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.)

[Engedi]

i just read thru Greta’s interview. Mrs. Cain brings up the first two ladies but then she mentions his assistant at the NRA and how she was a minister and they would get into scripture discussions.

Not seeing where Ms. White is this person. Ms. White is not an ordained minister. He said he met White at a conference.

[MHGinTN]

You fabricate a sleazy scene to bear false witness against Newt Gingrich, then pretend you don't understand the phrase. Agenda? ... You really do believe you can do this without being exposed, don'tcha. Your stealthy invitation to the DNC/Romney circular firing squad nets you your sign:

Here's your sign, agitprop

[MHGinTN]

Thanks, the interview was not my focus of attention at the time it aired.

[org.whodat]

BULL, you have three conservatives running, Cain, Bachmann, Santorum, either one can beat obummer and neither is a garbage bag like newt. Pick one or vote rino.

[Ozymandias Ghost]

I've known about Newt since the early 90’s and I will vote for him if he wins the nomination; I had stated that before. He is a very bright guy and a very competent debater. That said, Newt has a lot more character/trust issues than Herman. In my opinion, Gingrich's immigration plan is weasel worded ...as described by Newt it will never stand the first court challenge. I can't even imagine the bureaucracy necessary to form the local review boards or whatever he calls the mechanism required to determine who will get to stay and who will not.

I guess my position is that at present I haven't found anyone I feel confident about supporting; but, I will pledge to vote for anyone who gets the nomination except Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman or Mitt Romney. I reserve judgment on those 3; as it is impossible to predict now what the situation will be by the time of the election. If I have to I will vote for whomever it takes to beat Obama ...but I won't feel good about it.

Regards,

-Geoff

[BagCamAddict]

THANK YOU.

Finally, someone on here posts about something called TRUST in a relationship.

Good grief, if my spouse wanted to know every detail of my business, and who I talk to, and who I give money to, then I have a problem with my SPOUSE and a lack of TRUST in my marriage.

All of you people who think Cain should disclose every conversation or everything he does with every dime of his money... Sheesh.

Has his family ever gone for want? No. Even if he was giving away $5000 a month to 12 different people, as long as his family's well being is taken care of, why does everyone on this forum care so much?

I do animal rescue work, and if my spouse EVER questions my giving money to any of the charitable cases that I work with, then I have chosen the wrong spouse.

Mrs. Cain knows who she is married to. After they talk this weekend, we will know what the future holds for this election, and for our Country. Cain has said that if Mrs. Cain asks him to drop out, he will. If she is behind him, then he will stay in.

Sadly, all that does is tell his enemies how to get him to drop out — by hurting MRS. CAIN emotionally. And the sick bastards will do just that.

[smoothsailing]

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

Define crime.

[cricket]

Only if crime is a 'bad judgment'. Wondering if HC will be a single man; this time next year. Am thinking 'probably not'; but who knows. . .

All to say; will Herman's 'sounds of silence' be the end of him? He had to be dreading this trip home. . .

[jcsjcm]

writer33
;)

BagCamAddict
Exactly - very well spoken!

[jessduntno]

“Moral of the story - it happens when you think you are doing the right thing and possibly your partner may not think the same.”

...well, and don’t keep doing it for thirteen years...

[EDINVA]

Your supposition seems to be that there was a continuing, “relationship” for 13 years. Its actual nature is unknown. She says it involved cross-country trips, attending events and trysts. He has denied that, but hasn’t yet defined what the nature of the relationship was, the frequency of visits/calls/txts, much less who initiated them.

It could be, for all we know, that she called him every few months, or a couple of times a year, when her back was against the wall, and that it was she who initiated the calls, not he. We don’t know any of that.

Did she call him frequently while he was battling cancer? Did he call her while he was hospitalized? Were his late night calls returning hers that were made while he was at an event when his cell was turned off? I sure don’t know.

I’d be surprised if my husband had an ongoing 13 year relationship, however platonic, and had never mentioned the woman’s name. That would raise flags, especially in my case, since I have worked side by side with him for 30+ years. However, it shouldn’t surprise that a high-power executive and public speaker knows lots of people all over the country whose names never came up in discussions with his wife. I read last night (true or not) that White’s alleged female partner of the same 13 year period claims she never once heard her mention Cain’s name. White’s mother said she’s a pathological liar; her former husband said it could be true or it could be a lie, that with her it’s hard to tell.

