There’s plenty of material to cover in a deep, detailed review of Gov. Mark Sanford’s presidential prospects set to be published on March 9 by The American Conservative Magazine.
Reporter Michael Brendan Dougherty did a bang-up job assessing a very complicated individual, and we’ll be probing deeper into this remarkably candid, colorful article in future posts.
For now, though, we would draw your attention to one section of Dougherty’s expansive article that will no doubt be generating quite a bit of attention both locally and nationally …
During Sanford’s first gubernatorial campaign in 2002, an 8-year-old African-American girl wandered onto a Sanford family property on Lady’s Island and drowned. A source close to the governor said she fell into a “retaining pond.” Her family’s lawyer, Manning Smith, called it a “pit.” Other sources claim that Sanford, who owned a hydraulic excavator at the time, digs holes on his property to unwind. According to a source involved in the settlement, the governor’s insurance company paid the girl’s family “around $300,000.” During Sanford’s second run, after rumors began to circulate, local newspapers and the AP looked into the incident, but haven’t reported it. South Carolina politicos speculate that if Sanford’s national profile increases, The State will finally run its story.
There had been no official comment until Sanford’s spokesman, Joel Sawyer, told TAC, “This was a tragic accident, and Governor Sanford did everything he could to do right by the family involved.” He declined to elaborate.
Needless to say, this revelation is nothing new to readers of FITS. In fact, our original report on this was written twenty months ago.
In the intervening time, though, the veracity of this story has been repeatedly questioned by those seeking to undermine the credibility of this website.
And while we certainly wish we could have followed up on our original article up much sooner (with much more information), it’s tough to do that when everybody involved clams up.
Oh well, as we’ve said all along, we will continue to report what we know to be true.
Believe the “doubters” at your own risk …
By Whoa March 2, 2009 at 4:52 pm
HAHAHAHA BIN…..eat shit.
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 2, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Yawn. Finally, sic(k) willie is listening to demands he provide proof of his bogus allegations. willie, if you are going to claim the gub’ner paid off the family of some “poor little black girl,” then be prepared to prove it.
Now it seems you are saying the gub’ner’s insurance company negotiated a settlement with the family of this “poor little black girl.”
Make up your mind. Did the gub’ner “pay off” the family (suggesting a secret under the table crooked deal) or did his insurance negotiate and settle?
Big difference! And you know that spin is everything.
sic(k) willie, your recent post is admission that you have manipulated and distorted this issue: “poor little black girl.” But you are learning.
Now, can you give us proof of your allegation a Midlands’ elected official has a Strom problem? And details about SLED’s “beat down squad”?
When you provide proof of those wacko allegations, we have other questions.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
P.S. Your website has no credibility to undermine. Will, you are a legend in your own mind, and reasonable people everywhere know that.
By Natasha March 2, 2009 at 5:22 pm
BIN, oh BIN,
“Take that and shove it” I am sure is what Will was thinking when he wrote that post.
By Todd March 2, 2009 at 5:31 pm
BIN, please go away. However, on the other hand, your obsessions are making me look normal.
By Mab March 2, 2009 at 5:35 pm
“This was a tragic accident, and Governor Sanford did everything he could to do right by the family involved.”
What more could be said or done that wasn’t said or done? Digging for gold here is not going to bring the child back.
Very sad — and it could happen to anyone living near a body of water or pool.
By Chris March 2, 2009 at 6:18 pm
When I come home I check Fits news first, as it is the closest we are going to get to the truth. Sure, I suppose, nobody is perfect…but I will stake my lot with Fits any day over the so-called competition.
And by the way, my heart pains for the little girl’s family. And the Governor as well, as surely his heart must ache too.
By "Her Again" March 2, 2009 at 7:16 pm
BIN, even YOU must now admit that the FITS ‘don’t lie.’
If a FIT is the closest we will ever get to the truth: a FIT = a good thing.
My doctor will attest to this. Under oath.
By forced to contribute March 2, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I just can’t beleive that such an idiot could run for president. I’m a Republican, but do we really want another hard-headed, never wrong, can’t think when on the spot (CNN) idiot in the Whitehouse. There must be somebody out there we could get elected and not look like such losers!!!!!!
By Silence the Noise March 2, 2009 at 8:15 pm
BIN
you have oficially been served…..you sack of shit!
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 2, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Wow! Shout outs from all 6 of sic(k) willie’s loyal readers!
