S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford did not follow the protocol for politicians who get caught with their pants down.
For most elected officials, it’s a three-step process … 1) have your wife by your side, 2) read a short prepared statement in which you “deeply regret” or “profoundly apologize” for your actions and 3) don’t – under any circumstances – take questions from reporters!
Needless to say, Sanford has always been a bird of a different feather, which the national media discovered firsthand at his press conference yesterday admitting an affair with an Argentine woman.
With his wife, Jenny, nowhere to be found – Sanford took the podium and delivered a rambling, twenty-minute address that seemed to begin mid-thought and trail on from there.
Over the course of his decidedly unprepared remarks, Sanford ended up covering most – if not all – of the admission-slash-apology bases, but the meandering methodology evident in both his address and a brief question-and-answer session had the packed hall of mostly national reporters scratching their heads.
“We’ve just witnessed one of the most remarkable political press conferences in recent memory,” wrote Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza, who referred to the event as “raw, emotional drama.”
Our friends at Talking Points Memo called it “One For The Ages.”
And here it is …
By Matt June 25, 2009 at 2:28 am
Don’t you think that Nikki Haley should have issued statement with stronger language than she did?
By Calhoun Fawls June 25, 2009 at 4:41 am
Wow. Howard Rich made a really bad investment. Who knew a latina with great tan lines and tender kisses could derail a billionaire’s dreams.
By Cooter Brown June 25, 2009 at 7:10 am
I knows hit’s fun t’ bee irreverent here at Mista Willie’s place, but dis here sit-u-a-shun has got dis hear old man tied up in knots– big fat old jakie knots.
I like ol’ Sanford ’cause he was a willin’ to say no t’ King Busch II an’ King Hussein Obama. Dis don’t sound lik much, but hit’s mighty important in dese days ov impending gob-mint take-ova of everie-thang an’ everie-body.
Sanford is/was th’ only man willin’ t’ stand between the peoples of SC an’ King Hussein. Who’s gonna stand-up now? Mista Andre Bauer? Not on yer cotten-pickin’ life!
I hates t’ see da Gob-ner fall an’ I am glad he went out there without no script and took it lik a man– a cryin’ man, but a man never-da-less!
Dis sit-u-a-shun breaks dis hear ol’ man’s heart. Cooter like th’ ladies fer sure, but he loves Mrs. Cooter more. I sho’ is glad dat I neber hert her lik’ dis.
But main is frail an’ sinful– yes sur! Frail an’ sinful!
By Rylyn June 25, 2009 at 7:51 am
I think you should only concern yourself with the part about leaving the state without telling anyone where he was. I think you should leave the personal details and his family out of this.
By Harry Gabaldon June 25, 2009 at 8:15 am
There was an article in a SC newspaper about this couple being visitors of the Sanfords – it came up around the time that all of the immigration bill issues were in the news – If you translate this article it mentions that the couples were friends – who was her husband and how long divorced and over this is not known. I can no longer find the article but I beleive it may have been in the State or Post
By Olevia June 25, 2009 at 8:18 am
This is sad for any couple but it is more sad that we are all so interested in their personal lives.
By EM June 25, 2009 at 8:18 am
Who is the girl behind Sanford that keeps grinin’ and smiling/laughing during the weepy confessional? It was very distracting. Plus he has messed up my memories of Richard Chamberlin in The Thorn Birds…*from his emails with Maria (said like the song from West Side Story)
We need to elect some Women in this State and see if they can keep their love life out of the news.
By Political Graveyard June 25, 2009 at 8:39 am
This was a Coup d’état; a simple political assassination.
The State Newspaper had the emails since December 2008 which means that someone provided them from the ‘inner circle’ of SC political power and probably involved a Judas who had access to Sanford’s email.
If the State Newspaper knew of this, Sanford’s enemies knew of it for longer. Why now?
Then it all became the ammunition for Political Black Book intimidation and leverage. Sanford didn’t give in and they gave him an option A or option B.
This was a hardball hit job.
If the benchmark in Columbia is marriage fidelity a whole bunch of ‘boys’ will be on the chopping block soon. But, that will never happen.
This was the ‘knockout’ punch. The good old boys win another round.
The real problem with gangs in South Carolina – they wear suits and ties and are white.
Now we need to find out the identity of Judas and his twenty-pieces of gold.
There is a lot more here. The Sanford stuff will come out; what South Carolina needs the identity of the hit men behind the hit.
Will the real Lee ‘Judas’ Atwater, and posse please stand up?
By MB June 25, 2009 at 8:42 am
Who gave the emails to The State? That’s part of the story.
By Shanks Evans June 25, 2009 at 8:45 am
So, this is what the “new guard” Republicans in Columbia have to fight the corruption and status quo “old guard:” a vacationing van abuser, a convicted cocaine user and now an adulterer. Can’t wait to see what Nikki, Tom, Kevin, Lee, Shane, Joey and the rest of the young guns in the “roll up their sleeves” party have to offer next!
By Recovering Lobbyist June 25, 2009 at 9:02 am
Cooter Brown: You may have something profound to say, but your creativity is over the top and I really don’t have the patience to read your barely decipherable posts.
By baker June 25, 2009 at 9:13 am
It was strange to see people in the background smiling or milling around. Wasn’t there a better place to stage such a press conference? I don’t know the Statehouse and Governor’s office that well, but I would think there might be a press room or just a place without a busy background.
