Keeping Him “In Country”
S.C. First Lady Jenny Sanford has been a master of the Palmetto political universe for some time now, engineering her husband’s upset Congressional victory in 1994 and managing both of his victorious gubernatorial campaigns in 2002 and 2006.
In fact, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has never lost an election – an fourteen-year undefeated string largely attributable to his wife’s skill as a campaign manager.
Along the way, the First Lady has earned a reputation as a savvy, no-holds-barred political operative with a keen mind and hard-edged managerial style – qualities that no doubt also served her well during a successful career on Wall Street.
Now, as her husband’s political fortunes plummet (and his political future evaporates) in the wake of an extramarital affair with his Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur, Jenny Sanford has managed to emerge from the scandal more beloved than ever.
By refusing to stand by her man – and by making it clear that his political future is not her concern – Jenny has earned considerable national acclaim.
Of course, as FITS first reported last week, the truth behind those headlines is that Mark Sanford’s political future – or the next eighteen months of it, at least – is very much Jenny Sanford’s concern, although not in the way you might think.
That’s because underneath the First Lady’s tough exterior is a woman who deeply loves her family – and who will apparently do anything to save it.
Does that include personally “calling off the dogs” last week at a critical point in the political drama surrounding her husband’s tenuous hold on power?
“Absolutely,” our sources say.
In fact, as we reported yesterday, the First Lady is said to have personally intervened last week with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was on the verge of publicly calling for the governor’s resignation. Also, several other elected officials and opinion leaders in the Palmetto State have told FITS that the First Lady persuaded them to hold off on demanding that the governor step down.
“Absent her involvement, right now we would be speaking of the Sanford administration in the past tense,” said one politico who received what’s already being referred to as the Jenny treatment. “She backed a lot of us off (calling for Sanford to resign).”
Why would she do that, though? That’s what no one seems to understand.
After all, isn’t Jenny Sanford the last person you would expect to be standing up for her husband right now? Particularly after he lied to her and visited a lover that she specifically forbade him to see again? Oh, and publicly humiliated her – and did God knows what to her kids – in the process?
And if Jenny Sanford was in fact going to take her husband back, wouldn’t she want that reconciliation to take priority over his political career? Specifically when all he has left is eighteen months of a lame duck gubernatorial administration?
That would be our thought, but believe it or not, we’re hearing that just the opposite is true.
In fact, according to sources close to the First Family, the threat of Mark Sanford losing his job as governor is currently the only thing that’s keeping their marriage together.
“She’s keeping him in country,” a source close to Mrs. Sanford told FITS. “She knows if he’s out of a job he’s on an airplane to Buenos Aires.”
Another source familiar with the Sanfords’ “reconciliation” said the same thing.
“It’s the only card she has to play,” the source said. “The threat hanging over him is the only way they reconcile.”
Indeed, the governor has reportedly told friends that he doesn’t want his affair with Chapur to be the “last chapter” of his political career. They say he is intently focused on rehabilitating his tattered public image, but that he seems “lost” when the discussion turns personal.
“I think his head and his heart are in Argentina,” a source close to Sanford tells FITS.
Does that mean, then, that the threat of losing the governor’s office is the only thing that’s keeping Sanford from being there physically?
“Yes,” the source says.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in this sad soap opera …
Comments
By SC Moderate on July 8th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
“he doesn’t want his affair with Chapur to be the “last chapter” of his political career. They say he is intently focused on rehabilitating his tattered public image”
This quote says it all- exactly why Sanford will not step down. And it has nothing to do with serving the people of South Carolina. He is incapable of serving anyone other than himself. And will do so at any cost.
As I mentioned before… seems like its time to find some egotistical, sex crazed animals to take to the statehouse for a press conference. Pull a pig stunt of our own. Too bad he doesn’t have the political power to pull stunts any more- he can’t even have a press conference.
By CNSYD on July 8th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
And after he exists the stage 18 months hence, her plan is?
