Michael Steele Advises Herman Cain: 'Your Heart Will Tell You What To Do'

WASHINGTON -- Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele spoke Tuesday with embattled GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain and offered him this advice: "Think long and hard about what you do next and how you go about it."

"I said, I'm not going to go out here and blow you up and call on you to get out of the race," Steele recounted in a phone interview. "If you decide to stay in the voters are going to let you know how they feel about that."

He also told Cain: "It's not just about the presidential campaign anymore. It's about your wife and your family and your own credibility, and your opportunities and options beyond this moment."

"This is serious. There are impacts and ramifications not just for Herman and his family but for the party as a whole," Steele said.

Steele and Cain are two of the best-known black conservatives in the country, and have known one another for over a decade, Steele said. The two men talked on the phone Tuesday as Cain told senior aides that he was "reassessing" his candidacy after an Atlanta woman named Ginger White said Monday that she and Cain had a 13-year extramarital affair.

Steele, who came under immense pressure himself to resign from the RNC during his tenure there and is now a paid analyst for MSNBC, said he did not push Cain to make a decision one way or another.

"A lot of people want to pontificate and tell him what he should do and what he must do. And I don't know how many of those folks have actually said, 'I'm not here to tell you what to do but to let you know a friend is with you, and b, your heart will tell you what to do next,'" Steele said.

"You know the truth. You know the facts. You know the realities. And you've got to evaluate all of that, in toto, and say to [Cain's wife] Gloria, you know, 'We can do this.' Because she may say to you, 'No we can't.'"

Steele also said he thought race had, to some degree, colored the Republican party's response to the numerous allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct lodged against Cain by several different women.

"Race is not involved to the extent that decisions and choices are made by an individual. They don't do it along the lines of race. How you're perceived and how you then take those decisions and choices gets colored, maybe, through a racial lens," Steele said.

But when asked to clarify whether he thinks Cain has been treated differently than a white politician would be if he were in the same situation, Steele indicated he did not think so.

"I don't think that Congressman [Anthony] Weiner's time was any easier or harder than Herman Cain's at this moment," Steele said. "In fact I think Herman's would be a little bit worse because he is running for president of the United States. It's not like he's a congressman who can't keep his fingers off of his Twitter buttons."

Comments

[carbec]

04:43 PM on 12/01/2011

Huffpo:

Why was Kimbanyc banned? My word I am more acerbic than he. Will I be banned?

Kimbanyc makes excellent points. If he has stepped over the line, I have not seen it.

Return Kimbanyc!

[trthsetsfree2]

04:27 PM on 12/01/2011

Mr Cain,
The damage has already been done to your family. Stopping the campaign will make no difference. However Cain you could STILL help America in a geat way. You can draw attention to the man's lack of options if his woman is inadequate or uncooperative. In other words she could be doing all she can and still not be all you need. And women have so much value to a man so I hope the small minded people do not think I am just talking about sex. A man must have the authority to make necessary changes in his household. Today's man is subject to be dismissed if his wife does not agree with him. That is NOT leadership.
You should be able to admit openly and honestly if the need for another woman arises. Hundreds of years of men having relationships with more than one woman is the evidence that monogamy is NOT the only option . And the Bible is true. The Bible does not say multiple mates are wrong. America needs this dialogue so our families can again be headed by responsible men who can do what needs to be done with his mate or mates without having to sneak, lie, abuse, harrass, appear to be a whrmongr, go gay or downlow, divorce, be estranged from his children, etc. We need to advocate for polygyny. The other option, giving men a free pass on divorce like women, would probably cause even more divorces.

[bey]

08:53 AM on 12/01/2011

During Michael Steele's tenure as RNC Chairman, the Republican's won back the House. Mr. Steele ran a 50 State Campaign to accomplish this feat, however because he did not draw more African Americans to the republican party, he was thrown out. The simple facts are that even though Mr. Cain was up in the polls, hard core republicans were never actually going to vote for him. Mr. Steele more than likely was able to open Mr. Cain's eyes to the reality that the "Jig" is up and it's time to exit stage left. The the posters here who are stating that Mr. Steele has some controversy of his own, please name one. But then again facts are not something that interest the right.

