While Iran is in tumult, the whole world pauses: for a pathetic, sad, Sanford presser in which he admits he has been cheating on his wife.
Now, go away, sir. Bravo to your wife for not standing there with you, allowing the cameras to chronicle her misery. You were never going to be president, anyway, because -as I have said repeatedly – men who seem like competent middle-management types are DONE being president in this country:
A staid, respectable white fellow with no twinge of flavor is going to die out there. He’s everyone’s competent project manager, but no one’s CEO.
And you spent the last 5 days CRYING in Argentina? Don’t you know that song, yet? No crying in Argentina, for anyone!
It’s not that I have no compassion for human failing. I do. I fail all the time and my sins, dropped into the big bucket of human sinfulness, resound and reverberate no less than Sanford’s.
I’m just so SICK of these people with power – our so-called “leadership” – sneaking around, making excuses and carrying on while the country is in serious trouble. And it’s doubly annoying when it is someone from the right; pols on the left haven’t, at least, been mouthing platitudes about values and the sanctity of marriage, give them that.
At least Sanford did not do the “cover it up” routine (ala Bill Clinton, which only made things worse for him and his family) at least Sanford is coming clean, and yes, he seems to be expressing genuine contrition about what he’s done…but enough of this, already.
I am at a loss to understand how it is that politicians, particularly politicians on the right (who know they will find no sympathy or protection from the press) seem oblivious to the fact that if they’re doing something that can destroy their careers, there are going to be opposition people out there, just lying in wait for the chance to expose them, or to pounce and devour if the politician exposes himself! You’d think they’d be smarter about how they conduct themselves, or they’d think long and hard, not just twice but a dozen times, before they indulged themselves in behavior that can only blow up in their faces.
I am not without compassion, but Gov. Sanford just handed the whole nation a crap sandwich that the press will chew on for weeks and weeks, while they ignore other – much more pressing and meaningful – stories. And in that way, we are all injured.
Gov. Sanford, glad you did the right thing and came clean, now get off the stage, so the press can get back to not covering the shambles of our economy or this story and not asking Barney Frank if he is learning disabled, not asking uncomfortable questions about healthcare, and the climate, or this issue or ohh…what’s the point. There is a sex scandal to report about, and sex trumps everything, especially when the story uncovers someone with an R after his name. As we all know, sex is “private” except when it is not, and the world is full of perpetual adolescents (on every side) who will immediately follow this (or the execrable “Jon & Kate Divorce” story) to the exclusion of anything else.
Sigh…alright, I’ll link around. I guess I’m a whore, too.
Roger L. Simon: When eyes of the nation should be focused, Sanford knocks our glasses off! Yes…I was heartbroken when I heard this news, not for Sanford (although for his wife, yes) but for the Iranian people who need our support today and who – with this story – will see coverage from the short-attention span media wane, as the press follows a titillating story and the political blood it leaves in the water.
Howard Kurtz tweets more compassion than I felt:
This was a man in pain, unraveling on live TV. Sanford kept flagellating himself. Pundits who talked about 2012 missed pt: the human drama.
Pursuing Holiness: Can men and women be friends?
Ed Morrissey: “No sniveling” also [this] makes Sanford the most famous Republican on foreign affairs at the moment
Jim Geraghty: His career is over
Confederate Yankee: Foreign affairs; yer doing it wrong
Ramesh: It’s Republican Infidelity Month!
Malkin: A surreal disaster of a press conference
He had a hell of a lot more passion and pathos for his mistress than his own wife. He referred wistfully to the “great friendship” and “that sparking thing” he had with the mistress for eight years — during which his wife was raising his four children.
RGA: Kathryn Lopez has their statement
Don’t cry for me: South Carolina
Quoting Mark Twain, you’re doing it wrong!
Noisy Room: Corruption & Immorality know no bias, only the press does
Bookworm: Sanford’s odd cadences
Maureen Dowd: Perpetually 14
WELCOME: Instapundit readers!. (And thanks to Glenn Reynolds for the link). If you haven’t been by since I moved to First Things, please look around. Today I am also trying to keep up with issues in Iran, and you will definitely want to read Spengler’s fascinating look at just how dangerous the Iranian situation is. Also, if you have just realized that you’d stopped receiving my feed, it is http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/theanchoress/feed/atom/
I almost felt ill when I read that Barney Frank is asking – yet again – that loans for condos “be relaxed”. It appears he has NO learning curve. NO accountability either.
