Former Godfathers Pizza CEO Herman Cain – whose simple tax overhaul plan and fiery stump speeches took the 2012 Republican primary by storm – suspended his campaign for the presidency on Saturday.
Cain made the announcement at a political rally in Atlanta flanked by his wife, Gloria.
“I am suspending my presidential campaign,” Cain announced. “I am at peace with my God. I am at peace with my wife, and she is at peace with me. And I am at peace with my family and I am at peace with myself.”
The one-time fringe candidate – who stormed to the front of the GOP pack in October on the strength of his unconventional 9-9-9 tax plan – was undone by a series of personal allegations.
Cain’s problems began a month ago when The Politico published a report detailing allegations of sexual harassment that were leveled against hm during his tenure at the helm of the National Restaurant Association in the late 1990s.
A week later, another woman came forward alleging that Cain had harassed her, too.
Earlier this week, a woman stepped forward and claimed that she had carried on a 13-year extramarital affair with the 65-year-old businessman – a relationship that had continued until earlier this year.
Cain has steadfastly denied all of the allegations against him.
While Cain’s aides vowed that his campaign would carry on in spite of the controveries, it quickly became clear that his popular and financial support – which survived the initial round of allegations – were rapidly drying up. Also, Cain’s campaign was hurt by the conflicting, uncoordinated manner in which it responded to the charges – and Cain’s basic failure to confront them directly.
Cain said he would endorse one of his Republican rivals prior to the Iowa Caucus on January 3, 2012.
“The pundits would like for me to shut up, drop out and go away,” Cain said. “Well, as my grandmother who lived to be 104 years old used to say when somebody was dead wrong, ‘Bless their little hearts.’”
Cain did not say who he would support, but so far his pain has been former U.S. Speaker Newt Gingrich’s gain, unfortunately.
What do we make of Cain’s withdrawal?
It’s unfortunate, although it appears fairly obvious at this point that there is at least some merit to the allegations.
As we’ve noted on several prior occasions, though, Cain would have had a very hard time keeping his momentum given the structure of his tax plan.
“While we have no problem with tax cuts for the wealthy – i.e. the people who create jobs in this country – we believe that offsetting those tax cuts with a tax increase on the middle class would be devastating to our still-jittery consumer economy,” we wrote two months ago. “For example, a recent analysis of Cain’s plan found that a family of four making $50,000 a year would pay as much as $2,700 more a year in taxes.”
In other words, you can expect to create jobs by cutting taxes for job creators – and then yanking the rug out from under the people who are supposed to be purchasing their widgets. You have to cut taxes for everybody.
Had Cain not been dragged down by these personal allegations, we feel confident that most people would have eventually recognized that 9-9-9 translated into a tax hike for them.
***
By Herman December 3, 2011 at 2:41 pm
A Farewell from Herman Cain
My Final Thoughts
Dear Friend,
And when I say “friend,” I mean it in the normal way, not “someone I’ve been sleeping with for 13 years.” Unless, of course, I have been sleeping with you for 13 years. In that case, I do mean it that way.
It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to end my inspirational quest for the White House. After much reassessing and reconsidering, I have decided to spend more time being screamed at by my wife. And by “more time,” I mean 24 hours a day, stopping only for bathroom breaks.
But before I go, let me share with you my final thoughts on my campaign. After months of crisscrossing this great land of ours and participating in over three hundred televised debates, I am being disqualified because of an extramarital affair. And that raises the following question: Are you fucking kidding me?
I mean, let’s get real. I never heard of Libya. I didn’t know whether that CNN dude’s name was Wolf or Blitz. And my only training for running the #1 nation in the world was running its #8 pizza chain. Yet none of that, I repeat, none of that disqualified me. In fact, I was the front-fucking-runner, as long as I kept my 9-9-9 in my pants. (I have no idea what I meant by that — I just like saying 9-9-9.)
But here’s the part that really kills me. You’re kicking me to the curb because I was messing around, and instead you’re going with… Newt Gingrich? I repeat: Are you fucking kidding me? Oh, I know what you’re saying: You love Newt because he’s an “intellectual.” Well, Newt Gingrich is the intellectual of the Republican field the way Moe was the intellectual of the Stooges.
And that leads me to my final point: you disgust me, America. Right now if I had my way, I’d up and move to another country. I really, truly would. Only I don’t know where any of them are, and my wife won’t let me leave the house.
Goodbye forever,
Herman
By BigT December 3, 2011 at 2:44 pm
Liberals are going to only have so many bullets….They used a lot of ammo (as far as being relevent) in this one…
Not to mention: What does this open up Obama to???
