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.)

[CajunConservative]

Well, it may not be a crime but it sure does show a lack of good sense to keep this kind of friendship with a much younger woman from the little wife.

[jacquej]

Oh Dear - I just gave a certain candidate some money, and didn’t tell my husband. I also wrote an encouraging note on a petition for him.

Have I been emotionally unfaithful? Too intimate? I’d better not send any more, or else I will be betraying my marriage vows.

[Tennessee Nana]

If the “good deed” involves helping another woman financially without the knowledge of one’s wife,
____________________________________________________

Plus the man is humble

Im sure he doesnt have a press conference every time he gives someone some help...

[wolfcreek]

My sentiments exactly.

If your wife can't trust you, why should the voters?

[Barney Gumble]

I think we view his actions through our eyes.

In our world, giving someone say $500 for rent is a big deal. If we gave $10 for a fundraiser at work, we may not tell our wives. To Cain, perhaps $500 is like $10 is to us.

It would help his case, if he said “over the last X years, I’ve given $y to this many people”

[jagusafr]

“Had cain told his wife of this, what do you think her reaction would have been?”

Probably, “Ditch that bitch” LONG before 13 years passed. He didn’t give her the opportunity to support or argue the issue, which says little for his marital communication.

[mick]

Give me a break. A man in Cain’s position couldn’t possibly tell his wife every person he’s befriended. This is getting ridiculous. I guess I am from the old school, like Cain. Your wife is your wife. If you are doing nothing wrong and have nothing to be ashamed of why in the world do you need to “clear” your behavior with your wife. He’s a grown man with a solid and trusting relationship with his life partner. To him, a good Christian man,I bet he regretted getting sucked into the world of this loser and was just trying to manage it as best he could without telling her to get lost.

[Secret Agent Man]

If I was giving any non-family woman I knew financial help, my wife would know all about it. I’d be discussing it with her. Why not tell the wife about it if it’s on the up and up?

It strikes me odd. Not everyone operates like me but I think my viewpoint on it is pretty much the norm.

[jagusafr]

“My sentiments exactly.

If your wife can’t trust you, why should the voters?”

“Mr Gingrich, please pick up two of the white courtesy phones...”

[Nervous Tick]

>> 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.

“Just Friends”. Hyeah... right.

Tell you what, Mrs. Tick would have Tick Junior stuffed, mounted, and hanging on her (formerly our) mantel if I pulled *that* trick on her. No way would she fall for that “friends” stuff, especially if I kept it a secret from her.

We’ll see what Mrs. Cain is made of.

[Sacajaweau]

I'd say she has a blue dress hidden away. He's being cautious becaue he knows the possibilities.

He'll be gone before the end of the week. His attorneys will tell him to quit....and his money is drying up.

Obama was oh so hoping he would get the nomination. All his Dem loyalists and the 95% black vote would stay with Obama.

[D-fendr]

Not telling his wife is not a good thing.

There still is a big difference between this and a sexual affair. My only point is that if this is what the woman says publicly and it’s not true, then Cain’s lawyer needs to go after her big time.

If this happens, he, IMHO, can stay in. If he leaves it as it is, I think he’s out, slowly or quickly, but out.

[ZippyTheGreat]

Buh bye...convicted by the MSM and in the court of public opinion.

[ZippyTheGreat]

Buh bye...convicted by the MSM and in the court of public opinion.

[businessprofessor]

Cain has blown his opportunity. None of these allegations are important except for his steadfast denials. He should have just indicated that he made mistakes or misunderstandings in each case. He could have moved on without going to war in each case. The idea that he gave this woman money over the years just as a good soul does not pass the laugh test. I do not care if he did have an affair. I do not like dishonesty however.

[windsorknot]

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

Riiiiiiight!

[smoothsailing]

You’re kidding, right?

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Bridge for sale........

[Responsibility2nd]

Give me a break. A man in Cain’s position couldn’t possibly tell his wife every person he’s befriended.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BS. You don’t think that sometime in this 13 year friendship the name “Ginger White” would not have surfaced in the Cain household?

Come on. I KNOW you’re not that naive.

[NEMDF]

And Cain did not realize this was going to come out?

I think this is the part that upsets me. With all the allegations being made about him lately, it seems he would have IF NOTHING ELSE told his wife about this White person, if it was all innocent, on the basis that he can fairly well assume that news will be coming out about any woman he has talked to in the past 20 years. So he has dropped in my regard for him, that he either didn’t foresee this coming, didn’t head it off somehow. ?? Makes you wonder what it will be next week.