Cain's smoking chief of staff appears to be a real piece of work

[NNN0LHI]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/190439-cain-chief-of-staff-has-troubled-past-including-campaign-suspension-and-dui-arrests

Report uncovers DUI arrests, campaign suspension on Cain chief of staff
By Justin Sink - 10/28/11 11:14 AM ET

According to a report by The Associated Press, Herman Cain's chief of staff Mark Block — the man America came to know from his appearance smoking a cigarette in the presidential candidate's viral Web ad — has a troubled past that includes arrests for drunken driving and a suspension from campaigning in Wisconsin after accusations of breaking election rules.

In 1997, Block was accused of coordinating campaign activities between a state supreme court justice's reelection campaign and a special-interest group that promoted school vouchers, in violation of campaign laws. Four years later, Block agreed to a settlement that included a $15,000 fine and a 3-year suspension from running campaigns in the state, but did not require him to admit guilt.

Block told the AP that during that time he was forced to take a job at Target and that his life entered a tailspin. He was arrested twice for drinking and driving, and had his home foreclosed on. He also was issued a tax warrant by the IRS and was sued separately for an unpaid bill. snip

In 2007, Block was investigated for potentially misleading robo-calls against a referendum to raise money for school construction, although a prosecutor eventually decided that the case was not strong enough to pursue a trial. In 2010, a liberal group in Wisconsin accused Block of trying to suppress minority and college voters, although officials declined to investigate.

[Glimmer of Hope]

1. That is some juicy info.

[Jnana]

2. I do not understand the fascination with political smoking...

A smoking gun is one thing, but a smoking politician might not be such a bad thing when one considers that smokers die earlier than the rest of us.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. He sounds like a perfect fit.

He must have been hand-picked.

[occupyeverywhere]

4. Cain is a useful idiot until he isn't

[EC]

5. He looked like he was someone Cain

met in a bar one day.

[indepat]

6. Now David Letterman can really have a field day

:no matter how checkered Block's past, it can never match the phony-bologna being peddled by Cain such as the 999 tax plan and other pure de cockamamie malarkey. :patriot:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. He reminds me of cancerman from the X-Files

And the entire Cain campaign could be an X-Files episode. They should redo the commercial with the bizarre X-Files theme music in the background, Especially effective when Cain breaks into the demonic smile at the end. "THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE - CAUSE IT DAMN SURE AIN'T HERE"

[Canuckistanian]

8. He sounds like a low-budget Karl Rove

But I'm sure he'll rise in the ranks very quickly.

[ThoughtCriminal]

9. Herman being Herman -nm

[provis99]

10. Block suppressed black voters?

I wonder if that means he's trying to prevent ways for Hermann Cain to vote, too.