Politics

Jonathan Serrie

Atlanta, GA

22

comments

Sanford’s Mea Culpa

July 19, 2009 - 2:30 PM | by: Jonathan Serrie

Although South Carolina's embattled chief executive skipped this year's National Governors Association conference in Biloxi to take his family on a trip, Mark Sanford continues to make headlines with his latest mea culpa.

In an op-ed published in this morning's edition of The State newspaper, Sanford apologizes to constituents for his extra-marital affair, but gives no indication of any plans to resign. In fact, Sanford suggests his public humiliation will make him a more effective governor during the remainder of his term. Sanford writes:

"In this regard I think all that has transpired will be particularly relevant in the way I deal with the legislative body and other state leaders going forward. Micah 6:8 asks us to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly, and as I begin these steps into the last 18 months of this administration, it will indeed be with a more contrite and humble spirit."

The chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party calls the Republican governor's apology "half-hearted." Carol Fowler issued this written statement:

"Mark Sanford's vague apology in Sunday's papers is fine as far as it goes, but he doesn't say what he's apologizing for. Turning his back on the people of SC? Abandoning his family? Dumping his responsibilities for weeks? Or 6 1/2 years of ignoring our public schools and the children in them? When my children were small and had to say they were sorry I always made them specify what the apology was for, to be sure they knew. Does Governor Sanford know?"

nellpost

I visited creepy C Street religious house Sunday. Newspapers piled up outside on the front stoop, curtains open, no people visible. Have they all jumped and run?

July 20, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Reply

And now to take advantage of this whole “3.0 Internet Boom” « rob young — He Who Is Unemployed

[...] for a fee. It’s doubtful, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right? And given recent transpirings, you just never [...]

July 20, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Reply

Be4Truth

This man needs to STOP TALKING!!!! It's one thing to want to stay in the news for political exposure, but now is NOT THE TIME for him...he needs to get out of the headlines, fix his heart and his marriage (he is very lucky his wife is willing to work on forgiving him all the pain he has caused her...I pray for her; it's a long, hard process! but all things are possible in HIM (God)). But the Gov needs to do his part by staying QUIET!

July 20, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Reply

Marcia Manzello

It is a Day Late and a Dollar Short! Just man up and resign Governor.

July 20, 2009 at 7:03 AM
Reply

bria

Is there a reason why he won't crawl back under his rock? Hasn't he humiliated the citizens of SC, enough??? Actions speak louder than words...don't SAY what you'll do...JUST DO IT, ALREADY!!

July 19, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Reply

june

my favorite person....

July 19, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Reply

abby0802

Memo TO: Sanford FROM: God What part of thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not bear false witness, that shalt not covet, thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God -- do you not understand????

July 19, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Reply

Claire Brigham

How about we show some compassion? We can take the Governor at his word; the ball is now in his court. The American public is discouraged when partisan politics stifles the Peoples' business.

July 19, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Reply

Sanford Pens Apology to Voters « David Grady’s

[...] Sanford Pens Apology to Voters S.C. governor says he will make good come from bad after affair was made public following his disappearance• LIVESHOTS: Gov. Mark Sanford’s Mea Culpa [...]

July 19, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Reply

john

He should apologize to Senator Catherine Ceips. He and his staff and friends lied about her. They ran his best friend Tom Davis against her, put in big money and time. He campaigned against her with tv commercials etc. She was a widow and the only female Senator in SC. She stood up against him several times. Sanford covered Davis's affairs and other problems and now it is sanford's turn. Disgusting.

July 19, 2009 at 4:18 PM
Reply

PerryA

I wonder if this guy was quoting the bible when he was cheating on his wife and family with his "soul mate"? I'm disgusted with the lameness of his explanations and apologies. He makes me embarrassed. I don't want him on my team. If I were his awesome wife I'd tell him to go shack up with his "dear dear friend"... he's slimy!

July 19, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Reply

Patrick Bateman

How many times is this guy going to attempt to shove the Scripture down our throats apologizing for his EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIR? What about the verse that says an adulterer "will surely be killed", Gov. Sanford? Why haven't you mentioned that one? Because it isn't convenient to you, like the others are. You make me sick.

July 19, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Reply

Rick

Gov. Sanford, please don't invoke Micah or any other of our Lord's prophets. You have disqualified yourself from using our Lord to amend the serious errors you have made, at least publicly. What you do in the innermost regions of your soul is between you and the Creator God. But for crying out loud, don't preach to me. I know only that you have lied and cheated and betrayed not only your wife and children, but your South Carolina constituents as well. Not only have you disqualified yourself to be a preacher or husband, but I believe you have disqualified yourself to be the Governor of the finest state in the south. Man-up Governor. Do what's right for your family and your state.

July 19, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Reply

Perry Wicker

This man clearly needs to step down. But I suppose that would show some form of morality and common sense , as of which he has shown none.

July 19, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Reply

yo yo

Just what republicans need! another disgraced politician

July 19, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Reply

anne

If I were Mark Sandford's wife I would buy him a one-way ticket to Argentina and pack his bags for him. What a hypocrite!!!! Remember what he not only did to his wife and children, but what he also did to his "mistress" (he threw her under the bus so to speak only when he got caught. If he were so concerned about his wife and children he would have not done what he did. I think he is only concerned about himself.

July 19, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Reply

Jim

I live in South Carolina. The Gov. Mark Sandford, has really not worked with his own party only except a few to get state business done in the past years. He lied to the people while walking off his job and returning. To the face the people and talking about what he had done. Then latter he added more to the story.He give the people hard time about stimulas money. He won't let his love affairs alone to do work.We keep reading about him in the news.Now he trying to love his wife again. And cutting his work weeks short.To take trips with his wife.Both of them are rich, but more than half the people in South Carolina are not rich. Please someone take this fool from us in South Carolina.We need help to get our state going again

July 19, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Reply

John

It was interesting seeing the photo of Mr. Ivy league Sanford arriving in Atlanta sans undershirt. He must have seen Clark Gable in "It Happened one Night" like many 45+ something's going on 18. He may have phrased the relationship to something akin to a Lord Byron poem but, in the end, his raging libido got the best of him like many others trying to reclaim their youth. I believe she completely snowed him and this was probably unknown to her, at first. Gov. Sanford's only way out would be to possibly change his party affiliation so he could be in the company of John Edwards or Bill Clinton. He will try to carry on a governor because there is no real alternative now that he screwed up, so to speak. If he resigned the office, his new job would need only one speech to his new public. "Do you want fries with that?" On second thought, he might become an ambulance chaser. John Edwards may be of assistance here. I am a little tired of his "contrite heart" talks with the media.

July 19, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Reply

CAG

why do these "shysters" always quote the bible? Keep it in your pants and stop quoting scripture- don't care, don't want to hear it. It has nothing to do with you job -your only hiding behind it due to the fact you are sleeze bag!

July 19, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Reply

Bob

Get this narcissist out of office!

July 19, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Reply