Group Starts “Stand With Jenny” Campaign
“She’s an Old Testament woman with a 170 IQ.”
That’s S.C. First Lady Jenny Sanford, people, as described by those who worked with her on the campaign that first elected her husband, Mark Sanford, to the S.C. Governor’s Office seven years ago.
Today, that description is as accurate as ever – even as the husband whose political destiny she shaped ended up betraying her in the worst possible way.
“He would have never won either of his governor’s races without her — no way,” our founding editor Will Folks told the Washington Post last week. “She ran the show. He pointed the direction he wanted to go, and she was the bulldozer that cleared the path and got him there.”
The fact that Jenny Sanford is not “standing by her man,” who announced to a throng of reporters last week (all by his lonesome) that he had been unfaithful to her, is not surprising. But she has left a door open for him to reconcile with his family, should he so choose.
She’s also been brutally candid in discussing how she learned of the affair, the steps she took to get her husband to end it and how it has made her feel as a wife and a mother. And she’s pulled no punches when it comes to what she thinks of her husband’s political future, which is to say she’s not particularly concerned one way or the other what he decides to do.
Her response has clearly struck a chord with South Carolinians, particularly people of faith.
Today, the Palmetto Family Council – a leading advocacy group for social conservative issues – has started a “Stand With Jenny” petition to show its support for the First Lady.
“Your willingness to seek reconciliation while refusing to sacrifice your dignity or compromise the truth is an example for us all,” the group’s statement reads. “Your steadfast focus on (the Sanford’s four sons) throughout this crisis in your family is an inspiration, especially for the women and girls of our state.
The group said it started the “Stand With Jenny” petition due to the “large volume of telephone calls and emails” it received in support of the First Lady.
That’s understandable.
Jenny Sanford is and has always been a class act, and the fact that she’s demonstrating that so effortlessly during this whole drama doesn’t surprise us in the least.
Props to the PFC for recognizing it.
WEB EXTRA
Comments
By StupidShouldHurtMore (SSHM) on June 29th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
. . . as I thought.
The puppet master has grown tired of her marionette. Read between the lines of her official press release regarding her husband. If that was not THE definition of distance AND testing the political waters, I don’t know what is.
Mark my words . . . Jenny will emerge from the shadows of Mark. No more will you have to “ignore the woman behind the curtain.”
Jenny will run and seek higher office. With her vehicle to higher office broken and battered, she will do it herself.
- SSHM
By PandaChris on June 30th, 2009 at 12:26 am
As long as the standing with Jenny crowd doesnt morph into a Sanford is sorry so lets forgive him even if he misused taxpayer dollars, I think this movement is great!
By Todd on June 30th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Jenny should have been the governor in the first place.
By liz on June 30th, 2009 at 8:06 am
I’d like to start a STAND BY SOUTH CAROLINA campaign. Maybe Jenny will join me??
By yarrrrr on June 30th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Jenny should just lay low and avoid the media for a long while… people these days are built up and tore down really fast by the media…
By BC on June 30th, 2009 at 10:19 am
I once wondered what was the greatest crime or offense someone could commit to another human being. The answer is betrayal. While adultery is largely not a crime (not withstanding the old code of laws on this matter) it is still an offense that has long standing psychology and emotional damange. Here’s a question to consider, how would you feel had someone done something as treacherous to you?
By Ben on June 30th, 2009 at 10:23 am
They should also start a petition called “Lie with Mark.”
By GMAFB on June 30th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I hate the tendency people have these days to turn every scandal into a “teaching moment” or a victim awareness campaign. Ugh.
Stand with Jenny? Absurd! She’s a private citizen. As she’s reportedly an extremely bright woman with great resources, let her work through this on her own. Give her the gift of privacy. And in return, perhaps she can give us the gift of discretion–no more soul baring statements from her (or Sanford, hopefully). We don’t need to turn her into the poster child of marital (in)fidelity, nor do we need a state wide, angst-ridden, “Biblical” support group for women with wayward husbands.
Sanford broke his marriage vows and that’s pathetic, it’s also irrelevant to me and many other citizens. All that matters is his performance as Governor. Are the best interests of the citizens being served? This should be a political issue, not a “wives and mothers” empowerment campaign.
By Steve on June 30th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I think it a mistake to consider the infidelity by our governor a matter that is irrelevant. An attitude like that is what has brought our society to its comatose attitude towards immorality and sin.
Yes, it is a private matter between the governor and his family. However, Jenny Sanford is taking a Biblical stand that appears to be “peculiar” to alot of folks. God calls us to be a peculiar people. Our governor and his family need our prayer support, regardless of anyone’s political future.
By ronn on June 30th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I guess the governor prefers breasts to brains. Besides, he is in love with Maria, so cut the guy some slack. Geez.
By CNSYD on June 30th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Steve, you are correct. Marky Mark is certainly peculiar.
By beachbum1966 on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Jenny could make a great run at president if she wished. I’ve always been far more impressed with her, than her husband, Palin, Hillary, and most other politicians.