Posted on 12/02/2011 6:30:26 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Here’s the news people on Twitter are buzzing about from tonight’s raincheck interview with the Manchester Union-Leader. We already knew this, though — sort of. Cain told Wolf Blitzer on Monday, before we had heard Ginger White’s name, that his wife didn’t know White. (Skip to 7:30 of this clip.) That’s ever so slightly different from saying his wife didn’t know about White or that he was sending her cash, but c’mon: If she did know that, don’t you think he would have mentioned it to Blitzer as proof that their friendship was no secret?
Cain said that in about 70 text messages she sent him between Oct. 22 and Nov. 18, White 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.”…
“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 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…
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.
Supposedly she was desperate for cash, desperate enough that she’d risk ruining the marriage of a friend who’d been sweet enough to give her money by lying in exchange for a payout from some shadowy enemy — yet not so desperate that she’d try to blackmail Cain himself? If that’s true, she has a strange moral code.
Here’s the vid of the Union-Leader interview. Skip ahead to 22:00 and 46:00 for a few questions about White. Cain’s lawyer is pushing back by demanding copies of her phone records to try to prove that she was the one sending most of the texts, but even if that’s true, his polls are what they are. I can understand him wanting to stay in the race on principle if he’s innocent, but his support is now a wasting asset; if he wants to exchange it for something valuable, the sooner he does it, the better. Romney’s desperate to keep Cain’s supporters from bolting for Gingrich so he’d probably offer Cain something in return for an endorsement (Cain endorsed him in 2008, remember), but … what could he offer? A cabinet appointment or ambassadorship requires Senate approval, which would mean new scrutiny from Democrats of the harassment charges, White’s allegations, etc. Plus, endorsing Romney this time would complicate Cain’s brand as an authentic grassroots conservative anti-establishmentarian and he needs that brand to protect his chances at a show on Fox or a new talk-radio gig. Then again, endorsing Gingrich wouldn’t do much for his brand either. If he doesn’t endorse Mitt, then who? (Speaking of Newt, check out our very clever frontrunner turning a question about Cain into a play for social cons.)
One thing Romney has that Cain increasingly needs is campaign cash. According to WaPo, the Cain Train is almost out of steam financially, to the point where they can’t afford to run ads rebutting all the charges against him. If he ends up in debt, Romney could promise to erase his liabilities in return for an endorsement and some appearances on the stump. Obviously, though, that’ll matter much more to Romney when Cain’s still at 10-15 percent than when he’s at five. Tick tock. Click the image to watch.
We have a real conservative candidate, pro life, pro family, pro 2nd. Pro small very limited government. And with a proven track record of success.
Gov. Rick Perry.
“Suspect, barring the unexpected, we’re looking at a 2 man show; Gingrich/Romney.”
I’m not happy about it, but I think you are right. Mr Pin-ball Mind vs Mr Anything To Be Elected.
Damn!
So say Cain and then Palin both endorse Rick Perry - think that would give him fresh traction?
I'm a Bachmann supporter but understand her campaign shortcommings - Newt's ego problem makes my skin crawl, and Romney, well he creeps me out - do you guys really think it's just a two two-man race?
That’s the truth.
Imagine a wife finding out her husband has had a 13 year “friendship” with a female, and had been giving her money as well.
Sorry, I like Hermain Cain, but this is a bit much.
Probably not the adultery so much as the denial.
***Excuse Me! If Adultery mattered Newt would be in the same position as Cain***.
Perception is everything.
Many of us perceived that Herman was a long-term, faithful husband with no extra-marital skeletons. We still don’t have all the facts - but it has upset our perceptions.
All of us have been swamped with Newt’s transgressions - personal and public for decades. He has apologized, sought redemption and married his extra-marital lovers; establishing that they were not ‘sexual flings’ but ‘true love come lately’.
As many FReepers have asked: how many of us have strayed, been unfaithful, divorced, been cuckolded, forgiven and been forgiven or are still pure as the driven snow?
Life is untidy - we, our family members and friends mess up. Politicians are people too.
I thought the same thing. We, too, have friends who always seem to have an emergency need for money. We’ve found that financially helping people can easily get out of control, especially with this type of “friend.” It’s an awkward position to be in, and we lost good friends because of it.
I can see a 13 year friendship starting out with just a bit of help, and eventually in small bits the dollar amounts get big especially with a man of means. For some people, they’re sure that “just a bit more” will get them back on their feet.
Cain's entire story has unraveled. Even if he is telling the truth, it makes him look bad. It would mean he gave money to a mercenary woman who kept demanding more and more money until she stabbed him in the back. We don't need a president who throws around money to people who do not deserve it or who bite the hand that feeds them.
Stick a fork in the Hermanator.
Newt was getting Lewinskied in the Congressional Parking Lot while Bill Clinton was doing it with Monica in the Oval Office.
Now tell me who was covering up? Speaker of the House, Mr. Smartest Man in the room, third in line for the Presidency, or Herman Cain - running for office not sitting in it making decisions
No way I could ever vote for Newt Gingrich. At least Mitt Romney has a moral compass.
Pick your Flipper - I'll take Mitt!
Definition of a Newt:
Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism.
Think it is time to stop blaming the leftist press for Cain’s problems. If he hadn’t done this, which he now admits too then it wouldn’t have been reported. Cain can blame everyone he wants but the buck stops with him. Can’t believe, someone in his position would do such dumb things over so many years.
Meanwhile, his vanity candidacy has now wreaked havoc on his family. Hope it was worth the book sales, Herm. Now take your stupid national sales tax boondoggle and LEAVE THE STAGE.
Your thoughts? You know him.
Feeling like a deflated balloon, the same way I felt when McCain won the nomination. But that all changed when he selected Palin as a running mate. All we can do is hope Mitt or Newt pick wisely.
It will matter for Newt before it's all said and done. Then the Tea Party will stare into the abyss and see a slick grinning Mormon staring back at them. Suddenly, Rick Santorum's numbers will rise. lol.
***Some down and outs are not faithful friends. They would do anything for money. It looks like White was paid to betray a faithful friend who helped her out financially. It wouldn’t surprise me if one day she calls him up again to help pay her bills. It is a different mindset. That kind doesn’t have a conscience.***
Thank you for that excellent insight.
It’s the hat. Never trust a guy that wears a pimp hat.
Yep! He's done - in fact, he's well done.
“Looks like I picked a bad week to stop sniffing glue.”
Lol at that.
Cain had a good interview with Cavuto the other day and seemed to be finally doing a good job answering questions about these allegations.
The interview with Hannity last night was not so good. The whole “lets not play detective” thing didn’t come off well at all. It felt like Sean was trying to help him by suggesting the hotels must have records and video that could be used to prove his innocence, but Herman really didn’t seem to want to go down that road. Very baffling considering how determined you’d think an innocent married man would be to prove allegations of an affair were utterly bogus.
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