Amid a whirlwind of public criticism, a good dose of humility and lots of soul-searching over his affair with an Argentine woman, Gov. Mark Sanford on Monday said that one of the key reasons he has decided to stay in office is to avoid influencing the 2010 gubernatorial primary.
If Sanford would step down, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer would become South Carolina’s 116th chief executive. Many see that as giving Bauer a leg up over other Republican candidates in next spring’s gubernatorial primary.
Bauer would have the spotlight, and the 18 months left in Sanford’s second term for a trial run to win over voters. That possibility has political insiders angling behind the scenes and dictating, in part, how Sanford’s fall from grace plays out.
The Governor and his family should seek the counsel of Bishop Lawrence
or Bishop Salmon, for holy and wise advice! Political advice is not what is needed – that must have been what made him lost and lonely.
Today Mark Sanford (see wire reports, CNN, MSNBC, etc. about “crossing the line” with other women besides the Argentinian) has revealed so much more of his sleazy character that I am astonished that anyone defends his choice not to resign as governor of South Carolina.
I have yet to see anyone defend it, #2, and I surely won’t. This is jaw-droppingly irresponsible behavior, not to mention immoral. He needs to step down, and soon.
Actually, very few folks in SC, regardless of party, want Andre Bauer to become Governor at this time. Why? Because, as the article points out, that would give him a leg up in next year’s election. The only way that Sanford will be forced to resign is if there is a solid deal in place for Bauer NOT to run.
#1: Sanford is a Baptist – I think. But yes, you’re correct: either the good bishops or RC Fathers Newman or Longenecker in Greenville.
Sanford’s principal problem is that he is, Jakie Knotts notwithstanding, his own worst enemy. Seems he’s incapable of keeping his mouth shut. AP’s most recent piece on him begins:
” South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, already struggling to salvage his family and his political career after admission of a scandalous affair, added explosive details Tuesday, including more visits with the mistress he calls his “soul mate” and additional women in his past.
“The once-promising presidential prospect said he is committed to reconciling with his wife, but professed to The Associated Press his continued love for the Argentine woman at the center of the firestorm that gutted his political future.
“In emotional interviews with the AP over two days, he said he would die “knowing that I had met my soul mate.”
“Sanford also said that he “crossed the lines” with a handful of other women during 20 years of marriage, but not as far as he did with his mistress.”
Nothing can be salvaged from his career if he acts like this.
I believe, Fr. Greg, that Sanford is nominally Episcopalian. Have seen Jenny Sanford described recently as Chicago Irish Catholic. Don’t know what relation either description bears to their present status. I gather that “Cubby” Culbertson, the governor’s spiritual adviser and marriage counselor – the same man who was blabbing freely to the press a couple of days back about the problems in the Sanford marriage – is probably, given his connections within the Columbia religious community, a fundamentalist evangelical.
The situation has not been improved by a piece published two weeks ago in a Columbia weekly which described three prominent SC politicians, two of them in line to move up the chain of command should Sanford resign, as closeted gays. Lt. Gov. André Bauer, one of the two, denied the allegation yesterday in an interview with The State. But you can see that right now there’s some pretty complex business going in SC politics.
Lapin, I thought of mentioning that, but the person who made those allegations, a lesbian as it turns out, has not exactly retracted, but has backed off her from her statements and apologized for making them, and no documents have surfaced concerning the rumors about Bauer, which were said to have been related to a divorce proceeding.
Sanford, methinks, may well be on the way to emmigrating to Argentina.
And oh, yeah, Jake Knotts: a major member of SC’s piece-uh-work political pavilion.
The Governor should find a priest, pastor or secular counselor to spill these revelations. Doing this with the AP would seem to be aimed at hurting his wife further. This is narcissist. He’s not doing what he needs to for his wife to consider reconciliation. I’m glad, at least, to find out about his character problems before he made a national political run.
See what Katherine wrote just above , and #5 too. Now, someone tell me again that personal problems should have no effect on political positions, for this was the message many sent when this piece of business first came babbling into the media. I challenged that position earlier and got edited out, but I still challenge it. Who we are and what we do is all one thing: Who can tell the dancer from the dance? LM
#8, the question of resignation appears to be a South Carolina political problem to be solved in SC. Sanford will at most serve out his term which ends next year and then he will be done with politics. He will not be a Senator or President.
Beg pardon, Katherine, but it is clearly NOT just a SC problem. First of al, its is poison in the Republican well – one more poison I should say. This is of national consequence. And you do NOT know that he will not run for the Senate. This is the dreadful part. Look at Barney Frank and Teddy Kennedy! Their electorate appears to forgive all things. He CAN run for the senate because SC may well say, “Well, he admitted the truth and that’s enough punishment. Give him another chance. Besides, we like him.” And then….
Been to South Carolina recently, Larry? It’s not very much like Massachusetts.
Sure, there are many differences between SC and Mass., but I wouldn’t write Sanford’s political obituary just yet (if he stays in the United States). Marital problems or not, libertarianism is big down here. Further, ironically, this whole thing may serve Sanford politically since it has taken the focus off the stimulus money fiasco.