Cain: Wife didn't know about friendship, ‘financial assistance' to Ginger White
Union-Leader ^ | 12-1-2011 | John DiStaso 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.)
