Growing Calls for Sanford to Resign

By: Prerana Swami
Topics: State Politics

(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastian)

Updated at 5:20 p.m. ET.

After a revealing interview with the Associated Press Tuesday, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is facing tougher critics than ever.

On Wednesday, word came that 12 of 27 state senators and six South Carolina newspapers are calling upon the governor to resign following his mysterious disappearance and revelations of adultery. Even the Greenville News revoked its statement supporting the governor after the interview.

"Gov. Mark Sanford should resign immediately and allow South Carolina to begin picking up the pieces. The two-term governor has destroyed any shred of credibility with his lies unnecessarily added on top of other lies. His ability to govern this state has been compromised so severely that he cannot fulfill the duties required of this state's governor until a successor takes the oath of office in January 2011," the paper wrote.

Seven U.S. senators, meanwile, issued a letter Tuesday demanding he leave office, The New York Daily News reports.

"The bottom line is that the Governor's private matters should remain private," they wrote. "But his deception and negligence make it impossible for us to trust him, and for him to govern in the future."

"He's dropped the flag," Sen. Jim DeMint told Fox News, as the Washington Post reports. "The rest of us have to get up and go on. . . . A lot of us are talking to him behind the scenes in hopes that he'll make the right decision about what needs to be done."

The senators also question Sanford's ability to act as the state's leader.

"They say, when you are explaining, you are losing. And particularly on that subject, I think, he was," DeMint told the Miami Herald. "I'm concerned of whether or not he is in a position that he can continue to lead the state."

A top Republican in Columbia, S.C. told the Post that while Sanford is holding onto power, he is further alienating many of his former supporters.

"He's digging his heels in, even though everyone's calling on him to resign now," said the source. "People that I never ever thought would go against Mark Sanford have come out against him."

The Atlantic reports that the South Carolina Democratic Party has asked Sanford to step down as well, saying that his "stream of confessions" and his behavior are distracting.

Despite the criticism, Joel Sawyer, a spokesman for Sanford, told the Daily News that the governor has no intention of resigning.

"He's determined to remain on as governor and determined to continue the work of this administration," Sawyer said.

USA Today is reporting that Sanford has withdrawn his promise to release his personal financial records to prove that he did not use state money to fund his affair.

Sawyer tells USA Today that the governor no longer wants to speak about his personal life.

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by mishugana69 July 6, 2009 4:41 PM EDT: What a hypocrite He said clinton should resign . he should do like spitzer and resign; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt July 2, 2009 11:10 PM EDT: When these Repub philanderers like Ensign and Sanford refuse to resign they show any and all that their screams about protecting the "sanctity" of marraige is nothing but a ruse to cover their bigotry against gays.

They themselves have no respect whatsoever for the "sanctity" of marraige - starting with their own.; Reply to this comment

by blitzder July 2, 2009 1:03 PM EDT

Newt Gingrich, Larrry Craig, Sanford, Ted Haggard etc. etc. all republicans who vehemently impeached Clinton on his affair, and were the most vocal.

Now they are all caught with their own pants down. REPUBLICANS ARE ALL LIARS AND CHEATERS, a sick group, and they should all get thrown out by the voters in 2010.

Reply to this comment


by scwife July 2, 2009 2:58 PM EDT: Why does it have to be Republicans or Democrates? Liars and Cheaters include us regular folks who do not belong to either party. He should disappear.


by scwife July 2, 2009 10:25 AM EDT: Not a Repulican or Democratic issue...he left his state to be with his "soulmate". He is not fit to be any parties leader, he is a coward! Do your wife and children a huge favor and go to Argentina. They will be much happier not having to wait for the other shoe to drop or should I say Mr. Sanfords pants!; Reply to this comment


by mrzerato July 2, 2009 9:39 AM EDT: The Hotsheet said; "Seven U.S. senators, meanwile(sic), issued a letter Tuesday demanding he leave office"

I wonder if these 7 senators wrote a letter to john ensign to resign. I guess they just feel senators should be able to have mistresses and republican governors should not.; Reply to this comment


by ladd09 July 2, 2009 5:51 AM EDT: I think Gov. Sanford should be allowed to stay in office to serve as a historical reminder as to how far some mere mortals will go to use the sledge of religion and morality to maintain their grip on power and control over those they profess to represent. Gov. Sanford has provided a classic example of history repeating itself and the sad statement here is that he had quite a few people fooled for sometime. Thank goodness the collective wisdom of the American People was reasserted this past November before things really got out of hand.
Separation of Church and state was placed into our Constitution by our Founding Fathers precisely because of people like this...
Over the centuries, the greatest amount of blood has been spilled because one does not believe as another. How many time must we relearn this lesson? Religion has its place and so does family values and for those who do not practice what they preach, it could be the source of much bloodshed... It is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands. In the right hands it is a blessing.; Reply to this comment


by nextgenman09 July 2, 2009 4:27 AM EDT: The dead corpse that is the GOP just keeps stabbing itself with a long, sharp knife.; Reply to this comment


by abbe91 July 2, 2009 4:19 AM EDT: Sanford, don't resign.
Have an affair with Sarah Palin instead ...; Reply to this comment


by 2telltruth July 2, 2009 2:41 AM EDT: Come out and tell like it is. Mr. Sanford has delusions of superiority, granduer, and he is a narcissist. Anyone who would glee at telling the public that his press conference is his punishment, and tell about other discretions in such a cavalier manner
CANNOT have the well being of his constituency. The real reason why he rejected stimulus aid is because he does not believe that his constuents DESERVE help in these hard times. If the people of SC have any integrity and self-resoect they would impeach him.; Reply to this comment


by bobtrav July 1, 2009 11:39 PM EDT: His loving wife the most perfect JENNY has him by the b@#$%^&*s. Soon another nasty WOMAN JUDGE will give her every penny he has. AMEN

He has taken on the devil woman in Brazil. Our minister Rob says he will be selling TAco's in Brazil.

She will get every penny he has EXCEPT the $12000 he stole from you and me. aMEN; Reply to this comment