May not make a difference, but the media could end up having Obama slain by the same sword that took down Herman…
The Larry Sinclair accusations should be treated as fairly and mainstream as most of these flimsey-based Cain women…
Can’t wait for the ‘Swift-Boat’ types to load their weapons….Obama has a lot of vulnerability if Cain could be had this easily…
By Ah Yes December 3, 2011 at 2:57 pm
This is so disappointing. It only benefits flip flopper cheatmaster extraordinaire Newt “The Slippery Slimy Salamander” Gingrich.
Cain’s gonna endorse Gingrich and his flock of stupid lemmings are gonna fall into line behind him.
If they’ll support an overconfident but intellectually mediocre philandering reverend you can bet they’ll support an overconfident intellectually superior former philanderer that’s been “redeemed” in public politics.
By Alabaster II December 3, 2011 at 3:01 pm
At least, he did not give his wife up for that mistress and the potential political career. Nothing like what the ex-governor did.
By Cid December 3, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Herman Cain was a joke from Day One
He was never going to be the nominee
All those Republicans who “claimed” they were going to vote for him?
Liars
Two bit liars (see “t” above)
They are now flocking to Newt whose transgressions are about the same as Hermans
To suggest that the so called “liberals” brought this clown down is silly
Who wouldn’t have wanted to run against him?
By Bogart December 3, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Along with Cain’s supporters does Newt also get his little black book and case of condoms?……Oops,forgot,one of Newt’s women said he prefers oral sex.Have to wonder though,looking at his body ,how does she find it? Chapur was luckier,Sanford is skinny……..Politicos and their women….sex ,lies and old fools.
By tomstickler December 3, 2011 at 4:15 pm
The fact that the “mistress” story broke on Fox News indicates that the GOP establishment wanted to scuttle Cain’s campaign. Roger Ailes would not have done it otherwise.
By Robert December 3, 2011 at 4:17 pm
He is like Palin and Bachmann….just wanted to sell books.
Gingrich is making things interesting. Still think Romney is the only chance.
By BigT December 3, 2011 at 4:39 pm
I love to see the Tin Foil idiots pop out of the woodwork…
Face it: FITS, and the rest of you Dumbass Obama Butt Pumpers, are going to HATE anybody who ain’t the Dip-$#!t-in-charge you gave us in 08…
But the REAL unemployment rate is likely in the high teens. There are people saying they will not hire until Obama is gone…and Obama, Pelosi and Reid are CLUELESS. They are so irresponsible and incompetent can’t even offer a decent budget…
Obama has the ABSOLUTE WORST RECORD EVER to run on. Whoever the GOP nominates will waltz into the White House.
That’s why you are all crapping your pants over the Republican nominee. Failure on Obama’s level will never get you re-elected, and you’re un un-American @$$-hole if you want him to keep ruining our country…
By harvie December 3, 2011 at 5:22 pm
With Cain out, Obama will cruise to re-election.
Dang!
By harvie December 3, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Big T, with all due respect, I disagree.
The media know all about Larry Sinclair, and others, and will continue to spike any and all of Obama’s scandals.
Solyndra alone, would have landed Bush in jail…not to mention Fast and Furious and the multiple other pay- to -play scams Team Obama orchestrated.
With Cain out, Obama’s re-election is all but assured.
Get used to another 4 years of socialism, radical social engineering, and an overtly pro-Islamic foreign policy.
From 1st World to 3Rd World in less than a decade…
By Huck Finn December 3, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Now with my friend big Herman out, it’ll be between the smart rich flip flopper snob Romney and the less smart legislator-lobbyist-influence peddler professional politician Gingrich.
I say with either one, I’ll vote for Obama.
By lars December 3, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Time for “The Donald” to make a run–I’m sick of these professional politicians controlling my life…
By scmajor December 3, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Harvie has proven to me that there actually is a fucktard stupider than BigT.
Just WHO are we supposed to vote for? Gingrich? Bachman?
Cain was just as big a joke as these two.
With the crazy shit the republicans keep spouting you would have to be crazy as they are to vote for them. In South Carolina, THAT, is the problem.
By Facrebel December 3, 2011 at 7:09 pm
It’s such a shame!
I first wanted Sarah to debate Obama,
Then Michelle B, then Perry was droped – would have been soooo much fun!,,
Now they drop the Herminator- ohhhh
I am so looking forward to Big T’s heart attack in 2012 when Obama is reelected
Republicans are a bunch of clowns that wouldn’t pass a high school test in history and political science
- with the exception of Newt, who will fizzle out Kate enough to have Romney self destruct.
Go cocks!
