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Mark Sanford Admits To An Extramarital Affair

By: streiff (Diary)  |  June 24th, 2009 at 02:47 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Governor Mark Sanford’s mysterious absence has been explained.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he’s been having an affair and will resign as head of the Republican Governor’s Association.

This is a crying shame. Governor Sanford had much to offer to his country, especially at a time when the federal government seems to have lost its wits in regards to fiscal sanity. It is also a shame because it means we may have to endure yet another Mitt Romney candidacy as fiscal conservatives look for a home on 2012. On the positive side, it is better we find this out now than a year or two from now.

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  • exitsfunnel

    Of all of the names thrown around for 2012, Sanford was the one guy who could have kept my vote out of the LP column. This is really, really, really disappointing.

    Sigh.

    -exits

    • Tbone

      you’re a fool.

      • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
      • mikefisk

        At this rate, the odds of the GOP nominating a candidate that libertarian-leaning conservatives will consider as a strong choice is getting less and less.

        For somebody like myself, it’s becoming less of “will the GOP pick somebody I’d vote for” and more “will the GOP pick somebody that won’t make me vote Democrat just to spite them”.

        The sad thing is how this will pretty much end Sanford’s career, when, in terms of his performance on the job, he’s still one of the best we’ve got.

        Witness the power of not seeing the forest for the trees.

      • swami7774

        …he is.

    • farstar99

      And as long as Republicans continue to care, the Democrats will win.

      Their mantra, that having standards means you’re a hypocrite, has really taken hold in the conservative consciousness, hasn’t it?

  • Tbone

    or keep from getting caught?

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

      So back to 2010. Back to the Obama agenda and the miserable failure of the stimulus.

      • izoneguy

        http://www.cnbc.com/id/31526130

        • Jack_Savage

          After all, he’s the one that said Obama was “the man for the job”.

          I hope Warren Buffet dies penniless. He did much to innoculate Obama against the “socialist” charge prior to the election (is there any question now), and he deserves every portfolio disaster he gets.

          • janis

            needs a slice of that, too. I do believe that he invested in Berkshire-Hathaway back in Sept. when he got the news about the market getting ready to tank. What a swell bunch of guys, aren’t they? Just reading the news these days should qualify a person for some kind of medal if they can stomach what is going on and still remain sane and functioning.

          • Jack_Savage

            And that goes to show that if Durbin weren’t in the Senate he wouldn’t be able to earn enough to feed a cat, much less himself.

        • http://brockwayfamily.spaces.live.com/ Erick Brockway

          Would be the one I heard today where he trashes Cap and Tax. On my phone so I can’t provide the link atm.

          • JustLeaveMeAlone

            The best Buffett quote is 1000% true:

            ” Buying a small growth stock is like seeing a rattlesnake in the corner and giving it a kick to see if it is alive.”

            Of course, he said that back in the 1980s, before he lost his mind.

          • JustLeaveMeAlone

            Jimmy Buffet:

            “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”

          • izoneguy

          • Jack_Savage

            “It’s a little too late to do the right thing now…”

          • http://brockwayfamily.spaces.live.com/ Erick Brockway
      • wesmorgan

        …won’t be found among the current crop of elected officials, Republican OR Democratic, at least not at the Federal or State level.

        2012 might well be the Year of the Political Unknown on both sides of the ticket – and I’m beginning to consider that a potential Good Thing(tm).

    • centryt

      to weed them out now.

    • mom2oneson

      Why can’t these men use more discretion. At least out of respect their wives and kids if married or family if they are single.

  • digitalhap

    that God protects the hearts of his wife and children.

    • mom2oneson

      It’s difficult enough to process your own emotions and then have to deal with reminders on the media too. I would take my kids cabining or something to get away from the media.

      • wesmorgan

        Sanford said that his wife and their kids are at their beach house, and asked the media to leave them alone. I hope that the media will do so, but I doubt it…

        • mom2oneson
  • Flagstaff

    but he is now obviously not the answer we needed.

    He has committed the ultimate politically stupid act while hurting his family and himself.

    Report (MSNBC) was that a SC newspaper has sat on this story for several months.

  • AKSteveB

    never have blind faith in a politician, this sucks :(

    • wennejunk

      n/t

      • AKSteveB
  • IJB

    Having an extramarital affair does nothing to disqualify him for running for the Presidency with me.
    Ditto Ensign.

    At this point, all I care about is policy & philosophy.

    I don’t care if you’re into furry animals – if you’re right on the issues, and you have a realistic shot at haymakering Obama, I’m still listening.

    • George Claghorn

      If you’ll f–k over your wife and family, you’ll f–k over your constituents.

      • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

        So let’s all cross Sanford off our lists and move on to watching the President.

        Because CNNBCBSABCNYT sure won’t.

        • George Claghorn

          Sanford is now just another person to add to the list of people to ignore.

        • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

          …but you’re totally correct that we do need to keep our eye on the ball – and that is all the bad stuff going down in Congress THIS WEEK, and the President’s continued mendacity in his speeches, and his mishandling of Iran.

          Not to mention keeping abreast of that North Korean ship to find out if we’re going to be a paper tiger.

      • mangrilla

        I think it’s a logical fallacy to say that if he has an affair, he’ll not work for his constituents.

        After all, what is he going to do, cheat on them with Arkansas (or maybe some “exotic” state like Hawaii)?

        • Frozen_Man

          but how can you trust him. If a man can risk destroying his marriage, family, career, and mental harm to his children because he cannot master his lust for sexual intimacy how can you trust that he will not succumb to the lust for power, fame. money, etc. I don’t think that just because he had an affair means he will not work for his constituents but I do think it means he has made himself the center of his own world and that is a dangerous quality in a leader (although allowing self to be the center of your world can be overcome it is difficult).

          ?There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, Thy will be done, and those to whom God says, All right, then, have it your way.? ? C.S. Lewis

          I want a leader who says the first statement.

      • George Claghorn
      • http://www.skiloveland.com lholsenbeck

        Your wife can’t trust you, and you think the country should ? Siren’s go off when I see officials like ensign and the gov.I love newt, but he’s got the same problem.

        Geez, gov. You knew over a year ago that you had a shot to be president sometime in your life and you threw it away, not to mention your family’s rising star too.

        And for what ? Most of us are tempted by wrongful love or lust in our lives at least once, especially those with great careers; but most of us stop short of throwing away our careers, marriages, commitments, responsibilities to others and our word.

        What a loser.

      • icbm

        we make a big mistake when we exclude from politics anyone who is not fully virtuous in his personal affairs. such persons are sometimes fine public servants, even if they are flawed otherwise.

        • Alberta
          • icbm

            why rob ourselves of political talent to punish a personal vice?

    • Vaughn Harold

      A conservative Obama, doesn’t bet a liberal Obama.

    • Frozen_Man

      This man made a promise to his wife when he married her and vicariously to his children. If he cannot seem to keep his word to the people that he should love the most in this world why would there be any belief that he would keep his word to perfect strangers just because he happens to represent them. He chose to do what he wanted to (in direct violation to promises he made) because it was his desire to do so. I hope that he receives grace and mercy from his family and most importantly know he can from God but it does testify as the the nature and character of the man if he cannot keep his vows.