On face value this is horrible. Cheating on your spouse is wrong on so many levels. I can’t help but wonder the timing of all of this. I mean, Ensign last week and Sanford this week? They were all Leaders of the Party and one by one they are being eliminated. I don’t know why but it feels like “Chicago politics” in action here. Something more sinister. Can’t explain it.
Also, you are right about the double standards between Dems and Reps.
At least he came clean on his own rather than being “outed” by the Huffington Post or Daily Kos. Meanwhile, that blithering idiot Barney Frank is setting us up to repeat OLD mistakes and the Iranian Spring is imploding (sort of) before our very eyes! And we now discover that it was Jon Gosselin who was the impetus behind the divorce! And he didn’t have to ask her permission first! And you and I do not lack for things to blog about!
You write what I am thinking, that I hope his wife does NOT back him up through this. These men must be held accountable for this behavior, despicable – with four sons! Where are the REAL men!?
I wouldn’t say that he came clean on his own — not after Pravda has been like sharks smelling blood in the water the last couple of days making a HUGE story out of a non-story, that Sanford was out of touch for a couple of days. They lucked out that there actually was something after all.
Either way, it’s time to go.
Time to clean house. The GOP can hardly go any lower, so there is no excuse for not now getting rid of all the rot and deadwood. From the squishy tapeworm RINOs to the immoral frauds to the unprincipled pragmatists, it is time for them all to go.
Agreed. Its why I left the Party. We worked our tails off getting these guys elected, a GOP controlled Congress. And still they couldn’t keep their hand out of the cash box, couldn’t keep their zipper up.
Look, it ticks me off when a rightie does this kind of crap, too – because it gives the liars on the Left (who truly don’t give a shit about things like this) ammunition against us – because we DO care about things like this. Like Ayn Rand wrote in “Atlas Shrugged,” they use our highest values against us.
But the REAL point is that we have developed a political class in this country, Left AND Right, which is hypocritical, power hungry, amoral, self-absorbed and unaccountable. Read the tea leaves, folks – we MUST get rid of career politicians if we are to save our great Republic. Vote the Anti-Incumbent ticket; send ALL the bastards home.
Ed (www.hotair.com) has a great “Facepalm” poster he uses for some of his articles. If the news keeps up like this, I think I’m going to have to borrow it.
I would suggest sending one to Mr. Frank but I don’t think he’d understand.
Actually, the fact that Sanford disappeared to “cry in Argentina” is kind of funny, in a very pathetic sort of way.
Regarding one of your unrelated links, I’m not clear on why you tagged the clip, in which Warren Buffet slams cap and trade as a regressive tax, as a “lie.” Isn’t it a good thing that a business genius and high profile Obama supporter like Buffet is shining a light on the real costs all of us will have to bear under cap and trade? At least a few more people might sit up and pay attention.
I may have missed something, but this puzzled me.
[I knew I had gotten distracted as I linked something; that was it. I'll clarify - admin]
“You’d think they’d be smarter about how they conduct themselves, or they’d think long and hard, not just twice but a dozen times, before they indulged themselves…”
Oh, he was thinking long and hard… That was the problem
What IS IT with these guys that they can’t keep their wicks dry?! Count me among the not buying it crowd. I was miserably married for YEARS and never cheated. It takes WORK to cheat, it doesn’t just “happen.” Much effort is involved, as his schedule conniptions indicate.
I have no sympathy. None. Not a jot. These “men” are rotten to the core.
I’m sorry, but as a dumped wife, I do not have compassion for this man. Oh yes, I’m a sinner – big time, but give me a break. What an a**. What gets into these people. What exactly are they smoking once they get into power that completely obliterates their ability to think? Or maybe that’s what they would have been with or without power. Who knows. All I know is this guy is shameful!
Anchoress, that’s exactly how I felt watching the presser. He needs to RESIGN as Governor, and right NOW! Get off the stage entirely. Just another selfish, narcissistic pol, Yes, we’re all sinners. But for God’s sake, if you’re a politician, and a conservative one at that, can’t you figure this out?!? Good God, he had 8 years to realize this was a stupid thing to do… but no, he kept going. Idiot. I’m sick of the lot of ‘em; I’m with Respawn.
