Sanford: “No Plans” To Step Aside, Even Temporarily
With the public tide continuing to turn against him and the state’s political establishment demanding his resignation, embattled S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford will not step aside – or take a temporary leave of absence.
“The governor has no plans to step aside, temporarily or otherwise,” Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer told FITS. “He remains committed and determined to repair the damage he has done in his marriage and to building back the trust of the people of South Carolina.”
Sources told FITS this morning that Sanford was contemplating taking a 60-day leave of absence, as is his constitutional prerogative. Ultimately, however, the governor did not appear to have the legislative support necessary to regain power, once relinquished.
As for his immediate plans, Sawyer said the governor will be leaving Columbia tomorrow morning to spend the Fourth of July with his family in Florida.
“He will be spending the long Fourth of July holiday weekend with his family, leaving for Florida tomorrow morning,” Sawyer added. “The Sanford family asks members of the media to respect their privacy while they are together this weekend. The Sanfords also hope to take a longer family vacation toward the end of July.”
Sanford has been under intense pressure to step down – even from friends – in the wake of his affair with an Argentine woman, Maria Belen Chapur.
Sanford initially appeared to have survived the scandal, but a disastrous Associated Press interview in which he called his lover his “soul mate” and said he was “trying to fall back in love” with his wife turned the tide of public opinion against him.
The governor also contradicted his previous statements about how many times he had visited with his lover, and professed to having “crossed lines” with other women.
Comments
By PandaChris on July 2nd, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Sanford asking for privacy is hilarious!
He has freely given these repeated confession-type interviews.
You know when you invite press coverage and then they follow up your discrepencies, its not the media who is the problem.
By CNSYD on July 2nd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
So who will be in charge in his absense? Do state officials have numbers where he can not only be reached but to which he will respond?
By Anon on July 2nd, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I hope he doesn’t mind if at least one journalists follows him and makes sure he takes the right exit or gets on a Florida bound plane. We know that Sawyer is either a liar or Sanford’s dupe.
By Misschief on July 2nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Thank God for the long weekend! Can we find another topic? This, coupled with the nauseating re-throning of poor, ole, finally-dead Michael Jackson; has left me without much appetite for pleasant things, like vinegar-and-mustard-based pork barbecue.
Anyway, I feel sorry for Mark Sanford. I think he’s a sick man. His color is bad, and his eyes are terribly weak. I cannot imagine who, besides a sociopath or saint, would ever want to serve in public office. And, I am assuming that Sanford must have the world’s worst handlers. After the first press briefing, he should have been placed in a straight jacket for everyone’s sake, if not for his family’s.
Give the man a break, even if we may wish he’d step aside. I still appreciate his policies. I really do.
By sic shillie on July 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
one thing’s for absolute certain, sanford thinks the people of SC are complete morons and he can get away with this whole fiasco. at the rate he’s going, maybe he can. Personally, i think he needs to go mingle at public 4th of July celebrations IN SC, apologizing to the people like he said he would. my real question is, what work for SC has he done since he left for argentina, what seems like so long ago, besides holding press conferences and giving interviews about his affair? I mean, this isnt France, you dont get a 6 week summer vacation.
By liz on July 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 am
He is hiding from the people of South Carolina because in my opinion he sold us a sack of dung. Maybe he did have an affair. Maybe he didn’t.
How do we know…. do you trust his word?
Anyone seen this Argentina passport stamp? For the right dates?
Can Maria speak out, is she in agreement that she is his soul mate?
How do you go to see your wife when you just confessed to a soul mate other than your wife?
Where does the M O N E Y trail lead?
By anthrcitizen on July 3rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I’m not a regular here, I stumbled in here from ’somewhere else’. Honestly unless you’re a politico you’re not out to hang Sanford. He used no taxpayer monies, his wife is still with him. The citizens of SC are not out to crucify this man, most people I know are pulling for him to get his act together back with his family and his job as governor of SC. If Sanford didn’t use taxpayer’s money it’s none of my business, nor yours who he is with. He hasn’t lied under oath, he spent no tax money on high end call girls etc. He didn’t knock his wife down a flight of stairs. A high percentage of men do consort with ‘outside interesting females’, perhaps the power and availability of women gets to them. (*see Bill Clinton)
(The Kennedy men) etc. He hasn’t solicited an underage page, nor preyed upon any star struck teenager. He is an adult, so is Jenny and so is the lady from Argentina.
As a citizen of this State and a voter, I have had a good relationship with the Office of the Governor. Thank you Governor Sanford, sorry you got caught with your e mails hanging out. I wish the best for Mark and Jenny Sanford and their children.
Get over it. He used no taxpayer money. It’s none ya business.