Should He Stay Or Should He Go?
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has admitted to having an extramarital affair – now what?
With intimate details of email exchanges between the governor and his Argentinian paramour now being splashed all over the Internet – and lawmakers no doubt ready to twist the knife the governor has plunged into his own back – is there a light left at the end of Sanford’s tunnel?
Put simply, can he survive?
The governor has already resigned his position as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), but should he resign his office as well?
Vote in our poll and post your comments below …
Should S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford resign his office?
- Yes (58%, 431 Votes)
- No (42%, 314 Votes)
Total Voters: 745
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Comments
By PandaChris on June 24th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
In my opinion, he should not resign as governor.
But he should resign as “Talking Head for fiscal conservatives”.
Taxpayer paid trips according th the Politico.
The bigger mystery is why FITSNews isnt calling him out for that!
Can you imagine what this site would be posting if this had been Jake Knotts,Bobby Harrell or the like who had done this?
By Brian on June 24th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
As a satirist I’d love for him to hang around to the end of his term (though I’m sure Andre will have plenty of antics), but as a realist, and with his long record of encouraging adulterers to resign their positions, I can’t imagine he’ll still be governor this time next week.
People fall in and out of love all the time (and by the way, he’s quite the writer of notes — he could get a job writing romance novels), and that’s fine, but people who morally condemn other people for breaking their marriage vows need to pay the piper.
By Mincing Words on June 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I don’t know if he should, really. But because he is a stand-up guy, I think he will. It is a natural “consequence” of his infidelity and lack of good judgment.
God help us when Alfalfa takes over.
By StupidShouldHurtMore (SSHM) on June 24th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Resign?
Why resign? Impeachment proceedings would be far more entertaining! Read Article XV of the SC Constitution. Of note:
“When the Governor is impeached, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or, if he be disqualified, the Senior Justice, shall preside, with a casting vote in all preliminary questions”
Karma is a BITCH.
- SSHM
By marmar on June 24th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Stay, if you will be the voice for same sex marriage in South Carolina. Adultery cetainly can not be viewed as more evil than same sex marriage considering the christian conservative ticket you ran on. I am sorry for the pain you have caused your children. Being a good parent means to not be selfish or reckless, especially when you have cast yourself in the public eye.
By flipnut on June 24th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
It looks like someone is getting ahead of themselves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Bauer
By The Keeper on June 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Any interest in how L’Etat got access to the private emails?
While this comic-tragedy plays itself out, isn’t that at least mildly disconcerting?
Does a free press have unfettered access to anything that is private?
By Garnet Spy on June 24th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
He should resign. I still believe in his philosophies, but his integrity has been compromised and he can no longer govern. See: http://garnetspy.com/2009/06/24/broken/
By Cowgirl on June 24th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Will. Do you feel used, abused and a little frustrated? Good gracious. It has become abundantly clear that men apologize when they are caught. I like Sanford, but he has reduced himself to the base existence of a mindless penis.
By JC on June 24th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I think he should resign for being an arrogant, selfish, and horrible governor who has completely disregarded the will and needs of the State in each and every action he has taken since being sworn into the office. I would expect that he would treat his family much the same as he has treated the citizens of this state… with total and utter disregard for their wellbeing.
By Recovering Lobbyist on June 24th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
He should resign, but not because of his affairs. I do not think it is necessary or appropriate to hold elected officials to such a standard that their lives in the bedroom should be any of our concern.
However, Mark Sanford walked away from his constitutional duties for five days, and failed to do what his job requires him to do, which is to notify the Lt. Governor and turn over the duties of the office to the #2.
All of the what ifs have been explored except this: the image of the Lt. Governor petitioning the Supreme Court for the authority to execute the office of the Governor during the Governor’s absence. That is one scenario that I am glad we did not have to experience.
However, the Governor put every Constitutional Officer in this state in a very bad position of having to question who has the authority to direct them to carry out the business of this state. From the Adjutant General (National Guard), to the State Treasurer (the money), to all of the others, if there were a circumstance during those five days when some action is required, they would have been duty bound to question the Lt. Governor’s authority to order them to act because the Governor failed to do what is required of him and sign an executive order temporarily transfering his powers to the Lt. Governor during his absence.