But we are sure to hear from Foot Fungus when he gets back from his podiatrist and Catherine as soon as she figures out which way the winds is blowing.
Catherine knows it’s best to check the wind before she jumps. :)
For months sic(k) willie has tried to make this into something it isn’t.
He has tried to make us all believe the gub’ner “paid off” the family of some “poor little black girl.” His self serving spin is cr@p.
For months BIN News has demanded that he present facts, details and truth.
Finally, he passes along someone else’s analysis. An accident! It could happen anywhere. And, the facts have been known by insiders for a long time.
MAB makes a good point.
sic(k) willie was “digging for gold” – over a grave. He was hoping for something he could exploit. He got compost.
sic(k) willie loves to roll in compost. And if he can’t find real compost he will usually try to generate some of his own.
The fact it has taken him this long to pass along more info just proves how far removed he is from the gub’ner and from being a responsible news source.
Keep up the good work sic(k) willie. It gives Foot Fungus something to do when Bill O’Really and Rush Limburger are off the air.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
P.S. Mark Sanford has a much chance of being President as James Foot Fungus.
By Natasha March 2, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Mab and Chris got it right… Doing a nanny nanny booboo to BIN shouldn’t be the focus…It is a tragedy for any family.
The Sic one prints stuff before any of the MSM in this state. He has the balls to do it and does it. That’s why I read this site. Oh and to laugh and the insatiable and silly BIN…Whose posts are the same crap every time. Though now I’m pretty bored by it, maybe BIN can get a few new lines to hammer out…something original. No SNL…Maybe you can pen a new column on FITS BIN, called BIN’s BS.
By James the Foot Soldier March 2, 2009 at 9:34 pm
will – BIN seems to be flailing at me more than you – can i get a cut?
By Sanford misses boat on port issue March 2, 2009 at 9:45 pm
The article Fits news mentions below details Sanford’s mishandling of our port authority- I just wonder why Sanford can’t walk the talk on this issue? It just seems so easy and straight forward now- fire the board – put new members on it and let the free market run it.
“Sanford has occasionally made political decisions that cut against his principles. He appointed Bill Stern, a prominent Republican fundraiser, to the board of South Carolina’s Port Authority. But Stern and other Sanford appointees have refused to loosen total state control of the ports, even though most ports in America accept private-public partnerships. During Sanford’s term, Charleston has dropped from fourth to seventh in the nation in port rankings and may soon lose its largest account. If Sanford had imposed his free-market philosophy on his appointees, Charleston would not be in danger of losing more jobs and private capital to competitors in Savannah and Norfolk.”
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 3, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Foot Fungus,
Our funding editor doesn’t like frauds, rumor mongers or grave robbers.
And she has little patience with those, like you, who are so easily fooled by their scams.
We give credit to MAB for describing this “willie scam” so well.
sic(k) willie was “digging for gold” – over the grave of a child.
sic(k) willie knew this was a non-issue from the beginning. Yet he tried to use it for his own political purposes. Remember how he said the gub’ner paid off the family of some poor little black girl. Like a grave robber.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Flair and Balanced
By fitsnews March 3, 2009 at 6:36 pm
BIN,
You got faced. Just accept it.
-FITS
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 3, 2009 at 7:06 pm
No, will. We have not been faced.
MAB said it best. You tried “digging gold” – over a child’s grave.
You’ve been exposed like a grave robber.
All we have demanded is you present proof when you post a scam. First you claimed the gub’ner “paid off” the family of a “poor little black girl.”
Now you seem to say his insurance company settled with the family. Did he “pay off” the family or did his insurance company settle a tragic accident claim?
Big difference. If anyone knows what a “pay off” is, you sure do.
Make up your mind. Get your scam straight. And where is your proof?
Next, can you update us on the Midlands’ elected official you claim has a Strom problem? You promised and promised details.
Then, can you give us facts about your claim of a SLED “beat down squad”?
Or are you going to wait for a responsible journalist to provide the facts on those willie scams.
BIN News Editorial Staff
Proudly Flair and Balanced
By BIN News Editorial Staff March 3, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Our staff did not overlook the fact that Chris said the first thing he does when he comes home is to “check FITS news first.” Chris, you really need a girl or a boy friend. Maybe a puppy. Or take up stamp collecting. Knitting might help.
sic(k) willie, you sure bring out the wackos.