  • izoneguy

    Viagra….

    These horny dudes will be the end of us.
    And I think many of these affairs are cooked up by political enemies.

    • Flagstaff

      Should be a big demand for it in political circles.

      • mom2oneson
      • JustLeaveMeAlone

        n/t

  • MacAoidh

    …but in our political culture the only folks who would put themselves through the media ringer we require in a campaign are the kinds of people whom we would shudder to have govern us.

    That doesn’t excuse Sanford. What it says is we need to put some serious limits on the kind of power over our lives we give to folks like him. Does anybody really think Sanford is that much worse a guy than the gang in Congress or Obama’s administration? I think not.

    • Flagstaff

      Some of them just haven’t been caught yet either by the press or by their conscience. And you can’t get much worse than Teddy K or Bill C.

  • TxCon

    we hardly knew you. Stupid moron.

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    And I’m not convinced that’s a bad thing.

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
      • ZootSuit

        it’s nice to be in agreement with one another again.

      • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

        On your reply, that is.

        You won.

  • sickofitall

    If he can attain forgiveness from his family and his Savior and from the populace of SC there’s no reason why he can’t run in 2012. After all were he to win the nomination he’d be going up against a guy who has made tons of money by proudly describing his teenage cocaine abuse. He just needs to handle this in the right way- humbly and honestly- those are two characteristics that no Democrat can bring to the table.

    • TxCon

      politician come back from this to win on the national Stage? He is toast and deservedly so.

      • Thomas_Hauber

        He was one of the candidates that I was looking at for 2012. Unfortunately if his wife cannot trust him then I certainly cannot trust him.

        Next!

    • Josh Painter

      You can’t fix stupid.

      - JP

    • JustLeaveMeAlone

      Did he seriously think he could shack up in Argentina for a week and no one would notice?

      • sickofitall

        Obviously he was much less stupid about it (as far as not leaving the country, etc) and he’s got a great shot at the ’12 nomination. Then again he had 10 years to do it and even now it’s unclear if his candidacy is anything more than wishful thinking on the part of pundits and think tanks. But it can be done.

        • Karina
        • JustLeaveMeAlone

          It’s thinking the a sitting governor can leave the country for a week to shack up and no one will know. It’s leaving your four kids on Father’s Day for “get exotic” in Argentina. It’s your staff lying about your whereabouts, whether by your direction or not (doesn’t matter; the buck stops here, etc.).

          Why anyone with presidential aspirations would so much as park their car in a red zone is beyond me. If I were in such a position, I wouldn’t so much as be alone with a member of the opposite sex I wasn’t married to.

          So it’s a question of judgment — or lack thereof. Of arrogance. Of hubris. Of stupidity.

          Don’t we already have enough of that in the White House? I don’t want to have to defend it in my own party!

        • JustLeaveMeAlone

          “A shot” isn’t getting elected. There are plenty of people who won’t vote for him, and this is one reason why.

          To the extent that a successful presidential candidate needs the support of social conservatives, Newt and Rudy aren’t going to get it.

  • George Claghorn
    • George Claghorn
    • blooch

      Maybe he’ll be the next Old Guy on “Dancing with the Stars”…couldn’t be worse than Jerry Springer.

      • Flagstaff

        I was hoping that he’d come back to tell us that he’d been in Argentina learning the tango for DWTS. Instead, he’d just been tangoing.

  • jfpurdue01

    I am very disappointed. Perhaps this is why he has continued to refute anyone who suggests he might run for President. I would still vote for him if there was no other fiscal conservative that I thought would stay true to those principles.

    • Flagstaff
    • Flagstaff

      tells others more than what you believe, more than what you think. It tells people what you are. If you’re a Democrat, it doesn’t provide new information, but for a Republican it’s important and disqualifying.

      • wennejunk

        but for a Republican it?s important and disqualifying.

        I’d say “for a conservative it’s important and disqualifying”.

        One of the reasons the right gets hit, and hard, with charges of hypocrisy is that we profess to believe and support certain values, but then go on to show we believe those values apply to others and not ourselves.

        The left makes no such professions – everything being relative – and therefore it is hard to pin stuff like this on them.

    • icbm

      what counts is policy

    • icbm

      what counts is policy

  • icbm

    Maine Miracle:
    http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124571672694839297.html

    • icbm

      n/t

      • sickofitall

        Sorry, he belongs in Hell not the White House.

        • icbm

          I would love it if a new Dem leader rose up to oppose gay marriage, but I doubt it will happen

        • Old_Dominion

          I hardly think he deserves a place in hell for something as trivial as that.

          • sickofitall

            Unless the offender (and in this case the enabler, though I don’t put ANYTHING past a Dem) asks for and receives forgiveness from their Savior, homosexuality is certainly a damnable offense.

          • jonreagan

            I’ll assume you’re serious….but your reaction seems a little severe.

            As to party labels, and “not putting ANYTHING past a Dem”, that’s a little simplistic. I’d probably take Ben Nelson over Olympia Snowe at this point, and two (maybe even three) Democratic Governors over Mark Sanford.

          • sickofitall

            I think that Gay marriage in specific and the advancement of the homosexual agenda in general is as big a threat as there is to the moral underpinnings of America. A Governor of any state, let alone a state that should be solidly Republican, signing a bill like that atrocity of his own free will represents a mighty blow to the strength of our union and the future of our children. Yes I’m serious.

            I should have been more clear about the comment you quote- I meant that Baldacci is not a homosexual as far as I know, but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled a McGreevey, especially in light of his endorsement of that abomination of a bill. As for the rest of your comment- Snowe and Collins are an embarrassment to the party. Sanford slipped and it hurts, but his head is in the right place as far as policy goes. He can redeem himself if he puts his mind and his heart into it.

  • LAWizard

    I never really cared for him. Glad to see him dropped from the picture.

  • http://www.criterionchemical.com Chemical Sam

    I’ll point out one major difference between Sanford’s affair and others, and then quit.

    He’s being compared to the likes of McGreevy, and Spitzer, already. Haven’t heard a peep about a comparison with Bill Clinton, yet, oddly enough. After all, Clinton has his pants around his knees in Little Rock as soon as his other hand was down from swearing in.

    What makes Sanford’s extramarital affair so much less egregious than those of the Democratic counterparts I mention above is that he didn’t abuse the power of his office.

    I don’t know where Senator Ensign’s potential abuse of power may lay, so I can’t really side him up. But I do see the difference between what happened here, and what’s happened elsewhere. Where this sort of thing is half-expected, it’s often fully realized.

    The only people that should have a beef with Mark Sanford are his wife, family, and friends. We have nothing to do but learn from his mistake, and ensure that the Democratic Party doesn’t make a wholesale mockery of the man for their own political gain. Hands up anyone who doesn’t believe they’ll try to run the entire GOP to the ground for this, like a bunch of shameless hyenas.

    Do I want him to resign? NO. I want Governor Sanford to keep throwing money back in the federal government’s face. And then I want every other governor who hasn’t followed that lead to start doing the same.

