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Gov. Sanford Admits Affair and Explains Disappearance
NYT ^ | 6/24/09

Posted on 06/24/2009 12:13:57 PM PDT by FromLori

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina, apologized in a rambling news conference on Wednesday for having an extra-marital affair with a woman in Argentina, ending a mystery over his week-long disappearance that had infuriated lawmakers and seemed to put his rising political career in jeopardy.

Governor Sanford admitted he had been in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since Thursday, not hiking on the Appalachian Trail as he told his staff. In revealing an affair that had gone on for about a year — and which he had disclosed to his wife, Jenny, five months ago, he said: “This was selfishness on my part.”

Mr. Sanford announced on Wednesday that he was resigning his position as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

In an interview with The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., on Wednesday morning, Mr. Sanford said he had taken an unplanned trip to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over accepting a portion of the federal stimulus funding.

He had considered hiking the trail, he said. “But I said ‘no’ I wanted to do something exotic,” Mr. Sanford told The State. “It’s a great city.”

Only at the news conference did he reveal why he traveled there.

The whispers about the missing governor started as early as Friday, when one lawmaker and outspoken rival of Mr. Sanford was quietly outraged that the governor had left the state without a plan for a transfer of power in the event of an emergency.

State Senator John M. Knotts, Jr., a Republican, said in a telephone interview that he got a tip from a caller — whom he would not identify —

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: gopimplosion; marksanford; sanford
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To: FromLori

Well so much for my favorite politician in a decade. Maybe I’ll have to take another look at Palin...


101 posted on 06/24/2009 1:14:44 PM PDT by Arguendo
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To: robert561

I have serious doubts that RR cheated on Nancy. The press hated him and they would have dug it up.


102 posted on 06/24/2009 1:15:48 PM PDT by Valpal1 (Always be prepared to make that difference.)
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To: Maine Mariner
I find it difficult to believe that story. Reagan? Ike? T. Roosevelt? I have my doubts. I certainly find it hard to believe it about Gerald Ford as well.

Me, too. Andrew Jackson ? John Adams ? Millard Filmopre ? Benjamin Harrison ? I think he was only president for 90 days, and spent most of them sick, then died.

That statement is sort of like the ones that state all those presidents were really gay...

103 posted on 06/24/2009 1:19:38 PM PDT by Red Boots
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To: bestintxas

Well, hey - he didn’t do anything that the impeached liar Clinton did. Remember how libs twisted themselves into pretzels to excuse Clinton? I sure do.


104 posted on 06/24/2009 1:23:15 PM PDT by Noumenon (As long as I have a rifle, I STILL have a vote...)
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To: FromLori

“Give estrogen a chance!”

Too funny. I say we give it a shot!


105 posted on 06/24/2009 1:31:52 PM PDT by chickpundit (Palin '12)
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To: Noumenon

“Well, hey - he didn’t do anything that the impeached liar Clinton did. Remember how libs twisted themselves into pretzels to excuse Clinton? I sure do.”

Watch the way he handles himself as compared to Clinton, though.

First, Sanford admits to it, while Clinton lied about it- to a federal judge while under oath.

Second, Sanford admits his own weakness and tries his best to at least act like he humiliated his family. Clinton just says “everyone does it” (which certainly infuriated all of us who have never even thought of being unfaithful and just tries to bring everyone down to his level).

No, there is no comparison to be had.


106 posted on 06/24/2009 1:35:53 PM PDT by bestintxas
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To: FromLori
He needs to resign. With Republicans like him, conservatives don't need enemies. So much for Sanford's pretense of being a devoted family man. The guy is a nutty sleazebag! The GOP Eliot Spitzer!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

107 posted on 06/24/2009 1:40:29 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: bestintxas

I was looking moer to the hypocritical excuse-making on the part of libs. Even NOW couldn’t bring themselves to to criticize a serial rapist. Disgusting.


108 posted on 06/24/2009 1:44:37 PM PDT by Noumenon (As long as I have a rifle, I STILL have a vote...)
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To: FromLori

“The heart wants what the heart wants.”


109 posted on 06/24/2009 1:44:51 PM PDT by Oratam
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To: Non-Sequitur

The woman lived in Argentina, and as far as I can tell from reading the story, he hadn’t seen her in quite a while, and the trip this week was to break off the affair with her.

There is no indication yet that he saw her, between the time he told his wife, and now.

I’m not saying he didn’t go down to continue the affair, just that at this moment we don’t know that to be the case.


110 posted on 06/24/2009 1:45:20 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: wtc911

“But he won’t be president.”

The dem-fascists & 0bama are ticking them off as possible. Aren’t they.


111 posted on 06/24/2009 1:45:30 PM PDT by combat_boots (“No heresy, no wickedness, not even the devil himself, can succeed without first counterfeiting goo)
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To: Maine Mariner

Nor do I believe that either Bush had an affair while in office.


112 posted on 06/24/2009 1:46:49 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: robert561

I doubt that Carter cheated on his wife either, except in his heart.


113 posted on 06/24/2009 1:47:34 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Mariko

I understand and I agree to a point. But - the state run media had the goods on Edwards during the primaries, and decided to sit on the info for the betterment of the RAT party. Any negative press would have reflected badly on the whole party, even though his bid was a long shot. I was pointing out the obvious hypocracy of the media - not necessarily making a false equivalency.


114 posted on 06/24/2009 1:49:03 PM PDT by capydick (''Life's tough.......it's even tougher if you're stupid.'')
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To: FromLori

A Latin woman from South America?....well there you go....that just explains it all!


115 posted on 06/24/2009 1:50:38 PM PDT by rrrod
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To: FromLori

A Latin woman from South America?....well there you go....that just explains it all!


116 posted on 06/24/2009 1:50:50 PM PDT by rrrod
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To: combat_boots

He did this to himself.


117 posted on 06/24/2009 1:51:38 PM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get back down that hill?")
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To: KansasGirl

It looks like you’re right. Fox is saying his wife asked him to leave two weeks earlier. I don’t know what to think.


118 posted on 06/24/2009 2:02:21 PM PDT by ElayneJ
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To: FromLori

So, did he make this trip on company time? If so it’s time to fire the bum.


119 posted on 06/24/2009 2:05:56 PM PDT by The Duke ("Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Democrat Party?")
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To: FromLori

Let’s face it this guy is a little wacko! Not many people—especially a governor would have the guts to leave the country and tell no one. Break up by email if that is what you are going to do.

He sounds a little unbalanced to me. No one in their right mind would think they would get away with something like this in this day and age. Even Jon of Jon and Kate plus eight couldn’t get away with it. He is sitting governor and his judgement should be in question. If I lived in South Carolina I would be embarrased for my state. I expect him to resign.


120 posted on 06/24/2009 2:06:57 PM PDT by Moconservative
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