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Andy Ostroy

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The Cain Mutiny

Posted: 11/29/11 11:05 AM ET

There's only one thing that can actually make Newt Gingrich's history of marital infidelity seem trite, and its name is Herman Cain. The man who gave us bad pizza and an even cheesier tax overhaul plan is once again at the center of a new sex scandal, accused of having a 13-year extramarital affair with Ginger White, a single mother from Atlanta whom he met while running the National Restaurant Association (clearly, his tenure as head of this trade organization in the 1990's has not served him well, sexual-scandal-wise). Seems like women all over America are jumping off the Good Ship 999.

White said she came forward because of the way Cain's been disparaging the various women who've accused him recently of sexual harassment.

"It bothered me that they were being demonized, sort of, they were treated as if they were automatically lying, and the burden of proof was on them. I felt bad for them."

Cain has strongly denied the accusation, but in a very curious manner. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Monday, he confidently stated that he did not have a "13-year" affair as if inside he was giggling to himself saying "That's because it was a TWELVE AND A HALF YEAR affair!" Technically, he would not be lying, although that's a pretty pathetic defense. What's more, he issued his denial with the same sort of "I did not have sex with that woman!" arrogance of the 90's scandal-plagued Bill Clinton. And we know how that story ended.

It's hard to imagine Cain's campaign surviving this, especially on the heels of the harassment scandal. He's done. And it's a great day for Gingrich, who, by comparison, is starting to seem like an altar boy (not exactly hard to do in the Republican Party, where political, ethics and sexual scandals run rampant).

The GOP presidential pack is motley crew of misfits and miscreants. By default, Gingrich has found himself atop this garbage pile as he's watched the campaigns of Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and now Cain implode. His chief rival at the moment, Mitt Romney, is stuck at around 20% and is not liked by voters or GOP leadership. His reign at or near the top is misleading. It's not because voters want him there, it's because they've had no one else. That they've now jumped aboard the skeleton-filled NewtWagon is proof positive.

Newt may have cost himself much support among hardcore conservatives with his controversial amnesty-like position on immigration offered at the last GOP debate. Additionally, we've yet to see how his many past, well-documented political and personal indiscretions and transgressions will truly impact his campaign. They nearly sunk him once before. Gingrich is his own worst enemy. To be sure, his mouth, if not his past, will put him in the hot seat once again.

The question then is, who's next to lead this sorry pack? Is Jon Huntsman, the only Republican with the integrity, character and experience to be president, going to have his turn at the top? Will Romney win by default after Newt's next fall? One thing's for sure, the GOP campaign train wreck will surely provide more entertainment over the next several months.

 

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02:02 PM on 12/01/2011
Every thing that any one in the GOP says or does gives me one more reason for voting a straight Democratic ticket. It also gives me reasons to scrape a few nickels and dimes and donate them to various Democratic organizations.

The GOP is totally incapable of governing this country. If we want to save this country, indeed, if we want so save the planet, let's fire the GOP.
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diogenes tub
Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company
12:44 PM on 11/30/2011
Gingirch stands atop a garbage pile, scheming to rule a wasteland.
08:31 AM on 11/30/2011
All Cain needs to do to revive his standing and his name in the Republican party is say he harrassed all those women and had a 13yr. extramarital affair all in the name of love for God and country. The Republicans will be sure to worship him again!

The Republican have their own book written for them and by them of code words to say that enhances personal prosperity and financial growth in their own glass houses.
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MichaelMcKLA
I'm moving to Pandora.
01:08 AM on 11/30/2011
"By default," Gingrich is ahead. So true.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Cindy Pardy
10:09 PM on 11/29/2011
I do like reading the diversity of comments/reactions from all sides but what I find confusing is the perception that a Mormon with experience as an Ambassador to China doesn't have a chance because of his religion and he clearly has more experience than the rest of them. Watching the GOP debates and recent disclosures has me very concerned about the future of this country. I want to hear ideas and not sound bites that appeal to polling numbers
10:42 PM on 11/29/2011
You will have to dig them up yourself, because the corporate media isn't going to spoon feed you anything they don't want you to swallow.
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Cindy Pardy
11:16 PM on 11/29/2011
umm seriously I have done my RESEACH and the GOP is a disdrace
ydrittmann
Vitter patronizes women.
08:43 PM on 11/30/2011
Huntsman is tainted by working with Obama and Obama knew that would happen when he picked him.
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RichieB
Science is true whether you believe it or not
08:49 PM on 11/29/2011
Newt is not rising, it's just that the rest of the pack is falling to his level. Speaking of Herman, there is a lot of baloney on that godfather pizza. And no, it doesn't appear that Huntsman will get his chance at the top of the gop. He is not radical enough for the teabaggers that are driving the boat.
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theexperimentisfinished
08:39 PM on 11/29/2011
"There's only one thing that can actually make Newt Gingrich's history of marital infidelity seem trite, and its name is..."

what happened to its only sex, this doesnt matter! I remember that being screamed from the rooftops as Clinton was having an affair while in the White House!
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Andy Ostroy
11:03 PM on 11/29/2011
I believe that might've been Bill Clinton screaming that. No one else was...
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ClintBMD
Now where did I leave that Micro-bio again?
06:00 AM on 11/30/2011
Clinton never made sexual fidelity a campaign point. He knew his flaws and tried not to be public with them. These sanctimonious holier-than-thou's, on the other hand, make it their centerpiece.