The whole press conference just made me sick. It was so self-serving. I saw no real contrition at all; I saw someone who loved being in the spotlight and thought he has a heartbreaking, wonderful story to tell, and isn’t he great, asking for forgiveness of everybody and his brother.
And you’re right, this takes attention off the things that are really important, such as the bloodshed in Iran and the path our President has us on.
“A staid, respectable white fellow with no twinge of flavor is going to die out there.”
I sure hope so. We need characters. It’s no coincidence that the word means both moral courage and colorful personality. These “competent”, tassle-loafered politicians are self-centered phonies looking to cajole, coerce or steal everything the can.
We have very few leaders of character; Palin being the most obvious exception. We’ve got to start from scratch by leaving the Democrat & Republican Party to rot and turning every incumbent out on their ear.
“As we all know, sex is “private” except when it is not…”
Sex (at least when combined with politics) used to be private. That pretty much went away when it was used as weapon to bring down Clinton. I feel sorry only for Sanford’s family.
I am not without compassion, but Gov. Sanford just handed the whole nation a crap sandwich that the press will chew on for weeks and weeks, while they ignore other – much more pressing and meaningful – stories. And in that way, we are all injured.
Come on – the state-run media didn’t need Sanford to ignore important issues. The fact that somewhere a non-leftist has a pulse and is still breathing is all the excuse they have ever needed.
Instead of admitting infidelity, Sanford could have have announced at the press conference that he had discovered the cure for HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and malaria while ending world hunger, and the state-run media would still demonize him. If a politician has an “R” after his/her name, then that’s literally all the state-run media can see.
On a brighter note, he did finally come across a stimulus package he could live with.
Boo. Hiss. Thanks a buttload, Gov’ner Lepetomaine; you’ve just handed the lefties another machine gun.
This sort of nonsense drove me to re-register as an independent also. If you’re going to bang the “family virtues” gong, you’d better walk the walk; otherwise, do yourself and the rest of us a big fat favor and shaddap.
Hucbald – I was in the same situation as you (woman-on-man abuse does occur, by the way) and never even so much as went on a date until I’d filed for divorce and was legally separated. I wouldn’t do that to the kids.
What’s this about Bill Clinton being unfaithful? I saw none of THAT in the “media”!
I was so happy to see she didn’t do the press conference with him. Apparently, she kicked him out a couple of weeks ago and told him not to call so he runs off to chicky-poo in Argentina.
I wish her and the boys all the best.
I did not see my view mentioned directly so I’ll just add knowing I am a bit late to the comment “party”.
I am heartily sick of the whole “Public Confessional” viz Press Conference viz the MSM.
The whole thing has gotten so routine it’s no longer of interest/value/insert POV here…
I, too am not with out compassion, and will make my best effort with the whole “log in the eye thing”. But, really, enough already.
One has to wonder if at some level this was conscious political suicide. Agreed, he needs to resign immediately as governor.
Anchoress, you had best chop off your husband’s tackle before he commits the sins of the flesh. This stuff spreads like H1N1 among the religious right.
Thanks (not) troll – are you stupid enough to believe that anyone is going to read through your unending trash post?
[Just so you know, Joseph is not a troll, but an old friend of this blog. Unrepentantly liberal, but a good guy and a serious Buddhist who once took the time (and the risk) to come to the defense of Pope Benedict XVI when he was being smeared. We disagree - and will forever - but we are friendly. Joe does get long-winded, sometimes, though.
-admin]
Honestly, no one (elected, appointed, hired, whatever) should be allowed to collect a government paycheck for more than 20 years — total.
Feeding at the public trough is toxic.
I regret that my comment somehow got submitted out from under me.
I can stop there, since Gerry has correctly, if rudely, pointed out that I am becoming long-winded. And confusing him or any of your readers with mere fact and evidence is probably unsportsmanlike.
[Bad mood, Joseph? I'm wondering if, upon reflection, you really want to say some of the things you've said, or if you're just letting your mood get away from you. But we can talk about that privately. I will hold back your comment until you've had a chance to think about it. -admin]
In addition to his betrayal of his family, he intentionally deceived the people of South Carolina and was missing in action for days without anyone knowing where he was.
