Cain responds to latest allegation

It's another week, and another individual has come to the media with claims of inappropriate behavior by presidential candidate Herman Cain. His response is posted below.

Dear Patriots and Supporters,

As you probably heard yesterday, a troubled Atlanta business woman used national media outlets to promulgate a fabricated, unsubstantiated story about a 13 year affair with me.  I am writing you today to assure you that this woman’s story is completely false.

I do know Ms. White.  I have helped her financially at times over the past few years, just as I have helped many friends and acquaintances throughout the years. I thought Ms. White was a friend in need of a supportive hand to better her life.

Ms. White has made it apparent that she was abusing the friendship.

But now I am asking for your friendship.  I am also asking for your prayers and support. This is a trying time for my family, my campaign, and for me.  It is also a trying time for our country as we are all distracted from the truly important issues facing our nation.

This evening I have an important speaking engagement at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, where I will be outlining my foreign policy and national security plan.  While recent events have taken a toll on me, the people in the audience this evening will not know it.  I will deliver my message with vigor and enthusiasm.

Let me assure you, I am not deterred.  America’s future is too important. We will continue on this journey to make America great once again.

Thank you and God bless.

Sincerely,

Herman Cain

Cain is scheduled to appear at a "Victory 2012" rally in Oklahoma City on December 5th, to raise money for the Oklahoma Republican Party. More information on that event is here. Results from the ongoing Oklahoma Presidential Straw Poll will be announced at the event that evening.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I will be out of town for Thanksgiving, and so will be absent from the blogging scene for at least a week. In the meantime, I encourage you to check out the many good blogs I have listed on the sidebar (under 'Top Blog List' and 'Blogroll').

OKGOP to hold presidential straw poll

OKGOP Announces Presidential Straw Poll

Pinnell: "Time the 'reddest state in America' had a straw poll of its own"

(Oklahoma City) - The Oklahoma Republican Party today announced the launch of the inaugural Oklahoma Presidential Straw Poll. The poll will be an online straw poll conducted with the assistance of eVoter, a nonpartisan election information website.

"Many states hold presidential straw polls every four years creating national publicity and financial support for their respective state," said OKGOP Chairman Matt Pinnell. "We thought it was time the 'reddest state in America' had a straw poll of its own. Nothing could be a more accurate barometer of Republican primary voters than to poll those in the most conservative state in the country."

Oklahoma received notoriety as the 'reddest state in America' after all 77 Oklahoma counties went red in 2008, garnering the highest percentage of the vote in the country for the McCain/Palin ticket.

From November 21st - December 5th, voters will be able to cast a vote for their preferred presidential candidate for a $5 contribution to the Oklahoma Republican Party. "In other states, straw poll voters can end up spending hundreds of dollars in travel costs and ballot fees in order to vote," said Pinnell. "We wanted to provide a way for voters to show their support for their candidate from the comfort of their own living room."

Beginning on November 21st, voters will be able to cast their vote at www.oklahomastrawpoll.com. Voting will close at 5:00 pm on December 5th. Results will be announced December 5th at a "Victory 2012" Rally featuring special guest Herman Cain. The Rally will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Marriott at 3233 Northwest Expressway and will be open to the press.

For complete rules and information visit www.oklahomastrawpoll.com/faq. For press inquires and interviews please contact Chairman Matt Pinnell at 405-528-3501.

Supreme Court to hear ObamaCare in 2012

The United States Supreme Court has announced that they will rule on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (AKA ObamaCare) next spring, finally bringing the many lawsuits against the president's healthcare legislation to the pinnacle of America's judicial system.

Oral arguments will take place in March, and last for five and a half hours - an unusually long amount of time for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Settle in for a contentious debate, and close vote...

GOP Presidential Candidates' Mount Rushmore Additions

ABC News and Yahoo recently teamed up to conduct a round of interviews with the Republican presidential candidates, which included a "lightning round" covering more personal, non-political questions; you can view the synopsis here. It's an interesting and entertaining read.

One of the questions asked was about additions to Mount Rushmore.

From ABC News/Yahoo:

Question: Who should be the fifth president on Mount Rushmore?

• Jon Huntsman: Ronald Reagan, but I worked for him 100 years ago, and I saw him up close as an advance man. Very special man.
• Michele Bachmann: Well, Ronald Reagan would be a good choice.  But — I– I think just — Garfield was the last member who was — the House of Representatives, who became president of the United States — and he — and he was a very — he was a wonderful man.  But also, I’d have to say, Calvin Coolidge should be up there, too. Calvin Coolidge, because Calvin Coolidge — was able to get the United States’ budget way on track.  And he really was a taking-care-of-business kinda guy.
• Rick Perry: I think there’s enough presidents on Mount Rushmore already.
• Mitt Romney: I got a couple.  John Adams and Ronald Reagan.
• Herman Cain: The fifth president that belongs on Mt. Rushmore, he hasn't been president yet.  No, the one possibility up until this point would be Ronald Reagan.
• Newt Gingrich: I’ll go for five and six:  F.D.R. and Reagan.

Who would you pick for an addition to Mount Rushmore? Would you even choose anyone? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Note: Ron Paul and Rick Santorum were also interviewed, but did not have time to get the Mount Rushmore question in their roughly two-minute lightning round.

M5.6 earthquake shakes Oklahoma; largest in state history

Last night at 10:53pm, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Oklahoma, centered in Lincoln County. The quake was felt across the entire region, including neighboring states and as far away as the Great Lakes. The previous state record for an earthquake was a magnitude 5.5 in 1952, centered near El Reno.

The shaking lasted over a minute where I was; I was actually on the phone with someone in Oklahoma City who felt the quake right before it reached me.

Did you feel it?

Hammons won't seek reelection

From the Muskogee Phoenix:

Mayor won't seek new term

Hammons plans to attend law school

Mayor John Tyler Hammons said Thursday that he would step aside next year at the end of his second term to pursue a law degree.

Hammons dispelled speculation that he might run for the House District 14 post held by Rep. George Faught, who is seeking the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District race.

Hammons said he made his decision after he received law school scholarship offers. He hopes to attend the University of Oklahoma or the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

“We’ve done a lot of good things since I’ve been here, and I’m proud of that,” Hammons said. “I’m looking forward to going back to being a private citizen. ... It’s time to seek other opportunities.”

Read more from the Muskogee Phoenix here.