    • http://www.criterionchemical.com Chemical Sam

      Bill Clinton set the unhappy precedent, and it helped catapult Tammy Wynette into the NY Senate seat, where she will probably live out her life, and I hope we may never see such a thing again.

    • Uma Richie

      the security clearance of the Pentagon’s janitor. I’d categorize it at the same level, in public trust terms, as Spitzer’s behavior.

      I do appreciate your positive outlook, even if I don’t share it.

    • icbm

      unlike spitzer with a prostitute

      and clinton with harassment and then perjury

      • wesmorgan

        …adultery is a crime in South Carolina.

        $100-$500 fine, 6-12 months in jail, or both.

        If he committed adultery in SC (as opposed to Argentina), he did break the law. We could certainly debate the law’s importance in the 21st century (SC also renders fornication criminal), but it’s on the books.

    • Alberta

      because if he did he needs to resign yesterday.

      GOP is doing a great job of cleaning up that brand image, by the way.

      • Karina

        They don’t need Andre Bauer in office. This whole state administration has been full of problems.

        • Josh Painter

          Word out of SC is that Sanford’s enemies in the legislature are going to impeach him.

          http://tinyurl.com/ljxv4r

          - JP

          • IJB

            I hope they’re not dumb enough to even try that.

            That’s about the only thing that will permanently send SC back to the ‘D’ column.

          • Karina

            The SC legislature (leadership) is vindictive and will be out for his blood. Sanford has stomped on too many of their toes too many times. They needed it and more but unfortunately, I can see them going after him regardless of the cost to the state or the GOP.

  • Kowalski

    “I spent the last five days crying in Argentina.?

    There should be a questionnaire or something for prospective Republicans now when they want to aspire to national politics:

    “Are you screwing someone other than your wife?”
    “Are you screwing someone who gave you money?”
    “Are you screwing yourself?”
    “Are you screwing your dog?”
    “Are you screwing people in Argentina’s dogs?”
    “Are you an idiot?”

    • ZootSuit
      • Kowalski

        Professional politicians who have these kinds of liabilities just cannot be a part of the Republican Party.

        The Democrat party will still welcome and forgive them, but it doesn’t go, and will never go, for Republicans.

        Mitt Romney is now my odds-on favorite for the next Republican nominee. That’s probably disastrous because no Conservative wants him. I respect the people who don’t, but I don’t see any choices right now.

        Besides, as Mark Sanford has proven today, it’s all smoke and mirrors. It doesn’t matter who the nominee is in Republican politics today. We could nominate Bozo the Clown posthumously and he’d be more electable than anyone we have right now.

        Congratulations to Team Obama: they have successfully eliminated all their potential adversaries.

        Looks like 8 years of Barack.

        • ZootSuit

          that I literally started to cry.

          • Kowalski

            But it’s like, you could SMELL this coming. When the AP started jumping on the “where’s Sanford” bandwagon you knew the whole thing was going to end in disaster, because the conclusion was already known in advance.

            Sanford ended it before someone trotted out the pictures. It’s also payback for John Edwards. Did any of these guys think they were not going to have that kind of payback when the Democrats swept the country?

            Barack Obama and his people are some of the best political minds in the world. They have structured their administration to eliminate adversaries, even within their own party at the highest echelons, and maintain an aura of invincibility. They didn’t neglect the potential Republican challengers to the throne.

            Republicans who didn’t realize this are being shown how wrong they were.

            It’s payback for John Edwards and it’s also an excellent move in the chess game. Republicans have to stop playing the game like they do if they want to win.

          • mom2oneson
  • http://www.criterionchemical.com Chemical Sam

    I’ll point out one major difference between Sanford’s affair and others, and then quit.

    He’s being compared to the likes of McGreevy, and Spitzer, already. Haven’t heard a peep about a comparison with Bill Clinton, yet, oddly enough. After all, Clinton has his pants around his knees in Little Rock as soon as his other hand was down from swearing in.

    What makes Sanford’s extramarital affair so much less egregious than those of the Democratic counterparts I mention above is that he didn’t abuse the power of his office.

    I don’t know where Senator Ensign’s potential abuse of power may lay, so I can’t really side him up. But I do see the difference between what happened here, and what’s happened elsewhere. Where this sort of thing is half-expected, it’s often fully realized.

    The only people that should have a beef with Mark Sanford are his wife, family, and friends. We have nothing to do but learn from his mistake, and ensure that the Democratic Party doesn’t make a wholesale mockery of the man for their own political gain. Hands up anyone who doesn’t believe they’ll try to run the entire GOP to the ground for this, like a bunch of shameless hyenas.

    Do I want him to resign? NO. I want Governor Sanford to keep throwing money back in the federal government’s face. And then I want every other governor who hasn’t followed that lead to start doing the same.

    • http://www.criterionchemical.com Chemical Sam

      Use the upper one to vent spleen, please.
      Let Sanford finish his term and cause Obama lots of trouble.

    • wesmorgan

      You wrote, “What makes Sanford?s extramarital affair so much less egregious than those of the Democratic counterparts I mention above is that he didn?t abuse the power of his office.”

      Leaving the affair out of the picture:

      1) He basically abdicated his job for a week.

      2) He did not tell his staff how to reach him. Law enforcement authorities (i.e. folks who report to him) could not reach him.

      3) He did not ensure the continuance of executive authority. (Heck, our last Governor turned power over to the Lieutenant Governor before undergoing a two-hour outpatient surgery, just in case anything came up while he was sedated…)

      4) He went abroad solo, without security. (This is arguably minor, but Americans ARE often targeted abroad.)

      All of these show a frightening level of irresponsibility. Whether it’s an abuse of one’s authority to do all of the above “because one can” seems a distinction without a difference.

      • evanm

        1. It’s called a “vacation.” Important people take them from time to time.

        2. “The governor said he cut his trip short after his chief of staff, Scott English, told him his trip was gaining a lot of media attention and he needed to come back.” Sounds like he was reachable to me.

        3. This is governed by the South Carolina constitution.

        4. This threatens him, not the state.

        Do I think this was awful? Yes. Do I think he should resign? Yes. But Americans do not require our politicians to wait on us hand and foot to keep us safe. Especially at the state level. We are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves, thank you very much.

        I’d rather more of them disappeared from time to time, personally.

        This was not an abuse of power because he didn’t use his office to elevate himself above the law.

  • Cheryl

    and that’s an ok thing (IMO) at this time.

    • icbm

      http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/05/023634.php

    • naraht

      I’m not sure Pawlenty has any good choices after the State Supreme Court rules (if it rules for Franken). Just about every choice ticks off someone.

      • Cheryl

        have to do with Pawlenty? I’m sure they’ll rule in Franklin’s favor,

      • icbm

        What’s the connection?

  • juumanistra

    I’d be willing to settle for a eunuch, though.

    Honestly. Given the number of pols who in the past few years have been humiliated or deposed because of their sexual antics, one would think that the great lesson of keeping one’s pants on would’ve sunk in by now.

    Unfortunately, doesn’t seem to have for the good Gov. Sanford.

    • wennejunk

      Not that they can’t/don’t drift too, but I’m guessing Sarah Palin would not have this problem.