Inexcusable behavior for a governor.
I hope he has the decency to resign his position.
Mr. H
http://allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/
All I can say is that the one without sin should cast the first stone!
What are you talking about sinner vic!?
I was just about to try and figure that out but my wife is calling me to play cards so no more comments for me tonight and that makes me kind of sad.
Peace
Well, let’s be honest. The Iran thing is getting old. I mean really, how many times do we want to watch Iranians get their heads beat in when we can have a good laugh at the expence of another bible-thumping hypocrite politician?
This just shows that our priorities are right. Iran does not matter. Iran never matters.
Mr. Sanford should resign the governorship. He is a conservative. We conservatives preach high standards of moral and ethical behaviour. We are therefore obligated to hold ourselves to those high standards. When we violate those standards and we are elected officials who were elected based on the advocacy of said high standards, we have betrayed those who voted for us. Therefore, the only honorable action to take is to resign the elected office.
Mr. Sanford should go and spend time working on either saving his marriage and salving the wounds he has inflicted on his wife and children or working on making a divorce as painless as possible for his wife and children. He should be a man and shoulder any consequences no matter how painful to himself. Whatever way it is decided to proceed, it should be done in private for the sake of your family and friends
Last and least, he has damaged the conservative cause at a very bad moment for it. If he has any honor, he should figuratively take the Luger, go in his den, and do the right thing for the sake of those of us who are struggling to save this country as it speeds down the road to perdition.
You are not damned for eternity sir, but you are obliged to spend some time in purgatory.
Quoted from and linked to at:
http://www.thecampofthesaints.com/2009.06.21_arch.html#1245885156891
Another GOP cracker hypocrite, shocking.
[Yeah. Too bad everyone in the GOP isn't sinless and scandal free like everyone on the left. As Howard Kurtz just twittered, Barney Frank had a prostitution ring working out of his basement and yet he still enjoys his career. How awful that people on the right actually think their leadership should resign when they're caught being jerks. admin]
let him (or her) that is without sin cast the first stone
You’d think they’d be smarter about how they conduct themselves, or they’d think long and hard, not just twice but a dozen times, before they indulged themselves in behavior that can only blow up in their faces.
Taken to the logical conclusion, they HAVE thought about it a dozen times. And they’ve chosen to do it anyway.
That’s the real awfulness. Their lust is part of it, but it’s their pride, their overwhelming sense of power, allows them to think they are different, that they can get away with it, that they aren’t a debased depraved sinner destroying everything and everyone around them with their lies.
It’s rather interesting, at this point, in a sick sort of way. Conservatives have a message, but not messengers. Liberals, meanwhile, have messengers, but no message.
Oh, and to the person who was saying that we’ve had enough of Iran, I hope to God (literally) that you were being sarcastic. What is happening in Iran, quite frankly, is more important than anything else happening in the world right now.
I stick by the maxim taught to me by my grandfather: “Never, ever trust a man who cheats on his wife”.
He needs to resign. Either he volunteers, or he gets pushed. Vanishing for a week without making any arrangements for matters to be handled in his absence, lying to his own staffers… that’s inexcusable in and of itself. If he cannot keep things “together enough” to arrange for some time off for personal soul-searching (over a crisis of his own creation), and make those arrangements in a dignified, professional manner, then he cannot be trusted with the office, period.
It’s interesting how many of those entering comments are leaping directly from Sanford’s mea culpa to how despicable the Democrats are. They have their own failings and are not responsible for his.
Setting aside the moral issues for a moment, I find Sanford’s behavior stupid and irresponsible. He should resign or be fired on that basis alone. His judgment is obviously lacking if he thought he could get away with the affair and an executive at his level abandoning his position and going incommunicado for a week is inexcusable. I disagree with the bloggers claiming his actions are tantamount to abuse of his constituents (must everyone be a victim?), but deeply irresponsible – yes. One of the many tragedies resulting from his sin is that any good he may have done in his career is erased forever.
And speaking of sin, this is a good example of how the effects of sinfulness are never isolated to the sinner. Especially if the sinner is a conservative. God pity his poor family.
BTW – did anyone else notice the happy-faced women in the background during his press conference? I saw three women smiling broadly while he revealed the devastation in his personal life. What’s up with that?
