Is this the end for Mark Sanford?

Townhall.com ^ | June 29, 2009 | Star Parker

[Kaslin]

When I've been asked whom I thought could be the individual to lead the Republican Party out of the wilderness, my answer has always been Mark Sanford. His vision for his party and his country -- traditional values and limited government -- has always been clear, consistent, and, in my view, correct. And he has always pursued that vision, as a congressman and as a governor, with a boldness and courage rare among politicians.

The Cato Institute publishes a bi-annual report card of the nation's governors, ranking them according to fiscal responsibility. In the most recent report, three governors out of fifty received an "A." Sanford was one of the three.

So, like many others, I watched with disappointment his confession about his clandestine adulterous affair.

Now what?

No surprises that most predict the end of Sanford's political career. And, of course, we've got the usual, and gleeful, accusations of hypocrisy that another conservative Republican has been caught with his pants down.

But if there is a crisis in America today -- and I think there is -- is it that leaders fall short of standards, or is it that our answers to human frailty increasingly tend to deny that any standards exist?

The most strident accusations of hypocrisy come not from those saddened that Sanford fell short of the traditional values to which he subscribes. They're from those who want to de-legitimize and marginalize those traditional values. John F. Kennedy gave a famous speech during his 1960 presidential campaign to address the question of his Catholicism. Rather than argue that Catholic values are consistent with American values, he argued that religion and public policy have nothing to do with each other.

Kennedy turned out to be one of the great sleazes to occupy the White House (not unlike his brother Senator Ted who, in his last hurrah, is now trying to socialize American health care).

During the almost half century since Kennedy gave that speech, the moral, social, and legal fabric of our country has steadily unraveled.

In 1960, around 5 percent of our babies were born to unwed mothers. Today it is 40 percent.

The pillars upon which our free country stands -- sanctity of life, liberty, and property -- have been eroded to the point where they are barely recognizable.

Since the Roe v Wade decision in 1973, 50 million unborn children have been destroyed. The United States now has among the most liberal abortion regimes in the world. In some of our states, a 12-year-old girl can get an abortion without informing her parents, be assisted by her school administrators, and have it paid for with taxpayer funds.

We move step by definitive step to legalizing same sex marriage. By so doing, we will render our most sacred social institution, marriage, meaningless in the official eyes of government and as a nation will formalize the acceptability of behavior our Bible clearly calls sinful and abominable.

We will soon have a generation of Americans the majority of whom will not have grown up in a traditional family.

Government now claims over 40 percent of our national output, leaving Americans with personal control over barely half the product of their own labor.

And politicians, as we have seen over the last year, can at will take over our privately owned companies, dictate how they're run and what executives earn, and commit private taxpayers to trillions in spending and debt.

In a world in which there is sin, in which there is right and wrong, there is also repentance and redemption.

Mark Sanford's world is that world. Let's pray that he can fix what is wrong inside of himself and that maybe we can still have a leader with the courage and vision that America needs.

[Ann Archy]

yes.

[sauropod]

Who cares?

[flowerplough]

Is this the end for Mark Sanford?

If it ain’t, it should be.

[Theodore R.]

The problem is that even if Sanford could “fix” his inner demons, the American people could never trust him but would instead laugh at him.

[McGruff]

Certainly the end of any presidential aspirations he might have had. Like Gingrich I hope that piece of tail was worth ruining your political career.

[pointsal]

Sanford is another anchor on the good ship lollipop aka the cruise liner, GOP.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

It should be.

(Although he always has the option of becoming a Democrat.)

[9YearLurker]

If he proves sharper than I think he is, he could follow in Newt’s politically neutered footsteps. Instead I think he’s likely to tread eccentric former MA guv Bill Weld’s path to political oblivion.

[ClearCase_guy]

As a person, he can certainly be forgiven.

As a politician, he is now a laughingstock who can be easily destroyed by comedians and media pundits. The Democrats will love this guy because they can kill him off at any point they choose.

He's no longer electable to national office. Everyone seems to know that except a few Republicans.

[kittymyrib]

If his wife and sons can forgive this skunk, that is noble of them. The press will never forgive a Republican adulterer, so he is finished as a politician. All Republican office holders should know this by now, so Ensign and Sanford were really stupid and don’t deserve to be trusted by those who voted for them.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

‘zackly.

[Le Chien Rouge]

“I’ve been asked whom I thought could be the individual to lead the Republican Party out of the wilderness, my answer:”

Sanford is done.

Conservative women will lead the GOP out of the wilderness led by the Alaskan Gov. the MSM loathes so much along with others like the GOP Congresswomen in Minnesota. They have more heart then most of the male GOP so-called leaders.

JMO...

[edpc]

The most strident accusations of hypocrisy come not from those saddened that Sanford fell short of the traditional values to which he subscribes. They're from those who want to de-legitimize and marginalize those traditional values.

Exactly. Those that usually sneer at traditional values are all too happy pointing out Sandford's fall. Those that actually believe in them look at Sanford and say, "See all the pain and turmoil his actions caused? That's why we stay true to our values."

