Should Mark Sanford's adultery be an issue in his House race against E. Colbert Busch?

[CTyankee]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/mark-sanford-wins_n_3002674.html

Joe Scar was deifying the guy all over the place today on MJ. Like Sanford is some kind of hero for "putting it all out there early" in the scandal and now with his "thanking his God" bullshit after his win. Scarface was warning that Colbert Busch shouldn't go "all Jim and Tammy Faye" on him in the campaign. Katty Kay shot back that his irresponsible behavior and using state funds for his romantic adventurism IS a legitimate public concern.

While I think what happened in his marriage was between himself and his wife, this display of faux self abnegation in public is pretty nauseating...esp. when he's brandishing his "fiancee" like a trophy. But hey, it worked out well for Newtie...

[Sherman A1]

1. In that he was less than truthful about his

whereabouts for an extended period, I believe so.

[CTyankee]

4. I call that lying...but it certainly provided us with a great political tag line for him:

"hiking on the Appalachian Trail."

[Sheldon Cooper]

40. Agreed.

I really don't care about his infidelity, that's between him and his ex-wife. I am, however, very disturbed by his being AWOL and unaccounted for from his governorship while rendezvous-ing with his woman in S. America. It demonstrates an extreme recklessness that I would be very uncomfortable with if I were a resident of that state.

[Gormy Cuss]

46. +1

Why anyone would want him back in office after that disappearing act, I don't know.

[longship]

44. ^^THIS IS IT^^

That's the issue that they ought to hang around his neck.

[VanillaRhapsody]

78. the problem is....he was doing it on the people's dime...

[Scuba]

2. Character doesn't matter, remember?

Oh, wait.

[TwilightGardener]

3. He lied to his state, walked away from his job and lied.

So, THAT should be the issue. Why wouldn't he abandon his duties again the next time he felt like it?

[CTyankee]

5. Eggzackly!

If I were a voter I'd want to know if he's had psychological counseling...

[TwilightGardener]

7. He's a complete flake.

[riqster]

8. That is the point.

We should be concerned about his duty , or rather his dereliction, not about his ... (insert your own sexual pun here).

[Proud Liberal Dem]

76. Well, you could say that he'd be in like-minded company in the House

where members of his party routinely walk off their job to do.............something....but instead of calling it "hiking the Appalachian Trail", they get to call it "Recess". I don't know what they call it in the Senate but the Republicans are clearly out to lunch for the foreseeable future and not planning to do any work.



But, yeah, I think that the fact that the chief executive a state was missing on a romantic rendezvous and nobody knew where he was for a period of time is a pretty serious (and legitimate) issue.

[mainer]

6. Everyone already knows about it. It's already an issue.

Colbert Busch doesn't even need to bring it up.

[karynnj]

9. I think that Colbert Busch should not mention it - BUT it will be an issue

Last edited Wed Apr 3, 2013, 11:43 AM - Edit history (1)

I doubt there are many in the state who do NOT know about it. I suspect that many who have seen his first family on tv for years and saw them as what they were - a real family - will not buy what may be the current RW spin. On Chris Hayes yesterday, their was a young woman from National Review. She spoke of his love affair as being romantic when contrasted with Jack Ryan who withdrew from the Illinois Senate race in 2004.

I wasn't following who said what closely for the whole discussion, but they were speaking of him being in a loveless marriage and that the fact that the lover is now his fiance makes it all ok. In fact, there is the issue of using state money for the trips (paid back) and basically abandoning his job without leaving real contact information.


I have always made the step of trying to convert the issue to a Democratic similar case to try to understand what would happen. This is interesting to me as I have always said that there was no way anyone would ever trust John Edwards. On the show, the false equivalence used was to Clinton. (Even though he did not leave Hillary and he never spent federal money (or his own for that matter) on Monica and he never neglected his job.)

I think enough OTHER people will bring up the issue. It is very unlikely that many vote not knowing of it. Therefore, there is NO reason that the Democrat should mention it - other than obliquely - ie saying she could be trusted to always tell the truth (or something similar)

[renate]

47. Agreed. I think that if she clarified that his personal life was his own business...

... but the disappearance and the lying and the money was up for discussion, she could bring it up as often as she liked. But probably only if she completely differentiated between things that were personal and things that were job-related/financial. Otherwise he could just go on TV again and praise God for his forgiveness or whatever.

I thought the discussion last night about the difference between Jack Ryan (icky) and Mark Sanford (romantic if stupid) was interesting. The true-love aspect, as well as the keeping-out-of-people's-business aspect, of this case just makes it more important for Colbert Busch to focus on how flaky Sanford was at his job.

[samplegirl]

10. Absolutely

I wonder if his wife will back him on this!

