Cain announces he's suspending his campaign

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I can't say I would have voted for him however the thought has crossed my mind  ... I will say he made more sense than the other waterheads that's still in the running. The dude scored some trim big ******* deal .




— The Cain train has come to a stop.

Herman Cain suspended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday following a steady drumbeat of sexual misconduct allegations he said were harming his family and drowning out his ability to deliver his message.

With just one month to go until the lead-off Iowa caucuses, Cain's announcement is tantamount to a concession. Still, he told supporters, he planned to continue his efforts to influence Washington and announced "Plan B" — what he called a grassroots effort to return government to the people.

Cain denounced the accusations of impropriety against him as "false and unproven" but said that they had been hurtful to his family, particularly his wife, Gloria.

"So as of today, with a lot of prayer and soul-searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign. I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distractions and the continued hurt caused on me and my family," a tired-looking Cain told about a 400 supporters.

It was a remarkable turnabout for a man that just weeks ago vaulted out of nowhere to the top of the GOP field, fueled by a populist, outsider appeal and his catchy 9-9-9 tax overhaul plan.

Saturday's event was a bizarre piece of political theater even for a campaign that has seemed to thrive on defying convention.

Cain marked the end of his bid at what was supposed to be the grand opening of his new campaign headquarters in Atlanta. Minutes before he took the stage to pull the plug with his wife, Gloria, at his side, aides and supporters took to the podium to urge attendees to vote for Cain and travel to early voting states to rev up support for his bid.

"Join the Cain train," David McCleary, Cain's Georgia director, urged the audience.

Cain said he would offer an endorsement in the near future and he predicted a scramble among Republicans in the field to win the backing of his conservative, tea party base.

Former GOP rivals quickly issued statements Saturday praising Cain's conservative credentials and appeal. His withdrawal could help those seeking to run as an alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, seen by some as too moderate.

Cain's announcement came five days after an Atlanta-area woman claimed she and Cain had an affair for more than a decade, a claim that followed several allegations of sexual harassment against the Georgia businessman.

"Now, I have made many mistakes in life. Everybody has. I've made mistakes professionally, personally, as a candidate, in terms of how I run my campaign. And I take responsibility for the mistakes I've made, and I have been the very first to own up to any mistakes I've made," he said.

But Cain intoned: "I am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife. And she is at peace with me."

Cain, the former Godfather's Pizza chief executive who has never held elected office, rose just weeks ago to lead the volatile Republican race. But Cain fumbled policy questions, leaving some to wonder whether he was ready for the presidency. Then it was revealed at the end of October that the National Restaurant Association had paid settlements to two women who claimed Cain sexually harassed them while he was president of the organization.

A third woman told The Associated Press that Cain made inappropriate sexual advances but that she didn't file a complaint. A fourth woman also stepped forward to accuse Cain of groping her in a car in 1997.

Cain has denied wrongdoing in all cases, and continued to do so Saturday.

Polls suggest his popularity has suffered. A Des Moines Register poll released Friday showed Cain's support plunging, with backing from 8 percent of Republican caucusgoers in Iowa, compared with 23 percent a month ago.

But Cain said Saturday he would not go away and would continue trying to influence Washington from the outside,

He announced the formation of CainSolutions.com, which he said was a grassroots effort to bring government back to the people.

"I am not going to be silenced, and I am not going away. And therefore, as of today, Plan B. Plan B," he said.

[Skinhead]

Well, I'd like to see some proof of these claims.  Can't blame a guy for trying.  It's not like he got a BJ and then lied about it on national TV.

[SANDMAN5]

He was on my "might vote for" list, too. What bothers me is that nothing was ever
proven....they were just "allegations". Plus, what if he DID have an affair or grope
a woman against her will in a car? Both are wrong, IMHO, but should either one keep
someone from holding public office? Same way with Slick Willy Clinton...the Monica deal
should have been completely between Willy and Mr. Hillary. Not an impeachable offense
at all......until he lied under oath, maybe. Like Jesus said about those with no sin casting
the first stone....how many of those raising a stink about this REALLY want someone
digging into THEIR past? How many politicians (and other people, too) live by the "do as I
say not as I do" philosophy? Too many. YMMV.

