Capitol Hill

David Lewkowict

Atlanta, GA

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Sanford Harsh on Clinton’s Affair

June 25, 2009 - 1:01 PM | by: David Lewkowict

Governor Mark Sanford stood teary eyed -- admitting to his extramarital affair with an Argentinian woman. This revelation ended his tenure as chairman of the Republican Governors Association and, most likely, any chances of the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Sanford, however, did not resign his position as South Carolina's Chief Executive. That has foes on both sides of the political aisle crying foul (a shameless reference to his alleged dove hunting trip to Argentina). 

This was also different from the position Sanford took in 1998 when then-President Bill Clinton was caught in an affair with intern Monica Lewinsky.  In a Post-Courier article (9/12/98) Sanford is quoted as saying "it would be much better for the country and him personally (to resign).  I come from the business side.  If you had a chairman or president in the business world facing these allegations, he'd be gone. "  

Sanford served in Congress from 1995-2001 and voted for three of the four articles of impeachment against Clinton.

In a June 4 interview with FOX News, Sanford talked about the impeachment of former President Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky affair. Here's a sampling of what the governor said:

"I think that there were enough sordid details to get people genuinely ticked off at... the irreverence for the office. "

"You know, if somebody's getting (oral sex) in... the Oval Office... that's enough to tick off pretty much every soccer mom in America, and a whole lot of soccer dads."

"So, people were, I think, genuinely offended -- from either an ethical or moral standard on what had gone on."

"You ask any guy, particularly one in office, 'You've been screwing around on your wife?' Maybe there's 1 percent or maybe there's 2 percent or maybe there's 5 percent. But 95 percent of the time, whoever it is, is gonna say 'No.' And so, I think the public said no matter what Clinton did, whether he did or he didn't do whatever it was that happened with Monica Lewinsky, is that guy gonna stand up and admit it? They said no, he's not."

Sanford became part of that rare 1, 2 or 5 percent Wednesday, when he admitted on national television, "I have been unfaithful to my wife."

President Bill Clinton's Statement on his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, August 17, 1998.   

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Connie

My personal opinion is: If his wife and kids can't trust him 100% then the country certainly cannot believe a word he says. I suggest he step down. I mean when does anything mean something. All Americans want to do is overlook everything. We need honest, moral men and women running our country so God will bless America otherwise we are doomed....

June 28, 2009 at 11:05 PM
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Independent

The guy had an affair. It happens in both parties, all the time. I am tired of the country getting mired in this tabloid drivel when there are larger issues at hand. The president is currently spending at a record pace and congress is being pressures into caving to his every demand. This needs to stop. Throwing more and more taxpayer dollars at the economic situation is not going to work. Additonally, write your representatives to stop the left-ward drift into to socialism. If you don't see it happening, you are blind.

June 28, 2009 at 10:52 AM
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louie r

guys, hes not in love with his wife, and if you read emails between them u can see that he is poetic in his writting, he genuinely loves this maria bellen chapur chick, plus she is hawtttt. Shes a latin beauty and shes educated, knows 3 different languages and shes a reporter, banging body cute face, this guy just made a mistake, love destroys all beautifully. he is wrong for taking stabs at bill tho, but i guess he had to since no republican would defend a democrat in this situation anyway, he would be out of his mind to do so

June 27, 2009 at 3:47 AM
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Ecclesiastical

Interesting that democrats are quick to blame him and were quick to defend Bill Clinton... Double standard for the democrats. Regardless the issue is not that he cheated as much as whether he tried to cover it up...remember Clintons statement: " I did not have sexual relations with her"....and because BILL purjured himself UNDER OATH he was IMPEACHED. And should have stepped down. NOONE is immune from cheating. Dem or Rep. and ALL of them should STEP down with this CRAZY spending SPLURGE right now... Auto, Banks, Insurance, Cigarettes, and Now a Tax on the gas taxes... UGH... Being a good steward and Taxing a need are TWO ENTIRELY Different things...

June 26, 2009 at 2:44 PM
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joe nolan

Ho hum another hypocritical Republican. They run on moral superiority and guess what? They are just as horny as democrats. At least, in general, the demos do not run as morally superior. DreamJoe.

June 25, 2009 at 4:32 PM
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david Lewinsky

The worst thing about this is that he condemned another man for doing the same thing.

June 25, 2009 at 3:07 PM
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TJ

This is a double edged sword regarding his social conservative stand. I like Sanford and listened to what he has said in a few townhall with the TX Gov. It is shame. Part of me feels like if we fired everty knucklehead who cheated on their spouse we would have crazy turnover rate. It is not the position but really what he has said and what he said during the Clinton Admin. Now.. let's not spend millions SC does not have to get rid of him. It is a tough stand right now. It is a mess. Republicans.. take care of their own... if your character is lacking your out. The dems.. they accept all behavior regardless. They "forgive". I am not sure - we can forgive as conservatives and republicans - But we also punish. It is a shame this has happened.

June 25, 2009 at 2:07 PM
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