S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has made a big deal about winning back the trust of South Carolinians, but it’s doubtful that the wait staff at a York County restaurant specializing in Asian cuisine will be among the converts.
Why not? Because Sanford allegedly failed to tip his server at the Red Bowl Asian Bistro in Rock Hill earlier this week – on a $200 dinner tab. For those of you without a “tip calculator” handy, a standard, fifteen percent tip on a $200 tab comes out to $30.
Multiple sources in Rock Hill – including several political allies of the governor – have confirmed that the governor dined at the restaurant on Wednesday with former S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman and several other guests.
The owner of the restaurant, Joseph Yang of Rock Hill, reportedly “took care of” his server after Sanford failed to tip and has laughed off the whole incident, joking that he would set up a “self serve buffet” the next time the governor was in town.
According to our sources, Yang concluded that the governor must have been preoccupied, adding that Sanford was welcome back at his restaurant “any time.”
Frankly, that’s a lot nicer than most restaurant owners would be – particularly those familiar with the governor’s view of restaurant employees.
The notoriously-frugal Sanford (surprise, surprise) is also a notoriously-awful tipper, although this appears to be the first time a story of his bad tipping has hit the media.
Guess that’s just the price of infamy, though, as virtually every aspect of Sanford’s life has come under intense scrutiny ever since he admitted earlier this summer to having an extramarital affair with Latin lover Maria Belen Chapur. Investigations conducted into Sanford’s travel practices have since uncovered numerous abuses, forcing the governor to fend off multiple calls for his resignation.
Lawmakers are also strongly considering impeaching Sanford and removing him from office, a process that appears to hinge on an ongoing investigation by the State Ethics Commission.
Obviously incidents like this don’t help the governor in the court of public opinion.
Also, earlier this week, Sanford’s public image took another hit when a car he was traveling in was pulled over for speeding – but the driver was not cited initially. Three years ago, Sanford’s office blasted the S.C. Highway Patrol for letting Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer go without a ticket after Bauer was pulled twice for speeding.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' October 9, 2009 at 4:36 pm
More proof that the guy is an asshole, but not much of a story.
By Rylyn October 9, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Is there anything else you can find negative to say about the Governor? Let it go!!!
By Pat Hendrix October 9, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Why didn’t that turd Norman reach for his wallet? He’s from Rock Vegas.
Sanford stiffing a guy/gal working for $2.30 an hour is perhaps worse than comparing himself to King David. Oh, and the Guv is only frugal when it’s his own money. Flying for tang or haircuts on the txpayer’s dime is fine.
By Strom's Daughter October 9, 2009 at 5:51 pm
According to Maria Belen Chapur:
“Marco no like to teep. I say, ‘Marco, why you no teep the waiters? The waiters weel theenk you are a gringo asshole grande for jour no teep.’
“Marco respond: ‘Eef I leave a teep it make dee world more socialistica. In South Carolina we no have teep, and there it ees like a paradise. Dee climate also ees muy, muy warm, so my peoples can live in dee trees. Teeps and education are like dee devil in South Carolina. We don’t need no steenking education. What I need are water buffalo.’
“I say, ‘Oh, Marco, take me to jour beautiful South Carolina so I can be dee wife of a handsome dictador, mi amor. You are dee sunshine of my life, like a Stevie Wonder. Now ees dee time to leef jour wife who ees muy frigido. She must abdicate and ask for poleetical asylum in Mississippi.”
By Karla M. McGowan October 9, 2009 at 6:35 pm
What a Jackass Sanford is! Every time I see this guy on TV I feel like I need to shower.
By George Jefferson October 9, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Thats the same thing he has been doing to the whole state jipping us for almost 8 years.
By southernmapart October 9, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Yeah, this article is not saying much of nothin’. Double-negatives is a lame response to a lame story.
By Mike October 9, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Seriously guys! Does he kick puppies too?! Fixated.
By Eric October 9, 2009 at 7:39 pm
In other news, Mark Sanford did not wash his hands after going to the bathroom. These non-stories are getting kinda annoying.
By madcock October 9, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Tell the waiter to get in line. As a resident of the first congressional district of South Carolina, the SOB has been stiffing me for years.
By fitsnews October 9, 2009 at 9:57 pm
To all of you who say this isn’t news, we posted this story at around 5 p.m. and within four hours it had become the most viewed story of the day.
For whatever reason, people love to read up on the latest Sanford gossip.
-FITS
By 1 + 1 = 3 October 9, 2009 at 10:49 pm
“Does he kick puppies too?!”
No, just his wife and sons…to the curb.
By Commonman October 9, 2009 at 11:31 pm
That is pretty crappy, to say the least. The man is a work of art, abstract, but still a work of art.
By SanfordLuva October 10, 2009 at 12:31 am
And to all of you who say this isn’t news, you did go in and read it, didn’t you… didn’t you… admit it you were curious… and THEN you posted a comment. Five minutes you could have spent petting your dog or something.