[The Anvil]

Well, I'd like to see some proof of these claims.  Can't blame a guy for trying.  It's not like he got a BJ and then lied about it on national TV.

If the claims are true (and where there's smoke there's typically fire) then he's been lying on national television all along.

And yes, when a man is married then you CAN blame him for trying. But that's between him and his wife. Though it of course calls his character into question...

He's also not very smart. Just look at any one of his debate performances. He's ill-informed (though that would seem to be a point in his favor on some voter scorecards) and can't think on his feet. He's a dummy.

The more I get to know about huntsman the more I like him. Newt is just a fat, cranky old man and serial philanderer himself who would do his best to set this country back 100 years. No thanks.

[Buda]

He was on my "might vote for" list, too. What bothers me is that nothing was ever
proven....they were just "allegations". Plus, what if he DID have an affair or grope
a woman against her will in a car? Both are wrong, IMHO, but should either one keep
someone from holding public office? Same way with Slick Willy Clinton...the Monica deal
should have been completely between Willy and Mr. Hillary. Not an impeachable offense
at all......until he lied under oath, maybe. Like Jesus said about those with no sin casting
the first stone....how many of those raising a stink about this REALLY want someone
digging into THEIR past? How many politicians (and other people, too) live by the "do as I
say not as I do" philosophy? Too many. YMMV.

Yes on this one imo

[The Anvil]

He was on my "might vote for" list, too. What bothers me is that nothing was ever
proven....they were just "allegations". Plus, what if he DID have an affair or grope
a woman against her will in a car? Both are wrong, IMHO, but should either one keep
someone from holding public office? Same way with Slick Willy Clinton...the Monica deal
should have been completely between Willy and Mr. Hillary. Not an impeachable offense
at all......until he lied under oath, maybe. Like Jesus said about those with no sin casting
the first stone....how many of those raising a stink about this REALLY want someone
digging into THEIR past? How many politicians (and other people, too) live by the "do as I
say not as I do" philosophy? Too many. YMMV.

Yes on this one imo

One would think that's a no-brainer. Sexual assault should preclude someone from being POTUS. But not everybody think that women deserve any kind of respect.

[BF]

My curiosity was peaked with Cain's 999 thing, but I was never sure that I could pull the trigger and vote for him.  

Perry seems to be a running parody of himself and Romney is just a cardboard cut-out of a politician and sways whichever the political wind is blowing.  

Newt flips about as much as Romney flops.....and he sure as hell has an ego to match his waistline.  

Bachmann......MILF......with not much more substance than Palin (but Palin looks much, much better  ).

Santorum......why is this guy still in the race?

But what I can't figure out is why Hunstman isn't getting noticed more.  I've been leaning towards Paul and Hunstman from the get-go.  Paul wants to do away with the IRS and Hunstman wants to do the Fair Tax.  

Not sure if I can totally get behind RP for prez (although I like about 90% of what he says and stands for.....and I voted for RP in the last prez election), but unless somebody else decides to jump in, I think I could vote for a Hunstman/Paul ticket.  

[Buda]

My curiosity was peaked with Cain's 999 thing, but I was never sure that I could pull the trigger and vote for him.  

Perry seems to be a running parody of himself and Romney is just a cardboard cut-out of a politician and sways whichever the political wind is blowing.  

Newt flips about as much as Romney flops.....and he sure as hell has an ego to match his waistline.  

Bachmann......MILF......with not much more substance than Palin (but Palin looks much, much better  ).

Santorum......why is this guy still in the race?