A candidate should be judged on his/her entirety, to be sure. But additional weight should be added on the issues he/she claims are important. So when a candidate roars about the fall of society over gay rights and it turns out he's frequenting airport restrooms, then his personal orientation becomes an issue not because of what it is, but because of the hypocrisy.

This is a very easy concept to grasp. I'm sure you can do it if you try. Even if it makes your world uncomfortable.
06:40 PM on 11/29/2011
Despite Jon Huntsman being the sanest of the Republican choices, he can get no traction with his party. He is Mormon, or else Romney would be doing better. His daughters made fun of the Cain commercial. He linked to a Captain Beefheart video on his website that no Republican would ever understand or like.

His only hope is to run third party like Gary Johnson is considering. Maybe they could join forces?
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firewired
Compared to what?
05:26 PM on 11/29/2011
Good luck finding anything wrong with Dr. Paul's past! Though he got ignored again, he's STILL the ONLY ONE with an clean record for his whole life!
06:42 PM on 11/29/2011
I guess those racist screeds don't count? Robert Byrd never got past his.
ydrittmann
Vitter patronizes women.
08:54 PM on 11/30/2011
X 2.
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07:15 PM on 11/29/2011
The only thing wrong about Ron Paul are the ideas he espouses.
JRsNana
The most important things in life aren't things.
05:15 PM on 11/29/2011
You've been saving this post title for this very moment haven't you Andy? Good job.
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Andy Ostroy
08:35 PM on 11/29/2011
indeed I have! Thanks...
04:29 PM on 11/29/2011
Glad to see that the Republican party is thru with Cain, evidently he has serious issues with his morality. Newt will implode next, his rise in the polls will bring additional scrutiny and we will be reminded of his moral issues. Fortunately, the Republican party has no patience for actors such as these.
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RUKidding0
Freedom is Fundamental
04:37 PM on 11/29/2011
It is an issue of lesser evils ... and Obama is most decidedly the greater evil.
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ursulasaulie
dignity to all people
08:02 AM on 12/01/2011
You must be kidding......
04:40 PM on 11/29/2011
Cain never had a chance anyway. Can you hear this: "The Great State of Mississippi casts it's ballot for Herman Cain."

Yeah. Right. When non-bipedal pigs fly.
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RUKidding0
Freedom is Fundamental
04:22 PM on 11/29/2011
There's only one thing that has actually made Newt Gingrich's history of marital infidelity literally irrelevant, and its name is Bill Clinton.
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Crandall Rivers
This chess, not checkers.
04:52 PM on 11/29/2011
Sorry, but you're in a fantasy world. The fact that Gingrich went so hard after Clinton, with his on irons in the fire, so to speak, will only be brought to the forefront. Also, Gingrinch CAN NOT paint himself as an anti-establishment candidate, because he has logged more time on/in the beltway than any other candidate on the GOP stage. BTW, if Obama is the "greater" evil, then how do explain the financial plight this nation is in, under GWB's economic policy. I know you want to label Obama as the worst President, but history is surely against that thinking. But keep trying...
06:43 PM on 11/29/2011
Maybe this is why Clinton was making nice with Newty the other day?
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RUKidding0
Freedom is Fundamental
07:19 PM on 11/29/2011
There is no need to try to paint Obama as the 21st century Carter, because his U6 unemployment rate hpvering between 15% - 20%, combined with our dsetroyed real estate market, on top of the overall disastrous economy he has wrought says everything that ever need be said ... until Nov 2012, when the voters will decide lesser and greater evils.
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Andy Ostroy
04:58 PM on 11/29/2011
sorry pal, you got it all wrong. Given that Newt publicly and politically crucified Clinton back in the 90's WHILE he was committing the same acts of infidelity makes it all VERY relevant!
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RUKidding0
Freedom is Fundamental
07:11 PM on 11/29/2011
You will search in vain from distinguishing one piece of political refuse from the other. They are both covered in the slime from the bottom of the cesspool of politics.
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theexperimentisfinished
08:41 PM on 11/29/2011
the fact that it was almost 20 years ago and he has apologized for his actions makes it irrelevant
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Adam of CA
Independent Information Hunter
04:11 PM on 11/29/2011
Don't be too surprised that this Cain will also demand a court hearing as in Cain Mutiney. But reading the love letters during 13 years will alone take the trial beyond the 2012 Election period.

Sorry CEO Cain, your national fame ends in Nov. 2011, instead of Nov. 2012.
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DougDeWitt
progressive social-capitalist
03:35 PM on 11/29/2011
Well-written, and entertaining! Great piece...
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Andy Ostroy
04:58 PM on 11/29/2011
thanks Doug!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Json
Cynical dreamer, sarcastic idealist...
03:13 PM on 11/29/2011
I'd be curious to see how much the vote predictions differ from the actual results. I get the feeling that it will be a nightmare for the odds-makers on this one. It's clear that many of the republican voters aren't happy with any of these guys and it is unlikely that anyone new will enter. So the voter may end up picking who ever strikes their fancy at the exact moment they are casting their ballot.