Herman Cain Threatened To Cut MSNBC Interview Short Over 999 Question

WASHINGTON -- Former presidential candidate Herman Cain nearly stormed off the set during a commercial break while doing an MSNBC interview Tuesday, after a panelist said he would question him about the regressive nature of his flat tax policy.

Cain appeared as an in-studio guest on "Now With Alex Wagner" to discuss the state of the Republican primary race. The first segment stayed largely on that topic, with the former Godfather's Pizza CEO defending Newt Gingrich -- his candidate of choice -- on charges ranging from racial insensitivity and influence peddling.

When the crew went to commercial break, things combusted. Fellow panelist Ben White, the Wall Street correspondent for Politico, said that he told Cain during the break that when the panel returned he would press him on the fact that his 999 tax plan "raises taxes on 84% and 1000 percent on poor."

The former presidential candidate, according to White's twitter feed, "Said he'd walk if I did."

@morningmoneyben
Ben White

Wanted to ask Mr Cain about 999 and argument that it raises taxes on 84% and 1000 percent on poor. Said he'd walk if I did. @NowWithAlex

January 31, 2012 6:31 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

White added:

@morningmoneyben
Ben White

He got up to leave but was talked down. Called my facts "garbage" and said would not appear w/ me again.

January 31, 2012 6:32 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

A source who was there confirmed to The Huffington Post that Cain did stand up to leave after White asked him a question during the break.

Ultimately Cain, who had been booked to discuss the presidential campaign, was talked into staying for a second segment. But that part of the interview was conspicuous in that only one person got to pose questions to Cain: Wagner.

Comments

[dbrett480]

03:43 PM on 02/03/2012

It's too bad Cain is out of the race. Him and Perry were the best things about the debates.

[Rob Cypher]

11:55 PM on 02/01/2012

when ben white asked his question, did cain really reply "nein, nein, nein" to it?

[bad9iron]

03:49 PM on 02/01/2012

Seems to me that this guy White was going to try to embarass Caine with some prying questions regarding the efficacy of Cain's 999 program to show how smart he is. I don't blame Mr Cain for not reacting favorably since I suspect that he wasn't forewarned. Whether or not his plan had some serious defects is irrelevant since Mr Cain is no longer a candidate. Most of the other candidates have proposed plans that will never come to fruition because, if enacted, they would be catistrophic to the tax profession and industry which is quite sizeable in this country. In fact, what most people don't realize, accomplishing any of these so called plans is practically impossible since opposition is firmly entrenched and will not yield unless both houses of congress are controlled by the same party along with the President. And even then there is usually stiff opposition because of the many special interest groups protecting themselves. A prime example of this came from our current President who promised to cure all the evils of capitalism and provide a paradise for everyone. How's that working out for all you Obama voters?

[Aurical]

11:28 PM on 02/01/2012

Tro//!

[midwestblues]

02:03 PM on 02/01/2012

WHY is Herman Cain still in the news? And please don't have him on any more MSNBC talk shows.

[situationcritical]

01:07 PM on 02/01/2012

And Alex Wagner is always a freakin wimp.

[CASSIE60]

01:04 PM on 02/01/2012

Herman Cain is not running for POTUS any longer. What does the "media" insist on giving air time to one the worse persons possible the America Blacks have in their fold?

There are plenty of Intelligent, articulate Blacks with sometime to say. Why Herman Cain?

[Aintlate]

01:22 PM on 02/01/2012

"Shucky Ducky!"

[airforcevet43]

12:59 PM on 02/01/2012

When "TOOLS" have only one use.......they only want to be used for that purpose!

And so you can understand Hermans' objection.

[apersonanongrata]

12:52 PM on 02/01/2012

I really have missed "The Clown" formerly known as Herb Cain!!!!!!!!

[schrodster]

12:51 PM on 02/01/2012

Just wish, just once, the interviewer would say "there's the door"

[jerabaub]

12:48 PM on 02/01/2012

These righties just don't cotton to interviews, unless performed by sycophants at Fox News.

Remember the late columnist and pundit, Robert Novak, who stormed off the CNN set, in the middle of an interview or discussion, a couple of years back?

[tomjefferson2005]

01:17 PM on 02/01/2012

jerabaub : These righties just don't cotton to interviews­, unless performed by sycophants at Fox News.

Remember the late columnist and pundit, Robert Novak, who stormed off the CNN set, in the middle of an interview or discussion­, a couple of years back? ..................................REPLY: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v--BAKo4gjM

[SeattleNick]

12:31 PM on 02/01/2012

Poor Cain cannot escape his proposals, just like Newt and his 51st state of the moon and the fact that Romney will not be able to hide all of his tax returns and show the electorate how much money he has hidden from the public.

[Gestas]

12:30 PM on 02/01/2012

What scares me about people like Herman Cain and Sarah Palin, is the kind of people that would vote for them...

[bonatay]

12:24 PM on 02/01/2012

I don't know why he is even on the show. He was a presidential novelty act. I have not watched Alex Wagner since she first announced he would be a guest earlier in January. The so called, lame stream media by the right, keep these people relevant. All the sexual harassment charges have completely disappeared. harm no foul. They are trying to create another sarah palin or michele bachmann.

Let Cain step off the stage right --------->

I will have none of it. Herman Cain was right where he belonged last week, in the comedy section with Colbert.

[Jacqueline Barnes]

12:22 PM on 02/01/2012

I bet you his wife wouldn't even vote for him! Jackass!

[VTL]

12:00 PM on 02/01/2012

WHat is the point of an interview if one cannot ask questions?

[Laura Vonnostren]

12:54 PM on 02/01/2012

Just one question: How many mistresses? Answer: "999."