Talk about awkward timing …
A day after estranged S.C. First Lady Jenny Sanford announced that she was divorcing her philandering husband, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, the traditional Sanford family Christmas cards began arriving in select South Carolina mailboxes …
This year’s cards are not like their predecessors, however – another reminder of the highly-publicized drama that has consumed South Carolina’s First Family ever since the governor confessed earlier this year to having an extramarital affair with his Argentine lover, Maria Belen Chapur.
For starters, this year’s “family picture” includes the couple’s four sons – Marshall (17), Landon (16), Bolton (13) and Blake (11) – but no governor. And no first lady.
That’s a first.
The governor and first lady are also listed separately on the card for the first time, a nod to Mrs. Sanford’s very public exit from the Governor’s Mansion back in August.
While not referencing her husband’s infidelity, Mrs. Sanford doesn’t completely ignore the elephant in the room.
“I have been uplifted by the many people who supported us with prayers, emails and encouraging notes this year as we faced our difficult personal challenge,” Jenny Sanford writes. “I cannot thank you enough, especially for your continued prayers as we move forward and mend our family in the best manner possible.”
The First Lady goes on to say that she and her boys “remain firmly focused forward and trust that in time we will be strengthened through this trial.”
“The boys have long provided me with a tremendous amount of strength, encouragement and joy,” she writes. “They are my ‘gift from the Lord.’ I remain focused on fulfilling the role of first lady, continuing in philanthropic endeavors and in challenging others to lead healthy lives but I remain ever aware that, indeed, my greatest legacy will be my children.”
By shiya December 12, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Jenny Sanford is having a wealth of good publicity today morning with glowing articles in Time magazine and the Washington Post. And check out the comments in liberal blogs like Huff post. They LOVE her.
By Todd December 12, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Shiya: She should get good publicity. It is for the good of all that she didn’t stand by her philandering man like so many other politicians’ wives have done.
By barney fife December 12, 2009 at 4:31 pm
governor didn’t sign it.
By Ralph Hightower December 12, 2009 at 4:42 pm
That card looks so much like a “brag card” that I can expect yearly from one of my cousins about what accomplishments has happened over the past year. Oh, one of her sons or daughters is married to the daughter or son of a prominent state senator.
By Ethel Krabitz's neighbor December 12, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Ralph Hightower,
Don’t you dread getting those “brag cards?” Actually, ours are brag brochures — replete with contrived family photos taken in remote locations around the globe, and press releases on the latest trashy romance novel to be vomited from her computer. What talent does it take to gather the lowest common denominators of human behavior and weave them into an empty story that only those with the lowest common denominator of morals will dish out $$$ to read?
Scrooge her!
By another e-visit from chitown December 12, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I think it is weird that they sent out a card with just the kids. Who on their list, other than relatives and very close friends, would want a picture of four very preppie boys? Someone with an empty picture frame to fill? Seems odd to me. They should have picked a Christmas card with picture of a palmetto decked with lights.
By another e-visit from chitown December 12, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Another thing. What did the 17 year old Marshall due with the alligator skins to make money as a budding capitalist? The text of the letter is partly obscured. Do the PETA people know about this?
By Ynot December 12, 2009 at 7:14 pm
ho ho ho ( no pun intended)
By BIN News December 12, 2009 at 9:39 pm
sic(k) willie, our Funding Editor wants you to know her first thoughts when she saw this post that included the photo of the Sanford children.
Here it is. In her exact words:
“Will Folks is a political whore. Leave the kids alone!”
By Trey December 12, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Man and woman start life according to God, children are a byproduct of that union. Nothing Godly about this card at Christmas, just a failure of a man and a woman.
Trey
By colleen December 12, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Hey Will, did you have permission to show such a personal Holiday card? I believe those cards were for friends and relatives and since they requested privacy and protection for their boys, why would you print it in your blog?
By HE-MAN December 12, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Thats some fug ugly ass kids right there dam, they are all little versions of king david. The youngest one in the back looks like he is wearing a fucking topee. The rest look like Howdy Doody clones. Thats one fucked up family right there man,
http://coacheshotseat.com/coacheshotseatblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/HowdyDoody.jpg
By SC Integrity December 12, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I find it sad and psychologically abusive that four dear boys have to bear/bare the brunt of their selfish parents’ filth. They’re propped up and basically the message is, ‘it’s all on you boys to salvage the Sanford legacy and keep the facade alive.’ Sure the boys “enjoyed” 2009 as ridiculously repetitious described. What else are you gonna say, right? Try nothing for a change.
Philanthropic endeavors… like what? Which Charity will benefit from book profits?
“The boys have long provided MY with…” just a small error.
Btw, many thanks Fits elves for making merry, giving us jollies especially during a dispiriting week of Sanfraud sanctioning. Everything you do is much appreciated and amazing… but to be honest the “new” old boring font doesn’t jive imho.
By kyle December 13, 2009 at 12:45 am
is it me, or does the little one look like cartman?
By Sir Walter Riley December 13, 2009 at 2:16 am
Those kids look seriously disturbed.
By Spok December 13, 2009 at 2:18 am
Jenny gets to see little Marks forever now. How ironic.
By fitsnews December 13, 2009 at 8:08 am
Coleen-
Numerous media outlets have covered the Sanfords’ Christmas cards in years past. In fact, while our founding editor worked in the governor’s office he was responsible for providing the first lady with an updated list of media contacts each year so that they could be added to the list.