[Please pardon my using your comment to deliver a message, but I have no other way to do it. To the anti-Christian hater who keeps trying to post comments here, please note that I do not post comments from people with fake email addresses. So your email address, like the ones that say @dieAnchoressdie is keeping me from allowing your lovely, tolerant, mature and intelligent musings to be placed into conversations. That said, whether Sanford "came clean" enough for you does not change fact that he "came clean" more than, say...oh...Clinton, when he was caught, and did not engage in a cover up. And it's so stupid to have to rehash that. -admin]
“There is a sex scandal to report about, and sex trumps everything, especially when the story uncovers someone with an R after his name.”
Anchoress, I am so sorry to hear about your coma that lasted from Jan 17, 1998 to Feb 12, 1999.
Bless your heart.
There is very little difference between Sanford’s situation and that of Rudy Guiliani.
Both were married with young children- the second marriage, by the way for Guiliani , a Catholic – when each man fell in love with another woman. Each man was kicked out of this house by his wife. Sanford seems to have fallen apart where Rudy shrugged it off, camped out a gay friend’s guest room and kept up his affair with the woman who was to become his third wife.
Lucky for Rudy the custody battle for Gracie mansion which had the poltitcial class gleefully gossiping for months was almost completely forgotten after 9/11.
Roz, that “very little difference” was one of the reasons why I could not in good conscience support the guy who did become the GOP nominee.
You know, there are 300 million people in this country. Figure 120 million are Republicans (40 percent, given a probable 40-40-20 split). Of that 120 million, probably, what, 80 million are of age to hold elective office?
Out of 80 million possible Republicans, you would think that we could find a couple or three who weren’t total duds or slimy or despicable. Apparently, however, you would think wrong. It is disgusting. (And the Dems are even worse.)
But now we are reaping the harvest of the Big Tent. Nothing but weeds and thorns and bug-infested rotted fruit.
I don’t know why but it feels like “Chicago politics” in action here. Something more sinister. Can’t explain it.
Yes, they used an old Daley Machine/Jedi mind trick that made Sanford fly to Argentina to visit his girlfriend and stay out of touch with the state he purports to govern for a few days, along with giving his staff the bright idea to say he was hiking along the Appalachian trail when they had no idea where he was.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!
Dave Jurin I liked your comment – a lot. I have been doing some exploration and it seems that Mrs. Sanford (who claims to still love her husband) did not acquiesce to the “little woman standing by her man” nonsense of say, Mrs. Spitzer or Hillary Rodham Clinton. Therefore, I have more respect for her and even more contempt for his self-indulgent whoring around! My objection to these horndog politicians is simple. If they cannot continue to keep their marital vows – how can we trust them to keep any promises they may have made to get elected.
Anchoress,
As a citizen and voter in SC I can tell you honestly that if someone had lined up a thousand pictures of men and asked which one had betrayed his wife and children Mark Sanford would not have been the one I picked.
Having said that, I also feel since he neglected his duties as governor for five days he should resign or be impeached as it seems to be an impeachable offense: leaving without leaving contact information.
I read the emails posted in the State newspaper and got the feeling this was a 18th century love affair, where he knew what he did was wrong and yet couldn’t help himself.
He was going through counseling with his wife for the past few months and they were at the separation stage of the counseling. Maybe he went to Argentina to break off the affair, I don’t know.
What I saw yesterday was a man in deep pain of contrition and my heart ached for him and for his wife and children. This was not an act.
Mark Sanford never had presidential ambitions, so why everyone is focusing on that is beyond me.
Everyone, including us bloggers and the newspapers and networks should leave this family in peace to sort out their future.
His wife’s statement of love for him and the hope of rebuilding their marriage really touched me too. I was reading the words of a fallen Christian man and his Christian wife.
Remember, David did the same thing and yet the Bible says David was a man after God’s own heart.
[J, I know we're all sinners. I'm just sick of these sensational stories in the "leadership." I didn't even read the emails. Had said my piece, and basically moved on. But I see it's still the big thing on twitter!
