THE FIRST WORDS FROM GINGER WHITE AND LAST WORD: LAWRENCE O'DONNELL

Ginger White gave a very poignant interview to Lawrence O'Donnell on 12/1 on MSNBC.
The whole reason for which she I speaking out and describing their 13 years in the relationship with Herman Cain which she says was never a love relationship but, rather, a sexual one. 

Pundits had been saying that she had first spoken out because he was ridiculing the others who had accused him of sexual misconduct.  She claims it has never been political.  She further says that word of their relationship had leaked out to local press and local media was closing in on her with questions.  The local media planned to go with it it as a story whether she cooperated or not.  She decided it best, after talking to her 20 year old daughter and 18 year old son, and sharing the truth with them.  The family remains supportive to her.

She says she has not received any money for speaking out.  Neither of them ever told the other they were in love.  She says it was totally a sexual relationship with someone who was a friend, fun to be with, but that she was intrigued with him.  She was offered a getaway from her every day life.

Listening to the very sensitive interview conducted by O'Donnell, it was difficult to understand what this all meant to Ms. White during the 13 years with her 'friend'.  She speaks without a great deal of emotion about an affair she describes lacked a great deal of emotion.  Nothing she said was particularly contradictory.  She answered candidly, taking a few seconds to think before she answered..In summary, she made it sound not unlike what many single parents have done...that is, leap at kindness and financial help from a rich man offering fun and sex and relief from the tedium of life.  She apologizes to his wife and children (more than he has done so far) and one is left wondering what he told her about the wife she never met or why he entered into the relationship for all those years as he did with her.

On 11/29, I wrote a blog expressing similarities to the extramarital relationships Tiger Woods had, each of the many knowing that h was married but not bothered by that fact.  They got angry and spiteful only after they learned that they were not singularly his love but rather, the affair du jour.

Whatever the explanations are, the way Cain has handled the allegations of sexual harassment and his campaign in general, does not commend him to me as a man I could respect as President of the USA.  For me, it is not a moral issue but rather as issue of his poor judgement and choices, lack of qualifications for the Presidency, lack of understanding foreign relations, the Constitution and what he would need to know to run the country..

INNER DEBATE: WATCH THE REPUBLICANS LIE OR THE HOCKEY PLAYOFFS?

Normally I am not a sports fan.  Normally I will watch any political debate.  Why then do I draw an inner 'ho hum' when I choose hockey over the opportunity to evaluate the Republican presidential candidates.  After thinking about it for a while, I realize we are in the Internet age and all it provides media for coverage.  There is little I haven't heard about the candidates, picked apart from every bias and other perspective possible.

It seemed to me in hearing as much of the debate I could stand until the danger of retching took over, I realized that if we voted any one of them into office, we were in danger of turning back the clock socially and morally to at least fifty years.

Mitt Romney has changed his tune so many times he is hardly worth watching.  He will say whatever he 'thinks' the New Hampshire electorate wants to hear.  He did it with a smooth smile that didn't change throughout the debate..
Tim Pawlenty, one of the least charismatic candidate around.  He is against the4 new Healthcare plan and will only argue that it is "Obamneycare"  That tells the public nothing about he might best serve them in the White House.  He is with the established Republicans.
Michele Bachmann was the scariest.  She believes that life is a God creation at the point of conception until natural death.  That means no abortion or death with dignity on her watch.  She has no background for history, foreign affairs, and little else that it would take to lead this country.  She has some naive, limited ideas that support the Teaparty but comes out with a firm conviction mostly on moral issues.
Newt Gingrich has run a ridiculous campaign that has in many ways thumbed his nose at the system   Word is out that he is led by his wife.  That is enough among the Republican leaders to count him out.
Herman Cain, articulate and a good salesman but who has said some very unpopular things such as he 'wouldn't be comfortable having a Muslim in his cabinet.
Rick Santorum, also an  ultra-conservative claims to listen to everyone's issues but neglects to say that it will be with a deaf ear.. 
Lastly, Ron Paul who makes some sense when he isn't being provocative,  may not be far enough right for those who would be his base.

 All of them were in favor of having the States handle the issues they felt the government was not taking in to control such as immigration, protecting against abortions, welfare, education, budgets; in other words, they are talking about working to roll back the laws we have lived with for years that they don't like and giving the states more freedom on the basis that the government hasn't done the right job.

Most of their time was spent ranting against Obama.  I did not hear anything constructive they have to offer other than running our lives with more religion as a foundation.  Admittedly, I did not follow every moment.  I heard nothing about raising income for running the government nor getting more jobs or helping the middle class raise its standard of living.

To read BBC's take, click here.  

Despite the fact that this should be a good debate for laughs, I think sticking with the Hockey game offered a more stimulating evening.. The Bruins even won the game as added attraction.