[conversations17]

12:56 AM on 12/02/2011

I think you are right, Cain was never intended to win, he was a decoy... put in front to take the stain of racial ill from the TP, and now that he has soiled himself--he can be cast out which was always the plan. The fact that he didn't see the strings and that he was nothing more than a puppet is interesting, considering it does take foresight to lead... and he couldn't see what was happening right in front of him. Or, the explanation is, he knew and knew this would sell many books and polish his bottom line... so he is taking the licks and getting paid...

Either way, the "Jig"is up!!

[butlercaddie]

08:53 AM on 12/01/2011

The tragedy of Herman Cain is that he never listens to his "heart."
The comedy of Herman Cain is that he listens to another body part.

[tomwfox]

08:21 AM on 12/01/2011

The unspoken aspect of Steele's advice to Cain is if there is more dirt, it will continue to leak out as long as Cain remains in the race. So, if Cain wants to keep the remainder of his secrets from his wife, he needs to quit the race.

[abhorson]

02:50 AM on 12/01/2011

Wow... what brilliant advice ... "Daaad, can I be the chairman of a major political party in the USA too ???"

sure sonny... daddy knows Dr. Rosenstein and we'll get you a full mouth of porcelain teeth when you're 22... now runoff to bed and remember EVERYONE loves you no matter what you do in life...

[l78lancer]

02:07 AM on 12/01/2011

"But when asked to clarify whether he thinks Cain has been treated differently than a white politician would be if he were in the same situation, Steele indicated he did not think so."
---------------------------------------------------->

I could buy most of what he said about the racial issue. It was mostly reasonable and on balance. As for the above statement, however, to the extent that Newt remains in the contest and is permitted to gain traction dispite his own sorted past and despite the fire storm that occurred just a few weeks ago, I believe Steele is wrong. The level of forgiveness and tolerence for Newt remaining versus Cain being requested to leave seems to indicate some level of disparity.

If both Cain and Newt are serial screw ups, why is one permitted to stay and say let the voters decide how they feel, while the other is being told to leave for the good of the party and campaign?

[Touche007]

01:24 PM on 12/01/2011

Newt has repented, and that's what the base wants to hear. Newt also comes across as a humble man who has learned his lesson. As long as Newt tells the base his marriage to Callista is solid and how his conversion to Catholicism has been the best thing ever, they will flock to him like the little children flocked to Jesus.

[carbec]

04:50 PM on 12/01/2011

Maybe the base buys the conversion thing, but that will not serve me as well in a general election. He also has eithics issues going back to his Speaker position and he lied about being a lobbyist. The krazy-Khristian base is gullible; the general populace is not.

[l78lancer]

05:20 AM on 12/02/2011

Don't take offense, but without starting a huge fight, your comment is exactly why dems and independents deride the right for seeing what they want to see and not seeing waht actually is. Newt's repentence may be legitimate, but it appears to be a matter of expedience - just like Mitt firing the workers because he might have been caught. Newt is cynical and expects people to be both gullible and forgiving. He sees kindness as weakness and exploits it. The Newt of today is not much different from the newt of 20 years ago. Just older.

[carbec]

04:48 PM on 12/01/2011

The voters are deciding whose past is more sordid. If Newt gets the nomination, he will be excoriated and has no chance at all. It's not just that he is a faithless spouse. He has lied about being a lobbyist, he had eithics problems and was booted from his Speaker position. Romney and Newt are similar in that both will say anything to be elected. Neither can be trusted.

[l78lancer]

05:21 AM on 12/02/2011

I tend to agree.

[l78lancer]

01:45 AM on 12/01/2011

" "I said, I'm not going to go out here and blow you up and call on you to get out of the race," Steele recounted in a phone interview. "If you decide to stay in the voters are going to let you know how they feel about that."

He also told Cain: "It's not just about the presidential campaign anymore. It's about your wife and your family and your own credibility, and your opportunities and options beyond this moment." "
---------------------------------------------------->

Initially I thought "here we go again. What in the world does Michael Steele have to say about this? He has a lot of nerve. He was given to controversy himself."