By 1st none surprised on July 8th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
What is going with a great number of politicos in S.C.? Must they all risk not only their reputations but careers over sex and drugs? From Sanford to Chesterfield County, these guys just can’t stay away from cheating on their wives, out of bathrooms soliciting gay sex (see Plot Thickens on this site), and I know at least 3 law enforcement people in our my area that has a thing for the crack and drug “Hos”. Is the extracurricular activities of sex really that great and worth losing so much? Why didn’t Jenny just run for governor herself?
By Alex on July 8th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Poor Mrs. Sanford!
The crisis of abstinence from Maria will make the governor obesione love or more. 18 months and may return to his lover, the love of your life and say that it does not destroy his political career.
By 1+1=3 on July 8th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
So SC pays the price because she can’t keep a leash on him any other way
Didn’t take an insider to know this – I said it yesterday
And SC politicians are all okay with this – which says a lot
By Susan on July 8th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Oh my, I’m feeling like a pawn in the Sanford marriage. Does either one of them actually care about South Carolina, or is it to keep him out of Argentina for her, and to salvage what little dignity he can, for him?
And what right does Mrs. Sanford have to lobby for keeping her husband in office, merely to keep him away from the other woman?
Wow they are not even thinking about the good people of SC, but then, did they ever?
By Another Opinion on July 8th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
The failure to get Sanford out of office is just another nail the coffin of SC’s economic future. What company wants to invest in a state that cannot even get rid of its leader who admitts to committing a crime against the Bible and if it had happened in SC, a criminal offense in his own state. He has to reimbuse the state for getting his DOC to changing a economic recruiting trip to include a left leaning country that will not do business ever with us so he could see his lover, his “true sould mate.”
It is a shame that the news media and Mr. Folks cannot extend their search of Mr. Sanford’s comings and goings to find out who these close friends were that accompanied him on these foreign trips to “blow off steam.” I think it could be very telling and could bring into play his close political friends that have supported him through this mess. Could they have witnessed the “crossing of the lines” with a number of females?
I guess we will never knew the truth since no one is willing to see this to the end.
By Disappointed on July 9th, 2009 at 7:53 am
If this is true, it may take this whole mess to new depths.
If this is true, then Mrs. Sanford sees our state as her little plaything. Never mind if his staying in office is bad for the state, bad for the party, just bad generally — it would be good for her “and her four boys.”
Sorry, ma’am, but that isn’t what the state is here for.
I hope this angle is false.
By anonymous on July 9th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Cost for Sanford trips $70,000
Taxpayers have spent another $380,000 for governor to fly on state plane
Since taking office in 2003, Sanford has taken at least one major international trip a year, flying to China, Japan, Great Britain, France, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Brazil and several other countries
In 2007, he touched down on two continents, attending the Paris Air Show that June and in China a few months later. On these long trips, Sanford often flew business class at a cost of several thousand dollars a ticket.
These costs are in addition to the more than $380,000 in expenses the governor’s office has tallied using the state’s plane to fly Sanford, his staff and family on hundreds of flights throughout South Carolina and other states.
After he was elected to Congress in 1994, he agonized about a 1995 trip to Chile, Brazil and Argentina. “I know politically it’s not the right thing ever to go on any trip,”
As a congressman, and later as governor, Sanford became a frequent flyer.
• A trip July 16-18, 2006, to the Farnborough Air Show outside London. The Commerce Department said Sanford also held a dinner with a business prospect. The governor’s tab for his airfare alone: $7,063.
• The Paris Air Show and Germany June 16-24, 2007, where the governor and aides held meetings with business and government officials. Sanford canceled meetings in Stockholm and returned early because of the Sofa Super Store fire. Sanford’s plane tickets cost $9,890.
• Poland and Germany in April, where Sanford and aides met with BMW executives and government officials. Sanford’s costs were $5,035. He also returned early from that trip, this time because of the wildfires in Myrtle Beach.
