Mark Sanford's Political Obituary

The Nation: Governor is the Latest to Join the Graveyard of 2012 GOP Presidential Hopefuls, But Don't Focus on his Affair

(The Nation) 
Given the state's suffering and Sanford's insouciance, it struck me even before the revelation of the affair that he would not easily win another statewide office, let alone the presidency. Still, when I pressed Gary Grimes, he conceded he'd have a hard time voting for Obama over Sanford--or any Republican. "It's not that I'm a fan of the governor. It's just that Democrats are proabortion, and unless they change that, they'll never get my vote."

Sanford is not likely to exploit the cultural wedge issues that concern voters like Grimes, a fact that distinguishes him from Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and other culture warriors who might have rivaled him for the presidential nomination. Last year, for instance, he declined to add his signature to a bill endorsing an "I Believe" line of vanity license plates bearing the image of a cross. "It is my personal view that the largest proclamation of one's faith ought to be in how one lives his life," said Sanford, an Episcopalian. (Now that he has exposed himself as an adulterer, Sanford admits he fell short of his own standards and speaks of his indiscretions as "sins.")

In secular matters, Sanford also bucks Republican orthodoxy. He says he doesn't believe in pre-emptive war and advocates a "conservationist" environmental agenda. Earlier this year the Sierra Club applauded Sanford's "bold decision" to oppose a coal plant planned for the state's Pee Dee River area. And after Rush Limbaugh announced his hope that Obama would fail as president, Sanford said, "Anyone who wants [Obama] to fail is an idiot, because it means we're all in trouble."

It's the rare Republican official who stands up to Limbaugh, and Sanford must have known he'd have a much better shot at becoming president if the radio host's wishes came true. After the 2008 election, exit polls showed that three of five voters said the economy was their top concern, and that remains true today. President Obama will not likely see a primary challenge, which means he won't have to face the argument--advanced by Nobel Prize laureates Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz, among others--that $787 billion does not go far enough toward righting the economy. The likely Republican attack will draw on Chicago School economics, calling for less government meddling in the markets.

Until the recent scandal, Sanford had positioned himself as the most credible Republican to make such an attack in 2012. "Sanford's onto something--he's part of a national shift that's taken me by surprise," Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform, told me several weeks ago. "It used to be taxes that upset people, but the tea parties, which occurred before any tax hikes, demonstrated that it's government spending itself that bothers Americans."

Some compared Sanford and his devoted following to the buzz surrounding Texas Congressman Ron Paul's 2008 bid for the Republican nomination. "There's some similarity there, though I think Paul has more exotic views," said Patrick Caddell, Jimmy Carter's pollster and a frequent Fox News guest.

Now, however, Sanford has become only the latest casualty in a dwindling list of 2012 Republican hopefuls. Another potential candidate, Nevada Senator John Ensign, resigned his Senate leadership position earlier in June, after acknowledging an extramarital affair. Two other prominent Republican governors who have refused portions of the stimulus, Louisiana's Bobby Jindal and Texas's Rick Perry, have also seen their presidential chances hurt by recent public appearances. Many Republicans were underwhelmed by Jindal's widely televised reply to the president's first address to Congress in February, and Perry's allusions to possible Texan secession at a tea party rally likely constitutes an insurmountable gaffe.

Whether or not he manages to serve out his term, Sanford is unlikely to hold another office. But perhaps he can take solace in the credo of the US Term Limits Foundation, which published his memoir in 2000: "Remember, every town councilman wants to be a congressman; every congressman wants to be a senator; and every senator wants to be president." It's an indictment of political ambition, and until very recently it applied even to Mark Sanford, the self-described "citizen legislator" and reluctant politician who has never lost an election.

Ultimately, it was Sanford's personal foibles, not his political ones, that prompted a search for empathy. As he choked back tears in front of the Statehouse rotunda, Sanford said he would spend the days ahead traveling the state, talking to South Carolinians and asking for forgiveness.

"Governor Mark Sanford, fully aware of the consequences of his failure, told the truth with apparent contrition...and contrition is a start," the Palmetto Family Council, a faith-based foundation devoted to "defending and strengthening South Carolina families," said in its sympathetic statement issued after news of the governor's affair broke.

"I doubt this holier-than-thou group would be so understanding if he was a Democrat," said Andy Brack. But Brack, a relentless Sanford critic, doesn't believe the governor should resign. "It's a personal matter, and we shouldn't take our eyes off what's really troubling this state--a horrible education system, record unemployment and a looming healthcare crisis."

In his time as governor, Sanford has done little to improve the situation. Even though he lost the stimulus battle, his obstinacy cost the state desperately needed jobs. Before the courts weighed in, school districts had already announced they were giving up on the funds, laying off teachers and increasing class sizes. "We've had to make hiring decisions for the next school year with the money in limbo," said state superintendent Jim Rex. Other state agencies faced the same dilemma.