So the entire situation is very much a puzzle. For now, I’ll take Cain’s word over White’s. Cain is not my preferred candidate, but I empathize with anyone whose reputation is being torn to tatters by allegations that to date have shown no substance. Think Ray Donovan.

[jessduntno]

“I empathize with anyone whose reputation is being torn to tatters by allegations that to date have shown no substance. Think Ray Donovan.”

Or Ms. White.

[Kennard]

My sense is that this was blackmail over the past six weeks and that there was some kind of relationship, probably a decade ago, that gave Ms. Wilson the incentive to blackmail. There is no evidence of a regular relationship, or regular payments, over thirteen years, except in Ms. Wilson’s allegations. Cain acknowledged payments, but they could have been limited to a decade ago and a month ago. We do not know the depth or duration of the previous, i.e. prior to this October, relationship. For that reason, I cannot assess the propriety of Cain’s non-disclosure to his wife. The onus is now on Cain, however, to complete the picture. If he does not do so in the next forty-eight hours, then, it is over. Until then we, and partricularly the Robespierres on this thread, must suspend judgement.

[potlatch]

[I though in his original statement he said Ms. White was friends with he and his wife...]

I am “positive” that I read that too, but am unable to find the source site. That’s why this story was so astounding to me.

[Gator113]

I have no remarkable disagreement with anything in your post.

I do believe that it’s going to take Newt to win against Romney.... and Newt is our best chance to win against Obama.

When the dust settles, the overriding most important objective is to take out Obama. I’d vote for a jar of peanut butter if I thought that jar was our best weapon to use to get our country back.

Above all else, Obama’s War on America must be stopped. In this, Failure is not an option. Yes FRiend, I think it’s that serious.

Cheers..

Dan

[Nervous Tick]

>> You know, like Christian person would do.

Christian men don’t pay monthly maintenance to a single woman for a decade and hide that fact from their wives.

Who are we kidding here? Cain may be a Christian in name, but he’s clearly a horndog in the BillyJeff Clintoon mold.

Or, put another way: how willfully blind can you be?

[offduty]

At the risk of being flamed....She said she has had an affair with him for 13 years. He says he has known her for that period of time. There are lots of people I have known for extended periods of time that I don’t have constant contact with. I may not see, talk or communicate with them for weeks, months or years. It doesn’t mean I don’t know them.

He says he has “helped her out” financially over that period of time. It doesn’t say he was sending her a check every week or month. No one knows how much financial support was given and over what time frame.

The Fox reporter said there had been 61 phone or text messages in the past couple of months. Lin Wood said there were 17 Cain responses to her communications. Simple math says she phoned, texted, or emailed Cain 44 times and he responded to less than half. Wood also said most of the emails were pleas for financial support.

Since she was embroiled in a lawsuit with her former business partner and was also facing eviction, it is quite plausible the frequency of the emails were in direct proportion to her financial crisis.

If you don’t like Cain, fine. but I see a lot of posters on this thread that are making assumptions without any facts at hand. So for all you experts who are so quick to judge: How much money did Cain give this woman? How many times a month did he see her? How many times a month did he call her?

No one on this thread knows the answer to these questions, because the FACTS have yet to come out. So, why not wait until they do?

If Cain is guilty, the facts will come out and if he decides to leave the race, so be it. But it is the height of hypocrisy to demand Cain leave the race without knowing all the facts, yet support Gingrich who has admitted to having multiple affairs while married; who has changed his position on most conservative positions; who raked in over a million dollars from Freddie and Fannie, but was “only acting as a private citizen”, not a lobbyist.

But then, Newt is the “smartest man in the room.” He’s fooled all of you.

[Nervous Tick]

>> All of you people who think Cain should disclose every conversation or everything he does with every dime of his money... Sheesh.

Yeah? Well, “sheesh” to you Cain cultists who willfully ignore the obvious. Your boy’s a philandering HORN DOG. The evidence comes not just from Gloria Steinem’s client (who I could ignore) but from HERMAN CAIN HIMSELF. Pull your head out of your nether regions and take a breath of fresh air. Your denial is just silly.

[Ozymandias Ghost]

“I’d vote for a jar of peanut butter if I thought that jar was our best weapon to use to get our country back.”

Regretably concur. Right now I am just trying to hold out the slim hope that the friggin’ GOP will at least give me the choice between slick & smooth style and extra chunky.

[devolve]

- As this shoe now drops without the wife knowing about it - many will know ask what else has dropped.....

