For Sanford, Tough Political Trail Awaits

S.C. Governor's Confessed Affair Represents Remarkable Fall For Man Who Once Preached "Moral Legitimacy"

(CBS/AP)  South Carolina's governor once cited "moral legitimacy" when he was a congressman voting for President Bill Clinton's impeachment. He became a darling of fiscal conservatives over his ideological opposition to federal stimulus cash.

Now Mark Sanford has taken a swan dive from the moral high ground.

By admitting to an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina on Wednesday, the Republican governor makes the already-difficult end of his term-limited administration nearly untenable.

He has alienated leaders of his GOP-dominated state Legislature for years, but said recently he was finding comfort outside the Statehouse as a champion for smaller government and lower taxes.

He was raising his national political profile with his outspoken fight against using federal cash for anything but paying down debt. As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, he was raising money for candidates and deflecting talk he was planning to run for president in 2012.

The speed of his collapse was shocking.

About three weeks ago, he lost a court battle to reject the federal stimulus money. A few days later, his wife, Jenny Sanford, kicked him out of their home to begin a "trial separation" with hopes of reconciling.

Then on Monday, lawmakers and reporters started questioning where the governor had been for five days. His aides said the outdoorsman was hiking the Appalachian Trail to wind down from a grueling legislative session.

But on Wednesday the governor held a rambling, tearful news conference in which he finally revealed the truth: "I've been unfaithful to my wife." His family did not attend.

The 49-year-old ruminated on God's law, moral absolutes and following one's heart. He said he spent the last five days "crying in Argentina."

As Sanford awaits the political fallout, longtime friend and political aide Tom Davis said he thinks the governor can weather the storm, saying South Carolinians had a "tremendous capacity for forgiveness."

"Now, I think the South Carolina people also have a fine nose for hypocrisy," Davis said on CBS' The Early Show Thursday. "So the next few days are going to tell the tale about whether or not governor sanford is sincere in terms of taking responsibility for his actions, and the pain he's caused the people."

"And knowing the man that he is, I think he will make that case, and I think the South Carolina people will give him a chance."

Davis was Sanford's former chief of staff and is currently a state senator in South Carolina.

Sanford described the woman who lives in Argentina as a "dear, dear friend" whom he has known for about eight years and been romantically involved with for about a year. He said he has seen her three times since the affair began, and his wife found out about it five months ago.

Sanford denied instructing his staff to cover up his affair, but acknowledged that he told them he thought he would be hiking on the Appalachian Trail and never corrected that impression after leaving for South America.

"I let them down by creating a fiction with regard to where I was going," Sanford said. "I said that was the original possibility. Again, this is my fault in ... shrouding this larger trip."

The State newspaper in Columbia published steamy e-mails between Sanford and the woman. Sanford did not identify her, nor did he answer directly whether the relationship with the Argentinian woman was over.

"What I did was wrong. Period," he said.

Now the people of South Carolina and national GOP leaders are picking up the pieces.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour took over leadership of the Republican Governors Association after Stanford resigned from the post. In little more than an hour after his announcement, other Republicans were backing away from him: the Value Voters Summit dropped him from the lineup for its September roundup of GOP notables.

At least one South Carolina legislator wants Sanford to resign without serving the remaining 18 months of his term, which the governor said he has "no plans" to do.

Political experts expect little from his last 18 months in office, and certainly not with the Legislature he's fought with for years. A lame duck session looms for Sanford, even after a session in which he lost his battle over accepting federal stimulus money.

"Truth be told, over the past few years, he has soured his relationship with the Legislature so much that he hasn't been particularly effective at getting an agenda through," said Scott Huffmon, political scientist at Winthrop University. "And with the stimulus fight, pushing it all the way to the state Supreme Court, that affirmed the governor's subordinate position in this state."

Danielle Vinson, a Furman University political scientist, said after "something like this, it's going to require a lot of humility on his part in dealing with legislators."

For now, Sanford's looking at the basics.

"Over the time that I have left in office, I'm going to devote my energy to building back the trust the people of this state have placed in me," Sanford said.

It will be a tall task. While some South Carolinians said they appreciated Sanford's eventual candor in admitting to his affair, the tawdry news surprised many.

"I was shocked, shocked," said Tom Daly, 42, a magazine editor in Charleston. "First of all he's a Republican golden boy and he's a strict, staunch conservative. I'm so shocked. It was something I did not expect."

Ellen Brady, a computer network specialist from Charleston, wondered why it had to happen in her state.

"We're all mortified, absolutely mortified," she said. "It's splashed all over the news."

[bradkt1]

I believe that leaders who are truly religious and moral don't have to wear it on their sleeve for all to see. They lead by example and their actions speak louder than words ever will. That's why I have never trusted any politician who postured himself in this manner. It just so happens that a number of Republicans (not all) are the ones who chose to go that route. That was the final straw that turned me completely off to them.

I don't take any joy at someone's moral failings. They just reinforce my belief that most politicians (from both major parties) are only out for themselves and will basically say or do anything to get you to vote for them. You don't have to tell me how "moral" you are...just walk the walk and I'll respect that. That goes for both Democrats and Republicans.

Do what Bill Clinton and some of these others did and I'll call you an idiot. Do what Sanford and Ensign did...after telling me how "moral" you are...and I'll call you a liar, a hypocrite and an idiot.

That's how I see it.

[jsf14]

I read those emails. Quite pretty. Many people feel their love is like no other. But how many people feel that no one responds to country music as deeply as they do?

