Picking on the press is always a risky strategy … but picking on the world’s largest news outlet? That could be potentially suicidal for a politician – particularly one who is already on “life support” as a result of previous indiscretions.
Amazingly, however, it appears that S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is intent on pursuing this strategy in the wake of the heightened media scrutiny stemming from his affair with Argentine lover Maria Belen Chapur. Specifically, Sanford is taking the fight to the Associated Press, which dinged him Friday with another investigative report on his latest round of air travel indiscretions.
Here’s the statement released this afternoon by office in response to the latest AP report, which outlined nearly three dozen flights on private planes that Sanford failed to disclose to the State Ethics Commission, as required by law.
“We continue to believe that the AP is selective in their view of the Governor’s travel. That has been the case, and based on this press account, it looks like this may continue to be the case. With the flights in question the office believed it was operating in full accord with all state laws. In many instances the governor was using private airplanes rather than the state plane as a way of saving taxpayer money. In other instances he simply, but emphatically, disagrees that flights should be classified as something other than what they were – with ‘friends and family.’ In still others arranged and paid for by an outside campaign committee or another political candidate, his campaign committee believed disclosure requirements would be met by the committee that had procured the flight.
The Governor continues to believe that as the full story gets out on airplane travel the public will come to see the ways in which his office has used the state plane one third or more less than any of his predecessors over the last twenty years. In the same vein, he used single engine airplane travel rather than expensive jet travel to save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, and did things like selling off a state-owned jet to save taxpayers more than $1 million.”
As it does in most states, the Associated Press serves as the South Carolina’s most influential news outlet – primarily because of its content-sharing agreements with other media outlets throughout the state. Basically, AP reports are picked up by virtually every major daily newspaper, news radio and TV station in South Carolina, which is why politicians are always scrambling to see if local stories about them “made the wire.”
Also factoring into the AP’s influence is its reach beyond South Carolina, which is something Sanford has learned the hard way over the past few months. The AP serves as the primary point of origin for national stories about South Carolina, which greatly enhances its influence. In fact, the first time we saw the latest two AP reports on Sanford, we were perusing the Washington Post website.
Obviously AP reports – like other MSM stories – are also fodder for blog stories, as was the case today on our website.
So … does it pay to pick a fight with the press?
In a word? No.
It’s fine to generically criticize “the media” (hell, they usually deserve it), but a politician calling out a news outlet by name? Under nearly any circumstance, that is patently inadvisable.
By CNSYD August 21, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Two old sayings come to mind. Don’t get in a pissing contest with a skunk and don’t get in a word fight with someone who buys their ink by the barrel.
By 1+1=3 August 21, 2009 at 7:13 pm
did anyone say he was bright?
By Commonman August 21, 2009 at 8:09 pm
“Extremism in the defense of absurdity is no vice” should be this administration’s motto. How can they keep issuing statements like this and look in the mirror in the morning. Don’t we have any pride, people. Obviously, the Governor doesn’t. Keep it going, AP. The State sure won’t.
By Jeannie August 21, 2009 at 8:51 pm
This is getting too much. I think AP sure do seem like sharks swimming in bloodied water. So he has rich friends and his wife has rich families and they have spontaneous flights – what’s the big deal? It’s not like he uses it all the time for purpose to his political advantage. This is shameful reporting by the AP. Sooner or later, the population are going to start feeling sorry for mark Sanford. Irony is he gave his exclusive interview to AP and now they turn around to stab him in the back. Repulsive.
By COURTNEY August 22, 2009 at 6:48 am
Waaaa, Waaaa, Waaaa….I guess this will be the next thing that he goes around the state crying about ????
What a complete and utter baffoon !!! You don’t wage war with someone who has an AK47 and all you are holding is a cap gun…….Dumbass!!!
By Gina August 22, 2009 at 9:42 am
But wait, wasn’t the AP the entity Sanford chose to have a lengthy interview (the one where he told of the love story-soulmate-blah-blah)?
He never said that the AP was selective in their view
of that story.
By Pamela August 22, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hey Jeannie, NO people are not going to feel sorry for Sanfruad you need to lay on the beach & leave to grown ups to handle this LOL
Hey Courtney you & I think alike almost all the time ” go girl go”
By COURTNEY August 22, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Jeanie…are you for real ???? You think that we will end up feeling sorry for the shithead ????? Have you been hiding under his rock too ??
The AP is GREAT and they need to keep digging and printing all the dirt they can uncover on this dumbass!!! Bet Markie wishes he had paid someone off not to rat him out when he gave the AP his earlier interview ….like I said before …DUMBASS !!!!
By Todd White August 22, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Wonder why we haven’t heard about the 8 year old girl who drowned on Sanford’s property? http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-06-25/sanfords-strange-side/p/
By anonymous August 22, 2009 at 8:39 pm
SOURCES SAY LONGTIME CONSULTANT JON LERNER ORCHESTRATING MEDIA BLITZ FOR JENNY SANFORD
Red Sea, LLC
And sources tell The Palmetto Scoop that is no coincidence — someone is advising Jenny Sanford on how best to use the governor’s political demise to her own advantage.
But who is behind the media advice?
That would be none other than longtime Mark Sanford consultant and confidant Jon Lerner…
Lerner, who runs the Maryland-based firm Red Sea, LLC, worked closely with Jenny Sanford as she pulled the strings during Mark’s Congressional and gubernatorial campaigns.
And now, apparently, Lerner is orchestrating a media blitz for the first lady with the goal of setting her up for something bigger. Just what that “something bigger” would be, however, is unknown.
“There’s more to come,” one source cryptically said. Of that there is no doubt.
http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2009/08/20/whos-...
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the Maryland-based firm Red Sea, LLC
That is the same company and consulting firm that Mark Sanford gave money to, RECENTLY.
Mark Sanford gave money to the Maryland-based firm Red Sea, LLC out of his campaign funds.
This is really getting interesting.
Why would Jenny Sanford and Mark Sanford use the same consultant and consulting firm?
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July 12, 2009
Mark Sanford dropping thousands on consultant Jon Lerner
Gov. Mark Sanford is in his penultimate year in office, so despite his recent mess, you would think he wouldn’t have any use for a campaign consultant. And, for a guy who famously does not seem to care what South Carolinians think when he’s developing his policies, he’s dropping serious coin on polling.
On May 11, Sanford paid his consultant Jon Lerner $4,000 for “consulting services.” He also sent $10,055 to Lerner’s polling wing, Basswood Research, on the same day.
Then, on June 29, he paid Lerner an additional $1,050. This comes on the heels of throwing $4,000 to Red Sea LLC in January, $4,100 in October, $4,000 in August, $17,135 last June and another $4,000 last May. But, it’s not like he’s been consistently paying Lerner during the second term — the first quarter of 2008 and fourth quarter of 2007 list no payments.
So, what’s the payoff? What’s Sanford getting? And why the hell is he putting down 10 large for polling in May?
And what is up with this?
http://www.wolfereports.com/?tag=red-sea-llc
By anonymous August 22, 2009 at 8:44 pm
“Sanford is spent nearly $18,000 from the state account in the second quarter. More than $15,000 went to Red Sea LLC of Bethesda, Md., and its polling operation, Basswood Research. That polling work played out amid Sanford’s fight to keep the state from taking nearly $700 million in federal stimulus cash.”
“That spending includes a check for $1,050 to Red Sea on June 29, the day Sanford began three hours of tear-filled interviews with The Associated Press detailing his affair.”
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090713/NEWS/907130315/0/NEWS03/Mark-Sanford-should-use-excess-funds-to-repair-GOP-brand–Katon-Dawson-says