By enrique December 3, 2011 at 9:50 pm
SC Major–Did you vote for our cokehead prez or did you vote for the old war hero?…I thought so.
By Flounder December 3, 2011 at 11:05 pm
This is SO funny. I now look forward to “the battle of the hair styles” between Gingrich and Romney.
David Brooks said on ATC yesterday that he expects Gingrich to “implode” because he is “so incredibly careless” in what he says.
Gingrich is certainly more affable and human than Romney, but more “flinty” according to Brooks; that is, he’ll break apart under pressure.
Brooks also said that Romney dissed and patronized Wolf Blitzer when Blitzer asked him a question Romney didn’t want to answer.
“We need to find out what the published Romney policy on that topic before we ask such questions,” Romney responded.
That is, “Wolf, you haven’t read my 59-page policy statement on that topic, and I’m not 100 percent strong on that topic, so let’s change the topic.”
Gingrich and Romney are worlds apart in style and substance.
And I don’t like either one!!
By scmajor December 4, 2011 at 1:11 am
No enrique, I did not vote for Bush.
By Mr. Dixie December 4, 2011 at 8:28 am
I can’t believe when he came out yesterday he didn’t have any knots on his head. After he admitted he gave a woman money for thirteen years without telling his wife, she looked like she was doting on every word when he gave his speech. Do you think this was his real wife, or a look a like ?
By enrique December 4, 2011 at 8:36 am
SC Major–I’m talking about the other cokehead prez who also has a thing for “men”…Does Larry Sinclair ring a bell?
By scmajor December 4, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Sinclair’s biography, though, may get in the way of that pitch: Public records and court filings reveal that he has a 27-year criminal record, with a specialty in crimes involving deceit. The record includes forgery charges in two states, one of which drew Sinclair a 16-year jail sentence. The Pueblo County, Colo., Sheriff’s Office also has an outstanding warrant for Sinclair’s arrest for forging an acquaintance’s signature and stealing her tax refunds.
“It is what it is,” said Sinclair’s spokesman, Montgomery Blair Sibley, of his client’s criminal record. “He’s not hiding from it, he’s not denying it.”
By enrique December 4, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Crimes involving deceit…sounds like Obama’s kind of “man.”
By Cid December 4, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Weak comeback Enrique
Why not just blast Major as a liberal dumbass Obama butt pumper like your mentor “t?”
By Walter Williams December 4, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Can President Obama be defeated in 2012? No. He can’t. I am going on record as saying that President Barak Obama will win a second term.
The media won’t tell you this because a good election campaign means hundreds of millions (or in Obama’s case billions) of dollars to them in advertising.
But the truth is, there simply are no conditions under which Barak Obama can be defeated in 2012. The quality of the Republican candidate doesn’t matter. Obama gets reelected. Nine percent unemployment? No problem. Obama will win. Gas prices moving toward five dollars a gallon? He still wins. The economy soars or goes into the gutter. Obama wins. War in the Middle East ? He wins a second term.
America’s role as the leading Superpower disappears? Hurrah for Barak Obama! The U.S. government rushes toward bankruptcy, the dollar continues to sink on world markets and the price of daily goods and services soars due to inflation fueled by Obama’s extraordinary deficit spending? Obama wins handily.
You are crazy Williams. Don’t you understand how volatile politics can be when overall economic, government, and world conditions are declining? Sure I do.
And that’s why I know Obama will win. The American people are notoriously ignorant of economics. And economics is the key to why Obama should be defeated.
Even when Obama’s policies lead the nation to final ruin, the majority of the American people are going to believe the bait-and-switch tactics Obama and his supporters in the media will use to explain why it isn’t his fault. After all, things were much worse than understood when he took office.
Obama’s reelection is really a very, very simple math problem. Consider the following:
1) Blacks will vote for Obama blindly. Period. Doesn’t matter what he does. It’s a race thing. He’s one of us,
2) College educated women will vote for Obama. Though they will be offended by this, they swoon at his oratory. It’s really not more complex than that,
3) Liberals will vote for Obama. He is their great hope,
4) Democrats will vote for Obama. He is the leader of their party and his coat tails will carry them to victory nationwide,
5) Hispanics will vote for Obama. He is the path to citizenship for those who are illegal and Hispanic leaders recognize the political clout they carry in the Democratic Party,
6) Union members will vote overwhelmingly for Obama. He is their key to money and power in business, state and local politics,
7) Big Business will support Obama. They already have. He has almost $1 Billion dollars in his reelection purse gained largely from his connections with Big Business and is gaining more every day. Big Business loves Obama because he gives them access to taxpayer money so long as they support his social and political agenda,
8) The media love him. They may attack the people who work for him, but they love him. After all, to not love him would be racist,
9) Most other minorities and special interest groups will vote for him. Oddly, the overwhelming majority of Jews and Muslims will support him because they won’t vote Republican. American Indians will support him. Obviously homosexuals tend to vote Democratic. And lastly,
10) Approximately half of independents will vote for Obama. And he doesn’t need anywhere near that number because he has all of the groups previously mentioned. The President will win an overwhelming victory in 2012.