But what I can't figure out is why Hunstman isn't getting noticed more.  I've been leaning towards Paul and Hunstman from the get-go.  Paul wants to do away with the IRS and Hunstman wants to do the Fair Tax.  

Not sure if I can totally get behind RP for prez (although I like about 90% of what he says and stands for.....and I voted for RP in the last prez election), but unless somebody else decides to jump in, I think I could vote for a Hunstman/Paul ticket.  

At this point they would get my vote.....still a way to go before I have to make a choice.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

My curiosity was peaked with Cain's 999 thing, but I was never sure that I could pull the trigger and vote for him.  

Perry seems to be a running parody of himself and Romney is just a cardboard cut-out of a politician and sways whichever the political wind is blowing.  

Newt flips about as much as Romney flops.....and he sure as hell has an ego to match his waistline.  

Bachmann......MILF......with not much more substance than Palin (but Palin looks much, much better  ).

Santorum......why is this guy still in the race?

But what I can't figure out is why Hunstman isn't getting noticed more.  I've been leaning towards Paul and Hunstman from the get-go.  Paul wants to do away with the IRS and Hunstman wants to do the Fair Tax.  

Not sure if I can totally get behind RP for prez (although I like about 90% of what he says and stands for.....and I voted for RP in the last prez election), but unless somebody else decides to jump in, I think I could vote for a Hunstman/Paul ticket.  

It would be nice if Ron Paul had a snow-balls chance in hell 

[BF]

You're right Joe......RP doesn't.....as sad as that is.  However, about the only thing that I'm absolutely sure of at this point is who I can't vote for.......

[Serk]

If worse comes to worse and Romney is the candidate, I really hope they install air sickness bags in the voting booths, so I don't have to make a mess of the place when I'm casting my vote against Obama...

 

[Canuck]

Cain, what a shame.  I believed he was the only guy who could beat the monkey in office now.  The fact that he was a business man and not your typical corrupt politician was a huge  .  I don't see anyone else in the pony show who can beat Obama - unfortunately.
As a Canadian living in the U.S. as a permanent resident, the only thing I can't do is vote for the big dog (and yes, I pay taxes and didn't get any freebees).  Until now, there hasn't been anyone worthy of my vote until Cain came along.  I told the wife if he won the nomination I would get my citizenship so that I could cast a vote that would do good for this country - even if that meant that I would forever have to claim my income to the IRS, even if I cease to reside in the US of A.  That's another rant  I liked the 9-9-9.  Simple.
I find it hard to believe if these accusations where true, why in the he77 would he have ran knowing that mainstream would hunt him down in particular.  Cause we all know, they won't let a black conservative win.
Romney  .  Newt just isn't presidential (I really don't have to explain this do I?)
Looks like another four years of Obama - think I'll walk away from my now worthless homes and go back North.

[Highbinder]

If you folks who say you'd vote for Ron Paul if he stood a chance, he just might stand a chance if you voted for him...he is the only one who supports the constitution and wants to dismantle the Federal Reserve, the Fed is nothing but a coalition of private banks that somehow in 1913 got put in place to print our money and then loan it to the government with interest... that's the dumbest thing I ever heard of....our constitution says only the Treasury Dept. can make money and its suppose to be in silver and gold..! That way they can't spend more then they have...pretty good control....the last president to try to dissolve the Fed. was Kennedy, he sign the law dissolving the Fed and even had the Treasury start printing our money....30 days later he was a dead man....and one of the first things Johnson did was rescind that order.

As for Cain if I remember correctly he was also CEO of one the Central Banks, which makes him part of the problem....no one man in office is going to fix the problems of this country, it will take everyone and we can start by voting in honest men who represent the people,so when you vote, vote for that guy, don't go in and vote for the lesser of 2 evils, it starts at the local level on up....unfortunately this isn't going to happen, because those that are in power are smarter than most of us and alot more devious..I usually stay out of this kind of thread but I believe in the constitution and the Bill of Rights and its being shredded every day...