  • texas214

    Just because somenone we all liked has completely let us down is no reason to throw Romney under the bus. He may in the end be the best candidate for the job; without trying has more chops on foreign policy than Obama and will look like a genius on fiscal/economic matters. “It’s the economy stupid!!!!” and that may be where Romney shines.

    • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister
  • Swisher

    So does he resign like Eliot Spitzer? or stay on the job like David Vitter, Ensign, etc?

    • George Claghorn

      …so we’ll see what he decides to do with respect to his job.

    • randy streu

      nt

  • ContraMundum

    I am SO SICK of these idiots who keep getting elected into office.

    I am sick of them all!

  • peg_c

    I’m more than a little sick of politicians who can’t keep it in their pants, I mean seriously. Are they all immoral idiots?

    When you have no character or morals (i.e. you are a DEMOCRAT), this is a career-enhancer as we all know. We need better Republicans, unless we really are going to cease being the party of character and values.

    • mom2oneson
  • Bob_Frazier

    Please let’s not destroy our own yet again. He hasn’t killed a young woman in his car. His boyfriend is not running a homosexual whorehouse out of his apartment. They didn’t find thousands of dollars in his refrigerator.

    After all, its ok to lie about sex. Plus, its between him and his wife. We have learned that at least. Just call his accusers trailer trash.

    All these democrats (and republicans) who have suddenly become social conservatives. Don’t buy it.

    Don’t destroy our own. Don’t “Lott” the guy.

    • mom2oneson
    • janis

      Since when are there instances that lying is hunky dory? Go ahead, point to the Commandment that is phrased “Thou shalt not lie–unless it’s about sex.”

      • Bob_Frazier

        You can find that commandment in 2nd Clinton, Chapter 1998 Verse 1-12,543

  • flip

    Was he having the affair while he was missing? Cause if you miss fathersday with your kids and wife to have an affair that might not be something you can come back from…

    • Streiff

      you’d do well to stay out of this conversation. This doesn’t involve you.

      • flip

        I am just asking question, why the heck doesnt this involve me? You have no idea anything about me…

        • Streiff

          1. I checked your comment history.

          2. When I tell you to butt out you’d be well advised to do so.

          3. None of this matters any more because you were too freakin stupid to figure out #1 and #2.

  • mom2oneson

    He had an affair with a fifteen year old employee of his family, they had a child, he wasn’t even involved in raising her, he served forever. Why the double standard and Sanfords resignation. Why did the republicans allow him to serve forever and Sanford is getting thrown under the bus.

    • flip

      Blows everything out of proportion nowadays and its just bad PR so to defend themselves they will try to distance themselves. In actuality although what he did was wrong it doesnt affect his ability to run a state. In cases where powers were abused definetly a different case.

    • icbm

      n/t

      i didn’t even know that about thurmond

    • Flagstaff

      From wikipedia

      It happened in 1925, when he was 22 and not in politics. He would have been a Democrat at the time. He piloted a glider into France on D-Day. He didn’t enter national politics until he ran for President in 1948, when his daughter was 23. He didn’t abandon her, he helped support her.

      IOW, it was irrelevant. And he’s dead.

  • Karina

    I campaigned for a state senator with Sanford and respected him as a person. This is all very disappointing. Sad to see a good one go.

  • rfpzzzzz

    I am curious why you took a shot at Romney . He would have done much better with the economy than any of the other candidates.

  • mbecker908

    all he has to do is change parties now and wait until 2016.

    • Alberta
  • http://JoeZilch.com joezilch

    Why do so many of you hold politicians up to an abnormal standard? About 50% of marriages end in divorce, mostly because of infidelity. Do you stop working for your boss if he has an affair? Do you fire employees? Do you stop eating at a local diner because the owner wasn’t faithful? Do you demand a new mailman or dogcatcher?

    Of course not. You look at job performance and move on with your life wishing the families get through everything okay but knowing that dysfunction is the new nuclear family.

    Learn from the (D)s here — The Personal is only Political if you let it work against you and your interests. They own it and move on, you let shame overtake you and walk away allowing them to win and thus keeping the personal political.

    • IJB

      If people want to understand why the GOP is in such disarray, and *LOSING*, you need only look at this thread.

      Sorry folks – at the point, all I care about is *winning* with someone who will implement an *agenda* that I support.

      That’s it. Everything else is bupkis…

      • Flagstaff

        Sorry folks – at the point, all I care about is *winning* with someone who will implement an *agenda* that I support.

        Mark Sanford is now no longer electable at the national level. Every story about him would start with, “Mark Sanford, who had an extra-marital affair…”

        • IJB

          And neither do D’s.

          The only ones who do are a shrinking slice of the GOP electorate who will alienate the rest of the party if they keep these antics up of shooting every imperfect candidate all to Hell.

          As of right now, if a GOP Primary came down to Romney vs. Sanford, I’d put hard money here that Sanford would still beat Romney *today* (and will beat him by much more in about a year’s time).

          Just so we’re clear here – I’m in the camp that would like to see marital adultery restored as a *chargeable criminal offense*.

          The fact is, it isn’t, and won’t soon be.
          Further, almost no one in the electorate cares about this stuff anymore, as shown by now-prevalent ‘Clinton Standard’.

          (And Spitzer of McGreevey are in a totally different category on this one – what those guys did is so much worse than Sanford, it’s laughable to try and equate them.)

          All I, and I’d wager to say most GOP voters, care about at this moment is getting a candidate who can 1) beat Obama, and 2) implement a truly conservative agenda.

          As of right now, Sanford hasn’t done enough to be credibly eliminated as a possibility of being able to pull this off.

          • http://JoeZilch.com joezilch

            Well said IJB.

          • eburke

            I find myself in agreement with much of what you’ve said here,

            Does the fact that someone broke their marriage vows play into my evaluation of his/her character? Absolutely. Do I think this is no big deal? No, I haven’t changed my party affiliation.

            I know of people who have never cheated in their marriages whose other ‘qualities’ such as temperamaent, patience, generosity, etc. are wholly lacking. I also know those who, for a variety of reasons unique to their own situations, possessed all and more of the above traits who became so frustrated in their marriages that they did the unthinkable.

            But the feeding frenzy I’m witnessing here reminds me of some of my ardent pro-life SoCon friends who wouldn’t get behind Fred for the simple reason that, despite everything else he accomplished that they agreed with, he wasn’t in favor of an HLA.

            That’s why I think the most cogent phrase you wrote may have been: …(They)will alienate the rest of the party if they keep these antics up of shooting every imperfect candidate all to Hell.”

            We do have the tendency to let the pursuit of the perfect become the enemy of the good.

          • Flagstaff

            At least they don’t when it’s one of them who does it. They care a lot when it’s a ‘Pub and they can make hay with it. And the ones who can make hay with it are the ones who publish newspapers and write alphabet news copy.

            You can assert that “Indie Voters Don’t Care About This Cr*p,” but it’s still just an assertion. I assert that there are plenty of I’s who would consider the whole thing as very poor decision making during critical times. Not a good point for anybody.

            Who would win the ‘Pub primary, Romney or Sanford? There won’t be one. Sanford just removed himself as well as John Edwards did, even though I agree with you that Sanford’s level of error is far below his or any of the people you mentioned. The important question is, who would win the general election, one of them (or someone else), or Obama?