[SECURE AMERICA]

Is this the end for Mark Sanford?
Yes as far as politics goes.
Not aperson I want leading my State or my Country.
The trouble with politicians is thy all feel the need to lie.
I am not going to judge the man if his marriage did not work.
Happened to me twice.
No the problem is these politicans seem to think that they can have a marriage have a girlfriend and still run our State or our Country.. And they have noproblemlying and hiding to try and achieve that.

[Dr. Ursus]

Who among has not stolen into the breakroom to sample a
love newton-J.Peterman

[kennedy]

He's no longer electable to national office.

Sad, but true.

The Republicans have an historic opportunity to take back the Congress in 2010. It could easily be 1994 all over again, if only there were any leaders in the Republican party willing an ABLE to step up and lead.

[Nervous Tick]

Stick a fork in him. He's done.

As poster “annelizly” succinctly put it on another thread:

“If you will do that to your spouse, what will you do to your constituents?”

[ClearCase_guy]

The GOP should focus on women seeking office. Good, conservative women could save this country and attract a substantial voting block. Fewer scandals too, I think.

[utahagen]

I agree. Mark Sanford blew himself up at that press conference. He looked like an ass who’d never had sexual thoughts before meeting his paramour. He’s a laughingstock who’s finished as a Presidential aspirant.

[Dante3]

That is an excellent point.

[randita]

The emails didn’t help either. Ick.

[Carley]

Didn’t the msm make a proclamation........

If Hillary forgive him then it’s A-OK with the rest of the country.

[Ozone34]

Like Palin, Sanford was correctly perceived as a major populist threat to the hegemony of the various interest groups backing the regime. People like that are targeted for destruction by whatever means possible. Somehow I doubt that his affair with the Argentine lady was a simple matter of true love. I think he was set up a while back and then at the right time a decision was made to pull the pin on the grenade.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Exactly. Those that usually sneer at traditional values are all too happy pointing out Sandford's fall. Those that actually believe in them look at Sanford and say, "See all the pain and turmoil his actions caused? That's why we stay true to our values."

Sanford along with all those other "social conservatives" conceded the moral high ground the moment they cheated on their wives.  Every damn one of those ammoral Republican caught in some scandal have been RINO's.  The GOP would be well-off to purge itself of the scum that goes around pretending to be social conservatives.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

One would certainly hope.

As a member of the House of Representatives during the heyday of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Mark Sanford was often critical of the president's conduct. "I think it would be much better for the country and for him personally (to resign)," he said. "I come from the business side. If you had a chairman or president in the business world facing these allegations, he'd be gone."

[BigSkyFreeper]

I agree. Mark Sanford blew himself up at that press conference. He looked like an ass who’d never had sexual thoughts before meeting his paramour. He’s a laughingstock who’s finished as a Presidential aspirant.

Good.  He'd never win anyway.

[xzins]

Star Parker is right about Christian redemption but wrong about politics.

His church will be merciful and will readily receive him. So will most Christians around the country.

Politics, however, is not merciful. When you strike out, you go back to the bench. That’s just the way it works.

[Nervous Tick]

>> The GOP should focus on women seeking office. Good, conservative women could save this country and attract a substantial voting block. Fewer scandals too, I think.

What I’d give for a Margaret Thatcher.

Sarah Palin is close. If she can hang tough against the irrational nastiness that she’s bringing out in the political establishment, she can turn their evil and bitterness into their destruction and emerge a powerful winner. The truth is, the political establishment — liberal AND rino — is scared to death of Sarah Palin and what she represents. That’s the reason they’re foaming at the mouth.

My gut feelilng is that Sarah Palin has the courage and tenacity to pull it off, with God’s help.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I think he was set up a while back and then at the right time a decision was made to pull the pin on the grenade.

I gather you haven't seen the e-mails.  He wasn't set up, he'd been seeing her for 8 years.

[sockmonkey]

Yes, Besides that I thought he looked like a weasel, turns out he actually is a weasel. I’m sure his wife would poll higher right now than he would.
Buy-Bye, Gov Sanford.

[NavyCanDo]

And lets not forget the eight Republican congressmen who cheated on All of Us.

[PGalt]

In a republic of limited government, the governor, two-thirds of the state legislature and the heads of every regulatory agency should be able to go "hiking the Appalachian Trail" for a lot longer than five days, and nobody would notice. - Mark Steyn

Take a hike Sanford.

[Theodore R.]

I think Sarah would be hard pressed to win four or five states, and I don’t think the bulk of American women would support her.

[stevio]

They also have bigger pairs than most men in the GOP. Figuratively speaking of course.

[Theodore R.]

Yea, the way things are going, we will have to call Bob and Elizabeth Dole out of retirement to put us back on the path to further oblivion.

[jla]

~heavy sigh~

Once again Republicans are focusing on the negative rather than accentuating the positive.
Sanford is irrelevant, what is not is the fact that we are all witnesses to actual, authentic history in the making - the evolution of our first female President and a return to Reagan-conservatism to regain our great country and to roll back or cancel the insidious actions already taken and planned to be taken by Obama and his White House reprobates.

