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.)

[BagCamAddict]

I also see your point.

Every person's perception is their own reality.

I know that I have a character flaw: I am continuously late for work — when no one is depending on me. i.e., If all I am doing is writing a report that day, then I guarantee you I will be late for work. But if people are depending on me to be there at a certain time, such as to leave for a field audit, then I am always on time.

I couldn't make it to my college courses on time if my life depended on it. Because I was only hurting myself. But I was on a Varsity sports team in college, and was never late for practice, not one time, in 4 years of 6-day/week practices — at 5:30 am.

So I do see how someone can have situational ethics. Because I have them. My situational ethics allow me to be late when I am only hurting myself, but I am never late when others are counting on me.

So I can and do believe a person can be a great CEO but a terrible Father/Husband, or vice versa.

I've known people at work who suck at their job, but they are absolutely amazing volunteers at the local Church or they are amazing Emergency Response volunteers, etc.

Your life experiences shape your beliefs, as do mine. That's why we differ on this issue. But that's ok. Differences are what make America great.

[takenoprisoner]

Is this the straw that broke the camel’s back? I think we are looking at it.

[devolve]

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LOL!

I knew you world enjoy that potlatch!

Amazon, eBay, and MSFT have all learned the hard way that it is much smarter if they listen to me - not the jerks they hired to ruin their businesses

We need a tough competent Patton now - With a track record, money, and muscle

Not a recurring egotistical headline maker

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[Shelayne]

You make really good points. Thank you for your post.

I was assuming (like others seem to be) that he was making hefty monthly payments to her, but I certainly don’t know that to be the case. It could be just as you suggested. I understand that she has at least one child. Perhaps Mr. Cain believed he was helping the child(ren) by his financial gifts. Again, I certainly don’t know, and either does anyone else that isn’t named Herman Cain. He says he has helped others as well. I tend to believe that. I also believe that this increased activity the past month or so on her behalf sounds like a set-up. Did I hear that she is writing a book?

I am very sad because this probably will doom the candidacy of a fine conservative—no matter what the truth is.

[smoothsailing]

On Hannity tonight he announced he’ll decide by Monday whether or not to continue his campaign.

[Theodore R.]

Whenever they say they won’t withdraw, they usually do within a week. Santorum 2012 — Less Baggage

[BigSkyFreeper]

It’s like the relationship between Major Frank Burns and Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan. Frank promised Hot Lips he would get her an apartment close to his medical practice and he would help pay her rent at $100. Margaret gets steamed and says she’s getting more than $100 a month from the Army and Frank counters that he can’t outbid Uncle Sam. She kicks him out of her tent.

[wolfcreek]

Yep, he’s another.

[Darnright]

>Cain is now down to 6% in Florida. It is 50% Gingrich, 19% Romney, 6% Cain.<

Gingrich being a real poster boy for marital fidelity and all.</ S>

[jessduntno]

Of course you’re done ... you can’t grasp the difference between a person who, on the one hand, has had a long, successful, 40+ year career, maintained a sterling reputation throughout that 40+year career, and who then chooses to pursue a career of elective public service...”

Yep, the man was a saint, no doubt. I’ll be on my way, alright, Ed. I’ll be seeing you around the campus, though.

[smoothsailing]

LOL! Good ‘ole Hot Lips. What was it Hawkeye and Trapper John called Frank? “Chicken Lips”!

Hot Lips & Chicken Lips!!! What a hoot! :)

[BigSkyFreeper]

LOL Hawkeye called him “Ferret Face” and it stuck. :D

[smoothsailing]

I agree, I don’t see this going on much longer.

[smoothsailing]

HA! Ferret Face! I’d forgotten about that! :o)