– Dr. Walter Williams
By saul December 4, 2011 at 9:51 pm
I completely concur with Dr. Williams.
Cain was the only Republican with a chance of defeating Obama.
Our kids are doomed.
From 1st World to 3rd World in less than a decade.
By Mr. Dixie December 4, 2011 at 10:01 pm
Oh Shit !!! You are going to make Big T blow a gasket talking like that.
By How Appropriate December 4, 2011 at 10:48 pm
Interesting diatribe posted by someone that is clearly not Dr. Williams, and even further, didn’t think people here smart enough to check it’s veracity. Not only was this propoganda piece faulty in logic, it’s patently false/not attributed to Dr. Williams:
snopes.com/politics/soapbox/nomatterwhat.asp
By ceilidh09 December 5, 2011 at 8:24 am
Cain was a victim of his own overweening pride; the Greeks called it “hubris.” Did the dope think he could pull the wool over our eyes?
By RedTick December 5, 2011 at 8:25 am
Damn! Then this just proves that BigT is right once again.
By SixShooter December 5, 2011 at 8:32 am
@How Appropriate. You are correct. President Obama is up to his old tricks again by posting here at Fits as Dr. Williams. At least we now know that POTUS visits FITSNEWS on occasion. Betcha’ he likes the pics here!
By Cid December 5, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Cain wasn’t a “victim” of anything
He was just a clown who entered this damn thing as a lark to sell a few books
And had a bunch of damn fools take him seriously
There’s probably another book in the offing
Suggested title:
“How I screwed some women,ran for President and made millions of dollars!”
By Scooter December 5, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Oh, thank Heavens this idiot is getting out. I am disappointed in his wife’s kiss blowing and smiling at him during the speech. She HAS to know he is a jerk. Oh, well. Good bye to a bad acting man. I bet more women will come forward. In the mean time, I’m gonna ask him for money. Maybe he will have pity on me and give me some $$. He seems to give it out so freely. Ha! This guy is truly a lying son of a gun. The next to get the boot should be Newt. Now there’s a long running jerk. Such a self absorbed blow hard. Yuck. Well, what will history say about this group of lame brains running for the Repub. nomination? SO many ignorant, mean, selfish people. The country has gone nuts on the right. It would be funny if it wasn’t dangerous.
By Scooter December 5, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Cain never had a chance of getting the nomination, much less beating the President. What a crazy thought. And BTW, Blacks will not vote blindly for anyone. Many will vote Republican. Don’t you see all those folks at the debates and rallies? Seriously, no group votes blindly as a group. Everyone will do what they do. Also, you hardly saw any people of color at the Cain rallies. Only silly looking white folks. They had no clue that they were the ones that were going to get hurt by Cain’s (and other Repub’s) stated policies.
By Naive December 5, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Mr Cain took great comfort in knowing that a fellow alleged/confirmed philanderer on Fox news was laying odds on his exit from the GOP field. In addition he offered a calculated cynical strategem of surviving a sex scandal: be a sitting Governor, congressman, senator, etc… rather than a candidate. Brilliant!
By Jan December 5, 2011 at 5:18 pm
The one thing the Republican party cannot tolerate is a black man who thinks he can date white women. If he had been white, like Newt, no problem.
By amazing December 5, 2011 at 5:33 pm
It’s simply amazing to me that people like Jan can be so ignorant as to label the entire Republican party racist.
The GOP has its issues, just like the Dems, but rest assured there are plenty of racists on both sides of the US political spectrum.
By Mr. Dixie December 5, 2011 at 10:00 pm
I want to be a Republican, but their candidates are just too damn stupid. Take Newt for instance. The Republicans say he is an intellectual, a man of ideas. They say for every 1000 ideas he has, 3 of them will actually be good. But that is only a rate of 0.3 percent. That doesn’t sound like an intellectual to me. He may be a second rate college professor (I could really imagine me napping in his class) but an intellectual?? Do you really want this guy close to that mushroom button – 0.3 percent good ideas?
He will never make it though- his handlers can’t talk him into keeping his mouth shut. He will go off on a few tangents and people will start scratching their heads and start talking about what an intellectual they think Rick Perry is.