-admin]
Hey folks! Please forgive me Anchoress but I’m going to go off topic for a God Second and say that for a human second I thought that I was visiting “Slactivist” cause I saw 50 comments here and if you permit me, I must apologize to Fred Clark and his readers cause everyone of them have been very good to me at the end. I’ve got to confess to them that I’ve stopped visiting cause I’m not worthy to be their sinful king! True sinner vic would be happy to take on the job as their spiritual heal her but I’m sorry to say that I’ve corrupted him in the early seventies and now he’s nothing but a sinful imaginary so called god who goes on pretending that he’s something special and as most of us know their are countless of these gods and Victor, wanting to be a good Catholic has no choice but to confess here for sinner vic.
Agar Victor! Not even Abraham was perfect in my eyes so if there’s any confessing to be done I want to do “IT” myself!
OK! Go ahead you skitso! We could all use a little laugh before we read Anchoress’ next post.
I must warn you though Victor, I’ll be writing “IT” as one of these so called gods so for your flesh sake please ask everyone to say a prayer for your blood and your bones also.
Come on sinner vic! We haven’t got all day and I’ve heard that “The End of The World” could end before we finish this comment but then again, “IT” could be a “Trillion Years” from now but nevertheless let’s get going cause the last thing we want is for anyone else to ‘Undergo’ another coma if you know what I mean Victor!
Does any body know what you mean sinner vic? Forgive me Anchoress cause these skitso friends of mine don’t know if they are coming and/or going so me, myself and I will try and control them with the power that Our Heavenly Father as given U.S. and bring this comment to a Brunt “Stop”
Normally, no one outside of South Carolina would care that their governor went AWOL for a few days. He would expect to get away with it. However, we have a new CEO in DC. He and his ACORN buddies are going to keep track of every Republican in a leadership role. The prez has a large spy network out there.
It is no surprise that two leading Republicans, one in charge of raising money for Senate candidates and one who heads the Republican Governors’ group, get caught with their pants down within a few weeks. It takes attention from the economy, Iran, the pending health care fiasco.
This should be a “heads-up” to all Republican office holders or would-be office seekers. If you have ever cheated on your spouse, expect it to hit the news. If you are gay and have kept it quiet, expect the closet door to open. If you ever cheated on your taxes, guess who runs the IRS? And BTW, if you are male and a father, do not vanish over Father’s Day. Even if your wife kicked your cheating butt out of the house, at least put on your MS-Outlook calendar that you are spending the day with the kids! And if are really that stupid, resign.
It is no surprise that two leading Republicans, one in charge of raising money for Senate candidates and one who heads the Republican Governors’ group, get caught with their pants down within a few weeks.
You really think that any governor of any state could drop out of sight for a few days and it wouldn’t be noticed until his/her political opponents brought it to the attention of the general public?
Pleeeeeeeeease!
The reaction we are seeing from conservatives concerning Mark Sanford is the result of idol worship on their part.The unenlightened among us always fall at the clay feet of some new political savior.
Never get too involved with people you support because the odds are great you will be disappointed by them.
When the crowd was praising The Lord the scriptures tell us He did not give Himself to them because He knew what was in man.
Man’s rotten fallen nature has not changed and politicians seem to prove that more often than others.
Mr. Cropper,
I have no idea of your politics, but I feel compelled to point out that beam in your eye. The conservative reaction to Sanford’s sin isn’t defensive or a denial of it. I’d say it is something more like chagrin, disappointment, frustration and compassion for his suffering family. Most of us are intimately familiar with our fallen nature. We place no faith in the flesh and therefore none in the redemptive power of our government and the sinners serving in it. It is definitionally conservative to want government small and weak for this reason.
If you want to witness idol worship, you only need look to the adoration of The One by the liberal faithful. You point me to widespread admission of anything he’s ever done wrong in his entire life by progressives and I’ll repent. But, please, Obama had his image morphed with Lincoln’s before he even took office and they started naming schools after him before his first 100 days passed. For the Left, he isn’t just a political savior – he’s THE savior.
As a SC resident and voter, I am very digusted. Please don’t wish Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer on us, though. he is quite the tool.
I am going to take the liberty of quoting JOM commenter Jim Ryan:
(I read that and thought, “gee, I wish I had said that,” and then thought, “it sounds like something The Anchoress would say,” But then I often read your stuff and think “gee, I wish I had said that.”)
My only other note is that the only recent topic that has been this popular was the discussion of how you pronounce “the” when preceeding a word that starts with a vowel. I’m not sure that I have a point with that, but I thought that somebody needed to point it out.