Sanford Compares Plight To King David

S.C. Governor Gets Back To Work, Tells His Cabinet He's Sorry For Keeping Them In The Dark Over Affair

(AP)  South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford got back to work Friday, but first he had some more apologizing to do.

In his first public event since he revealed his mistress in Argentina, the Republican governor met with state agency heads in what is usually a low-key Cabinet meeting. He specifically apologized to the agency leaders that handle economic development trips and his security, and likened his struggle to that of King David.

The governor, who talked about "moral absolutes" and God's law during his revealing, yet rambling news conference Wednesday, said King David "fell mightily, fell in very, very significant ways, but then picked up the pieces and built from there."

"The epicenter of the administrative team really rests with the Cabinet," he said as photographers clicked away and news organizations aired the meeting live.

Sanford told the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division chief that he put the agency in a bad place by not telling offices he was going to Argentina last week. Then, he told the Commerce Department head he was sorry for visiting his mistress while on an economic development trip to South America about a year ago.

Sanford has said he would pay back an undisclosed amount for the nine-day trip to Brazil and Argentina for which taxpayers paid $12,000 last year. That includes $8,687 for Sanford's plane ticket, and $453 in lodging. A spokeswoman for the Commerce Department said Friday that initially plans were made to only visit Brazil, but Sanford asked for extra meetings in Argentina.

Sanford said the trip was legitimate but he put the agency in an awkward spot "based on what I did in terms of eating dinner down there."

About a week ago, Sanford disappeared to Buenos Aires, returning Wednesday to reveal the affair and publicly apologize to his wife and four sons, his supporters and constituents. He also resigned as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Sanford said he left his staff with the impression he was heading off for some solo hiking on the Appalachian Trail, a bogus story that they relayed to reporters who began asking where the governor had gone.

His secretive trip and affair have raised legal and ethical questions, and some have called for his resignation. Sanford, though, has said he has no plans to resign and told his Cabinet that it was time to get back to work.

Earlier Friday, the man who would replace Sanford if he did step down said he wasn't calling for the governor's resignation right away.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a fellow Republican, told The Associated Press that he spoke to Sanford on Thursday and "could tell he had done a lot of soul searching." The two, who have not been allies and don't run on the same ticket, didn't discuss the possibility of the governor stepping down.

"Mark Sanford is still my governor and regardless of what his decision is, I'm going to stand by and try to help him," Bauer told AP in his first interview since Sanford admitted to the affair.

Bauer's relationship with the Sanfords has been cool.

Jenny Sanford threw her support behind Bauer's rival in a GOP primary runoff for lieutenant governor in 2006, and the governor and Bauer have disagreed over whether the state's No. 2 needs security detail. Sanford's vetoes of the funding have been overridden by lawmakers.

Sanford, barred by state law from running again, leaves office in 2010. If he were to resign, Bauer - expected to run for the top spot - steps into the office. Other candidates are also jockeying for the job.

"Clearly it would give me an advantage," Bauer said of a Sanford resignation. "If it weren't so, there wouldn't be so many people thinking about running for governor concerned about it."

There are deep misgivings about Bauer, though. He spent much of the 2006 campaign recovering from injuries suffered when a plane he was flying crashed. He was also injured politically by news that he had been let off for speeding after troopers stopped him. He was elected the nation's youngest lieutenant governor in 2002 at age 33.

[swmayhew]

Clinton lied, but with Sanford you also get hypocrisy and malfeasance. Mark Sanford pilloried Clinton - yet he's committed worse sins and astoundingly is now comparing his trials (created by himself) to those of King David, Mark is the noble victim (is he high?). Despite Sanford's dancing as fast as he can, he comes off as a duplicitous fool.
This guy carried on this affair on the tax-payer's dime, BS'd his state and his country. The only real sanity and adult behavior in this mess came from his wife Jenny who, in response to an idiot reporter said she didn't care at all about Mark's career - finally a woman who is acting like a real person. I certainly applaud her integrity and agree completely.
Mark Sanford is a creep - self important and amoral and though as a Republican, he will probably continue his career without missing a beat, we are diminished by his presence.

[kiddoat44]

How dare you (Sanford) use the Bible to justify your infidelity. I agree with pjk12357. Adultery is in the Ten Commandments "Thou shalt not commit ADULTRY". If you are going to use the Bible then live by what the Lord said about living and not the actions of mear humans. I can't believe that he actually asked him permission to go see his mistress. OMG he is nuts. Well again I say he committed political sucicide. Sanford? Do you see that flashing light out of the corner of you eye...that's your career...Gone in a flash...If you were a truely righteous individual you would never have had an affair in the first place. Marriage is one man + one woman...Not one man and two women. Jenny should take his privates and put them in a jar for him to look at and remember what it was to be a man...Yes I am from South Carolina and I am disgusted...