Thus, if it was necessary, the Lt. Governor would have had to go to court to compell the other officers of our state to act if circumstances required it; fortunately that did not become necessary.
The Governor exercised extraordinarily poor judgement, so poor that he has lost my confidence and I suspect the confidence of most of the citizens of the state. He should resign, and I don’t say that lightly because the prospect of Andre Bauer becoming our Governor is equally as troubling as Mark Sanford continuing to serve as our Governor.
By Fashizzle on June 24th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Politico says he took a taxpayer-funded trip to Argentina in 2002. That was seven years before this affair started. Meanwhile, Bauer is not exactly the family values hero. Be careful enjoying this too much. Karma is a bitch.
By Aquinas on June 24th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
If his marriage and family truly mean anything to him, he should resign and work on rebuilding those broken relationships. He can’t possibly focus on both the state and his marital/family issues and be effective with either.
And marma – what in the sam heck does same sex marriage have to do with adultery? Yes, adultery is considered a grave evil, but you don’t see folks holding rallies trying to redefine it and make it another acceptible “alternative lifestyle” (at least not yet).
The difference here is that the Governor admits that his adulterous affair was morally wrong. If only more people had the conviction to ssy in public the same thing about the notion of same-sex “marriage” we wouldn’t be seeing the increasingly militant gay brownshirts on the march.
By Jeffy on June 24th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
The affair isn’t the point. He left the country, lied to his staff, mislead the media and lied to His wife. I guess he had no problem lying to voters either. He has proven he does not deserve the office. Who cares about his personal life. This is about his behavior in his professional life.
By walter david on June 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
If the new threshold for needing to resign from office is an affair, then who might else in Columbia need to be drafting a resignation speech. Is what he did moronic? Absolutely, but there are others roaming around the statehouse who are much worse.
Let the dirty laundry fly.
By flipnut on June 24th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
now that he’s finally accomplished something as Governor, it’s time for Sanford to go.
Anyone still believe this clown should be President?
By Lyn on June 24th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
He should resign — he looked and sounded like a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown during his press conference, saying totally bizarre things. But if he leaves, it’s Governor Brauer, a fate NONE of us embraces. So, should he stay or should he go? Although he’ll be a buffoon in office from now on, Brauer would be worse for South Carolina. Stay, Mark Sanford, stay . . . just a little bit longer. The truth is, you never left us. All through your wild days, your mad existence, you kept your promise. Don’t keep your distance. And as for fortune and as for fame, you never invited them in, though it seemed to the world they were all you desired. They are illusions, not the solutions you thought they would be. The answer was here all the time. We love you and hope you love us. Don’t cry for me, Mark Sanford . . .
By Natasha on June 24th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
no
By Veritas on June 24th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Just because he left the country doesn’t mean that he wasn’t in control. Firstly, he isn’t even in control of SC even when he is in Columbia due to the tyrannical GA. Secondly, from what I can tell he didn’t lie to his staff but rather he just “intentionally mislead” his staff by telling them how much he longed to hike the AT again. Thirdly, he didn’t lie to his wife because per the terms of their 2 week separation they were not to communicate. Lastly, I am sure he would have been in touch with the state in the event of an emergency so I am sick of hearing “what if’s”.
I honestly think that this was leaked to Bauer/ Knotts/ McConnell from the State or by whoever leaked it to the State originally and they have been using it to try to install Andre as Governor. Frankly that scares me a lot!
It take a lot for a man to admit that he is wrong and it takes a lot more for a man to sincerely and emotionally apologize while crying on national TV.
I want to see Sanford stay in office and fight the good fight and “not go gently into that good night”. If the GA wants to impeach him then by all means let them make themselves look even less classy.
The Sanfords have class and if Jenny can forgive him then so can I.
-Veritas
By marmar on June 24th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Aquinas- we’re all God’s children so what should be the difference here in the Bible Belt. “Judge not”. . comes to mind, oops, my fault too progressive. Discrimination is a way of life here. Hell, next you might have to take that flag down which offends so many SC citizens.