[parrots7]

I wonder how MUDROSE is doing, handling these types from news - seeing as she'd been obsessed bout the BJ Bill had received. I sure hope she's okay - 2 dumb repug leaders in 1 Week. Just imagine what other Repug will be outted by next week. Dumb Repugs !

[parrots7]

South Carolina's governor once cited "moral legitimacy" when he was a congressman voting for President Bill Clinton's impeachment.



Where's NEWT ???

[bpai99]

Democrats don't want Sanford to resign. Better for him to stay in office, completely emasculated and ineffective, distracted from his duties and a continual reminder the GOP would rather forget.

If he did step down, his successor would be another Republican, only without the baggage and who could run in the next election as an incumbent. From the Dem perspective, things are better as they are now. It's the GOP that wants him out.

[actornaught]

I like how you can openly tell them what will help them out, but they'll only insist on continually eating out of each others toilet.

Helpless helpless...

[clear141]

The man cheated on his wife and kids, and is a pile of manure. That said, I love the libs who come and say, "The right are a bunch of hypocrits". Sure, those who stand for family values and then cheat, are just that. But at least conservatives stand up for family values, defense of marriage and the like. Where are you libs? You never defend anything wholesome, because you don't believe in those things. With all of you, anything & everything is OK, there is no morality, no God. At least we believe, have faith, and strive to obtain those values which elevate us near the highest moral ground. Perfection is knowingly unobtainable, but when we chose to reach for it through our daily lives, it helps protect us from wrongdoing and keeps us on the path of righteousness. Libs, if you start defending these values, you then can hold yourselves just as accountable as we do. God bless.

[actornaught]

"...At least we believe, have faith..."

Ya gotta let rushfox straw man stop blinding you. The conservative "grip" on Christians is a canard, solely for the purposes of votes. They have no respect for you whatsoever.

Didn't you get the memo?

[actornaught]

correction: NEOconservative "grip". And by neocons, i'm referring to the leadership/talking heads. The rest of you are just food, the neo-conned.

[daffy64]

"I was shocked, shocked," said Tom Daly, 42, a magazine editor in Charleston. "First of all he's a Republican golden boy and he's a strict, staunch conservative. I'm so shocked. It was something I did not expect."

---

Craig, Hastard etc.

Why in the world would anyone be "shocked" by this?

[daffy64]

"I was shocked, shocked," said Tom Daly, 42, a magazine editor in Charleston. "First of all he's a Republican golden boy and he's a strict, staunch conservative. I'm so shocked. It was something I did not expect."

---

Craig, Hastard etc.

Why in the world would anyone be "shocked" by this?

[daffy64]

That's the problem when you "take the moral high ground" and judge others. You fall pretty far.

Jesus was right.

[myopinionpal]

What I want to know is, Where is Rush Limbaugh during all of this great GOP family values.

[actornaught]

Paraphrasing rush yesterday: "Republicans like sexxx too".

Sounds like the creepy glorified shutin is jealous...

[ignorethedumb]

Another moral hypocrite bites the dust. God I'm sick of these "professional" Christians in the political arena. Sanford deserves to be ground into the dust by the national media. He made his career on his own moral superiority, let him choke on it now.

[ElectricBlue44]

I don't care about the apology and explanation. I want to hear details of what the bimbo did that the wife was never willing to do. What could stimulate him so much to make him risk everything??? It has to be juicy. And the wife would probably recognize it as something he wanted from her but just wouldn't do.

[apple2pie]

I got caught and now have decided to work on my marriage.... statement from Mark Sanford.

Fox News Version...Gov.Mark Sanford shows GOP single minded initiative to improve US-Argentinian Relationship. Even while on vacation Gov Mark Sanford is putting his country first by adding a personal touch to US-Argentinian relations. "Exploring the curves of Argentina has made me a better man," added Sanford.

[dearius09]

Who the heck are you people. That journalist help to possibily destroy somebody's life. That why I hate journalist. They would do anything for the big story, and not care who they hurt. Of course the governor was wrong for what he's done. But two wrongs don't make it right. You all sound like a bunch of dumba*%#@. D-price123-2009 who made that stupid comment above, please would you do the world a big favor and go jump from the tallest building. You probably look as stupid in person as you sound.

[actornaught]

Yep, Shoot the Messenger.

Gofer it...

[blog_fever2]

Funny how people try to blame everyone except the culprit. The only person that destroy their life was the politician. Nobody forced him to Argentina and the actions he did, he must stand up for.

[steeepe]

Just another GOP hypocrite. Are there any Republicans that aren't big phonies???

[actornaught]

And still more heretofore swing voters will vow never to vote republican again.

Do i hear 15% 'pub approval ratings yet?...

[MohatmaJeebus]

South Carolina's governor once cited "moral legitimacy" when he was a congressman voting for President Bill Clinton's impeachment.

Hypocricy of this astounding calibre is what defines today's GOP. Folks of all stripes have affairs. Only Republican religious frauds like Sanford and Ensign chastize others for their behavior, claim they themselves are above such digressions, then cry like little babies when they themselves are found out. HYPOCRITES!

[actornaught]

I like the part where they're trying to blame such failed opposite marriages on fears of impending gay marriages, like it'll be contagious...

[blog_fever2]

Another "Do as I say, not as I do" politician. What is done in the dark will be brought to light.

[ianlou]

He said he spent the last five days "crying in Argentina."

Don't cry for me Argentinaaaaaaaa.

Isn't Argentina where all the Nazi war criminals fled to?
coincidence?