June 24, 2009 3:24 PM

Analysis: GOP Rising Stars Falling To Earth

By
Steve Chaggaris
Topics
State Politics
(CBS)
Gov. Mark Sanford's, R-S.C., tearful admission of an extramarital affair comes on the heels of Sen. John Ensign's, R-Nev., similar admission last week and is the second potential 2012 presidential candidate to announce such a revelation. As in the case of Ensign, it's safe to say that Sanford's future as a presidential candidate is all but over.

If there's a concern for the Republican Party, it's not that these admissions will have an effect on the various races that will take place this year and in next year's midterm elections. It's that they're losing some of their fresh faces as potential national voices.

Both the 49-year-old Sanford and the 51-year-old Ensign's admissions come at a time when the GOP is struggling to find the next generation of voices to combat a Democratic president and Congress.

And it's not just Ensign and Sanford but other fresh faces have been affected for less salacious reasons.

Former Gov. Jon Huntsman, R-Utah, was being talked about as a potential 2012 presidential hopeful. His recent appointment as U.S. Ambassador to China by President Obama was considered a political savvy move to pre-empt the up-and-comer possible bid.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe praised Huntsman as making him a "wee bit queasy…I think he's really out there speaking a lot of truth about the direction of the party."

Meantime, 37-year-old Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., is another that has been considered a rising star – young, smart and a minority – but has been silenced in recent months. His widely panned response to Mr. Obama's address to a joint session of Congress has resulted in a much lower profile nationally for Jindal.

At a time when the GOP is trying to turn the page on the drubbing they experienced in 2008, losing those numerous new voices is not the direction they want to be headed.

Read More: Sanford Admits Affair>

Marc Ambinder: Political Fallout From Sanford's Affair

Photo Essay: Political Sex Scandals

Steve Chaggaris is CBS News' Political Director.

Add a Comment See all 72 Comments
by babooph June 25, 2009 5:44 PM EDT
Larry Flint would fit in well with the "family values" republicans-the Christians are deluded enough to declare him their moral choice.
Reply to this comment
by rickwar June 25, 2009 4:55 PM EDT
"Oh Lord I have sinned!"

SOS different day, same old BS from a skirt chaser. Throw him to the dogs.

He's "Sorry" because he got caught, and wants to save his cushy ass job and chance to run for something else.
Reply to this comment
by ronaldr5-2009 June 25, 2009 2:32 PM EDT
Here's a NEWSFLASH for those who believe that everything, from the laws of biology to those of astrophysics, are governed by Politics: Conscience and Principle will suffer if 'Captain Howdy' is allowed to run your life.
Reply to this comment
by bmirarck2 June 25, 2009 11:28 AM EDT
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.............Party of "Family Values". Give it up MORONS!! When are you going to understand that this krap is all human nature and has NOTHING to do with political party. You're all still crazy tho for arguing this issue along party lines. Especially all of you pseudo-conservatives in the party of GOD.
Reply to this comment
by John_Merritt June 25, 2009 10:36 AM EDT
Haven't we moved onto a new story yet. How long are we going to beat other people up and ignore the PLANK IN YOUR EYES.
Reply to this comment
by cs4466 June 25, 2009 11:56 AM EDT
Oh you mean the fact that we're all ignoring the fact that Bush and Cheney are still free and haven't been prosecuted for war crimes and high treason yet? Yes, lets do get back to that topic.
by DoubleHappiness88 June 25, 2009 10:13 AM EDT
The politicians had better loose the holier than thou, family values, religion, god and flag bullsh*t and learn to govern; fix potholes, balance the budget, manage the economy fix the healthcare and immigration messes etc. Otherwise, they paint themselves into corners and shoot themselves in both feet as Governor Mark Sanford has done.

Personally, I do not give a damn who or how many they bed. It is none of our business. I prefer competence, hard work and honesty to their pretended ?morality?.

We, the world's people, allow incompetent sociopaths and psychopaths to acquire power and keep it. Our masses are not particular whom we follow.

I cite the following recent examples:
Vladimir I. Linen
Joseph Stalin
Hitler
Joseph Savimbi
All the popes
Idi Amin Dada
George W. Bush
Dick Cheney
Idi Amin Dada
The Castros
Pat Robertson
Pol Pot
Saddam Hussein
Slobodan Milosevic
Kim Jong-Il
Ayatollah Khomeini
Ferdinand Marcos
Saddam Hussein
Francisco Franco
Etc, ad nauseum
Reply to this comment
by randomlybanned June 25, 2009 9:23 AM EDT
Weird that politicians are really people, huh??? Aren't the stats on infidelity like 50% or something. Does this make it okay? Of course not but it does make them human. I cannot support someone who cheats on their wife as President of the United States and therefore could not support Rudy G, Newt, Ensign or Sanford. So let's hope that someone will step forward who can dig us out of the gigantic hole that Obama-**** is going to leave us in financially, but someone who is also faithful to their spouse.
Reply to this comment
by cydygitt1 June 25, 2009 9:33 AM EDT
No, it's not weird that "politicians are really people," but that republicant's cite the need for 'moral legitimacy' while doing the wrong thing! What else are they LYIN' about?

BTW, you "born again" fiscal CONServitards really take the cake, praising the $5 Trillion bush monkey for doubling the national debt by digging a huge hole, and now it's all President Obama's fault for trying to right our economy from the bush/cheney depression!

Please get a clue and stop the endless foxnewsus propagandus!
by rwassel June 25, 2009 9:14 AM EDT
The best part in all of this is that Sanford voted for the impeachment of Bill Clinton, citing the need for "moral legitimacy".

My my, how the tables have turned.
Reply to this comment
by jbw101 June 25, 2009 9:03 AM EDT
My respect for Harry Smith just went in the gutter. He tried to put the governor on public trial by using the governor's comments, regarding former President Clinton, against him. Sorry, Harry, but the governor is not guilty of purgery. Furthermore, he didn't say to the public, "I did not have sex with that woman..."
Reply to this comment
by rwassel June 25, 2009 9:18 AM EDT
Hmmm, but did Clinton use taxpayer dollars to fly half-way across the world to engage in an affair with his mistress?

Simply out, Sanford was quoted as saying that Clinton should resign from office because of his extramarital affair, and the need to restore "moral legitimacy" to the executive office.

Stop being a hypocrite - the more you defend this guy, the more your arguments hold no merit.
by antoniof123 June 25, 2009 9:26 AM EDT
Sorry to pop your bubble but the fact is he lied and he lied hard. Frist of all he left to go with some one from another country. Wait wasn't that what neocons tried to say was so bad if a cheif exective did it. Oh yes once again do as I say not as I do.

I know that you are saying he didn't lie but I say he did. I don't have to have beyound a reasonable doubt because I am using paponderance of evidence. One other thing the neocons are saying this is a private matter how is that different than Clinton's private matter.

Every turn you take is a reflection of the actions you took from the past now you have to live with it as the GOP crashes and burns itself.

Until the GOP learn humility they will be out of everyting.
by spiritwalk June 25, 2009 7:18 AM EDT
When in congress Sanford was one of the most vocal in calling (and voting) for Bill Clinton's impeachement. He said that a chief executive that engaged in an extramarital affair was not fit to serve and should leave office.

By his own criteria, as chief executive of South Carolina he must leave office. By his own declared ethical standards he must resign immediately.
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