Gov. Sanford Admits Affair and Explains Disappearance

NYT ^ | 6/24/09

[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 —

[mono]

SC is a very conservative state obviously. It is very possible that he could be impeached or forced to resign.

[jeltz25]

I know you posted that jokingly, but I was reading an article a few days ago from a woman who had voted for Obama and had become somewhat disillusioned. Anyway, the thrust of the article was that men are messing up the country. That they’ve always been in charge, and look where we are now.

Again, it was somewhat tongue in cheek but if things continue along the current path, I suspect she won’t be the only woman who feels that way, probably quite a few men as well.

Obama ran on change but if he doesn’t really do anything, it’ll just be the 44th guy in a row to be President. Yeah, he’ll have been different in being a black guy, but he’d still be a guy.

The real change would become more apparent. And there could be a lot of folks who are ready for it.

As for Sanford, I knew womething was up. You just don’t disappear over Father’s Day weekend from your wife and four kids, epsecially when you’re Governor of a state. And then his car is spotted at an airport a six hour drive away.

It’s not like he’s the only one. In the past few years alone there’s him, Ensign, Edwards, Spitzer, Vitter, McGreevey, Clinton, Gingrich. Guys from both parties, at the highest levels of power. Presidents, VP nominees, Speakers, Governors, Senators.

[fortunate sun]

and somewhere in America a politician smiles as he lifts a dixie cup full of Hawaiian Punch in the air in a mock toast ...

[ansel12]

He’ll be fine. At least he admits it and appears genuinely sorry.

Admitted it? What choice did he have? A governor disappears, with state security, the Lt. governor, and eventually the nation searching for him, he lies to his staff and puts them in media hell trying to convince the world he is hiking on the Appalachian trail, then the media discover the abandoned government vehicle at an airport, after a week of chaos he returns to America and has to confess that he wasn't even in the country and was with a girlfriend in Argentina.

This guy is bizarre and scuzzy, did I say bizarre already, this guy is flaky and slippery as hell, thank God he self destructed now rather than later, too bad he took so much conservative prestige down with him when he finally went.

[Non-Sequitur]

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

I would hope they are now. I haven't heard anything about them being separated for the past five months.

[Non-Sequitur]

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

I would hope they are now. I haven't heard anything about them being separated for the past five months.

[DJ MacWoW]

Ain’t that the truth!

[stuartcr]

Would someone that didn’t have power and cheated on their spouse, have a charcter flaw? How much power is required before it’s not a flaw?

[KansasGirl]

I thought he said that they are separated, “but not formally.” Sounded to me like his wife was well aware that he was still involved with the lady from Argentina, but I could be wrong.

[BallyBill]

A.W.O.L. M.O.R.O.N.

Why not be like a Democrat and just carry on like nothing happened, do your job and people forgive.

[FromLori]

No actually I did not post it jokingly I said the same thing about North Korea threatening us I believe if Palin would have been Vice President they would take heed. I know myself I would Nuke Em! Hence give Estrogen a chance.

[Frank_2001]

“Where do they get the energy?”

Clean living, intense gym workouts, and regular marathon running/s;)

[stop_fascism]

You were told that by an imbecile. Jackson and Jefferson were widowers, Buchanan was a bachelor, so they couldn’t cheat by definition. Cleveland married during his presidency to a real hottie. It is very doubtful that Grant or either Adams was unfaithful. Since Tyler had 16 children, he probably didn’t have time to cheat. Taylor and W.H. Harrison didn’t live long enough to have affairs. Pierce was too drunk. Polk was sickly and adored his wife. Of the rest, only a handful appear to be womanizers. I suggest you read “Young Goodman Brown” before you spread such nonsense.

[Palladin]

Sanford will go down in the annals of "Dumb Horny Politicians" right alongside Wilbur Mills, and his Argentine Frirecracker, Fannie Foxxe:

http://ldesign.wordpress.com/2007/05/

Does anyone remember Wilbur Mills these days? A US Representative from 1939 to 1977, he was the menace of Washington DC females of all colors, shapes and professions. Liking his spirits, he cut quite a lively picture in the DC social life.

On October 7th, 1974, he gained true fame because of a somewhat rocky relationship with Argentine stripper Fannie Foxe (aka The Argentine Firecracker). That very night, being driven through DC, his car was stopped due to no headlights being on. As the cop approached, Fannie jumped out of the car and hopped into a nearby Tidal Basin. Wilbur, drunk as a skunk, remained in the car, fingering the scratches on his face.

Fannie eventually climbed out of the Basin; Wilbur temporarily sobered up enough to enjoy a 60% reelection by the good, not to mention open minded, people of Arkansas. But Fanniegate wasn’t over. Wilbur was soon forced to step down from his seat after staggering onto the stage of a Boston club where Fannie did her act, creating a bit of unfortunate turmoil. Allegedly, he later joined the AA. It’s not known what happened to Fannie except there are indeed some rumors involving the Kennedy’s.

[DJ MacWoW]

Smarmy works too.

[Terry Mross]

Before I condemn the man I must compare pictures of his wife to the Argentinian babe. Only half kiddikng. Looking at Hillary I couldn’t blame Clinton for what he did. I blamed him for where he did it.

[cripplecreek]

SC is a very conservative state obviously. It is very possible that he could be impeached or forced to resign.

I hope they're happy with what they get. The SC GOP chair has already stated that they have two wonderfull senators who would be up to the job. Imagine Governor Lindsey Graham and the scandals he could produce.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Grand Old Party now needs to Get Over Pu$$y.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

RON PAUL 2012!!!

[jeltz25]

Ironically, Sarah would probably have the biggest potential pool of applicants to choose from if she did go that route. It is noteworthy that you never really hear about female pols having affairs, only the guys.

Perhaps Sarah and Hillary could divorce Todd and Bill, respectively, and get married in IA(where it was just legalized), and form an unbeatable bipartisan superticket in 2012.