By peyton manning sucks June 25, 2009 at 9:13 am
best part: guess who paid for his long distance hook-ups?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/25/sanford-took-taxpayer-funded-trip-to-argentina-last-june-2/#more-57710
By Disgusted School Teacher June 25, 2009 at 9:51 am
School teachers in SC have known for a long time what kind of person our “so called” governor is. Nothing he could do would surprise me except maybe RESIGN from his position as governor. His new form of theatrics only provides him with more of the attention his HUGE ego craves. What a jerk!
By fitsnews June 25, 2009 at 9:58 am
WWSWD?
That is what we are all waiting on …
-FITS
By Boat June 25, 2009 at 10:31 am
From what I’ve heard, this is all just a big misunderstanding. Sanford told his staff that he was going to “hit some Argentinian Tail,” but poor cell phone reception led them to hear “hit the Appalachian Trail.” Really just a misunderstanding. Bet Sanford wishes he had AT&T
By Philip Branton June 25, 2009 at 10:31 am
The Editor of the STATE……should be fired…!!
The Editor of the Post and Courier ….should be FIRED..!!
The Editor of the Beaufort Gazz. ……should be fired !!
Reggie L and SLED should Publicly release ALL documents and timelines of WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE of ALL individuals involved..!!
1) All State IT Network Administrators…….
2) FBI requests….and by WHOM
3) All Email traffic and phone records of the STATE newspaper…..!!
4) Timelines and Personnel present when Bobby Harrell and Glenn McConnell were informed….!!!
5) What campaign money changed hands ………WHEN !?!
6) Gilda-Cobb Hunter’s AWARD from ….FURMAN…!!!!!!! AND ALL of her EMAIL Traffic…!!!!
7) Since JAKE “the SNAKE” Knotts is SO concerned ……..this is undoubtedly a SHOT over WHO’s…….bow?????
8) ALL Email SC Statehouse traffic should be SCANNED and made public involving ALL elected officials with any hint of SUGGESTION about Mark’s infedeility….!!!! How did they know and question them publicly …!!!
9) Was Brad Warthen fed up about this story not being PUBLISHED …..resulting in his dismissal…!?!?!
10) Mark did wrong….BUT the STatehouse should be fumagated…..!!!!!
WE…..ARE….FED….UP !!!!!!!!!!
By Shawn June 25, 2009 at 10:41 am
Didn’t your founder work for this weak minded man? lol
By Ed June 25, 2009 at 10:43 am
Sic Willie – get busy and get us a pic of the Argentinian love slave. Inquiring minds want to know.
We thought you had an inside track- don’t let us down.
By baked June 25, 2009 at 11:42 am
wow. i finally understand one of phillip’s posts. bravo. i have the feeling bloggers are the one and only way we’re going to get the answers to your questions. it sure ain’t gonna be the obama justice department, henry mcmaster, the state newspaper, any local tv stations, or keven cohen. where are you barney giese???????????????????
By Freddie Guy June 25, 2009 at 11:57 am
“I think it would be much better for the country and for him personally (to resign). I come from the business side. If you had a chairman or president in the business world facing these allegations, he’d be gone.” [Sanford on Clinton, The Post and Courier, 9/12/98]
Bet he regrets making this statement!
If you live in a glass house, you shouldn’t bang Argentinian E-mail pals!
…at least Nikki Haley’s Gov chances are DONE.
http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/06/17/sanfords-nikki-haley-lovefest-continues/
Thanks, Fits for filling us in.
Fred
By A-Rock June 25, 2009 at 1:54 pm
How does this change the race for Gov in 2010? I think it changes the whole scope if we end up with an Incumbent (AB) in the race.
By PEEP June 25, 2009 at 2:43 pm
What good does it do to point a finger at the “Judas” of this story?? The fact is, had Sanford behaved, there would have been no ammunition for the Judas or his associates.
By Bear June 25, 2009 at 2:46 pm
To quote from Laurel & Hardy “what another fine mess you gotten me (the state of South Carolina) into”. I do hope that he used his own money to fly to South America and not state funds.
By baked June 25, 2009 at 3:55 pm
PEEP. we look for the judas because someone broke the law. stealing, hacking or whatever into a person’s private email account is what we’re talking about. i think he should resign too…but i think those in his party who helped push this story should be held accountable for their actions too.
By Phil June 25, 2009 at 5:10 pm
This is the same guy that spoke out in Congress against the same misdeeds. Calling for resignations.
There is an old Chinese saying;
“If you sit on the banks of the river long enough you will eventually see the bodies of your enemies float by.”
Resign, please.
By James the Foot Soldier June 25, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Phillip and Baked: Welcome to politics – quit crying like little girls – stop worrying about Judas – EVERY political hack has their own John Dean.
Here’s a whacky thought: Let’s just just say no to affairs with Argentinians, affairs in airport bathrooms, affairs with “media consultants” while your wife is undergoing chemotherapy, affairs with a cigar loving intern, affairs with $5,000 a night “escorts”, and affairs with gay lovers.
By madcock June 25, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Phillip and Baked: I would like nothing better than to see even more Republican like Bauer, Harrell, McConnell, Warthen, Ross-Scoppe, etc. led away in chains. I could care less what the charges are.
BUT, what if it turns out to be Jenny Sanford who anonymously leaked the e-mails?
Also, if it is Mrs. Sanford, I wonder if she pondered what it was going to take to get these journalistic giants to do something with the blockbuster in their laps for six months. That liberal biased media again! LOL!