Cain's wife not aware of friendship with Ginger White
(CNN) – Businessman Herman Cain said Thursday his wife was not aware of his friendship with Ginger White until she publicly claimed a 13-year affair with the GOP presidential candidate Monday.
During a meeting with the editorial board of the New Hampshire Union Leader Cain revealed that his wife, Gloria, had no knowledge that he’d provided financial assistance to White, or that the two were friends at all.
“That was the revelation and the surprise that my wife found about when (White) went public with this,” he admitted. “My wife now knows. My wife and I have talked about it. And I have explained it to her.”
Sharing that his wife understands he is “a soft-hearted, giving person, like a lot of men,” Cain continued, "She did not know that we were friends until she (White) came out with this story." But he said his wife is “comfortable with the explanation that I told her regarding having to help (White)."
Insisting he and White were only friends, Cain stated he gave her money because she told him "I was the only person who was a friend at the time – and I underscore 'friend' – that was in a position to help her."
When White emerged with claims of Cain's infidelity on Monday she also provided records of text messages and phone calls to a local television station in Cain's hometown of Atlanta.
But the former conservative radio talk show host told the New Hampshire Union Leader that 47 of those were messages from White asking for his help and the rest were his responses to her.
"She was out of work and had trouble paying her bills and I had known her as a friend," Cain said.
Although he said he questioned what she was doing to get a job, Cain insisted, "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."
Adamant that none of the messages received from White were threats or “any indication that there might be some blackmail or anything like that” Cain said, “Look. I thought she was a friend. End of story.”
Cain will meet his wife for the first time face-to-face Friday, and admitted in the newspaper’s editorial meeting he would end his campaign for the 2012 GOP nomination for president if it is what his wife wants.
“But my wife wouldn’t ask me to get out,” he said. “I would make a decision based upon how all of this stuff is affecting her. Because I will put her first, but she’s not the type to say 'you oughta get out.'”
His national poll numbers have fallen following allegations of sexual harassment. Two days ago Cain said he would "reassess" his campaign.
Citing family and finances Thursday, specifically, backers who may not want to contribute because “they see this cloud not going away,” the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza said “running for president has become a very dirty game.”
“Part of the assessment is what the solution is moving forward,” he continued.
But Cain’s communications director in Iowa said Thursday, "The campaign is full steam ahead. Herman Cain is in it to win it."
Lisa Lockwood affirmed, "He always has been and that has not changed."
Cain's campaign is scheduled to release ads in Iowa Friday and there are signs the campaign is moving forward with efforts in another early voting state.
Cain's national political director Bo Harmon will work in New Hampshire through next week and plans to spend a majority of his time in the first primary state before voters head to the polls Jan. 10, he told CNN.
Harmon said he was focused on helping run grassroots and voter outreach efforts for Cain in the state.
- CNN's Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report.
Also see:
Cain admits losing 'warm-weather' supporters amid scandal
Cain campaign goes up with new ad in Iowa
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- Untitled
He gave her money because she was his mistress-a friend with "benefits." Of course he did not tell his wife about her. DUH!!
So sad.....
The lord has asked me to forgive Mr. Cain for he has sinned and not cast the first stone. But what the heck the lord
never said anything about flinging a big rock at this guy !
@Ken, Hey, you know what? It WAS a big deal that Clinton got a BJ in the oval office. It was also a BIG DEAL that he lied about it. So, does that mean that anybody who wants to be POTUS should get a pass on marital infidelity? Where do YOU draw the line? After a Republican gets elected?? You people are so quick to throw stones about any moral lapses from Democrats, but when its one of your own you make excuses and then say "But, Clinton did this or that." You people are the ones who are FOS, and the American people see you for what you are.
Those that think Cain's wife should get rid of him – look at the Clintons. How many times did he cheat on her and she never kicked him out–I don't have much respect for her either.
hes toast.
What would you think if you discovered your spouse had a 14 year friendship with a member of the opposite sex, and had provided that person money, and communicated with the person frequently and at odd hours.....and then the friendship had been broken off right before your spouse ran for a public office?
Hermie, I can't imagine what sort of marriage you must have. You have a 13 year "friendship" with this woman, pay her bills, give her money, give her employment advice (eye roll), and casually announce to the world at large that your wife didn't know about her. Are all the funds given to this friend out of your sole and separate property? You better hope so! Gloria should be prepping for one doozy of a divorce settlement!
I would wager Cain's wife was either totally naive and oblivious or just ignoring this bad behavior. It would not be unusual for a wife (or husband) to put up with a spouse's infidelity for a variety of reasons, including the loss of financial and social standing. I think she knew he was unfaithfu and just ignored it because she had more to lose if she dumped him.
How to bury a brother in 3 easy lessons.... put him in a room with 3 white women!
Where there is smoke there is fire.
You can't make me believe that Herman Cain gave this woman money for 13 years and wasn't getting something In return If you know what I mean. I can't even believe his wife will believe that Line of Crap. If she does than she can't be very smart.
Well, she does now, brother! If I were you, I would consider not going home at all. I'd say Antigua or Bermuda would be better.
hahahaha. If she's just a "friend", why didn't he ever tell his wife? What a delusional idiot. The only reason you don't tell your wife about a friend of the opposite gender is because there is a reason to do so.
This man is a philanderer/womanizer. This in itself makes him a pathological liar because you have to master the art off deception to engage in as numerous trysts as this man allegedly has. These are not admirable qualities, whether he's running for president of the US or not. Other than that, it is nice to know that Republicans have sex. The way they always talk, you would believe only the rest of the world did.
So let me get this straight. No one knows about the credibility of the Cain accusers because CNN doesn't report it. They push this propaganda on people so that there will not be a competent black man to run against President Obama; there could be no more race card, then. This is actually amusing...I just go to CNN.com to read all about politically correct. After I laugh, I lament the damage being done to our country. 🙁
Anyone got some butter..........'cause this guy is TOAST!
Herman Cain's new campaign slogan is "Nom Nom Nom"
A month a go a family value GOP blaming perry campaign.Now he is admitting over 13year secret from his own wife.a couple weeks ago he blame unemployed people not having a job.then Cain why assist a 13year friend financially? Is he social security administration of generous guy? forget about the white house but you lost already your own house? Oh i can find a rental place for you?this is a peculiar GOP character.
Wow, I wish I had friends like Herman’s friends. Or maybe were all Herman’s friends in a small way, I know every time he speaks I feel like I’m about to get [expletive deleted].
I think the interesting part of this and hope someone in the news is working on this is " Who is behind digging this information up". I find this more interesting than Cain's sex life. Who is behind the push to dig into his personal life and expose it to the public. I really don't care what he has done behind close doors, after all every politician has skeletons (sexual) in their closet. Either prostituion, strippers, or interns, All of them are guilty of something. It's the behind the scene, need to expose it person I would like to know.
The man is toast both from a political and personal standpoint. Good bye Herman.
You know how I KNOW Herman Cain is guilty? Because I did the same thing when I was married. Had a woman on the "side" and was giving her money and OF COURSE my wife did not know about it. It went on for over 6 years. And yes Mr. Cain, I was cheating! Of course when I was confronted with it I lied and said all kinds of stuff. But could not explain to my wife why I had been giving this woman money for all those years and that she was a "friend" that she didn't know about! Not proud of it but hey, I know the symptoms, I recognize the disease!!
Done and done....Cain should have known better. And husbands don't keep "Just a Friendship" with another woman a secret unless there is more going on than a friendship. Guilty as charged.