- "Revising and Extending" his previous words will not cut the mustard with Axelrod & Co. out there.

- At this point we can only assume that ego is keeping this ship from sinking -

- This is not about Cain or Newt - Although they themselves seem to believe it is.

- IKE said that everyone associated with his campaign had to be "clean as a hound's tooth" -

---

[jcsjcm]

Do you really believe that he was helping her for 13 years just because she states she was with him. Isn’t it possible that he just knew her for 13 years, but as a friend only.

It has supposedly (allegedly) only been since Oct. that she has texted him 71 times and he has only replied back more than half the time.

I think she is setting him up. What gain does she get from bringing any of this personal information out? She isn’t sounding like this was a bitter (alleged) affair... He didn’t hit her, hurt her, throw her under the bus? What possibly is the motive of her stepping up and talking about whatever nonsense she is bringing up? There is no value to this whole thing other than taking Cain down in the eyes of his voters.

SO..... What’s her motive? Who’s behind this? Is it really true?

I don’t believe any of it and I do believe people are setting him up to go down and that is all they are doing. Notice how the other supposed people have all but disappeared - where’s Gloria and Sharon been lately?

[jcsjcm]

Let me just add to your Newt failings is that he has previously supported a national health insurance mandate.

Quote
“Unless you have 100 percent coverage, you can’t have the right preventive care, and you can’t have a rational system,” he said in 2005 at a health care forum where he shared the stage with his former nemesis Hillary Clinton. “And so I’m actually in favor of finding a way to say you ought to either have health insurance, or you ought to post a bond.”

But, I will say he would be an easier person if Cain drops out to vote for than Romney! I still want Cain!

[Free Vulcan]

I’m glad I’m not the only one in the room that sees the same thing. I’m upset that Cain as I can understand it gave what money he did within the last couple of months...very stupid. Even so, I’ve seen no proof of something improper. There isn’t alot of actual proof out in the open here right now.

[jessduntno]

“Do you really believe that he was helping her for 13 years just because she states she was with him. Isn’t it possible that he just knew her for 13 years, but as a friend only.”

I don’t know...and either do you. He says in the Union Leader that he met her many years ago...not specific...but many usually means a lot...it could be fewer than 13, but we don’t know. The only allegation is hers (13 years) and he won’t be specific. I just don’t know what makes her story so incredible. If I had a woman friend and was giving her money - ten bucks - my wife would know. My wife knows all of the long time friends I have. And I have a lot.

You don’t believe it. OK. I don’t know what to believe. But the story isn’t going away and this is the last thng we all need right now, giving Zero time to throw fund raisers while speculating on this shit.

Sorry I said anything, but it pisses me off.

[potlatch]

Lol, very attention getting post!
Que Sera.....what will be will be. Just watched him on Hannity and Hannity had to clarify some remarks. Cain’s explanations aren’t always clear, but they change the next day anyway.

[offduty]

So far, the only “proof” are statements made by annonymous sources, media-hungry attorney’s and some questionable females who are in financial difficulty. No receipts, pictures, formal charges, or adjudication.

I find it sad there are so many people on FR, who I thought were more discerning, quick to judge without any supporting evidence.

I have no problems with the give and take of political discourse. I do have a problem with the lack of critical thinking that I am afraid is becoming more commonplace on FR.

[devolve]

- There is a term for men who smile and shake your hand and instantly give most people the confidence that you can trust them .

[EDINVA]

oh, please. Ms. White chose to put herself in the spotlight with some explosive allegations against a public figure who happens to be in a contest to run for the Office of President of the United States. She chose to jump on that bandwagon. What has been written about her - the failed business, the stalking, the evictions - are a matter of public record. And statements of people who’ve known her a long time, i.e., her mother and a former husband, both of whom claim she has little relationship with the truth.

Even IF her allegations are true, every last one, there was no reason for her to come forward other than to garner publicity for herself, and to hurt someone with whom she claims she had a long term relationship, and who helped her out financially when she was in trouble.

I’m not too sure she had a reputation to be damaged. Now, such as it is, it’s very, very public, and her own doing.

[BagCamAddict]

Who gives a flying intercourse?

I don’t care if he is having sex with 20 whores a week, as long as he still has enough energy to do his job.

You and I have different values, and are making our voting decisions based on different criteria.

Vote for whomever you want. It’s a free country.

[GlockThe Vote]

Great post.

[Nervous Tick]

>> You and I have different values

Apparently so.

>> Vote for whomever you want.