[TheSpadMan]

Liked HC  and I like RP...... If only we could truly get away from the PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS  ... the system has morphed from what the Founders wanted    . Putting in true CITIZEN REPRESENTATION is the only way to go ..... but, the two Partys are too well entrenched and the public too mis-informed(ex. Cain,Palin&Bachman).  

Just My Opinion   

And everybody knows about THOSE !!

Bill

[Oss]

enjoyed our talk when I was down at your place Don
you sure do have some interesting viewpoints and the homework
behind them.... not that I agree with all of it but well reasoned IMHO

Yeah that was a heck of a coincidence about Kennedy

You can believe that those in charge of the money want our
choices to be those who keep the control where it has been
and eliminate any chance of change

Given the economy since nobody asked me I think the present POTUS is a one term pony

The dems will no way come up with someone worth voting for
and unless hell freezes over the Republicans will pick someone
who will require that doggy bag in the booth

The italians once put up a former call girl as candidate. At least she was transparent
in who she had and nothing to hide and she was smart too and definite candidate for secretary
remember her?  Who cares about personal life sex  George Washington slept everywhere and nobody beeswax
Was Teddy Roosevelt the last 3rd party candidate to win ?
Willow pulled the plug on my candidacy so I am not running now

[Fritz The Cat]

He was on my "might vote for" list, too. What bothers me is that nothing was ever
proven....they were just "allegations". Plus, what if he DID have an affair or grope
a woman against her will in a car? Both are wrong, IMHO, but should either one keep
someone from holding public office? Same way with Slick Willy Clinton...the Monica deal
should have been completely between Willy and Mr. Hillary. Not an impeachable offense
at all......until he lied under oath, maybe. Like Jesus said about those with no sin casting
the first stone....how many of those raising a stink about this REALLY want someone
digging into THEIR past? How many politicians (and other people, too) live by the "do as I
say not as I do" philosophy? Too many. YMMV.

Yes on this one imo

One would think that's a no-brainer. Sexual assault should preclude someone from being POTUS. But not everybody think that women deserve any kind of respect.

I hate to say this but a lot of them don't.

[RonW]

Plus, what if he DID have an affair or grope a woman against her will in a car? Both are wrong, IMHO, but should either one keep someone from holding public office? Same way with Slick Willy Clinton...the Monica deal should have been completely between Willy and Mr. Hillary.

I agree, but huge difference between Clinton and Cain. Monica never sued Clinton. Her crime was that she didn't keep her mouth shut .... when she should have. Like 99.9 percent most females. Yea, sue me. No, don't. Monica bragged about the Clinton affair to Linda Tripp over the telephone. Brilliant, Monica. Then later all hell broke loose. Didn't Tripp record thsose conversation too? Politico gave Cain 11 days notice in advance that they wore planning to publish the story, yet when the story became public Cain reacted with astonishment and righteous indignation like this was all new to him. Irregardless, 4 workplace sexual harassment law suits setteled out of court, but absolutely no truth to them?? The National Restaurant Association would have consulted lawyers who specialize in workplace sexual harassment cases, and the payoffs rely on legal expert determinations.

With the latest 'allegation' against Cain, given, the consensual liaison is even more distasteful because it exposes a decade long affair .... however, it raised disturbing questions to the extent the the allegation bordered on blackmail prior to its public disclosure. The scenario is tht the accuser here had been struggling financially and during the same past months period she sent in private a hundred Email and text messages to Cain reigning as a or the leading GOP nominee requesting hypothetically, er, "hello, pause, and oh btw, you can lend me a few dollars to tide me over? P.S., miss you very much." Obviously if her prospectus is scorned then the accuser is left with no alternative source of revenue and relief than to hawk her wares to the tabloid et al. including but not limited to Rep presidential opponents who would receive her with open arms and compensate her commensurately. No, I wouldn't want to be in Cain's shoes. not condoning him either but unfortunately if he had never started lending her money purely as a favor it might not have worked against him the way thta it did. However, the political reality is that the accuser owned Cain ans she simply sold the deed. On the other side of the ledger, why Cain simply didn't just hired her on as a paid campaign staffer remains a mystery.

