, media-hungry attorney’s and some questionable females who are in financial difficulty. No receipts, pictures, formal charges, or adjudication.

I find it sad there are so many people on FR, who I thought were more discerning, quick to judge without any supporting evidence.

I have no problems with the give and take of political discourse. I do have a problem with the lack of critical thinking that I am afraid is becoming more commonplace on FR.

[devolve]

- There is a term for men who smile and shake your hand and instantly give most people the confidence that you can trust them .

[EDINVA]

oh, please. Ms. White chose to put herself in the spotlight with some explosive allegations against a public figure who happens to be in a contest to run for the Office of President of the United States. She chose to jump on that bandwagon. What has been written about her - the failed business, the stalking, the evictions - are a matter of public record. And statements of people who’ve known her a long time, i.e., her mother and a former husband, both of whom claim she has little relationship with the truth.

Even IF her allegations are true, every last one, there was no reason for her to come forward other than to garner publicity for herself, and to hurt someone with whom she claims she had a long term relationship, and who helped her out financially when she was in trouble.

I’m not too sure she had a reputation to be damaged. Now, such as it is, it’s very, very public, and her own doing.

[BagCamAddict]

Who gives a flying intercourse?

I don’t care if he is having sex with 20 whores a week, as long as he still has enough energy to do his job.

You and I have different values, and are making our voting decisions based on different criteria.

Vote for whomever you want. It’s a free country.

[GlockThe Vote]

Great post.

[Nervous Tick]

>> You and I have different values

Apparently so.

>> Vote for whomever you want.

Thanks. I shall.

[Free Vulcan]

Many - too many - work the boards to get people to herd to their candidate. Some paid, some not.

[DryFly]

[Nervous Tick]

>> I don’t care if he is having sex with 20 whores a week, as long as he still has enough energy to do his job.

Respectfully, here’s something for you to consider: a guy who will cheat on his wife will think nothing of cheating on the voters who elected him.

Character matters.

[offduty]

You’re absolutely right!
My Priest: the doctor who did my colon re-section; my oncologist; the nurse who monitored my chemo; my brother-in-law.

What’s your point?

[offduty]

BTW...love your tag-line.

[riri]

If I were Mrs. Cain, I doubt I would have ever given whoever orchestrated this the benefit of admitting I did not know about this. I would have said I did know and that Herman was known to help people in need financially.

Then I would have made his life very unpleasant.

[jessduntno]

“oh, please. Ms. White chose to put herself in the spotlight...”

Huh. Outrage against some people you don’t know are telling the truth that have chosen to become public figures is OK, others not. If that makes sense to you, OK.

I’m done. Thanks for clearing that up.

[potlatch]

I know, I also say ‘fast talkers’. Am I the only one who sees a similarity between this woman and Bialek, needy women he ‘sees’ at conferences who need help.

Bialek said he agreed to meet her to ‘help with a job’. She said she repelled aggression, perhaps White didn't and it ‘evolved’. Wonder if we'll ever know the truth.