By Statesman on June 24th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
The Governor can’t restore his marriage and run the state at the same time. As a Christian, I will forgive him, however, he must be responsible for his actions! If he doesn’t resign, he should be impeached. As for people concerned about Andre ascending to the office of Governor, you voted for him! Neither received my vote.
By Mike on June 25th, 2009 at 12:06 am
This thing sucks on so many levels (adequately detailed with varying levels of sobriety supra) that it’s hard to know where to begin.
It is disheartening, albeit absolutely expected and a matter of course, that the “long knives” are coming out already. Most of the brownshirts will most likely be in the GA this time, though.
Bauer as Guv? Wow- his skeletons (and general level of abject stupidity) should keep us in the national news for months on end; not to mention the antics that his ascension would no doubt create in the SC Senate as McConnell decides what to do. Great.
In most cases I would say that a very wealthy guy who now has about a .00002% shot at the Presidency might should have resigned today to work on the family issues. However, if that guy is the only thing between the Bauer nitwit and the Governor’s Mansion, I say stay and fight for the larger good of SC. For God’s sake don’t drop the ball twice on the same play.
Oh, and Lyn- it’s bad enough that it looked almost like Mark tried to make an “Evita” joke during his at-times-brilliant, at-times-crazy press conference. Stop piling on. ;-)
By desmond on June 25th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Who leaked the e-mails?
Were the e-mails legally obtained?
Was there black mail involved?
Relevant questions, all.
(Don’t expect the media to ask any of them, though)
By ChasSCBoy on June 25th, 2009 at 12:58 am
I just saw a video where he was calling for Bill Clinton’s impeachment. You reap what you sew. He should live by his own words and go.
By Duffy on June 25th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Considering his proselytizing about integrity since 1994, it’s hard to swallow his tearful confession about a year-long adulterous affair.
By Prodical son on June 25th, 2009 at 3:24 am
Violation of US privacy act?
We potect terrorists, but not other citizens?
Bush admin.were scrutinized for unauthorized access to Terrorist emails, yet it seems to be overlooked
That someone may have
acted criminally by violating the Governor’s privacy in obtaining and publishing his private email.
By cgi-bin laden on June 25th, 2009 at 6:16 am
@ChasSCBoy “You reap what you sew.[sic]” I just got an image in my head of Sanford sewing a “Mark & Maria” decorative throw pillow.
Sanford should remain governor; South Carolina does not deserve a Bauer governorship. Mein Gott I get chills thinking about that.
By Just the Facts Ma'am on June 25th, 2009 at 6:40 am
All of you talking heads and potential political advisers that say he should stay, I’d like to ask you just one question: What do you think this “accountability” governor would do to an agency head that did the same thing? IF the concept of accountability is something you truly believe in, then this governor MUST do the honorable thing and resign. To do anything else is to demonstrate a complete and utter failure of leadership and betray any legitimacy in the phrase “transparency and accountability.”
By justsaynotojoe on June 25th, 2009 at 7:37 am
He should have walked to the podium yesterday afternoon and said
“Effective at 2:00PM today I have resigned as governor of South Carolina. I have done this for personal reasons.”
He then should have left the room.
By SA on June 25th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Sanford should resign. He has shown himself to be irresponsible and a serial liar. His use of state property and resources should be investigated.
By gspot on June 25th, 2009 at 7:50 am
not just no but hell no. I do not want Andre as the governor for the next 10 years. I know that is not how I should look at this but this case would be 10x worse for the state than this.
By SAL on June 25th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Sanford should resign. An investigation into his dereliction of duty and apparent misuse of state property and resources should be investigated. South Carolina should be allowed to move forward with the sane, functional, focused leadership we deserve.
By cgi-bin laden on June 25th, 2009 at 8:44 am
@SAL
sane, functional, focused leadership we deserve.
And we’ll get that from Bauer? I’m scared, sarge.
By liz on June 25th, 2009 at 8:45 am
The affair is not the only thing he is hiding.
I agree he abdicated his responsibilities as governor and should go….
but I want mercy as badly as Mark. He denied mercy to me.
By Dixie on June 25th, 2009 at 8:52 am
I think he should have compassion on his family and resign. I think he should let his wife serve out the remainder of his term. After reading some of her statements I see she has the moral rectitude to be a good leader. A man like Sanford doesn’t deserve a wife like her.