The choice is yours, Republicans - heed the tale of a woebegone, unfaithful husband and father, who rather than do the job he was elected for spent five days crying in Argentina

or

Follow a truly American success story being played out right now before all of our eyes. The story of a lady who personifies the spirit of America and as she herself states, in citing her hero Ronald Reagan, 'to get this country back on the path which leads up, to the shining city on a hill'.

Positively Conservative
Positively American

[jla]

No offense to Star Parker who I think is wonderful and intelligent.

[ansel12]

Instead I think he’s likely to tread eccentric former MA guv Bill Weld’s path to political oblivion.

But probably more important is that at the time of Romney's 1994 Senate run, the state's governor was Bill Weld, a moderate Republican who garnered huge popularity. Weld favored fiscal conservatism and was supportive of abortion rights and gay rights. Later, his appointment of gay and lesbian officials to his administration and his support for a state commission on gay and lesbian youth made him a hero among gay rights activists, who hailed him as the most supportive governor in the country at that time.

MITT ROMNEY: "I think Bill Weld comes as close as anyone," he said when asked whom in his party he aligned with. "I think Bill Weld's fiscal conservatism, his focus on creating jobs and employment and his efforts to fight discrimination and assure civil rights for all is a model that I identify with and aspire to."

[ansel12]

I should have put that first paragraph in quotes also, I was quoting not writing.

[jveritas]

There are some men who will never vote for a woman President. The question is “will there be so many women who will vote for a woman President so their numbers will easily overcome the deficit that will be created by men not wanting to vote for a woman?” If the answer is YES then you are right, if the answer is NO then you are wrong.

[9YearLurker]

If Mitt had been 1/4 the governor Bill Weld was, MA would have been much better off.

But Weld started a string of early gubernatorial resignations, was going to Mexico if the Senate would have confirmed him, and ended up leaving the mother of his six young children for who became his second wife, I believe, after he moved to NY.

[jveritas]

To answer the question, then the answer is YES. However this whole Sanford thing is totally irrelevant because no one knows who would be the real contenders for the 2012 Presidential elections, it is way to early to tell because no one has announced yet and they should announce that early. If Sanford wanted to be a contender than the obvious answer is that he cannot anymore.

[ClearCase_guy]

In my experience, the men who are lost likely to refuse to vote for a woman are men who tend to vote Democrat.

As evidence, I submit the fact that Hillary Clinton was rejected by the Democrats, and Sarah Palin was the only thing that roused Republicans from a McCain-induced torpor.

I don't think a female Conservative would find a lot of resistance from the rank-and-file. Now, the pundits like Peggy Noonan or Kathleen Parker -- there's where a woman would have big trouble.

[lainie]

Is she really asking, or is this rhetorical?

(the answer is yes. dead as a dodo.)

[ElPatriota]

..MITT ROMNEY: "I think Bill Weld comes as close as anyone," he said when asked whom in his party he aligned with. "I think Bill Weld's fiscal conservatism, his focus on creating jobs and employment and his efforts to fight discrimination and assure civil rights for all is a model that I identify with and aspire to...."

OK, HERE IT IS... IN 2009... BE WARNED. MITT ROMNEY IS ***NOT*** an acceptable candidate for SOCIAL-CONSERVATES.

If you want to start insulting us, fine, but dont' say we did not warn you. If we WERE SMART, we would choose a candidate that satifies EVERYONE.. EVERYONE. Or at least a candidate that would not be rejected by a large faction of group.

[Theophilus]

Let's pray that he can fix what is wrong inside of himself and that maybe we can still have a leader with the courage and vision that America needs.

Only God can fix wrong inside of Sanford or any of the rest of us for that matter. He should resign immediately. He has no command of himself, how can he ever be trusted to lead others? There are many other liberty minded people who could take his place.

[jveritas]

How about independent men? I do not care about democrat men or women because they are not going to vote for a Republican. Will there be enough independent men and women would vote for Palin or any other woman for President? There is no doubt that the vast majority of conservatives want Sarah Palin to the Republican nominee in 2012. She energizes conservatives and they are attached to her not only on principles and dogma but they have an emotional attachment to her as well. The problem is that the media has done a lot of damage to Sarah Palin in the eyes of no conservatives. Will Sarah Palin overcome this damage if she decides to run in 2012?

[yldstrk]

He is a liar who cares more about his emo than about his citizens........it’s over

[ansel12]

The question is “will there be so many women who will vote for a woman President so their numbers will easily overcome the deficit that will be created by men not wanting to vote for a woman?”

My impression is that men give more support to Governor Palin than women that was the case when CNN reported on it in September of 2008.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- When it comes to support for Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, a new national poll suggests men and women don't see eye to eye.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey out Tuesday indicates that 62 percent of men questioned have a favorable opinion of the Alaska governor, nine points higher than women.

In the poll, conducted Friday through Sunday, entirely after the end of the Republican convention, 23 percent of men have an unfavorable view of Sen. John McCain's running mate, seven points lower than women.