Davis Counseled Sanford To Resign
Gov. Mark Sanford’s longtime friend and strongest legislative ally says he counseled Sanford “on several occasions to consider resigning” in the wake of his sex scandal – advice the governor obviously isn’t taking.
S.C. Sen. Tom Davis – who previously served as the governor’s chief-of-staff – was mentioned repeatedly by the governor during his tearful press conference last week, as Sanford said his affair with an Argentine woman, Maria Belen Chapur, had “let down the Tom Davises of the world.”
Unlike most Republican and Democratic Senators, Davis is apparently not jumping on the “resignation bandwagon,” although he did have some strong words for his friend and former boss, saying that the governor had “no further margin for error.”
Here, in its entirety, is the text of Davis’ statement:
Over the past two weeks, South Carolinians have been disappointed, angry and embarrassed by the actions of Gov. Mark Sanford. I share these emotions. We cannot control the unfortunate circumstances that got us to this place, but we can and must control how we now move past them.
I have been Gov. Sanford’s friend for 30 years and the First Lady’s friend during their 20 years of marriage. God willing, we will remain friends for the next 30 years. I have not hidden my concern for Gov. Sanford and the First Lady or my support for them as they try to move forward together.
This is why as a friend, I asked Gov. Sanford on several occasions to consider resigning for the sake of his marriage and his family.
Gov. Sanford told me that discharging the duties of his office would not prevent him from working on that reconciliation, and the First Lady told me the same thing. I am not going to second-guess them in that personal matter.
As a state senator with responsibilities to my constituents, I met yesterday with SLED Chief Reggie Lloyd and Attorney General Henry McMaster to determine whether Gov. Sanford had violated any statutory or constitutional obligations. Both have assured me that Gov. Sanford did not break any laws and that he did not spend public dollars in this process.
Accordingly, unless any new facts are disclosed, I think it is time for me and other public officials to get back to work on the serious challenges facing our state.
That said, and as Gov. Sanford knows, he has no margin for further error in this particular matter. South Carolina simply cannot afford any additional embarrassment.
Davis went to college with Sanford and served as co-campaign manager on the governor’s two successful gubernatorial campaigns. He also led Sanford’s office to its most productive legislative sessions prior to leaving the governor’s office to run for the State Senate.
Comments
By Roy on July 3rd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Pretty reasonable statement all in all. We picked the wrong one to be Gov.
Can they just trade places?
By Vic on July 3rd, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Davis is a good man. I take no pleasure in that he finds himself in a bad place.
He is in my prayers.
By JTaycat on July 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Good RESIGN Sanford! Better yet take ALL of the republicans with you and move far far away to an Island where you all can no longer mettle with us little people trying to make it out here in the REAL world. No more religiosity, no more hypocrisy (mixed with superiority) no more anti environmental initiatives meant to help our planet, no more gun rights wingnuts, no more racists, bigoted arrogant, protect the wealthy on wall street, walmart lovin, fools! WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE! Get a LIFE!
By wd on July 4th, 2009 at 2:44 am
There is a certain irony in the fact that the guv, who recently had sex with a beautiful woman, is being told to GET A LIFE by someone making anonymous blog comments on a Friday night.
By liz on July 4th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Can we make a law where NO GOVERNOR leaves the country without informing his staff? Can we have a law whereby the Governor is actually available to govern… like 24/7?
Do we need to increase his pay to make him available to us?
Do we need to offer MORE benefits?
We need a Governor Mr. Davis, all the time, for all the people, not some of the time for some of the people.
Mark – go away.
By anonymous on July 4th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Lovenator Mark Sanford …a three-day trip in 2008 to Argentina to visit his lover.
Sanford has reimbursed taxpayers about $3,300 for the trip — one of seven times he said he rendezvoused with Maria Belen Chapur.
It was an unusual place to talk trade.
Argentina defaulted on its foreign debts in 2002 and tilted politically left. The U.S. Department of Commerce had not conducted a trade mission in the country between 2002 and 2008.
The governor briefly had joined some delegation members for a dove-hunting trip in Cordoba, Argentina, but cut the hunt short.
…he also admitted meeting Chapur in the evenings the first two days and most of the third day.
Sanford spent and the state paid for about $1,100 for two rooms — one room each for he and Graham for two nights.
Included in Sanford’s Buenos Aires Hilton bill was a mini-bar tab of about $40 and $200 in fees for a 6½-hour late departure fee because his return flight to the United States did not leave until 8:30 p.m.
He also was flown by helicopter to La Plata to meet with Buenos Aires Province Gov. Daniel Scioli.
Sanford had scheduled a free day on his final day in Buenos Aires — with only a visit to a local newspaper and a self-guided tour of the city…
However, those two items were missing from a U.S. Embassy hour-by-hour itinerary obtained by McClatchy.
Graham said he took the self-guided tour, but Sanford did not show up. Graham also said he did not think the governor visited the newspaper.
Sanford’s one-way air fare home was $4,000 for a business-class seat, records show. Graham’s air fare was $870 for coach.
Sanford did not reimburse any money for that flight.
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/851496.html
XOXOXOXO
By 1+1=3 on July 4th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Former GOP Chairman Katon Dawson, who suggested the idea during a CNN interview that Sanford donate money from his campaign fund to the state party for the damage he has done.
Was a deal cut?
By liz on July 5th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Davis needs to start doing homework. Watch out ya’ll. This story is going to get tremendous…….. it’s bigger than big.
By anonymous on July 5th, 2009 at 9:27 am
He lied about it. He tried to cover it up. Then, he admitted it — parts of it, anyway. And then he offered up sensational details, some of which contradicted sensational details he had offered before.
“About as bad as you can do,”
• Offered an unequivocal apology. Sanford did, but to his lover before his wife. Jarringly, he then continued to refer to his lover as his “soul mate.”
Sanford acknowledged he had met with his mistress more often than he had previously disclosed, called her his soul mate, said he will try to fall in love again with his wife and said he “crossed the lines” with other women — but not “the ultimate line.”
Mark Sanford said: ….uh uh uh …wait … wait …let me finish …uh uh uh …
By Crooner on July 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Thanks, Tom, for doing our state proud in the series of interviews you held over this debacle. It was a welcome departure from the typical, mush-mouthed old south response (which always SOUNDS racist whether or not it is) we’ve grown accustomed to. Isn’t articulate good to hear from our elected officials?