            Further, almost no one in the electorate cares about this stuff anymore, as shown by now-prevalent ?Clinton Standard?.

            The press can make them care, as in the Mark Foley affair. He went down for practically nothing, and he took the rest of the ‘Pubs with him. (I just searched for “representative sex scandal” and Mark Foley was the second entry, and two of the first five.) And he was simply a Representative, not a Senator or Governor with Presidential aspirations.

            As of right now, Sanford hasn?t done enough to be credibly eliminated as a possibility of being able to pull this off.

            This is called whistling past the graveyard. He may not even be able to pull off remaining in the governor’s seat. And, BTW, Sanford has done nowhere near anything to make me think he would have been the best candidate for 2012, even without this scandal.

            Also, BTW, don’t mistake someone making a short analysis of the situation as anything other than that.

            The only ones who do are a shrinking slice of the GOP electorate who will alienate the rest of the party if they keep these antics up of shooting every imperfect candidate all to Hell.

            Seems to me that this candidate shot himself. But it’ll be the press who buries him if he tries self-resuscitation.

  • JustLeaveMeAlone

    Never mind the moral implications, he’s a complete moron. I cannot even begin to list the ways in which what he’s done is beyond stupid. I am sputtering with anger at the way he’s made the entire GOP and conservatives look dumb.

    He didn’t just betray his wife and children. He betrayed us all.

  • ATLconservative

    As a politician, especially a Republican one, please assume you are being watched 24/7, and that any indiscretion you make will be made public.

    So, please do one of the following based on your particular situation:

    1) If you either have or are of the character type who could possibly commit adultery, do not run for office. (I know using “potential” as a filter disqualifies a lot of people, but isn’t that the point – to be picky when choosing office-holders?)

    2) If this urge to merge comes along once you’re already in office, pull a a Specter before you’re found out.

    That is all.

  • http://www.rollovermartin.com Lee Hempfling

    We cannot scream at Clinton, Spitzer and the rest if we don’t back that up with cleaning up our own house! Sanford has much in his closet that would preclude ANY comeback, so take the position… an idiot who makes this move does NOT deserve to rule ANY government, especially as a Republican. Kick the jerk OUT of the party, make him resign his office, get RID of this slime ball NOW!

    • IJB
    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

      I’m more interested in going after the President of the United States for taking over, totalitarian-style, General Motors.

      And threatening to do the same to medical care nationwide.

      But you do let us know how your vendetta against Sanford goes. Me, I just plan to oppose him in any future primaries. That should do the trick for taking a stand for values.

      • Flagstaff

        Why is it that nobody outside of Fox News even mentions it? Does the WSJ take it on? I don’t think even CNBC cares.

        If government-run health “care” can destroy private insurance, what will GM do to Ford?

    • Streiff

      I think his viability as a presidential candidate has suffered a sucking chest wound but what he did really wasn’t a crime. Resignation seems a bit extreme.

  • Dave_in_Fla

    Everyone jumped on Stevens with a lynch mob mentality, and look how that turned out in the end. So I’ll be the one to say it. I don’t give a rats rear end if Sanford had an affair with a goat. Guess what? When I look at the field of candidates for 2012 I don’t see Jesus among them. Shall we run down the list of people who have had affairs that are politically viable?

    Clinton (x3 million)
    Gingrich
    Guilianni
    Vitter
    McCain
    Kennedy (if he wasn’t on death’s door)

    Fine, enjoy your expression of moral outrage, but I find it interesting that while expressing disgust and pledges to ostracize Sanford from a political future, y’all immediately decry how horrible Romney is, while he fully meets all of the moral criteria you insist on.

    So make up your minds, what do you want? Because you are rapidly driving toward 8 years of Obama and Jesus isn’t going to be on the ballot.

    As for me, I don’t care too much, I plan to vote for Jindall, Palin or Romney. Sanford was never on my list.

    • Flagstaff

      Two of them are Democrats, and we know they can get away with manslaughter without even being tried.

      Three are senior ‘Pubs who have never stepped in front of a national camera to say “I cheated on my wife.”

      You think Vitter is viable?

      Ted Stevens was tried and found guilty. The fact that his trial was rigged is a different problem.

  • aesthete

    I can’t imagine how much suck it must be for them to hear this only two days after Father’s Day–or after any day, really.

    That said, I think that it’s unwise for us to pretend that this has to do with his performance as Governor in SC, which seems to have been pretty good, by all accounts. Had he been an unknown quantity, I would probably see this as more important than it is, but given that he’s apparently governed in a manner consistent with conservative principles for some time, I don’t see how this revelation really affects much of anything. It’s unfortunate, both from a political and personal standpoint, that he couldn’t keep it in his pants and be faithful to his wife, but it would be even more unfortunate if his resignation meant that the taxpayers of SC would get screwed by the new Gov. Next primary, get rid of the bum, but until then, the damage has been done, and we have to keep in mind that it was a grievous sin committed against his wife and God, and not against the taxpayers.

  • Kyle-MI

    Affairs are not just a problem of politicians or celebrities. Just look at the divorce rate and out-of-wedlock birth rates in this country. If we set a standard of moral perfect for office then we might as well adapt anarchy because no-one will be qualified.

    As far as I have heard the story, he did not break any laws and did not abuse the office of the Governor. In addition to the affair he did a few foolish things that will count against his re-election, but they should be balanced against the rest of his performance as governor. I don’t see anything in this situation, yet, that requires him to resign.

    In addition to the moral damage, this does hurt him politically and will count against him for both re-election as governor as well as a run for any other office including the presidency. Should it disqualify him from seeking any other office? I refer you to the title of this post. Let’s see how he handles his office and personal life for the next few years.

  • http://JoeZilch.com joezilch

    I thought the GOP was against outsourcing and illegal immigration!

    j/k — I couldn’t help it when I heard from where the mistress hailed.

    Nothing to see here folks, move along.

    • mom2oneson
  • Kate_Shanahan

    not enough substance. I look forward to a Mitt Romney candidacy. A bit of intelligence and restraint would be refreshing.

    I’m wondering when we can stop demeaning our candidates and talk about their positions. We’re lucky to have someone of the caliber of Mitt.

    • The_Rebel

      Now we just have to convince Streiff and a few others around here. :)

  • Swamp_Yankee

    He seems like a man in serious distress; very remorseful and got out in front of it as soon as he could.

    As far the Governor’s Office, I’ll let S. Carolinians judge him for that.

    The biggest setback for him is POTUS 2012. That’s over. He doesnt look like a guy emotionally stable enough to handle a 3:00 A.M. moment and he wont for a long time.

    Who knows what will happen some time down the road.

  • GOP84

    You must be joking. Romney is by far the best shot we’ve got at winning the White House in 2012. I’d even say he was the best shot we had in 2008. If we hadn’t blown it by nominating the worst possible candidate (McCain), we could’ve at least closed the gap.

    This only reinforces the fact that Romney is the right man for the job in 2012. Huckabee’s a joke. Gingrich has scandals of his own. And Palin might make a good VP but I don’t think she could win at the top of the ticket.

