By Mark Sanford
In my first race for Congress a local reporter in Myrtle Beach had taken a few words from an interview and used them in a different context to paint a picture that was far from what I believed. When I confronted him on taking my words out of context his simple reply was, “Life is out of context.”
I believed then, as I do today, that when reporters, who are supposedly there to simply report the news, do these sorts of things in telling the story they favor, it isn’t right – and it seems to me this past weekend’s story on airplane travel falls along these lines.
I’ve always held the media, the so-called fourth branch of government, in high regard as holding people accountable is absolutely vital to the working of an open political system. I messed up and deserve my licks for it – but this doesn’t give some in the media license to write as they please. Anyone with a busy and intertwined life can be made to look foolish if one ignores the larger context of travel within the state – so let me offer two points of context and then a couple of examples showing why I believe this past weekend’s story and its approach are wrong.
The first point of context would be that I have used the state plane less than my predecessors. When measuring four year terms, Governor Campbell flew 451.6 hours, Governor Beasley flew 303.17 hours and Governor Hodges flew 310.06 hours, while I flew 228.95 hours.
I’ve always tried to watch out for the taxpayer dime and accordingly have tried to be as judicious as possible in using the state plane. I tried to go the extra mile here because of the 228.95 hours I flew roughly 70 were actually in the single engine Cessna DNR owns, because whenever I had a chance I tried to use this small plane that has an operating cost about 1/5th that of the King Air – saving taxpayers more than $60,000. No governor has done this before, and it is hardly “gubernatorial” in its look and feel, but I thought it was worth the savings. As an administration we also sold the fraction interest in the Hawker jet, which had transatlantic capability and saved more than $1.5 million. We consolidated helicopter and fixed wing aircraft use between SLED and DNR for several hundred thousands of dollars of additional savings. As well, we decided to rent out both the Governor’s summer residence in Charleston and the Lace House at the Governor’s residence, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars for the state.
The second point of context is that out of the 353 hours flown over the last six and a half years, some in the media have called into question about 7 hours of flight. That represents two percent of the total flight hours taken.
A few examples:
The article suggests I had “flown back to my favorite hair salon”. I did call the office on my way back from official state business in Myrtle Beach to say I wanted to drop by for a haircut – but this so-called hair salon in this case is a walk-in Great Clips where you can get an $11 haircut. Why in the world would I rush back to keep an “appointment” at a place that doesn’t take appointments?
The article says “I flew the family back from Beaufort on Thanksgiving weekends.” Does anyone believe that Jenny – or in particular the boys – really wanted to leave their Thanksgiving weekend early to walk down the State House steps for the annual Governor’s Christmas Tree Lighting? If that isn’t official business, I don’t know what is – and it’s been expected of governors to attend for the last 42 years.
The article says that “I flew from Columbia to Mt. Pleasant for a dentist appointment.” It is true that I went by the dentist office for 15 minutes because I chipped my tooth, but this is hardly the larger context of the visit. At 4 pm on that day, the 23rd of March 2005, I testified before the Senate Finance Sub-Committee on our income tax proposal; I had the chance to tell thousands of people on the coast about it through an in-studio interview with Channel 2 at 6:50. Not knowing when the subcommittee would end, the state plane was used so that I would be certain of making the interview.
I won’t belabor the point, but it is a simple one. Inevitably, I am certain that there is something our office did less than perfect in my constant moving around the state, but I can say with equal clarity that it was always within the context of trying to maximize my days and watch out for the taxpayer in the process.
The author is governor of South Carolina.
By CNSYD August 13, 2009 at 9:39 am
When I was a young lad, my parents never would let me get away with saying “everybody else did it”.
By StupidShouldHurtMore (SSHM) August 13, 2009 at 9:50 am
GO AWAY!
You are an utter failure as a governor. Every individual that has held your office has left a mark on the state of South Carolina. I never though I’d need a passport and a black light to see yours.
It will be a pleasure to forget you and the failures you have wrought for South Carolina.
- SSHM
By stimulus August 13, 2009 at 9:52 am
sounds good to me but i think he should just stay quiet.
By bo August 13, 2009 at 10:14 am
i agree with him…he didn’t abuse the plane
By VS August 13, 2009 at 10:27 am
Maybe if you would have listened to me when you first took office. You would actually have some allies to fall back on in Cola. You could have been a great governor. I respect going into Rome and saying I’m not going to act like a Roman but you went into Rome and told all the Romans that you wouldn’t work with them unless they acted like you. How did that work for you Mark?
When the narcissim bubble bursts, reality seems much less forgiving. Though head doctors say that a true narcissist is incapable of understanding this concept until its too late. Mark its too late.
By Donny August 13, 2009 at 10:29 am
Sounds like Andre’s people are out in force today.
