A politician’s second chance?

A politician’s second chance?

Remember Mark Sanford, the Republican governor of South Carolina?  Disappeared in 2009?  Released story that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail?  Was really in Argentina with his mistress?  Finished his term in disgrace?

Well, he just won the Republican primary for his old seat in the House of Representatives, an office he held before he was elected governor.  Now divorced from his wife, he is engaged to his Argentinian flame.  As if this isn’t fodder enough for political satirists, he will be running against Democratic candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch.  The sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert.

Do you think Sanford deserves a second chance?  Should the people of South Carolina forgive him for what he did?  Do you think they will?  Does Christian forgiveness extend to this sort of thing, or does that mingle the Two Kingdoms?  If Sanford is to be forgiven for his affair, did he still present himself as being intrinsically untrustworthy and intrinsically embarrassing so that he no longer deserves public office?  Is it a bigger drawback to have perpetuated a sex scandal or to have a comedian for a brother?  Which is the bigger advantage?  If, when faced with two equally disagreeable choices, your practice is to vote for the one that would be funnier, whom would you vote for?  Should we give up on democracy and see if the Queen would take us back?  Answer your own questions.

See  Mark Sanford wins Republican primary for old seat in South Carolina | News | National Post.

HT:  My brother Jimmy

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