[pjk12354]

I find it really disgusting that Mark Sanford compares himself to King David. At least King David changed his ways. Mark Sanford asked his wife's permission to continue to commit adultery, and, continued even after she said no.

I hope she takes him for everything he has.

[jill-in]

Mark Sanford, you are no King David. How dare you compare your plight to Old Testament figures. You can't bring yourself to admit you are just like any other loser out there abandoning your wife, abandoning your children. You are one of the losers. Many men have tougher lifes than you, more stress, more responsibility, loss of income, loss of jobs, and they stick in there with their families because they are MEN!

[aeasus]

Liar, cheater, thief, and abandoned his family and executive responsibilities while on a romantic holiday with a mistress.

What a piece of doggie dung ! This man is really out of touch with the working class. Try doing that with a real job. Noone would ask for a resignation.... your FIRED !!

Both his wife and the people of SC gave their trust in good faith based on Sanford's promises. Sanford abused that trust, broke the promise to always have their best interest come first.

He deserves to be in an unemployment line and divorce court!!

Kick the bum out!!

[stn_sage]

GEEZ! He looks like 'he's digging a deeper hole' to me!

Comparing HIS plight to King David?! Who was trying to solidify 12-13 large tribes into one NATION! He sees his situation as similar---he thinks about it in such grandiose terms?!

I dunno! I think he has a well-hidden streak of tyrant in his personality!

IF he completes the rest of his 18-month term without incident, I think
it would be a good idea if he retires from politics and "unwinds" for a year or two! Then, he can see if the citizens of South Carolina want him
back in some capacity?

[bradkt1]

In the beginning, there was King David (Sanford), who came among us and graced us with his presence. Then King David sinned a great sin. The citizens of his realm had been told that he had gone hiking on the Appalacian trail...but in fact he had gone hunting for that elusive Argentine tail on Father's Day when he should have been at home with his wife and children. He left the country and became the Wild Bull of the Pampas with his Argentine love muffin.,,and no one in the royal court knew where he was for 5 entire days. Then, David got caught with his pants down and zipper open. To put it another way, he stepped on his manhood.

David cried and begged from forgiveness from the people. Many of them said that David had brought disgrace to his realm and had to go. Others said that David was no better than other kings of their realms and should not have to give up his throne just because he wanted to get a little on the side. Then it came out that an official state "trade mission" was in fact a secret scandalous rendevous with his Argentine Jezebel...financed by the citizens of his realm.

Not even his queen would stand with him. "I ain't standing next to that fool" she said. "He should have kept it in his pants." The Queen is in seculsion, still deciding whether she wishes to demand half of all that David owns and leave his butt.

But David held steadfast and refused to resign. "My reign must continue!" he insisted. Meanwhile the ridicule from television talk show comedians and the public rained down upon his countenance.

It remains to be seen whether David can survive this self-inflicted trial by the flames of lust.

*********************************************************************

It all makes sense now.

[bradkt1]

Look, if Governor Sanford doesn't want to resign, big deal as far as I am concerned...BUT IT IS THE HEIGHT OF ARROGANCE to once again start making public statements flaunting religion as a justification for not doing so. Not only is he selfish and self-righteous, he is treating the people who elected him with total contempt. He could have just said that he made a terrible mistake, but he didn't believe that he should resign and will serve out his term. That would have been one thing...but he is going to follow the example set by King David of Israel? Give me a break!

It is better to remain silent and just be thought to be a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[MohatmaJeebus]

Hahahahah! Kind David??? Right! I wonder if these hypocrites thought of Clinton as a King David figure when they were chastising him for failing the "moral legitimacy" test as they themselves did the exact same thing while they shrieked for impeachment to the detriment of the nation. Hypocrisy that affects a nation should be a crime.

[elpaulito]

quote:

" by itsjustathought June 26, 2009 1:14 PM PDT
This is the irony of the liberals. They keep their trash...tucked up tightly between their butt.ocks...and they accept sloppy seconds and backdoor raids. Only Republicans hold their elected officials accountable for lies, cheating, and betrayals...and they speak at the booth...nah nah nah nah...nah nah nah...good bye. Liberals can't bear to part with their trash."

Republicans hold their officials accountable for lies? Where to start....hmmmm. Iraq war? Dropping the ball on 9/11? Katrina? Existing? Please, come on. You can make up a less transparent lie than that right? Afterall, you love god.....