Thanks. I shall.

[Free Vulcan]

Many - too many - work the boards to get people to herd to their candidate. Some paid, some not.

[DryFly]

[Nervous Tick]

>> I don’t care if he is having sex with 20 whores a week, as long as he still has enough energy to do his job.

Respectfully, here’s something for you to consider: a guy who will cheat on his wife will think nothing of cheating on the voters who elected him.

Character matters.

[offduty]

You’re absolutely right!
My Priest: the doctor who did my colon re-section; my oncologist; the nurse who monitored my chemo; my brother-in-law.

What’s your point?

[offduty]

BTW...love your tag-line.

[riri]

If I were Mrs. Cain, I doubt I would have ever given whoever orchestrated this the benefit of admitting I did not know about this. I would have said I did know and that Herman was known to help people in need financially.

Then I would have made his life very unpleasant.

[jessduntno]

“oh, please. Ms. White chose to put herself in the spotlight...”

Huh. Outrage against some people you don’t know are telling the truth that have chosen to become public figures is OK, others not. If that makes sense to you, OK.

I’m done. Thanks for clearing that up.

[potlatch]

I know, I also say ‘fast talkers’. Am I the only one who sees a similarity between this woman and Bialek, needy women he ‘sees’ at conferences who need help.

Bialek said he agreed to meet her to ‘help with a job’. She said she repelled aggression, perhaps White didn't and it ‘evolved’. Wonder if we'll ever know the truth.

[usconservative]

Busted. I don't care how "innocent" the situation is. If your wife ain't in the loop on something like this....

I've been on the "Cain Train" for awhile now, I really like the guy and want to believe him but statements like his wife "didn't know" I have a real problem with.

The situation may be exactly as Herman Cain says it is (friendship, not sexual) the fact he kept this "friendship" from his wife and gave this woman money many times is troubling.

It's the lack of judgement part here that I have the most difficulty with.

[mick]

You are a wise woman. You have clearly put forward the position I was trying to make much better than I was able to. Trust and love trump transparency in solid marriages. Frankly, I could care less how many people my wife has "relationships" with. If I need to know she will tell me.

What is disturbing in this thread is the high level of pretension and holier than thou posturing of these people who are attacking Cain.

[EDINVA]

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, and a person who, on the other hand, is unknown, and has built neither a sterling career or reputation. They’re so easily confused. Be on your way.

[jcsjcm]

Sorry.... I guess I feel that unless something can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, then it is just hearsay! I hate the guilty until proven innocent mentality!

I didn’t mean to blow up on you! :)

[EDINVA]

Thank you. Obviously, I’m taking it from some who seem to disagree, which is their right. I trust my husband with my life. He may make me crazy from time to time (and I him) but we both knew fully well WHO we were marrying, and why.

I think Gloria Cain understands her husband as well. Tho, because they are in the spotlight, it has to be very, very hard on her and their family to be reading this stuff. Glad I’m not there.

And people wonder why folks don’t want to run for office? Why candidates choose not to run for the sake of their families? Why we have a ‘lacking’ cast of candidates? God bless those who are willing to put themselves in that position. I know I couldn’t handle it.

[devolve]

.

Both parties need to fully check out and vet any person that wants to declare themselves as a candidate

This for any seat in Congress - or in the elected or appointed offices in the administration

But with Congress and the President passing laws that exempt themselves from a insider trading or prosecution for exempting themselves from laws they write and pass that the public is subject to - that is never going to happen

The media is now a full lobbyist and campaigner for the democrats

I need a waiver.....

It is time to explore the wonderful world of the underground economy

.

[Free Vulcan]

My main thing with Ginger White is he should have been more keen to a set up...

[PghBaldy]

There are more problems with this guy. I am surprised they haven’t come out yet, but if he stays in, I imagine they just might.

[Yaelle]

Respectfully, here’s something for you to consider: a guy who will cheat on his wife will think nothing of cheating on the voters who elected him.

Character matters.

---

But newt and Barack have allegedly cheated as well. At some point it all becomes moot. No allegations of Romney cheating.

[potlatch]

Well, the ‘vetting out’ is what’s going on now, and it isn’t going in a happy direction for many.

Cain does so much talking that he digs himself into bigger messups. Hannity had to correct him earlier tonight when he followed one of his comments with “and I’m guilty” twice. Hannity said, ‘you mean you are guilty of not telling your wife, right?’ Cain said “yes”.

Otherwise people could have misconstrued that!