I don’t see how any Republican can defend him … seeing as what they put Bill Clinton through. Why is it our elected officials, down deep inside, seem to be such A$$ holes.
By Tom Sawyer on June 25th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I think he has been missing in action for years now. If he resigns; he should resign for dragging us all through the mud with him, once again. And shucking his responsibilities as Governor of SC. For now, we can just sit in the shame as the country laughs and laughs, because they know we will make news again soon :-)
By Joe Bobby on June 25th, 2009 at 9:15 am
He should resign based on the fact that he failed to discharge the duties of his office, lied to the people of SC, and used taxpayer money on non taxpayer trips.
The affair, while embarassing, and terrible, is not grounds alone for a resignation.
By Tom on June 25th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Andre has no ethics at all. we would be worse off.
By B.J. White on June 25th, 2009 at 10:11 am
This takes the cake,I’m sick of politicians having affairs & when they
get busted I’m sorry sorry so sorry. Well that just don’t cut it, yes
your sorry you got caught. He should be kicked out no pay, no security & no
benefits medical or retirement. I hold politicians with high regard &
just that they will lead us in the right direction.
By Silence Dogood on June 25th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I change my earlier opinions from Monday about how strange, odd AND newsworthy this whole thing is. The more I think about, I do believe he was on the Appilachian trail hiking this whole time, and the press is making a big to do about nothing. He is probably just unwiding and getting a release that he can’t get when crammed in the house with Jenny and all the kids.
No news story, nothing to see here, keep moving. I think he cooked up this whole affair thing to take away from the fact that he was actually just enjoying some quiet time away from the “fam.”
By Justwondern on June 25th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Needs to resign. Problem is, we would need to do an out of state Gov. search, as all of the gov. wannabees on record are crap.
By Ed on June 25th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Let’s all be honest.
It depends on how hot the woman is.
By B.J. White on June 25th, 2009 at 10:59 am
This takes the cake,when a politician has an affair they get on TV & say
I’m sorry so sorry, yes they are sorry because they got caught.He should
resign,with no pay, no security, & no benefits ( medical or retirement).
Our politicians are voted into office so many are abusing this privilege
They are paid very well,have very good medical coverage & retirement & a
lot of perks. I use to hold pliticians with high respect & my upmost regard.
By Todd on June 25th, 2009 at 11:20 am
We could elect Carroll Campbell, III. He already has the adultery thing behind him.
By JR on June 25th, 2009 at 11:20 am
We do not elect people based on their morals – simply because it is assumed that they are in tact until proven otherwise. As Governor he is not only the executive (although we know what that means in SC) he is also the representative face of SC to those outside the state. As for his duties, I do believe he abregated his duites when he left the country without informing staff or the US Embassy in Argentina of his whereabouts. Willful neglect of duty is an impeachable offense (not that I am calling for it) but his position has been seriously comporomised to say the least. For these reasons I think he should bow out with some shred of dignity still in tact instead of going on as the lamest of the lame ducks.
By Jeffy on June 25th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Didn’t Sanford demand Clinton to resign after he lied and was caught having an affair?? I’m just saying
By Shawn on June 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
PandaChrist: There is a reason why they are not calling him out on this site. Because their beloved founder used to work for the weak minded man we are all talking about. Man I love conservative drama karma. Always quick to tell people how to live their lives. Then bang you can’t do that. Then bang, I sorry I should look at myself before I judge others. This state is so behind in the times. Bible belt thomping is so great.
By M. Smith on June 25th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I would LOVE to see him resign; however, he is the lesser of the two evils. I would dread seeing Andre Bauer as our governor. If he stays, he will be the lamest of lame-duck gubners as no one will have any respect for him.
By Elrod on June 26th, 2009 at 1:00 am
What’s wrong with Andre Bauer?
DISCLOSURE:
I am NOT a:
1) South Carolinian
2) Christian
3) Republican
I’m a Tennessean; a Jew; and a liberal Democrat.
OK, that’s out of the way. What’s wrong with Andre Bauer? I know nothing about the man except that he looked like a tool on Rachel Maddow (something I attributed to nervousness and nothing else).