    We’ve got to face it, unless we nominate some unknown dark horse with no skeletons in the closet, Romney’s the only chance we have in 2012.

    • Vegas_Rick

      Can’t we wait just a little while longer before we start pitching our favorites and deriding the rest?

      • the_invisible_hand

        Come on. Surely you have some sympathy for dreaming of getting rid of Obama?

        • toughintn

          Corker is another moderate-leaning McCain type, and would lose.

          (Ironically, he even looks similar to McCain.)

          • the_invisible_hand

            Did you see how he stuck up for working taxpayers against the union handouts in the Senate?

            He is an awfully intelligent Senator who is young and effective in what he has done, but he hasn’t been there long enough to have skeletons or enemies.

            Corker is someone to watch and I don’t think he is like McCain at all.

        • Kate_Shanahan

          work on his elocution. His accent will be his undoing. Smart man.

  • Aaron Gardner

    what’s that sound I here….ahhhh yes…crickets chirping…lovely.

    • the_invisible_hand

      If it were up to me, Sanford would not be disqualified from running for office due to personal weakness. His fiscal conservatism is a beacon of hope to me in this morass of socialism in government. But I know that he is dead in the water because a majority of voters, especially in Republican primaries, have come to the conclusion that personal weakness is a disqualifying factor.

  • http://www.RedState.com/ETCartman Kenny Solomon

    Putz.

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

      Let’s focus our fire on the Democrats.

      We can take care of Sanford simply by never backing him for public office again.

      But let’s save the outrage for Obama and his cronies.

      • http://www.RedState.com/ETCartman Kenny Solomon

        Trust.

        Governor Sanford’s lost the trust of anyone with a moral and overall compass.

        If this guy was hittin’ it for almost 8 years and spouting off as being “one of us”, a Conservative, he’s got no place in a position that requires trust.

        Just my opinion.

    • Tbone

      Sanford is a fool. However, when you get right down to it anyone who seeks public office has a screw or two loose, or, in this case, a loose screw or two.

  • ashevillelib

    I want a genuine take on this.

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

      Huh?

    • Tbone

      nt

  • Big Apple Infidel

    Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (D-AL) found guilty of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice 6/29/2006, sentenced to 88 months.

    Connecticut – In 2004 Governor John G. Rowland (R-CT) Rowland resigned from office during a corruption investigation, and later pleaded guilty in federal court to a one-count with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and tax fraud.[7] He served ten months in a federal prison followed by four months house arrest, ending in June, 2006.

    Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) charged with conspiracy to commit mail, wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. He was also accused of “Pay to Play” schemes, including the sale of President Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder. He was impeached and removed from office (January 28, 2009)

    Illinois Governor George H. Ryan (R-IL) illegal sale of government licenses and contracts as Secretary of IL State. Convicted (2006)

    Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards (D-LA) convicted of extortion (2000)

    New Jersey Jim McGreevey Governor (D-NJ) Resigned from office 11/15/07 after admitting his homosexuality and the inappropriate appointment of his alleged male-sex partner to a government paid office.(2004)

    New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) withdraws his bid to be President-Elect Obama’s Commerce Secretary due to an investigation by a federal grand jury into how a California company that contributed to Richardson’s political activities won a New Mexico transportation contract worth more than $1 million (January 4, 2009)

    Ohio Governor Bob Taft (R-OH) pleads no contest and is convicted on four first-degree misdemeanor ethics violations (2005)

    Puerto Rico Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila(D) indicted by the United States on 19 counts of corruption and conspiracy. On August 19, 2008, he was indicted a second time, with four counts of Honest Services Wire Fraud, 18 USC 1343, 1346 and 2, and a fifth count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 18 USC 1956(h).

    Alabama Governor Harold Guy Hunt(R-AL) convicted of improperly using campaign money and removed from office (1993); received a rare full pardon due to the confession of his accountant, Gene McKenzie (1998).

    Arizona Governor John Fife Symington III (R-AZ) convicted of fraud (1997)

    Arkansas Governor James Guy Tucker, Jr. (D-AR), convicted of fraud conspiracy (1996)

    Oklahoma Governor David Lee Walters (D-OK) pleaded guilty to misdemeanor election law violation (1993)

    West Virginia Governor Arch A. Moore Jr (R) guilty of mail fraud, tax fraud, extortion and obstruction of justice, (1990)

    Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Governor of California, Admitted to inappropriate conduct with women when he was an actor and professional bodybuilder “on rowdy movie sets” (2004)

    Paul Patton (D) Governor of Kentucky, Became public after a former mistress alleged retaliation against her business (2002)

    Jim McGreevey (D) Governor of New Jersey, admitted that he had an extramarital affair with the man he appointed as homeland security advisor. When threatened with a lawsuit he admitted his homosexuality and resigned in (2004)

    Eliot Spitzer (D) Governor of New York used the Emperors Club VIP prostitution service to meet $1000/ night escorts. No charges were filed since no public funds were used, though he resigned anyway. (2008)

    Bob Wise (D) Governor of West Virginia, affair with state employee (2003)

    William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton (D) Governor of Arkansas. Whitewater scandal (1994-2000) independent counsel Kenneth Starr (R) investigated the Clinton’s role in peddling influence for the Whitewater (real estate) Development Corporation while he was Governor of Arkansas. No criminal charges were brought against either President Bill Clinton (D) or First Lady Hillary Clinton (D)

    William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton (D) Governor of Arkansas. Sex Scandals from multiple women including Paula Jones and Gennifer Flowers, which culminated in his impeachment for perjury while President.

    Governor David Patterson of New York (D). On the day of his inauguration admitted multiple sexual affairs and drug use.

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
    • Swamp_Yankee

      - Ben Franklin fathered an illegimate kid.

      - DNA tests all but confirm that Thomas Jefferson had a kid with a house slave

      - Grant was a drunk

      - Lincoln was depressed

      - JFK probably is guilty of every sin of the flesh known to man.

      • eburke

        What do all the men have in common?

        They contributed greatly (well, with the possible exception of JFK) to the formation and furtherance of this country, despite their personal and moral failings.

        People in glass houses……

    • bs

      Thank you.

  • septembergurl

    to visit our troops in Europe this week.

    Let’s say you’re the conservative governor of a state with a rambunctious legislature who fights you every step of the way as you try to limit the damage done by the so called stimulus. That you spend every day fighting off the attacks by envious rivals, ankle-biters, loons, stalkers, backbenchers, leftwing local media, leftwing national media, your own party, etc. That every move you make is scrutinized to determine how it affects your Presidential plans. Pretty stressful, right?

    So what do you do after the session ends? Do you sneak off to spend a week with your mistress after promising your wife to break it off, on FATHERS DAY weekend yet, leaving said wife to cover for you ?

    or do you go to spend your free time with our soldiers, who Sarah always calls “Our Heroes”, lending her stature and charisma to the worthy cause of reminding America how much we owe our troops?

    I have a big problem with the idea, stated above and often, that we are losing some kind of great leader here due to this “tragic event”. On the contrary, we dodged a bullet. despite his manifest lack of charisma, limited appeal and lack of political skills, Sanford was considered a top contender for 2012.