Before he vetoed the stimulus money, Sanford received a letter from the state's second-most-powerful Republican, State Senator Glenn McConnell, imploring him to take the federal funds. "While the attacks you have launched may have been intended to build your national image as a reformer, in the final analysis, the work of a true reformer is measured not by words or TV ads or by press releases but by what he or she has been able to accomplish in the arena of public service or for the people he or she represents," McConnell wrote. The letter identifies the qualities missing from the governor's political DNA--an ability to lead, which often necessitates compromise, and any semblance of empathy for the less fortunate citizens he represents--that are incumbent upon all presidential aspirants to at least pretend to possess.

[uuforyou]

If sanford does not resign, how can he ride the IQUITAROD dogsled race to Argentina? Oh, yeh, he just leaves when he wants to.....

[timothyjo]

some dum a ss republician had to go back 60years to to find as many demos who have cheated to match # of loser republician who have cheated in this month alone LOL

[xlib]

rushlimpdrug-and what did spitzer do for his kids and wife? Hey, sanford should change parties, team up with spitzer and get back in the game.
Sounds good to me.

[skyk-2009]

What does Spitzer have to do with this? He RESIGNED! He was a MAN about it.. this slime dog wants his mistress and his job!! "Family Values" my behind!!

[didserve]

stick a fork in the republicans they are done...

[snowylynne]

He needs to dissapate.........

[John_Merritt]

Well, his political obituary may be written, but somehow, I feel he still has life in him. Any man that would bare his soul like he has will be a far better person in the future. His greatest gifts may not be in politics, but it could finally emerge as a father or other business leader.

Moral of this story: To completely heal from within, sometimes it requires bleeding, pain, scarring and purging of the source of our discomfort; before we can become whole again.

[rushlimpdrug]

Wonder what this jack_ss will do for an encore when next year's
Father's Day "comes" along.
1. Will he chose to be with his four sons and wife?
2. Will he chose to be with the foreign wh_re?
3. Will he take up with another wh_re?
4. Will he go hiking?
. . let's stay tuned . .

[ubrew12]

And sometimes healing needs Argentina

[ramos1129]

Sanford needs to apologize to President Clinton in a public forum and in private. While Sanford was in the House, he very agressively attacked Clinton over the Lewsinsky affair and demanded Clinton's resignation. His actions are hypocirtical and by his own standards, he needs to resign the Govenorship.

[xlib]

Again, rewriting history there libtard. Your bubba was impeached because he lied under oath. Even though your NY Times ran a story about what a great liar the guy was and wonderful it was, he still lied under oath.
Want me to explain the meaning of "is" to you?

[skyk-2009]

No xlib, Clinton was involved in a Witch hunt by the Party of Family Values. The Investigation was SUPPOSED to be about a Land Deal but when the fanatics couldn't find anything there they jumped into his PERSONAL LIFE. Now relax and enjoy the ride because Pay Back Time is HERE!!

[walt1944]

Ain't POLITICS in the USA WONDERFUL???????????

After all, in STILL-RED China, Sanford would have been SHOT!!!

But we couldn't have that happen here! Our fellow politicians just ignore the entire thing ever happened, like with David Vitter, and Larry Craig, and Tom DeLay!!!

HAIL OBAMA?????

[xlib]

Would spitzer have been shot? How about JFK, RFK and teddy? Would they have been shot? Would mcgreevy also be shot? See, you people hardly have a right to throw anything, let alone stones. All these guys on both sides are slime balls. The difference, we ask and demand ours step down. This idiot, sanford, is playing an democrat and not stepping down. See the difference.
As for all the talk about "family values, etc,etc" ya know, I hear more of that being spewed at the right from the left.

[skyk-2009]

xlib, why would you ask that? I never heard any democrat say the party or their candidates were the Family Values Candidates. I guess these creatures LYING to voters, saying such actions are wrong and people who do such things should NOT be in public office, all the while DOING that and worse, doesn't bother you... but then what does? The Fringe Right has NO standards and now everyone knows it. You folks are just into this for control over OTHER people and you will buy Snake Oil by the Gallon from these Politicians. Me? I want them to worry about the condition of the nation in the world and the economy. I'll take care of MY families values!

[omnibus66]

I worked for a government agency for a few years, and it was made abundantly clear to me that any misuse of funds would lead to immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution. My only question is why is this idiot not in jail?

[rushlimpdrug]

You are absolutely correct.
There should be an investigation of phone records from the
gov's office.
It is clear he has broken the law and both parties are turning
a blind's eye making the state look like a joke with the wh_re.

[mejordelahistoria]

stanford and palin would be excellent for the republican party's next presidential ticket, one is an adulterer fornicator who cheats on his wife and the other is a single mom, divorced, no man to stand behind and mother of a fornicating out of wedlock daughter. I guess this is the best the party of family values and apple pie can bring to the table.

[justsane-2009]

palin is a single mom? hello? pull your head out and pay attention numbnutz...

[xlib]

Wow, talk about judgmental. My, my, this from a lib.
Say, how about spitzer/edwards?? Sounds good to me. One was THE CRUSADER for New York state who was going to clean up politics in New York. He made punishment for johns stricter,etc,etc. The other, self professed good guy cheats on his dying wife. Great teams, all the way around.
And, I love the way you throw the kids in your mix. Nice job libtard.