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The chorus of resignation calls continues to build for disgraced SC Governor Mark Sanford (below). It’s fine that he wants to compare himself to King David. It’s lovely that he’s said he won’t resign because King David didn’t.
Why doesn’t Sanford understand that this isn’t ultimately about an affair? It’s about deceit from the highest elected official in the state. Lies to his staff, the media, fellow lawmakers. He has lost his credibility and his judgment will now be questioned every single day by colleagues in both political parties. He needs these people to be successful, period, and they no longer trust him.
-The state AG is pouring over every trip he’s ever taken to determine if resources were abused.
-Polls say a majority think he should resign.
-His staffers are being paraded out to correct his lies about when, where and how many times he wasn’t where he said he was.
Governor, this isn’t about you and it certainly isn’t about being judged for adultery. It’s about your ability to effectively and credibly lead the state that elected you.
It’s time to say goodbye.
More GOP leaders demand Sanford’s resignation
Posted: 09:45 AM ETFrom CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
COLUMBIA (CNN) — Six more Republicans in the South Carolina Senate are calling on Mark Sanford to resign, including Majority Leader Harvey Peeler.
Late Tuesday, the senators jointly issued a press release demanding that the governor step down because he has lost the trust of South Carolinians.
“The bottom line is that the Governor’s private matters should remain private, but his deception and negligence make it impossible for us to trust him, and for him to govern in the future,” they wrote.
Peeler told CNN that Sanford “has lost his ability to lead, and I’m afraid he has lost his ability to function as a man.”
“He is sitting all alone in that big governor’s mansion, totally alone,” Peeler said. “It’s about leadership and moving forward and it’s time for him to resign.”
Peeler was joined GOP state senators Hugh Leatherman, Paul Campbell, Jake Knotts, Larry Martin and William O’Dell.
Earlier Tuesday, two of Sanford’s top conservative allies in the senate — Larry Grooms and Kevin Bryant — also said Sanford must go.
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I was there the day after it broke, and I’m still there.
Chalk me up for the Complex Kaiser Chorus – again.
Geez RSE, you are making me sounds like some strange viral infection or something!
I think Jason said there was a cream for that.
I could not agree more with David and Jason.
When people who have been elected by the public violate that trust with lies, deceptions, and an abuse of power they must go. Its not just about “sex” or a personal issue.
This is what the Clinton/Sanford defenders fail to recognize.
The people elected this man, the good and the bad. You get what you chose. There is no reason for him to resign.
Would they elect him if they had known about the women, the lies and the dereliction of his duties as governor?
I find that very, very hard to believe.
This is not the person they thought they were voting for, and there are *plenty* of reasons for him to resign.
Just playing David’s role as devil’s advocate here… what if America were to have a re-vote on the Presidential election today. Do you think that Obama would still win after ramming his spending bill, climate bill, Sonya Sotomayor, and now his health care bill down our throats. Not to mention is repeated apologies for America and lack of foreign policy?
Alaina,
Clinton was at no point missing for four days. His sin was cheating on his wife, his crime was to lie about it under oath.
I have to say this is an apples and oranges situation.
Everything you just listed are policy issues. You can’t compare policy disagreements to near criminal negligence, which is what Sanford is guilty of.
At the time of the election, this is true. I have to take the good with the bad as I see it at the moment I cast my ballot.
But if it changes drastically (like what we’ve witnessed here), there is an option called ‘impeachment’ that can rectify the voters’ desire if the official refuses to step down.
The point of resignation is to avoid the “impeachment” process. I do agree, however. If, like Clinton, this man refuses to step aside due to his abuse of power, he should face impeachment to remove him.
What we are suggesting is that it would be better for his state if he did the right thing and removed himself.
I disagree, Bob, and agree with Jason, David et al. When you vote for someone you generally expect them to behave in a manner worthy of the office–behaving according to the sort of character they represented themselves as having, carrying out their duties faithfully, etc. Gov. Sanford (who I like) has failed in this, whether through an unfortunate stumble or willful misbehavior/neglect, I’m not positioned to say. Nor does it make a difference. His credibility is shot. To use Shakespearean stage directions: Exeunt Stanford.