    If you want to get a picture of what I mean, check out his press conference today, all of which I listened to on CSPAN. It was a compelling mix of cliches, fatuousness, bathos, wierdness (pointing out people in the audience and reminiscing about when they played Little league or whatever) evasions, torturous logic, circumlocution, begging, weeping, apologising, equivocating, blaming others, way TMI, etc.

    It was what I think of as The Full Nixon. (And I LIKE Nixon).

    • Flagstaff

      That may be part of the reason the lefties hate her so much.

      And yet she gets no respect and the guys get unearned respect.

  • redloft

    That Ensign and Sanford both admit to these affairs. Each have White House aspirations, and for that to happen, it’s best to air the dirty laundry now, rather than 2 years from now.

    • Flagstaff

      for it to matter.

      • Doc Holliday

        by saying they are through. Sanford may just have mental problems, this was like a Lifetime B Movie plot.

  • the_invisible_hand

    I wish it were true that we could separate his politics from his personal limitations, but it won’t happen. Let’s look elsewhere. Nothing more to see here.

    • Doc Holliday

      as crazy as it sounds, particularly coming from me, but we need Fred. I bashed him for not wanting it enough but now realize that is just what we need. Most of these politicians are ego-maniacs. We need to follow the Washington example and elect the man who does not want the job.

      The Catholics say if you go into the Papal Conclave wanting to be Pope, you have no chance. I think they have that one right.

      • OccamsRazor

        The Room of Tears.

  • Vegas_Rick

    we’re just gonna throw him under the bus? One of the few truly conservative Republicans, who has, by every measure been a fine Governor who walked the limited government, low taxes walk. Just the kind of guy we need right now.

    There is no condoning marital infidelity.

    But, having said that, we don’t know both sides of the story. We only know the public story, not the private one. And we have NO right to the private story. So, IMHO, if we are not entitled to the evidence, we are not entitled to judge, convict and sentence.

    I say let him stand on his record as Governor.

    • mom2oneson
    • eburke

      “There is no condoning marital infidelity.

      But, having said that, we don?t know both sides of the story. We only know the public story, not the private one. And we have NO right to the private story. So, IMHO, if we are not entitled to the evidence, we are not entitled to judge, convict and sentence.”

      I don’t take this lightly, and am extremely disappointed in Sanford’s behavior, but history is littered with men (and women) who accomplished great things for this country who had moral failings. This doesn’t mean that morality doesn’t matter, but what is even more important is how you deal with your moral failings and the lessons you learn from them, not that you have them.

      • penguin2

        As a wife and mother, I feel disappointment with Gov. Sanford and sadness for him and his family. There is tremendous pain for all involved. His wife, children and yes, for him also. To see so much that he has worked for and accomplished shredded-yes his fault, but still I see and accept the human side of not being perfect. Of course, we do not condone, but to condemn the individual is destructive. Forgiving and being supportive would be the most helpful to this man and his family right now.

        Yes we are all frustrated, disappointed, but I will not allow the glee of the other side and anger on our side to add to the fire. Much of this and the fall out is out of our control, in fact almost all of it, but we can pick up the pieces and move on. There are some absolutely wonderful social conservatives on this site, that often are able to offer a spiritual perspective on things. I am looking forward to one of them to do so. But one thing I have learned since participating here, is that we are capable of great support and caring, regardless of the distress. This is a time that we can reach inside what we truly believe and extend that. We will be strong and not let the other side dictate our “payment” for “sin.” God does that. We can seek His strength and pray He support all parties in deep pain.

        I guess, I just felt this strongly after reading the extensive threads and all the diaries covering this. I hope I have said something useful. Thanks.

        • penguin2

          Messed up my original comment title. Too much thinking!

          • eburke

            stated so much of what I feel.

            As a Christian who gets up in the morning vowing to follow my Savior’s will and who goes to bed every night confessing what a schmuck I was all day, one of my favorite bumper stickers is:

            “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven”.

            If Gov. Sanford believes in that, and has asked forgiveness, then it has been granted to him by the only One who really matters. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be consequences but consequences and forgiveness are two separate things.

            The angst I have is reading some of the posts which seem to focus exclusively on this one admittedly large failure to the exclusion of all of his othere attributes and accomplishments. At times like these, I try to focus on the most infamous aldturer of all times (at least for a Christian) and that is King David who not only committed adultery w/Bathsheba but had her husband murdered to try and cover up the deed. David, when confronted with his sins, repented but God still allowed the son born of the illicit tryst to die, and David’s family life was a mess, just as he was told by the prophet Nathan.

            And yet, God still allowed His Son, the Savior of the world, to born through David’s family.

            I always try to remember that when I’m tempted to believe that sinful, flawed human beings can’t be used by God to accomplish his purpose.

          • penguin2

            God did indeed use an imperfect individual, yet glorious good still came from it. I believe good can come out of this. Hopefully, there will be restored family relationships, healing and growth. Even for all of us on the outside, looking in, we can regroup-take a look at our personal lives and possibly improve or even repair holes that have developed.

            Your analogy helps to give perspective and even comfort.

  • louisiana

    he unzippe his pants, & his brains fell out.

  • Swamp_Yankee

    I see how this incites much passion amongst people. But Sanford resigned as head of the Gov’s association. His 2012 POTUS aspirations are shot. That being said, people outside SC really dont have much of a stake as to the future of the Governor of SC. If they want him, I say lets support him. If not, he;s got to go. Either way this Yankee wont go carpetbagging.

  • http://www.theotherworsham.blogspot.com toddworsham

    100 percent of politicians are lying snakes. I dont have any problem saying that because if you find me an “honest” politician I guarantee hes got a skeleton or two.

    Stop elevating these idiots to some posistion of admiration. To me all politicians deserve ridicule and scorn. To me they are all dirty rotten gangsters until they prove otherwise.

  • DONTREADONME

    if you have a problem with infidelity or have considered to act on those urges do not run for office. This is the kind of garbage that infuriates me, everytime you embarrass yourself, you embarrass us.

    Further note, if you can not keep it in your pants then why the hell can we trust you. I am glad Mark Sanford is not my governor, but Mark Sanford single handedly allowed the Democrat agenda to pass through Congress. Hang you head in shame, you’re are one big moron. Yeah, I am that mad, I defended you yesterday, and this is how I get repayed. Jerk.

  • toughintn

    If this link is true, and Sanford and Ensign both called on President Clinton to resign, they should face the music.

    Unless you’re a Democrat, hypocrisy is always a losing strategy — both personally and professionally.

    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/06/sanford-and-ensign-called-on-clinton-to-resign-after-his-affair.html

    • icbm

      It was about perjuring himself during a sexual harassment suit.

      Certain folks wanted to make it about the affair, and they’re still trying to. But an affair alone would not have brought impeachment. Nor, I am guessing, would it have caused Ensign and Sanford to call for resignation.

      • toughintn

        But the uninformed public would still perceive it as a double standard, even if the legality doesn’t match. Republicans are always held to a higher moral standard — and rightly so, when absolute truth informs policy choices.

        And let’s not forget that there will likely be legal issues Sanford has to face.

        He has many more answers to give — including specifics about whether he used taxpayer money inappropriately to fund his junket(s) (already buzzing on the web).

