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.)

[goat granny]

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

Can we all say Hillary Clinton and Bill...he got 2 terms..

[Gator113]

“Great- I’ve always liked Newt- happy to support him.”

That’s all I need to hear. Welcome aboard.

Now, lets take our country back.

Cheers.......

[GlockThe Vote]

Its not about Cain - its about defeating obama. Cain will get crucified in a general election. He needs to drop out asap.

He is an embarassment.

[org.whodat]

Those that actually do good do not want the glory. Our old preacher , when. I was a kid, would give your his food if he thought you were hungry.

[crz]

This sinks him. He is done. The one thing that could have saved him is that his wife knew he was supporting that woman financially.

Some people never learn.

[beandog]

I don’t let people text me, and he can divorce me anytime he wants. If he exploded, it would be funny.

If his wife doesn’t care, why should I.

[GlockThe Vote]

She didnt know and he didnt tell her until this came out !!!

[goat granny]

He is still better than Romney and Newt. I’d still vote for him before the other 2

[VinL]

PSYHCO FREEP SAYS: “At least Newt has the honesty to acknowlege it, while Cain in still trying to deny it.”

GLOCK SAYS: Difference is that Cain does not have the experience or gravitas Newt does”

Thanks, guys. Now, I get it!!! Lying and adultery make me an acceptable candidate to you 2 conservatives as long as I admit I’m a liar and an adulterer- or alternatively, so long as I have the “gravitas” to be a liar and an adulterer.

I’ll remember that next time I run for office. -:)

[GlockThe Vote]

LOL! Than why didnt he tell his wife over the 13 years or about the 4am texts?

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Cain knew the other women through the NRA. How did he know White?

[GlockThe Vote]

Didnt say it was ok - but Newt already apologized for it.

Cain has been playing games about it.

Neither is ok - but if cain was so dumb to not realize this was coming out and not telling his wife beforehand - what does that say about him? He is in over his head.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

I highly doubt you are smart enough to run for office. Since you can’t seem to catch on to the Forum protocol and courtesy rules.

[woofie]

THE END

[Gator113]

The crime could be.... that you would ask such a question.

[tjd1454]

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.

That is good to hear, and commendable. The question, however, is whether it is proper for a husband to carry on a 13-year relationship with a woman without informing his wife, speaking on the phone with her frequently and at odd hours, and giving her money apparently on numerous occasions, again, without telling his wife.

I suspect that the vast majority of wives would raise an eyebrow at such behavior, to say the least.

[VinL]

LOL- You still swimming around here, Gator? Expect better of you, my friend— stumpin’ on poor ol’ Herm when he’s on the ground. -:)

See old Newt still being Newt- declaring himself the winner before the votes are counted— it’s always an adventure with him. Hang on.

[potlatch]

[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.”]

Well darned, early today all the threads were insisting ‘he said his wife knew’. In fact they were QUITE insistent about it!

[GlockThe Vote]

Many of the Cainbots are former Sarahbots and exhibit the same cult like devotion to these people.

Me: I want someone capable and strong enough to get rid of Obama. That is goal 1-100 for me.

[NELSON111]

Where’s the crime?

Where's the crime? You're kidding right?

The crime is he's acting like a democrat...and I think if you look at my post history...you will see I was a Cain supporter.

So that's what we've become? "At least it's not criminal?" If that is the new standard of the GOP...then I need to find another party. We are better than that...or at least I HOPE we are. We should also demand better than one step higher than a dim when it comes to morals.

Doing stuff like this also opens yourself up for blackmail...and all sorts of trouble. And if you DON'T TELL YOUR WIFE? Please. I don't buy that for a MINUTE. You don't give a woman money and your friendship and NOT tell your wife. That's a breach of trust of your marriage vows. My wife would KILL me...even if there was nothing going on...and why should she believe me? I certainly wouldn't.