As the saga of embattled S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford rolls on, three critical “root perceptions” are working against the governor in the court of public opinion as he seeks to survive the sex scandal that has engulfed his administration.
The first of these “root perceptions” stems from Sanford’s public comments about former President Bill Clinton eleven years ago – and the three articles of impeachment that then-Congressman Sanford supported.
At the time, Sanford told the Charleston Post and Courier that it would be “much better for the country and for (Clinton) personally” if the President resigned.
Obviously, Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and Sanford’s affair with an Argentine woman are two completely different situations, but parsing those differences is only likely to highlight the underlying hypocrisy.
In other words, people aren’t going to dig that deep into the details, they’re just going to see the governor as a hypocrite.
The second item working against the governor are mounting concerns that even during his tearfully meandering confessional Wednesday – is still not shooting straight with the people of South Carolina.
Specifically, Sanford said he spent five days “crying in Argentina” over what to do about his affair, but local sources say the governor and his lover were publicly laughing and kissing.
Also, Sanford says his trip was a last-second “spur of the moment” decision, but it was revealed yesterday that he booked the trip right around the time that First Lady Jenny Sanford imposed what she calls a “trial separation” on their marriage.
Bottom line, if the governor lied again during his confessional – during which he spoke of devoting his remaining time in office to regaining the trust of the people of South Carolina – his credibility will take a huge hit.
Third, and perhaps most importantly to Sanford’s future, are concerns about his use of taxpayer resources to further the affair.
As we noted yesterday, these minor expenses would represent a mere drop in the bucket compared to the billions state lawmakers blow each year on one of the nation’s least-efficient governments, but it’s the principle that counts.
Also, Sanford has built his career on railing against wasteful spending, which means he will get little latitude from those investigating him.
Speaking of which, FITS has learned that S.C. Senator Jake Knotts will call for a State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigation of Sanford immediately following the governor’s afternoon meeting with his Cabinet.
In an effort to preempt such an investigation, Sanford’s office announced yesterday that the governor will be reimbursing S.C. taxpayers for one leg of an economic development trip to South America during which the governor says he met with his Argentinian mistress, Maria Belen Chapur.
By Let us be real June 26, 2009 at 10:08 am
If Sanford has to repaymoney for a business trip that secured jobs and had a night on the town, then I want a refund from the US Navy for every port call that is made and our sailors are partying. After all, it is our money paying them
By SC Southpaw June 26, 2009 at 10:09 am
If I rob a bank, get caught and offer to give the money back, is it still a crime?
By Pat Hendrix June 26, 2009 at 10:22 am
Sanford is a terrible hypocrite. He rails against wasting tax payer then takes a couple of puntang junkets. He lies. He cheats on his wife. And he was a moral scold during the Clinton nonsense.
Yeah, maybe it is time to go.
By Brian June 26, 2009 at 10:45 am
I could care less about the cheating — that’s a personal issue between Mark, Jenny, and the boys. Don’t care too much about the funding of his trip if he did, in fact, engage in any legitimate business while he was down there. For me, it’s all about the hypocrisy and the coverup. Anyone think we’d be talking about this if not for the emails? He wouldn’t have admitted it, at least not yet, and would have happily continued to lie to us until he was found out at some later date.
By just wondering June 26, 2009 at 10:55 am
and 4th, you can’t carry the mantel against corruption while being corrupt yourself can you?
By justsaynotojoe June 26, 2009 at 11:12 am
If Jake Knotts is calling for a SLED investigation it means he already knows what will be found.
By Bo Zo June 26, 2009 at 11:28 am
The 4th thing hurting Sanford is the brains of the family has left him . Now he is left alone to flounder and formulate how he is going to get out of this self-induced mess. I view Sanford more as a dilly dallier than as a man of action(but only Maria really knows for sure).
By Deborah June 26, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Your article stated that SC is one of the nation’s “least efficient governments.” As compared to which other states? California? or the District of Columbia? Or the federal government itself? How can your reports have any credibility when the writer throws out such unsubstantiated information.
Yes, there is a lot of things hurting Governor Sanford, the first and foremost is his credibility. But, that also goes for the media, President Obama, and most of the Democratic Congress as well.
In the Governor’s case, there is a lot more than meets the eye. Time has a way of bringing out the truth. Perhaps we’ll learn one day soon if it is true that President Obama has had same sex affairs as it has been rumored.
By digintoit June 26, 2009 at 12:42 pm
How does a person come back from Argentina with such a fresh tan? It’s the dead of winter in Argentina.
By scribe June 26, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Has anyone ever known Gov. Sanford to be such a creative writer? Would the State have possibly copy edited his prose? The lack of type-os in such a series of emotionally-pained epistles is striking…and Sanford’s e-mails to not all appear to have been written by the same person.
By whatisitwithpols June 26, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Number #: He chose Father’s Day Weekend to take off to see her!
By peyton manning sucks June 26, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Had Gina Smith not nailed him at the Atlanta airport Wednesday, when exactly was Marky Mark planning on repaying the taxpayers (10 percent of) the money he spent on last year’s “hunting” trip?
Marky Mark for Prez in 2012!
By Richard June 26, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Scribe, did you just miss all the misspellings on those emails? At one point he used the term “world wind” instead of whirlwind.
By SCCON June 26, 2009 at 4:05 pm
And you don’t go to Argentina to see your girlfriend when you are trying to make things right with your wife. Not even to “say goodbye.”
That’s the thing that tilts my ire.
By Rylyn June 26, 2009 at 6:50 pm
That Senator that is so worried about a SLED investigation better check into his own SLED investigation over his DHEC issue.
Mark Sanford was WRONG and if he wanted to work things our with Jenny he should have really gone to the Appalachian Trail to write a book. I really think that he “thinks” he is in love. He needs to take a reality check and realize meeting someone 4 times a year for an “exotic” vacation is not love but a fantasy. I bet if he spent 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year with “Ms. Argentina” things wouldn’t look so good on that side of the world. Would she really be worth giving up his children for? All that being said…I would still rather had Mark Sanford as Gov. than the alternative.
By richard June 26, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Sanford missed the new GOP rebranding instructional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBKuRK1wD1A
By CNSYD June 26, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Let us be real, you obviously were never in the military. The old saw that you better give your heart to Jesus because you just gave your ass to the US Navy (or whatever service) is true. In the opinion of the military you are on the payroll 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. So in your thinking the Navy needs to return to days of the British Navy of Lord Nelson’s time where the ships never docked at a pier because the crew would run away. They kept the ships anchored in the harbor and would let female company come to the ship.