• The most publicized trip, however, has been the economic development mission Sanford took to Brazil and Argentina June 21-27 last year. Sanford’s air fare was $8,687, credit card receipts show. During the trip, Sanford secretly met Maria Belen Chapur, his mistress. Sanford recently paid back about $3,000, which he said was the Argentine leg’s cost.
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jul/09/cost_sanford_trips88673/
By sic shillie on July 9th, 2009 at 9:28 am
neither jenny or mark are from south carolina. they couldnt care less about this state except for what they can get out of it for themselves. it’s quite obvious that they treat this state as their own personal feudal principality and the people’s will has about as much influence over their decisions as a serf’s influence over the lord or baron they are indentured to. mark’s ideological claims of “small government” are completely hollow and are simply a smokescreen for “privatization” aka selling off the valuable pieces of SC to whatever bidder benefits the sanfords and the people they are connected to via wall street/big money interests. fortunately, SC has pretty much been run like a feudal state since its inception as a slave colony, so the sanfords simply represent the status quo. mark’s scandal ripped the facade off for the people to see the reality for about 10 seconds, but its back to business as usual in the palmetto state. nothing to see here, people, move along.
By shiya on July 9th, 2009 at 11:09 am
contrary to what everyone thinks, i thinks its Jenny and the boys who are at the mercy of Sanford. He doesnt care a damm…he can fly off to Argentina. Jenny needs her boys to forgive Sanford and make him work for it. That is why she needs him to be present here. Sanford has already communicated loud and lear that Maria is his soulmate. There is no chance of getting his marriage back, and he knows it. He is just waiting out the 18months, and he has managed to get it on his terms. Not resign,not repent, keep his office and have Maria waiting for him.
what a pathetic low-life.
I just wish Jeny would let go of this guy. Once he moves to Argentina, the whole spaky thing may just fall off. what will he d then. he will be more of a pariah than John Edwards.
By scooter on July 9th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I am not interested in being one of many inside the marriage of Mark and Jenny Sanford. They have said and done to much in the public arena and I am sick of them both. It is long known that Jenny is a take-no-prisoners woman. Lots of folks have heard and seen her at her “best”. No one wants to cross her. Both are invited to leave the state on the first Greyhound heading out of town. To them both: get lost!
By 1+1=3 on July 9th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Does anyone know where he is? Hasn’t been seen since the port meeting?
By Another opinion on July 9th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Not only are they not form South Carolina, neither are Davis(NJ) and Ryberg (WIS). They may be others. Makes you wonder what is going on? Out of staters telling us that we do not know what we are doing and what they recommend is better. Sounds like the days of carpetbaggers!
By 1st none surprised on July 9th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Wow, talk about your big government spending. Where I am locally, it’s the same way. Same families running things for years. Absolutely, SC is still operated as a feudal state. The Sanfords are here as “royalty” to cash in on what they can. Most people would have the decency to step down.
By anonymous on July 10th, 2009 at 6:09 am
A Trade Mission?
A Trade Mission?
Sanfraud was on a “mission”, but it wasn’t a “trade mission”.
Sanfraud was on a Argentian Putang Mission.
Sir, did you successfully complete your Trade Mission in Argentina? uh uh uh …yes I did! …uh uh uh ….wait …let me finish…mission accomplished! …yes sir, putang mission accomplished …uh uh uh …wait let me finish…
By Longshot on August 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Makes perfect. Jenny has professional watchdogs (press) seeing to his every move for 18 months. She gets full time security detail at her beckon call. If the kids get security (baby sitting) too this will only cost maybe three million for next 18 months.
As soon as he leaves office he is on the next plane to Maria in BA laughing all the way with his congressional retirement, his governors retirement, his big estate etc.
By kbfenner on August 10th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Make it stop!! I just got back from Chicago, which is thriving compared to here. It should be the other way around. We have by far the better people, the prettier state, much better weather–we just have to decide that we are not going to put up with business as usual any more. Chicago was famously corrupt until very recently, as was the state of Illinois even more recently. Chicago got its act together. Come one, South Carolina, let’s show them we aren’t a lunatic asylum!