As a South Carolinian native who wanted to back Stanford for 2012, this gives me no pleasure, but it’s true.
More from CNN:
“CNN has learned GOP Senators Daniel Verdin, Shane Martin and Wes Hayes joined the anti-Sanford chorus on Wednesday morning, bringing the total number of Republican senators calling for the governor’s resignation to 12. There are 27 Republicans in the state senate.
“Sanford’s support among legislators and grassroots leaders in the state eroded considerably on Tuesday after Sanford told the Associated Press he had met with his mistress more times than he had previously disclosed. He also admitted to dalliances with other women.
“At least four county GOP chairman have also called for Sanford to go.”
And what about Clinton? He was impeached and continued to serve as President.
I’m in no way defending what Clinton did, but did he disappear to another continent without the Secret Service and his staff knowing about it for days on end?
Clinton was a slime and lied about it.
Sanford left his job for four days with little or no contact and his staff, security and family were all unaware.
This is a step beyond what Clinton did.
Well, yes, DK, but…
- is it the circumstances, or the core action: lack of character, breach of integrity, major infidelity – that makes it a “resignable” offence?
So it was the Oval Office; so it was after hours instead of a long weekend. To me, the actions still reflect a deep betrayal, both to the spouse as well as the public. Clinton was no worse, and should have been booted as well.
My point is that the premise of this post is trust, or lack thereof.
If the arguement is that the people of South Carolina cannot trust him because he lied, can the same thing not be said for Clinton? Futhermore, and to your point, Clinton lied under oath so isn’t that technically worse?
Wasn’t there some pergury involved with Clinton? Didn’t he lie under oath to a federal grand jury investigation or something along those lines? Isn’t that a crime which leaves the man completely untrustworthy? And wouldn’t that be similar to the reasons given as to why Sanford should go?
Regardless of what I think, looks like soap opera worthy political drama in SC because I think he’s going to fight the calls for resignation even though it’s sensible for him to do so.
If any of us walked out of our jobs for a week without calling in or letting anyone know where we were and then when we came back said i’m sorry but just so you know i have done this before and it wasnt the first time…would we still have a job? Didn’t think so.
As far as the clinton comparison, clinton is/was a serial scumbag who abused his position of power on multiple occasions as governor and president to manipulate women. There is very good evidence he would have been a convicted rapist were it not for his money and power at the time of the offense. If i used my position at work to manipulate an intern who was half my age into a sexual relationship at the office (even if it was after hours and off the clock) i would be fired. Both are politicians and scumbags. Both should and should have been fired based on decency in addition to the law. Why is it politicians have to violate laws to be fired (and even then in clintons case with perjury wasn’t), whereas we peons in the private sector can be fired simply because it is best for the company? FIRE THEM ALL!!!
Agreed 100%.
Clinton not only lied under oath but he encoraged and told others to do the same. Paula Jones had every right to a fair trial in her lawsuit against Bill. First he filed a motion that said she could not sue until after he left office, then when the SC denied that claim he obstructed justice to deny her the right to a fair trial.
Both abuses of power goes beyond a persons persoanl “sex life”. Bill should have been removed and Mark should remove himself.
I was a big Sanford fan, but I agree that it’s time for him to go. Sad.
Am I the only South Carolinian who truly understands why Mark Sanford should resign/be impeached!?
FORGET THE INFIDELITY IDIOTS!!!
He should resign for abandoning his post!
I was born and raised in Spartanburg, SC and am ashamed of my fellow South Carolinians’ failure to understand this. So What he puts his p3ni$ in the wrong v@gin@…That’s between him and his family.
Stand up each and EVERY South Carolinian and get this guy removed from office for the right reason, and stop giving the rest of the country yet ANOTHER validation for considering us among the most stupid and ignorant people in the country. As of now, “them yankees” are right about us! Stop perpetuating the myth…or is it a myth!?