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.)

[muawiyah]

Let's see, Ginger is no spring chicken. I think she's 46 or thereabouts. 13 years ago she'd been 33.

A wealthy man with a position of responsibility should have been able to get a goodly number of twenty-somethings lined up at his door.

So what was this old gal's hook?

[GlockThe Vote]

Come on - don’t be a dope. Cain is done - this is insanely dumb on his part.

[muawiyah]

At the time wasn't he being distracted by the two other women?

You know this is being worked through somebody's library of sexual fantasies ~ first, the unnamed sin, but the woman was "bothered by it" ~ made her feel "uncomfortable". Then the furtive grope in a no parking zone near one of Washington DCs busiest intersections Now, the "13 year affair".

Yet, all the complainants have legal problems, or they are serial sexual harrassment complainers.

It's pretty clear somebody is using these women ~ but that first one from INS? She's the one with a Clinton connection. So maybe it's somebody Obama believes to be in his camp who is actually doing this on behalf of Hillary.

David Axelrod is my candidate ~ and that's because of his ever increasingly complex and overtly sexual innuendo.

Next, "rape" rape!

[muawiyah]

I was sexually harrassed by Hillary Clinton shortly after she and Bill married.

[GlockThe Vote]

Maybe she outperformed her looks?

[writer33]

You’re kidding, right?

Did Herman Cain commit a crime? I'm not talking about poor judgement. I'm talking about a crime.

[Catsrus]

I,for one, was giving Herman the benefit of the doubt. I still want proof, but, his latest statement makes me very angry. If I were his wife, I’d be furious. Apparently, she stayed home taking care of the home and kids and he was out gallivanting while CEO - having dinner and drinks with other women. Gloria isn’t well enough or doesn’t even want to campaign with and for him. Possibly, Herman was lonely on the trail while CEO, and had women companions to fill the gap, and he flashed that million-dollar smile and money their way. Bad mistake and totally naive, as far as I’m concerned.

I think he’s done, sad to say. and I’m still giving him the benefit of the doubt about having an “affair.”

[sirchtruth]

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."

It does not matter WHAT the relationship was, Cain is done with this revelation.

Game over!

[GlockThe Vote]

Didnt you get the memo - obama is pissing himself scared over Cain.

[annelizly]

and george did it once. not over and over and over again over more than a decade.

[annelizly]

and george did it once. not over and over and over again over more than a decade.

[VinL]

You guys are joking, right????????// -:)

I support Mr. Cain- but Newt has about 50% of GOP support now- and is then likely the nominee. Great- I’ve always liked Newt- happy to support him.

But, he’s an acknowleged liar and adulterer— doesn’t seem to matter, does it?

[org.whodat]

Wrong friend I have known many people that would give you the shirt off their back if they thought that you really needed it and more than one of them were preachers . And a few of them were not. I have heard, rush, mark and hannity all say they have given money to people and give money to people all the time.

[Responsibility2nd]

Did Herman Cain commit a crime?

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

You’ve been asking that question for a good hour or so now. 5-6 times. And we get it. YOU don’t have a problem with what Cain did. As long as it was legal - no problemo, eh? After all, what a person does in private is none of our business, right?

Wrong! Cain is now history, but Gingrich is still (for now) viable. And he has even bigger marital problems than Cain. So throw all your support to the Newtster.

[Gator113]

You have no problems with me.

We may all fight, argue, debate, insult and on and on... but in the end, we all have the same objective............. we want our country back.

Take another look at Newt, please.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks smoothsailing.

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.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

At least Newt has the honesty to acknowlege it, while Cain in still trying to deny it.

[beandog]

I give money to people all the time and I’m not talking $20. My spouse does not know, he views people and life different than I do. Some people prefer to spend money on themselves, while others prefer to give what they can to people who need it. I like to know my money is going directly to the person I intended it to go. We can afford it.

For the most part he knows the people I give money to but not always. Haven’t had an affair with any of them.

I do know that sometimes if I know longer wish to give money to certain people, they have turned on me. I do it anyway.

[GlockThe Vote]

Difference is that Cain does not have the experience or gravitas Newt does. That is why Newt gets more of a pass.

Herb now has nothing going for him.

[GlockThe Vote]

And if it was the same man over 13 years that you texted at 4am etc - your husband would rightfully explode at you and divorce you.

There is no excuse for this garbage from Cain. He is done - good riddance Cain - GO AWAY!