In fact, earlier this month the Associated Press was speculating about when the card might arrive and whose pictures might be (or not be) on it …
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hfOVP8J0o_CDcvMdsmlGCelP16XQD9CC6G0G1
“The family does plan to send a Christmas card this year, although it is not in the mail yet, said Meg Milne, a spokeswoman for the first lady. She wouldn’t say whether it would include the traditional family portrait.
As for the Sanfords’ requests for privacy?
Please.
You obviously don’t know these people …
-FITS
By Michael Bay December 13, 2009 at 8:13 am
You Will Respect My Authoritah!
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/150368
By colleen December 13, 2009 at 8:24 am
You may be right about MS and JS seeking publicity, but showing the picture in your blog brought out some very unkind remarks. Since you knew these boys, thought you being a new parent, would consider their feelings and not print it in your blog.
By fitsnews December 13, 2009 at 8:30 am
Colleen-
One of the reasons people come to FITS is that we don’t censor their comments.
If you want some sanitized comment board, go to one of our state’s mainstream media outlets.
-W
By Libb December 13, 2009 at 9:33 am
“And check out the comments in liberal blogs like Huff post. They LOVE her.”
Shiya, I’ve been reading the comments on Huff Post since the Sanfraud(s) saga began. And you are greatly exaggerating about the love for Jenny expressed there. Darlin’, you need to exhale and give your girl crush on Jenny a rest.
By Todd December 13, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Ethel: Where can I get those novels?
By BIN News Editorial Staff December 13, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Colleen, please don’t let sic(k) willie make you think he decided not to censor posts because he is a right minded blogger. Horse cr@p.
He learned the hard way.
Thanks to BIN News.
You see. He used to censor our most intelligent and humorous posts all the time. When he censored us, we spanked him.
We spanked him very hard. We did that by posting our very intelligent and humorous posts on other blogs.
One way we did that was reaching out to one of the few intelligent blogs in SC: Thanks, Earl.
By stand828 December 13, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Howdy Doody was the first thing I thought of too. Man, those kids have some big ears. Except for that, the two on the left don’t look much like the two on the right. Maybe Mark wasn’t the only one playing around…
By Sick of Sanford December 13, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Sanford deserves every bit of the scorn that’s been heaped on him, but now you’re involving his kids and that’s going way too far. Just by posting their picture you’ve drawn a bull’s-eye on them to be ridiculed and abused on this website. Their father is a complete ass, but they in no way should ever have to pay for his moral and ethical transgressions.
By Lolo December 13, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I think Steve Spurrier is the Daddy of the small kid in the back, Looks like Jenny has been calling off sides…..
http://www.daveyobrien.org/adminnm/articlefiles/20-Steve_Spurrier.jpg
By 2 cents December 13, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Can’t believe some of the comments on here about the kids. That’s going way too far.
Sanford deserves all he gets but people need to back off the kids. What if one of them reads this blog?
By Ynot December 14, 2009 at 6:48 am
I think they are nice looking young men and I feel very sad for them.
By Cancerman December 14, 2009 at 7:52 am
If one of them do read this blog maybe they will realize their dad is the dickhead of all daddy’s and ask their mom to leave our great state so they want be subject to the hate he has brought upon his fucking family. If you want nice go to The State or some other Sanfraud supporting medaia outlet.
By ginasc December 14, 2009 at 9:32 am
She saya “I remain focused on fulfilling the role of first lady”
But after the divorce she wont be first lady?
Wonder how long they will go back and forth about the property, the kids, the money?
By scooter December 14, 2009 at 9:57 am
Um, Will, I don’t get those who say you should not post the card with the boys on it. The boys’ pictures are ON THE CARD that is being sent out to many people. All of their Christmas cards were public, by the very act of mailing them out. This is no different. I blame Jenny for using the boys to gather more sympathy for her. Like she needs more press! IF she wanted privacy, then don’t put the kids on the card. Although I can not see the entire bit about the alligator skins, I believe they are a family of hunters. So, this makes me sick. PETA has more important things to work on, but I will share this with them. BTW, did you see SNL’s piece on sanford this weekend?
By Ethel Krabitz's neighbor December 14, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Todd – ‘Bon Voyeggie’
http://www.karen-white.com/photos.shtml
By Walter Carr December 14, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Mark and Jenny Sanford, as adults and public personaltis too boot, are fair game for commentary however, and this is a big however: Only the lowest of the low would so much as think about making some of the post on this blog involving their children. What is wrong with you people? Some of you people need the taste slapped out of your mouth. I am a recovering Red Neck but would be happy to make an exception for some of you.
Honorable people will lay off the Sanford children from here on forward.
By scooter December 14, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Slap the parents for putting the children in this spot. They continue to use them for the media, not any of us.
By Madhatter December 15, 2009 at 1:05 am
Look its the muppetts!!
By Willam Klinton December 15, 2009 at 1:07 am
The little bastards will grow up to be just like mommy and daddy scumbags.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIslhp9vqqw
By THEGRUDGE December 15, 2009 at 7:29 am
The little rich fuckers lived on my tax dime for seven years I can say what ever the fuck I want about the Hoowdy Doody Clones!!
By SnakeMD December 15, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Grudge–Please tell us how you really feel about these kids!
What if one of these boys married Chelsea Clinton? Who would their offspring resemble?
Have you heard that Mark Sanford has called Tiger Woods and has offered to help Tiger through his problems in exchange for some golf lessons? Any truth to this?