Herman Cain's campaign paid his company to buy his books

AP Photo/Joe Burbank

Herman Cain's case against pundits who claim he's running a book tour rather than a presidential campaign just got a bit more complicated.

Federal Election Commission records show that the former Godfather's Pizza executive paid more than $64,000 of his presidential campaign funds to his motivational speaking company, T.H.E. New Voice Inc., for copies of his own books, and for lodging, airfare, and resources, Bloomberg News reports. Cain's third-quarter filing reported his campaign as having spent $4 million through Sept. 30.

Previous rulings by the FEC have allowed candidates to use their campaign funds to buy their own books, as long as the purchase is at market value and the money goes to charity rather than to personal profit. But Bill Allison, editorial director at the Washington, D.C.-based Sunlight Foundation, told Bloomberg that Cain's case should raise some eyebrows.

"All candidates publish books and they offer them as a premiums to donors, but most candidates aren't buying them from their own companies," Allison said. "It raises the question of his campaign contributions ending up in his own pocket."

Cain says the books are being given away to supporters to acquaint voters with his life story. One of the books in question, Cain's autobiography "This is Herman Cain! My Journey to the White House," was in fourth place on the New York Times bestseller list over the weekend. Other publications bought by the campaign are his earlier book, "They Think You're Stupid: Why Democrats Lost Your Vote and What Republicans Must Do to Keep It" and a pamphlet about leadership.

Complete coverage: Campaign 2012

[hsinco-2009]

Maybe Cain and Sarah can make a deal.

"I'll buy all of your books if you buy all of mine!"

[fxp111]

The price of the books he bought from his company should be what they paid for them from the Publisher. This makes his campaign pay the market price that he would have paid to the Publisher.

[Roarsaysthemouse]

CBS is nothing but a propaganda machine for Obama. I can't believe how difficult and time consuming it was to sign up on this site comment on your lame articles bashing Cain. His book is being sold every where. What are you all afraid of? The truth? I now believe most of the opinions on this website are being expressed internally from CBS. Obamanation has @87 MILLION DOLLARS ! Let's have a few articles on where the heck he is getting THAT money from! Obviously he is trying to buy his way back into the White House.
Herman Cain's 999 plan will hurt the rich, get it straight. Do you really think the rich want to give up their tax write offs and evasive moves to avoid taxes? Like moving investments and companies overseas to avoid paying their taxes. Also, when the wealthy shop (which is always) they avoid paying state sales tax by shipping their purchase to one of their many homes they have in other states in which they write off the interest from theirs loans. You are all being VERY clueless on how the rich work their money. Under Cain's plan they have NO WHERE TO HIDE. They will HAVE TO PAY taxes! The poor and middle class will get a break on their now outrageous payroll tax that your PRESENT government spends recklessly. That's why this country is in such economic trouble and we are in HUGE debt that OBAMA brainless man wants to make worse with his "jobs plan". VOTE FOR CAIN 2012! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT! Finally a true leader wants to lead the American people. GO CAIN!

[hhandyman]

Cain is just dodging the 9% sales tax he is trying to apply to everything and seeking all the profit he can max out from running as a business first pay himself then see if he can do something Maybe if he feels like it after his profits are big enough like a male tan Sarah paYlin self promotional tour with a touch more common sense but just as much Brass in his acts .

[JagerHitsULater]

Ok, I stopped reading your comment after.. Herman Cain's 999 plan will hurt the rich.. Sorry honey, do some research. Herman Cain also thinks the price of new goods will drop 22% under his new tax scheme.. What a Joke... Do your research before posting. THE RICH WILL HAVE PLENTY OF PLACES TO HIDE THEIR MONEY AS WELL...

[carolo43]

I love how Cain stated if people were poor, it was their own fault. I bet all those workers in his pizza stores liked that comment while they collect their mininium wage paychecks. He probably gave them all one of his books and deducted it from their paycheck.

[maz_beachbum]

Yes we Cain!!!

[commonworkingman]

Cain is not completely worthless. He can always serve as a bad example.

[ronaldh7]

This is what cracks me up. Half of the GOP presidential candidates know full well that they will never get the nomination. They are following Huckabee and Gingrich's leads: run to make yourself more prominent, and then sell your books and other junk to the fools who like you. Course there is no shortage of fools in the GOP.

[daffy64]

Cain's autobiography "This is Herman Cain! My Journey to the White House,"

Lol. Kind of like Sarah Palin calling her movie "The Undefeated".

Harrrrr deee harrrrrr harrrrrrrrrrr.

[Lindag10]

Strange how the more spotlight he gets, the worse he looks. He's just another coporate shill who made his fortune off the backs of his poorly paid employees at Godfather's.

[ronaldh7]

Yea, and selling really lousy pizza. Yuck.

[Lindag10]

Yep Chevy, he seems to be pretty adept at shooting his mouth off, retracting and then "unretracting" his statements (like the border fence thingy at first serious, then a "joke", and now serious).

[Birdman04]

All politicians regardless of what side of the pasture they graze on are sneaky varmints. Just more of the same "Me, Me", Me!!!

[retm-w]

chevy

He's a politician now, he became one as soon as he threw his hat in the ring.