[CTyankee]

14. She looked pretty bitter to me...

I kinda don't blame her. I saw that press conference he held and remember how this blew up in her face. Not that they didn't have marital problems; obviously, they did. But that he humiliated her publicly because he was "in love." I think he has some psychological problems that need fixing...

[Mariana]

50. I'm convinced he intended to provoke her into filing for divorce.

He lied when he said he wanted to repair the marriage - he wanted it to be over for good, but he wanted HER to end it. Then he could pretend it wasn't really his fault they split. I think that was the entire purpose of that press conference. Oh, he's a right pig, Sanford is.

[CTyankee]

52. Good point. But then his mistress would feel mistreated unless he could artfully explain

his little plot to her so she could understand. However, I doubt most people gave him too much credit for anything after that episode...

[Flashmann]

11. Should Mark Sanford's adultery be an issue in his House race against E. Colbert Busch?

If the situation were flipped,surely,as an upstanding beacon of the family values party,Sanford would never stoop that low.

[geek tragedy]

12. Yes. Goes to judgment, fitness for office, his abandonment of everything

to chase down his mistress in Argentina, etc.

[CTyankee]

18. But Sanford has managed to make this the "love story of the century."

Like the resignation of Edward VIII to "marry the woman I love." All very dashing and romantic and going to the ends of the earth (almost literally) for the woman he loves...who could fault him for pursuing his true soul partner?

I wonder how well this plays out with women voters in SC?

[geek tragedy]

20. He's behind in polling, which should tell you something.

Also, what percent of evangelicals will actually show up for an adulterous guy whose main thing is cutting taxes for the rich, not social conservativism?

[CTyankee]

22. I'm sure that's why he played the god card in his presser yesterday. The evangelicals

might give the guy a pass since he's penitent...

[geek tragedy]

23. They're not going to vote for his opponent, but they might

stay home.

[panader0]

38. Question: Is his fiance the lady from Argentina

or a new love?

[geek tragedy]

39. The one and the same. nt

[dawg]

13. If he broke provisions of a business contract and cost his former partner lots of money ...

everyone would say it was relevant. But since it was "just" sex, lots of people will give him a pass.

Because, when you get down to the nitty-gritty, money is the only thing that is sacred in our society.

[CTyankee]

15. But I see another aspect to this. It's the "fallen sinner" thing that seems to appeal to

SC voters (or some of them at least). As long as you just go on TV and admit your sins you really can get exactly what you want...in a few years, you have both your mistress and your career back. Looks like a "win-win" for him, doesn't it? Even his sons do not seem to have turned their back on him after what he did to their mother...

[dawg]

17. That only works for conservatives.

[loyalsister]

83. I agree

He's not really our problem. If republicans want him they can have him. I hope enough of them will not be forgiving enough to elect him.

What the republicans have learned from Bill Clinton and Anthony Weiner is to admit it. I wish Anthony Weiner would have admitted it immediately and pointed out that our puritanical society should chill. Instead he went on a lying media tour, and that's where he lost me.

The thing is, if we are going to walk the talk of our defense of our people, I don't think we should worry about what republicans do with their philanderers.
The embezzlement is an entirely different matter of ethics, and I hope he will have to answer for that as any public servant should.

[malaise]

16. Jebus only saves ReTHUGs

Of course not

[NCTraveler]

19. I think one of the worst things a politician can do...

is to put themselves in a position to be blackmailed. Anytime they do that it is fair game and should remove them from consideration.

[CTyankee]

21. maybe that was in the mix here and he craftily decided to turn it to his advantage

with his sorrowful admission at a press conference, to the utter surpise of everyone...

[Arkana]

24. It's a character issue. Plus, didn't he steal state funds to be with her?

[CTyankee]

25. Katty Kay brought that up and so did Heileman I believe...Joe Scar obviously didn't

wanna talk about THAT...

[Orsino]

26. Not until about four seconds after he first dares utter, "family values"...

...or "sanctity of marriage."

Then let it eat him.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

32. exactly.

But being liberal, I'd give him 10 seconds.

[Orsino]

45. Perhaps I underestimated the necessary guffawing time. n/t

[Orsino]

89. Never mind. It's now GO time!

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/03/cnns-jake-tapper-to-mark-sanford-who-are-you-to-deny-love-between-two-men/

Sanford said the issue should be left up to the state and called for a “democratic conversation” about marriage.

He's at least retreated to the states' rights weasel position, but that's an endorsement of continued discrimination. DU, your duty is clear. Fly, my monkeys!

[alp227]

57. My thoughts too, in addition to the fact he ACTIVELY tried to cover up his misdeeds.

I wish South Carolina successfully impeached that rat bastard so that he would be banned for life from serving in SC elected office. Now we have to go thru another clown show Republican election.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

27. Personal attacks, whether it's pointing out hypocrisy or not... is fair game... nt

[auburngrad82]

28. Refresh my memory- didn't the GOP spend millions of dollars over Clinton's infidelities?

Why should this guy be exempt? The GOP would crucify a Democrat if they were in this position.