[BF]

If you folks who say you'd vote for Ron Paul if he stood a chance, he just might stand a chance if you voted for him...

I did vote for RP.....and quite possibly may vote for him again.  The problem with RP is he makes wonderful sense 99% of the time, but then there's that 1% of the time that he sticks his foot in his mouth and says something way out there......then people start thinking him a little, uh, disconnected (ie.....wacky). 

The other problem, and it's a big problem, is the media won't give Ron Paul or Hunstman the time of day. 

The sad truth is that most people in this county don't give a crap and don't or won't pay attention to who the candidates are much less their positions on issues and only listen to sound bites from the talking heads on the networks. 

The latest example of that is Newt.  The networks talk up Newt, so everybody now knows the name Newt and thinks he's leading whether he actually is or not. 

Whoever the network's candidate de jure is, that seems to be the leading candidate of the week. 

Basically, we're doomed. 

[musclehead]

I may have to vote for someone else, I was in the Cain camp from day one.

'allegations'? here's one, I think both the women that have come forward with claims are paid political operatives. my 'proof' is exactly the same as theirs non existent.

I was more concerned by 11 seconds of "duh, Libya?" then I am concerned over these 'troubled women'. Herman, it's not all going to be about the economy! give a little time to reference what's going on in the world and form an opinion, you know these kinds of questions are going to come up!

HC was one guy that BO did NOT want to have to face in an election, might steal some of his locked in minority vote. Cain said he is going to try to clear his name, we'll see, from now until he dies the press will always introduce him as 'the candidate whose campaign was derailed by allegations of sexual harrasment'

if he did have a 13 year affair (seems like there would be some proof out there somewhere) he has got to know it'll come out. and even if it was innocent he admitted to giving her money, you've got to know how that looks to the public.

which reminds me, I was working out 4-5 times a week back in ORYGUN and I was talking/flirting with a gal who looked like suzanne summers back during 'step by step' I didn't bother to tell the wife, the rule is no touching which I happily abide by. we crossed paths one day she was waiting tables at 'Izzy's" and I was there with wife and deer hunting buddy. 

you should've seen the daggers my wife was shooting this gal and she was glaring at me her eyes narrowed suspiciously. I explained and she mellowed out, there for abit it was touch and go 

[Fudd]

In Louisiana we've had some rather colorful politicians who would just bite the bullet and tell it like it is.

When Edwin Edwards would be confronted about his exploits, he would just own up to it and move on.  Edwards would make it a non-issue by acknowledgement.

He once said, "The only way that the voters in La. would not re-elect me is if I was caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl."

[Farther]

Well, I'd like to see some proof of these claims.  Can't blame a guy for trying.  It's not like he got a BJ and then lied about it on national TV.

Me too.  I would also like to see his birth certificate.

[Paxton]

QUOTE FROM CANUCK: "... I told the wife if he won the nomination I would get my citizenship so that
I could cast a vote that would do good for this country..."

Canuck;
Take no offense by my comments on your comment...  ???

I find it distressful that one could change citizenship simply just to influence US politics and save the rest of us from our own "monkeys"
and other stupid choices.  

Moreover, if for example you were from across the southern border, your comment and you'd get laughed off this thread by the alien bashers...  

Worst yet, imho, were you of the Muslim faith, your internet declaration (as in declarative statement) would land you on the lone-wolf terrorist suspect list.
Luckily, God blesses the child that has his own... Indeed.

Just an observation...

RIDE SAFE.  

