The Herman Cain campaign took another bizarre turn on Thursday, but then for this campaign, bizarre has become the norm.
While undergoing what Cain referred to on Wed. as a "reassessment" of his campaign, Cain and Ginger White, the woman he allegedly had a 13-year affair with each held separate interviews. Cain answered questions with the New Hampshire Union Leader, and White was interviewed by MSNBC's Lawrence O’Donnell on The Last Word.
Cain portrayed himself as just a good hearted guy helping out a special friend with a little cash-only financial assistance for 13 years without ever mentioning it to his wife, but now that she knows, she'll be confronting him with it over the weekend, after which he'll probably be "forced" to drop out of the race, because it's all one vast left wing AND right wing conspiracy along with Ms. White, not to mention those other "troubled women" and Gloria Allred who stepped up before her. Then after "The Herman" plays his victim card, Ginger White tells her side of the story, which if you ask me, sounds credible, in a live televised interview, but just when you think you've seen and heard the last of Herman Cain, he takes a new tack and does a little "live Tweeting" while White is still on the air. Really.
But first things first.
Cain said during an interview with the editorial board of the New Hampshire Union Leader that pulling out of the race was an option and that he would get out if his wife asked him to, but then added “but my wife wouldn't ask me to get out.” Cain's wife didn't know about the relationship, nor the "financial assistance" he gave White. Cain said he will meet with his wife over the weekend, where presumably those "options" will be discussed?
Meanwhile, Cain spoke of his various "theories" as to why White was coming forward:
Cain said he believes that “someone offered (White) a lot of money” to make the allegation, but he can't prove it, and he believes there is a concerted effort by “a network of people,” both Democrats and Republicans, to bring him down.
He said that she was asked for financial assistance because she was out of work, had trouble paying her bills and I had known her as a friend, and that "She wasn't the only friend who I had helped in these tough economic times, and so her messages to me were relating to ‘needed money for her rent' or whatever the case may be. I don't remember all the specifics. 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."
Cain said he did give Ginger White money, but, on the advice of counsel, he said, he refused to say how much.
During her interview with Lawrence O'Donnell, White apologized to Mrs. Cain:
"My heart bleeds for this woman because I am a woman and being in a situation like this cannot be fun. And I am deeply, deeply sorry if I have caused any hurt to her and to his kids, to his family."
White spoke of their relationship which she said began in the late 1990's, and maintained she was telling the truth that the relationship was sexual, that Cain gave her payments in cash during their affair (although she wouldn't say the exact amount), and verified phone and text records during the relationship, but denied receiving any money in exchange for coming forward as Cain suggested "but couldn't prove." (You can see the entire interview from The Last Word here.)
After all this, we have Herman Cain who, when asked about his decision to stay in the campaign, said of his wife “I would make a decision based on how all of this stuff is affecting her, because I will put her first.”
As Ms. White was telling her side of the story, and herself apologizing to Mrs. Cain on the air, that same man was "live Tweeting" this:
The link takes you to an "Encouragement for Herman Cain" page that speaks of those who are "out to get him because they fear him!" and of course, a big red "DONATE NOW!" link. (That doesn't sound like someone who plans to drop out of the race to me.)
Nice touch!
Wonder how that affects the woman he "puts first?" That, and those troubled women and the 13 year affair and the financial aid he didn't tell her about?