By Catherine October 10, 2009 at 12:34 am
Sic,
The “standard” tip hasn’t been 15% since the ’90′s, you cheapskate. Think 20 or 25. Remind me to spit in your food next time you come in.
By Mike Honcho October 10, 2009 at 12:54 am
“To all of you who say this isn’t news, we posted this story at around 5 p.m. and within four hours it had become the most viewed story of the day.
For whatever reason, people love to read up on the latest Sanford gossip.”
Most viewed story of the day? That’s quite a logic chain Billy. The other stories du jour are about Kate Gosselin doing a skit on the worst hour of television, Rugby and golf as Olympic sports, repeated unoriginal analysis of Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary.
If you had posted video of paint drying it would have outpaced the rest of that brilliant lineup combined.
I realize more people read the back of my cereal box than the Palmetto Scoop, but please spare us the spin.
By Calhoun Fawls October 10, 2009 at 3:06 am
Give Sanford a break, he thought the server was a slave owned by the cafe owner.
By Willam Klinton October 10, 2009 at 7:26 am
Sanfraud only tips argentine Dragqueen ass, and yes this is news because this idiot refuses to resign and if he wipes his ass I hope the print a story about his criminal ass everyday until he is impeached.
By ethel krabitz October 10, 2009 at 7:53 am
cheap bastard
By alaindelon October 10, 2009 at 10:51 am
He is a consistent as a jerk…Isn’t it the person who had South
Carolina taxpayers pay for “my johnson is aching for Maria Chapur” trip?
The partial refund (when he got caught) makes it even worse.That’s why we
want a resignation and not an apology.Sanfraud is still clueless.
By SnakeMD October 10, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Sanford is really a kind and generous man. Just last week he discovered two homeless people eating grass. He asked his driver to pull over and he asked them to join him in the backseat of the gov’s Suburban. He told them he was taking them to the governor’s mansion. Wow! As they looked at each other in surprise, Sanford told them they could all they wanted at the G-Mansion, because the grass was up to about 6 inches!
By Darth October 10, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Awww heck, you mean Sanford actaully had his wallet with him and didn’t get Jim Merrill or Frank Witchey to cover the tab… oops fell out of the time warp at Anson…
By BIN News Editorial Staff October 10, 2009 at 9:27 pm
sic(k) willie, how much money did you make off this post?
Here’s a site that may help. Go to the section about sluggish sites.
By shiya October 11, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Hey, FITS.what is your take on the impeachment process…from a sure thing, it is turning out that Sanford may have time in his favor. Two articles in today’s papers seemed to indicate that there are “not enough votes” for impeachment. Plus Harrell seems to think that Sanford’s misdeeds dont warrant impeachment. What’s going on??
By alaindelon October 11, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Shiya,why are they going to the supreme court if they no longer care
about impeachment? The two articles sound like a spin to me…What do
you think FITS?
By Stop Pimpin' Your Kids October 11, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Liar, adulterer, child abandoner, thief, public-trust abuser, speeder, cheater, narcissist, momma’s boy, rule-breaker= Sociopath. Grow some, SC lawmakers, impeach the sadsack-looking pos. Then, somebody use the DSMV IV and get the poor mf some help!
By shiya October 11, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Well, the article quoted people like Harrell who arent exactly friends of Sanford. Besides FITS itself seemed to suggest that impeachment was waning (after regularly citing sources that were drafting articles of impeachment). which is why I wonder.
FITS, what ahve you been hearing?
By bo October 11, 2009 at 5:59 pm
of course it’s a story. nothing could be much more revealing than this. also, surprised we haven’t heard more about his crooked, shady-ass brother. a good story there would further illuminate what fuck-ups these guys are. major fuck-ups.
By Admiral_Komack October 11, 2009 at 6:07 pm
So Mark Sanford is a cheap bastard…I’m shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you!
(snark)
By HE-MAN October 11, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Just like he has stiffed our state for the last 7 years, throw this bums ass out of office before Jan 2010 please!!!!
By Sue October 12, 2009 at 12:21 am
I love Strom’s Daughter! She is black like me. And the gov is a no tipping creep. Such a shock. I guess I never has understood the process.
By by annie October 12, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Wonder how much money he was willing to spend on his trip to Punte del Este Urugunay to “blow off steam” – Did he ever bring his wife to such an exotic place? We’ll never know how much she really did put up with the lying creep – she had 4 kids to worry about – she should get a medal from the people of SC.
By Patriot October 12, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I like Mark Sanford, and I love people in office who hate to spend money, especially my money. People wake up SC and america! A government big enough to give you everything you need, is big enough to take everything you have away!
By tiredofitall October 12, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Sorry I am late, I was out of touch for a few days here, Darth – of course he had his wallet. He paid the bill at the resturant, so the taxpayers will be reimbursing him before Friday! I wonder if what he turns in will include that tip he did not leave.
If the service is rotten then leave the server a quarter at least that way they know you were an unhappy customer, otherwise they just think you are a jerk.