[donaldcc]

  
   i think Cain never had a chance.  he has some interesting mathematic and computer background but is NOT a politician. his gaffs on foreign affairs are embarrassing for a man running for president. his EXTRACURRICULAR activities doom his run before it starts.  don't know fact from fiction, but i suspect there is truth to the allegations that would have come out.  

  i will post my original prediction after election day.  despite the animosity towards the current administration, the republicans are destined to lose.  i personally don't really know what is best for our country and will just try to stay informed.  

     http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,35243.msg327285.html#msg327285

 i am saddened about the extreme partisan politics that has stagnated our government.  i am not optimistic that it will change.  our great country is not moving forward as a leader in the world.

[Paxton]

In our culture's "Stroke Economy," Bad Strokes are better than No Strokes at all!  ???

Strategically, Herman Cain is not concerned about How or for What reason would he be remembered.
In our stroke economy, the REAL concern is whether to be remembered at all. Whether the media is still talkin' about you.
Whether your name influences the emotions and excites the passions of others...

Sara Palin, whether you like her, she went from Soccer Mom / Governor to a millionaire, thanks to John McCain. The rest is history.

Consider this...
If it's not for the money, the pursuits for fame and power (not fortune) on the financially comfortable are fueled by accute bouts of Narcissism
in concert with their own Egotistical desperation.
Logically, when one is super rich, or just rich enough, money is no object. One less million or two are not causing late payments on the Valkyrie... 

GOOD / BAD STROKES:
If one praises and remembers Cain (or any candidate) because his sound ideas, then in the Strokes' Economy he is getting good strokes...
(I.e. "YO' Herm... yours is the koolest Valk I've ever seen!")
 
If one rags on Herman and remembers him because of presumed deviant behavior, then he is gettin' bad strokes...
but strokes he is getting, nevertheless. (I.e. "You've got a Valkyrie. I can't pinpoint it Dude, but it is butt ugly!")

As we'd know by turning on the TV, in our Western celebrity culture been a stupid ass SHALL increase your wealth overnight.

Herman and Gingrich's current speaking fees and books are going through the roof. Whether these guys ever get to be President,
that is questionable.
That both these guys have already tripled their annual income way beyond the Presidential salary for life, that is unquestionable.

Becoming President or a member of congress, for most candidates it is a severe "pay cut." So, do they want the job because
they are passionate about the future of the country? One would hope so... 

IT'S NOT THE MONEY...

It could happen...
Indeed, while referencing his adultery, Gingrich spoke to the evangelical news network and said, in effect, as follows.
That while he (NG) was so patriotically focused on working for the nation on the business of the people,
some bad stuff happened (infidelity)... err... twice.

Right on point. Knewt would have you believe that patriotic fervor would make a politician or public employee work tirelessly for less money...

If I could read their motivations for wanting the Presidency, w/some exceptions, I might find that Knewt, Romney, Perry and
Cain's justifications might read "... "It is the price of Self Actualization defined by Power, Fame... and the fortune that I already have!

I digress.

[DarkMeister]

Speaking of women... Can you just imagine what Herman's wife is going through? National and international coverage of his indiscretions.
This last one was the clincher. It was established that he did have some sort of relationship AND that his wife was unaware. It must be horrible for her. Their long marriage appears to have been of the 'turn a blind eye' variety. Can't do that now.
When the dust settles, I expect her own version of the 9-9-9 policy: mine-mine-mine. Hope he has good lawyers.

[SANDMAN5]

I agree, but huge difference between Clinton and Cain. Monica never sued Clinton.

I wasn't really comparing them, just meaning that there are "personal" and "professional" happenings
and the two don't always need to be mixed. Also, there's sometimes a fine line between "sexual
assault", "sexual harassment", "inappropriate behavior", "unwanted contact", "flirting", etc. I don't
know what they say he did so I can't really give an opinon. But if I were to guess I'd say quite a
few people here (including me) could be accused of some of that stuff if women from our past (or
even present......future?) wanted to press the issue. If he's guilty of something, why did they
(victims)wait till now to bring it up? Like I said, I'm not up on all the details, so I'm just speaking
in generalities.