Now Herm has demonstrated that he is not a man to take advice or to follow others. While that has it's upsides it also has huge downsides because you can't truly be a leader until you've mastered beiing a follower and know what it's all about.

However, through all of the noise and screaming, Steele has provided the most sound and sane advice yet, and it may be widsom acquired from his own problems - stop, take your time and think this through. Herm shoots from the hip and talks before he thinks. But he would really be wise to listen to this advide.

Even though I'm a dem it's good advice, and Steele is probably one of the best people to give it.

[carbec]

04:53 PM on 12/01/2011

As a Dem, I find Steele one of the few Regressives to be trusted. Any day now Steele will crossover out of the darkness into the light. He just isn't the conscienceless Regressives that most are.

[l78lancer]

05:24 AM on 12/02/2011

He is ideological, but from a more pratical stance. I see him as more moderate that staunch conservative.

[Stephen Holland]

08:35 PM on 11/30/2011

This man now says that he may drop out for the good of his family,,and blames the system. Isn't this the same family that he has lied to & deceived for all these years & still continues to humiliate. The same wife that only a month ago he drug before the press to help cover his ugliness ? Is he speaking of the same political system that he has milked for millions ? Or is he speaking of the system of the media that loyally promoted him and made it all possible for him right up until the bitter end until even fox could no longer stand up for him.Or maybe you are the system he speaks of. Poor Innocent pathetic Cain. He may not become our republican leader but he sure came from the right mole,,your next runner up is Newt,,another man of big morals & integrity. Wake up people don't be coned by people who are more dumber then you. Poor Cain,,In the end when all the smoke finally clears & he has milked the system for the very last drop. Poor misunderstood Cain will wine & belly ack all the way to the bank,,and then again wake up with another gold digging slut and put on his pimp hat and turn his 999 upside down again. A true leader in his field.

[carbec]

04:54 PM on 12/01/2011

Cain is a sociopath and is merely being what he is.

[sumogirl]

07:57 PM on 11/30/2011

I'm guessing that with a guy like Herman Cain, he has to be the one to think resigning is his idea--an idea initiated by him as opposed to by people suggesting he resign. He also will probably deny this for the rest of his life and will use his wife as his excuse for resigning--i.e., I'm doing this to save my poor wife from all the lies being told about innocent me.

[l78lancer]

01:47 AM on 12/01/2011

That's an interesting view and probably has a lot of truth behind it.

[CoronaDischarge]

07:24 PM on 11/30/2011

And if his heart doesn't give him the right direction, the boots on his backside should be serving as a useful guide.

As a side note, I have to say that I never thought that Republicans could replace him as Chairman of the party with someone that now makes him look even slightly capable or reasonable. But Prince Rebus has managed the task.

[haleejr73]

06:57 PM on 11/30/2011

Someone must have asked Steele to try to talk some sense into Cains thick skull. It's obvious that Steele didn't want to be the one to flat out tell him that he is screwing up the whole party image. They should just let him continue to ruing the republican image. President Obama wins.

[sieben13]

07:12 PM on 11/30/2011

They got steele to tell one black puppet to another what the party wants

[haleejr73]

09:35 PM on 11/30/2011

sieben13......What about the white puppets?

[l78lancer]

01:49 AM on 12/01/2011

That's actually not what Steele did at all. Sounds like based on his own experience he told Herm screw the party and the politics; think this through carefully because there is life after politics.

It's good advice.

[carbec]

04:56 PM on 12/01/2011

Why didn't Prince Rebus have a come-to-Jesus meeting with Cain instead of allowing the former RNC chair to scold him?

[MotivatedMarine0311]

06:34 PM on 11/30/2011

I guess you got to be half white for the media to accept you.

[mollybeejay]

06:42 PM on 11/30/2011

What does that mean? For once, this is not a racist thing, this is a lying, cheating, thieving thing.

[blueinannarbor]

07:21 PM on 11/30/2011

That's ridiculous.

[landskroon]

06:13 PM on 11/30/2011

Is this the Presidential advisor waiting? what a couple

[Hardyman1966]

05:59 PM on 11/30/2011

"Gladys, get in here!  Look what the cat cacked-up!"