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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: utahagen

Yes, but Edwards was targeted long after he was eliminated from contention. All was kept quite while he was still running for office. Elizabeth knew long long before the rest of us got confirmation. Why would he tell her? So when it broke it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Who else knew and when? Including at The Enquirer.


41 posted on 06/24/2009 12:29:57 PM PDT by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: FromLori
He had considered hiking the trail, he said. “But I said ‘no’ I wanted to do something exotic,” Mr. Sanford told The State.

Man has no talent for the nuances of the English language.

42 posted on 06/24/2009 12:30:46 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the blind obedience of fools - Solon, Lawmaker of Athens)
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To: FreedomFerret

I wouldn’t mind that at all. At this point the GOP is an anchor around her neck, not the other way around. But I would like to thank the GOP politician’s for making it so easy for me to determine who I will support in ‘12 this early in the process. Provided she runs. They certainly aren’t giving me reason to re-consider my support for Palin. She seems to be the only one when accused of scandel, is cleared of it.


43 posted on 06/24/2009 12:30:59 PM PDT by Soul Seeker
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To: FromLori

Stupid jerk. I was hoping he was down there for plastic surgery.


44 posted on 06/24/2009 12:31:34 PM PDT by conservative cat (America, you have been PWNED!)
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To: webheart
“...conservatives expect other conservatives to be completely without fault in order to support them.” Give me a break. In the age of tabloids and the internet and Twitter, is it really asking to much for a sitting governor not sneak off to Argentina for a romantic liasion with his mistress?
45 posted on 06/24/2009 12:31:55 PM PDT by utahagen
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To: FromLori

Woulda been better off hiking nekked.


46 posted on 06/24/2009 12:31:57 PM PDT by MARTIAL MONK
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To: LottieDah

He should resign as Gov. Effective immediately!

I think we need to wake up and realize our political offices are attracting the wrong type of people. A political job should not be filled with perks, celebrity status, great wealth accumulation etc. They should be really crappy jobs than only a successful person would want to have for a brief time in order to return the favor to society. There should be absolutely NO RETIREMENT PLAN for congressman or senators that way they have no incentive to spend there entire adult lives in office.

Politics should never be a “Career”.


47 posted on 06/24/2009 12:32:27 PM PDT by precisionshootist
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To: FromLori
Puts another definition of hiking.
48 posted on 06/24/2009 12:32:35 PM PDT by boomop1
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To: gussiefinknottle

It amazes me how inept and shallow our congressmen are. We have entrusted them with much and they continue to fail miserably. It appears to be a culture of hypocracy; talk the conservative/moral talk but live an immoral life.

Be gone with you!


49 posted on 06/24/2009 12:32:49 PM PDT by rjones42
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To: cripplecreek

He’ll be fine.....

Maybe HE will but what about his family. This really is not about HIM . . . it is about his family, his state that trusted him enough to vote him into office and the republican party. I am certain HE will be just fine and be allowed to continue his animal instincts. I am so disgusted with politicians. Kind of like watching Jon and Kate.


50 posted on 06/24/2009 12:33:28 PM PDT by RepubRep (God Bless America and may He guard our borders until we WAKE UP and do it ourselves!!)
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To: robert561
I once read that every single president except Nixon cheated on his wife while in office.

Well, we can say for sure that Buchanan didn't.

51 posted on 06/24/2009 12:33:50 PM PDT by thesharkboy (<-- Looking for the silver lining in every cloud, since 1998)
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To: robert561
I once read that every single president except Nixon cheated on his wife while in office.

Well, we can say for sure that Buchanan didn't.

52 posted on 06/24/2009 12:33:53 PM PDT by thesharkboy (<-- Looking for the silver lining in every cloud, since 1998)
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To: FromLori

How can someone so stupid get so far in politics? That’s what I want to know.


53 posted on 06/24/2009 12:34:04 PM PDT by Antoninus (Queer is boring.)
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To: KansasGirl

“Didn’t he say in the news conference that his wife and him are separated?”

Is that true? If it is, I’m not as outraged as my first comment would suggest. :) It it’s true, then he just needs to say it’s no one else’s business - and be done with it. Like obama said, “I answered that.” Maybe it would be good for the GOP to have someone who won’t back down. It would certainly be a switch...but if he’s already resigned...It’s so hard being a conservative - the morals and the brain power are really on our side, but the players just won’t play.


54 posted on 06/24/2009 12:34:06 PM PDT by ElayneJ
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To: precisionshootist

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2278567/posts?page=93#93

I called dibs on this new euphamism:
“Hiking the Appalachian Trail”...

(bummer situation though)


55 posted on 06/24/2009 12:34:11 PM PDT by Squidpup ("Fight the Good Fight")
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To: Non-Sequitur

I could be very wrong about this, but I would be very surprised if Bobby Jindal would be caught in a sex scandal. But I wouldn’t put any money on it.


56 posted on 06/24/2009 12:36:15 PM PDT by murron (Proud Marine Mom)
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To: DJ MacWoW

...You were saying?....


57 posted on 06/24/2009 12:36:19 PM PDT by onedoug (SARAH!)
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To: FromLori

Was he wearing a diaper on the plane? (like ex-astronaut Lisa Nowak)


58 posted on 06/24/2009 12:42:36 PM PDT by golas1964 (Zero is NOT my hero!)
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To: robert561

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.


59 posted on 06/24/2009 12:42:47 PM PDT by Maine Mariner
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To: onedoug

This man has destroyed his family and political career and all you can say is “Nah Nah! I was right”. Isn’t being self centered what brought him down?


60 posted on 06/24/2009 12:43:55 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (Make yourselves sheep and the wolves will eat you. Ben Franklin)
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