Come on, get out of the basement. Cain earned his position and CEOs of large organizations are expected to entertain their guests in style. Also, so there is something wrong with Cain giving his staff large raises? This is what makes people work hard, it's called incentive in the free market system. You have heard about capitalism and the free market system, haven't you?
Calling a self-made man, who has been successful in a variety of pursuits, a "freeloader" is stupid even for someone with your limitations.
I certainly have heard of capitalism and worked for people who have far more money than Mr. Cain. My last boss could buy and sell Cain a dozen times, and even though he is worth more than $100 million (self made, not inherited), he still lives a pretty humble life. Drives a luxury car when he could easily afford a car and driver. Flies first class commercial when he could easily do the Net-Jets fractional ownership thing. Has two nice homes in Wi and Fla, and donates a lot of money to charity through his foundation.
I was recently at one his homes for 80th birthday party for him. Some of the wealthiest people in Wisconsin were there, people who have donated 10’s of millions to many of their alma maters, have buildings named after them at Universities, etc. I have golfed with these people, worked for them, and almost without exception, they are self made. If you met them on the street, would have no idea how much money they are worth. The ones with true wealth many times do not show it, the ones who try to show it usually are not nearly as wealthy as they want you to appear.
Spending other peoples money to maintain a high lifestyle is not my idea of capitalism. Having traveled on business to Hong Kong, Europe, Japan, etc. I can tell you that I could have stayed at better hotels, ate at better restaurants, etc. I watch the money I spend precisely because in a capitalist system, profit is the ultimate measure of success, not appearances. I treat other peoples money I spend as my own, not as an ATM with unlimited over draft privileges. Any employee of a company from CEO on down is accountable for the expenses they incur, and the CEO should have to justify his just as a mid-level manager should.
The cult of Cain is suc a curious thing. He is self made without question, and deserves credit for that. I think people would be surprised if they saw that his net worth is probably not close to what he portrays, After he left Pillsbury (Godfathers) he did a couple years running NRA at $250k or so, and then a radio talk show which basically failed. He hired a guy from Wisconsin who was stocking shelves at Target to run his campaign, not a true professional who would have cost him a lot of cash.
Power corrupts and Cain seems to have let the position he has attained in society to corrupt him. That is my opinion and no amount of hectoring from FReepers with blinders on is going to change that. BTW CEO of NRA is paid through the dues of the member chapters and restaurants. Cain QUIT before his three year term was up, and the spending thing was a part of why he wore out his welcome there and left before his three year contract was up. That is not conjecture, it is a fact.