Just think, if Andre were not a reckless boy scamming the system for everything he can get, Sanford would have probably been forced out. So in a way, Sanford really owes Bauer.
Maybe Bauer will get a Christmas card this year. Probably addressed to Andre and Jakie.
By follydude August 13, 2009 at 10:35 am
… at least he didn’t quote the Bible every other sentence.
By 1+1=3 August 13, 2009 at 10:54 am
and it’s been expected of governors to attend for the last 42 years.
We expect him to govern too – this guy is unzipped from head to head
By anonymous August 13, 2009 at 12:13 pm
“I flew, roughly 70 were actually in the single-engine Cessna the S.C. Department of Natural Resources owns because whenever I had a chance I tried to use this small plane” …”it is hardly “gubernatorial” in its look and feel”
Everytime you see one of those big black SCDNR 4 X 4’s, the pickup trucks(SCDNR logo) with the big cattle guard/cable wench on the front running up and down the road, well, just remember they are running errands for the LUV GUV.
BTW, which state agency took Sanfrauds boat in for repair, you guessed it, SCDNR. Wasn’t it SCDNR that has those little propeller aiplanes flying all around the state that Sanfraud likes so much, oh and also keep in mind that they don’t keep any log records of their flights, NO RECORDS? NO LOG BOOKS?
What was the governor doing flying around with the SCDNR? Really?
What was the purpose of the trips? Where was he going? What was he doing?
By Nathan Rice August 13, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hmmm, this is an interesting story. I’m always glad to see context when it comes to media coverage of conservative politicians. Gov. Sanford’s explanation is actually quite revealing.
I don’t think he’s saying “everybody else did it”, CNSYD … he was pointing out that he has flown less than his predecessors. He then went on to explain that the “personal use” of air travel wasn’t nearly as “personal” as everyone is making it out to be. That’s a legitimate contextual perspective, which I appreciate.
I guess I need to retract my previous comment in light of the context. Passing judgement prematurely is almost always a mistake. Not saying he’s innocent. Just saying I’m not sure he’s guilty. We’ll see.
By GGIH August 13, 2009 at 12:55 pm
State employees can’t charge the state for traveling from their homes to their jobs. Sanford did. State employees can’t charge the state for an expensive seat on a commercial plane if a cheaper one is available. Sanford did.
But this is my favorite part: “Does anyone believe that Jenny – or in particular the boys – really wanted to leave their Thanksgiving weekend early to walk down the State House steps for the annual Governor’s Christmas Tree Lighting?” No one forced him to run for governor. If he and his family didn’t want the job, he shouldn’t have run.
By CNSYD August 13, 2009 at 2:01 pm
GGIH, what Sanfraud really wanted was that the whole of state government move to SI and/or Beaufort so he wouldn’t be bothered to leave home (wherever that is). The Christmas tree could have been in the backyard. The dogs would not have to be transported and he would be near his dentist.
By CNSYD August 13, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Nathan Rice, how much his predecessors did or did not use state planes and for what purpose is what Sanfraud (and apparently you) fail to understand. It matters not. If he used them just once incorrectly then he is wrong. Don’t obfuscate the subject with extraneous information is the point.
By K Trane August 13, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Hmmm… I believe him. If there’s one thing Sanford is, he’s a fiscal conservative.
By Dan Tripp August 13, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Gov, your lips are doing this (BLAHBLAHBLAH) I want them to do this (———–)
By Nathan Rice August 13, 2009 at 4:23 pm
CNSYD, I agree. But his goal in pointing out how much less he used the plane was not to distract from any incorrect usage of the plane, but rather to point out that his official use of the plane was reduced from his predecessors’ usage, demonstrating his fiscal conservatism even in things he was ALLOWED to overuse.
Whether or not he MISused the planes is another point altogether. Obviously, if he misused any state resource exclusively for personal use, then he isn’t a consistent fiscal conservative. Just because he might cut the plane usage by 80 hours doesn’t mean he gets to use a single minute on personal trips. Principles DO matter. And if he did that, then he can’t call himself a principled fiscal conservative just based on the “net savings” he accomplished.
But I certainly wouldn’t call for him to resign based on an affair or a little misuse of taxpayer dollars. If that were the litmus test for me calling for his resignation, there wouldn’t be a politician in the country that would pass. All I can do is try to elect a guy/gal I believe when they say they will be rigidly principled and incorruptible in office.
And, if Sanford misused taxpayer funds AT ALL, then he was corrupted. I just hope there’s a person out there who can resist that temptation sometime in the future.
By Freehawk August 13, 2009 at 11:09 pm
You are right Gov Sanford, no one would expect you to spend Thanksgiving in Columbia. What were we thinking?