        • eburke

          So what you’re really saying is that the FACT that it wasn’t about sex but about perjury is irrelevant and that because the American Idol public still thinks it was about sex…well, then obviously we must continue to let them believe that even thought it’s not true. And then, of course, having allowed the falsehood to continue , we simply MUST hold two GOPers to a standard to which they held nobody.

          What a crock.

          As is this statement: “Republicans are always held to a higher moral standard – and rightly so”.

          I have one question – You think its *right* to hold one party to a different standard than the other? Seriously?

          It may be reality but it ain’t right and it’s a hypocritical pile of hooey that the liberal hacks in the MSM have convinced you that it is.

          • toughintn

            Good men.
            Good.

            Republicans usually claim to be “good men” (people), so how can it be wrong for them to be held to a high moral standard?

            On the other end of the spectrum:
            Ted Kennedy somehow avoided jail after causing the death of a young woman; no one has ever held him (or his family) to any standard of conduct.

            Joe Biden once had to quit the presidential race because he’s a plagiarist. No one holds him to any standard. “That’s just Joe.”

            Bill Clinton’s problems with the truth are well-documented; no one (well, except Obama’s pals during the recent election) holds him to any standard of conduct or speech. He can pretty much do anything he wants, and he does.

            The mainstream press expects nothing of liberals, so they are never disappointed in them.

            It may be discouraging and unfair, but it is realistic.

            And by the way, I expect nothing from the MSM, so I’m never “disappointed” in them. What is, is.

            And we can get mad about it and waste time being distracted by it, OR we can rise above it and win elections with excellence on all fronts, moral and otherwise.

            We also need to hold ourselves to the highest standards, so when all the frightening truth continues to trickle out about this administration, we will actually have a leg to stand on. That’s planning ahead. That’s the way to win — not from a position of weakness, but strength.

          • eburke

            What I take issue with is two points you made.

            1) You said that if Ensign and Sanford called on Clinton to resign then they should ‘face the music’ and resign. If they had called on him to resign solely over extramarital sex, I would agree with you. But that wasn’t the issue. Perjury and obstruction of justice were the issues. That’s a huge distinction. And when icbm pointed that out, you in effect said “well, that’s true but the truth doesn’t matter ’cause everyone thinks they did.” That’s the kind of acceptance of the MSM narrative that always leaves conservatives on their heels. It’s the whole ‘it’s not the actuality of the behavior but the seriousness of the charge’ BS that we continually allow the MSM to hang around our necks ’cause we don’t challenge their narrative.

            2) I understand that the MSM’s double standard is reality; I said so in my post. But what I can’t understand is that you think that’s right. It’s NOT right. It’s a hypocritical crock that the MSM holds one party to a higher standard than the other. Recognizing it is one thing. Accepting it without trying to change it is foolish. Believeing that it’s “rightly so” leaves me incredulous.

          • toughintn

            First, I’m not arguing the difference between perjury and adultery here; one is a legal issue, the other is a moral issue.

            But your anger with the MSM makes me wonder if you consider this to be any different from the way the international media treats the US and the rest of the world. The US is held to a higher standard (or at least we have been in the past) because we are seen as the moral arbiter for the world — and we’ve been willing to be put in that position because we actually care if other nations are free. When one nation fights for moral principles, it will be judged more harshly when it “fails” to meet that standard (and that judgment may be fair or unfair).

            Between conservatives and liberals, if one side often claims to follow absolute truth, and the other often calls all moral views equally valid, which side is going to be judged more harshly?

            Maybe it’s not “right” in the sense of fairness, but it’s certainly “right” in that it makes perfect sense with the MSM world view. It’s undeniable, and you can try to change it, but it will require change at the mind and heart level.

            Yes, in a perfect world, all parties and all countries would be handled fairly and neutrally by those reporting the events. But only God treats everyone equally.

            I’d rather the leadership spend less time trying to get the media to treat conservatives fairly, and spend more effort to recruit people who make smart personal and political choices.

            Finally, let’s put the MSM’s role in perspective. Reagan found a way to speak directly to the people, and that should be our goal today.

          • eburke

            Your ‘higher standards’ think struck me as being typical of moderate/libs who have decided that since we at least *want* to be moral, and they could care less, then *we* have to purge the fallen among us while *they* get to skate scott-free. Based on your subsequent responses, I obviously misread you and, thus, apologize for a) calling your points ‘drivel’; and b) calling you a liberal (a far worse offense than the first :-) )

            I guess I used to see the world as you but I am so beyond sick and tired of us being held to a higher standard and, as much as it tees me off when something like this happens, I fervently believe we play into the shameless, hypocritical libs hands when we throw some of our best and brightest under the bus when they show human flaws.

            They KNOW that all they have to do is find something, anything, on one of *ours* and we’ll take ‘em out for them, even though the vast majority of the electorate could really care less. Am I saddened that our culture has devolved to the point that a serial adulterer, perjurer, liar, and general scumbug could be reelected to be POTUS, and leave office w/60% approval ratings? More than I could ever tell you.

            But there’s the world the way you want it and the world the way it is. And, unfortunately, we live in an American Idol society where no one seems to give a rats rear end about morals and scruples. So I am now at the point where I believe that if we stood up and told the libs and dems “we aint’ playin’ this game no more’ then at best they’d give up (fat chance but I did say ‘at best’) and at worst we get to continually point out there hypocrisy while not crucifying our own because some of them are human and screw up.

            That may sound awfully jaded, but that’s where all this garbage has led me (example? this morning the sychophantic AP listed all the pols who have had affairs in the last 5 years. Guess which ones were the only ones who had their party affiliation listed after ‘em? I’m done with this kind of crap!)

          • toughintn

            How about I post this — an excerpt for the ethical standards of the AP — and you post that link for their latest violation of said standard, and we can all laugh bitterly at the irony!

            http://www.ap.org/newsvalues/index.html

            02/16/2006

            THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES
            AND PRINCIPLES

            “For more than a century and a half, men and women of The Associated Press have had the privilege of bringing truth to the world. They have gone to great lengths, overcome great obstacles ? and, too often, made great and horrific sacrifices ? to ensure that the news was reported quickly, accurately and honestly. Our efforts have been rewarded with trust: More people in more places get their news from the AP than from any other source.

            In the 21st century, that news is transmitted in more ways than ever before ? in print, on the air and on the Web, with words, images, graphics, sounds and video. But always and in all media, we insist on the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior when we gather and deliver the news.

            [***** GET READY: HERE'S THE BEST PART! *****]

            That means we abhor inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortions. It means we will not knowingly introduce false information into material intended for publication or broadcast; nor will we alter photo or image content. Quotations must be accurate, and precise.”

            See?

            Don’t we all feel so much better now?!

    • Kyle-MI

      Don’t buy into the liberal meme that Clinton was impeached because of infidelity. He was impeached because he misused his office buy engaging in sex with an employee AND corrupted the judicial process by lying under oath in a court of law.

  • Lammo

    Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Sort of like having the right to remain silent but not having the ability.

    • IJB

      OK, even I think that’s amusing… ;)

  • David123

    than other personal behavior failings when it comes to serving in public office.