[mercuryblues]

29. To a degree

Sanford used state planes for his personal use. He once flew one from Myrtle Beach back to Columbia to show the state how frugal he was by. He had an appt for a $10.00 haircut.

That is where the focus should be. Sanford says one thing and does another.

He brought a pig onto the State house floor to mock wasteful spending, yet spends thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for his personal and political use.

Holds his family up to show the people of Sc that he is a moral, family value type of guy. While having an affair.

Says he will put the State first. Left the country without telling anyone where he was for 5 days.

Sanford now says he is a changed man. South Carolinians, why should you believe him now? Hasn't he lied to you enough?

What is to stop him from approving legislation detrimental to the USA, in order to make his now fiancee happy? He deserted SC at least once to make her happy, he will do it again if given the chance.

the only thing he has proven is that he can not be trusted.

[CTyankee]

33. good points, but I think he is going to play the God card over and over and over again.

I hope Colbert Busch ignores the God blather and goes straight to the judgment issue and the public money issue. Or the people who will speak for her behalf. She could offer her own vision of helping her state, while letting him stay mired in the pig sty he created for himself. I can see this turning out pretty well for Colbert Busch, actually...

[mercuryblues]

42. It will

I think the focus of his affair should be on how his actions affected the state. How he was only sorry after he got caught for his ethics violations. How he is willing to use tax payer money for his personal use. Then hammer away at his actual record on job creation.

This can be done by surrogates. ECB can put out ads touting her involvement in the community and proffesional career.

[Berlum]

30. Republican hypocrisy should be the issue

since that is basically what Republicans offer to Americans.

[DinahMoeHum]

31. If he misused the SC taxpayers' money in all this affair. . .

he's fair game, IMO.

[MineralMan]

34. I'm thinking it WILL be, in any case.

Whether it will make the difference remains to be seen. Voters are weird.

[CTyankee]

35. As I said, I wonder what the polling of female SC voters will reveal...

and also, how attractive colbert busch is to the voters. As a big fan of Stephen, I sure am looking forward to this race...

[Purplehazed]

36. He is an utter hypocrite !

Stealing money from the taxpayers to have an affair. Getting tagged with the largest fine in the history of the state for ethics violations.

Committing adultery while having the responsibility of raising 4 children. Then this nut-job has the audacity to defend the "sacrament" of heterosexual marriage last week.

http://www.counton2.com/video?clipId=8725269&autostart=false

[Nye Bevan]

37. Not directly. She should stay well clear of it.

But there should be plenty of jokes and snide remarks at his expense made by people not directly involved in the campaign, to undermine him and generally try to turn him into a punchline as opposed to a serious credible candidate.

[TlalocW]

41. She needs to get her brother and his writers

To come up with a clever commercial about how she won't flake out on her constituents like Sanford did. Something about always being able to be found in less than an hour. Don't make it about the infidelity, make it about abandoning the state and let the voters make the connection and say to themselves, "Oh, yeah... when he was out cheating on his wife."

Then maybe end with, "I'm Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, and I approve this message. And I've never even been to Argentina."

TlalocW

[CTyankee]

48. I think having her surrogates do that would be best. She could just rise above the fray

and talk about a better tomorrow for South Carolinians.

[Ichingcarpenter]

43. I worry about making jokes of the former Governor of

the Appalachian Trail

[Ikonoklast]

86. You spelled "Tail" wrong.

And "Argentinian", too.

[hobbit709]

49. If he starts going on about "family values" or other moral stuff, then he's fair game.

[Ilsa]

51. His hypocrisy should be an issue. So should his

abandonment of his duties as governor.

[lastlib]

53. Comparisons to Nixon should be prominently made.

I agree that what happened in his marriage is between him and his ex-wife, but the public lies reflect a badly flawed character that, to me, an old Nixon-watcher, need to be brought to the voters' attention. I wouldn't want that lying POS anywhere near a position of public trust.

[Zen Democrat]

54. He lied and misappropriated state funds. Not slamming him for adultery but malfeasance & theft.

Also, he was out of touch with state officials who had no way of reaching him for days while he was governor. I don't think you get back from that.

[CTyankee]

55. And then his bizarro appearance at his press conference where he "confessed."

It was one of those moments that make you love politics...everyone looked in shock...

[PatSeg]

56. I've never seen anything like that press conference

And he went on and on and on.

It was like watching an SNL skit. The man showed a total lack of judgment as both a governor and as a husband and father. He shouldn't be trusted in public office. There is something wrong with him.

[CTyankee]

69. what was so funny was the way those high school kids, who were there for a tour of the

state capitol, were lined up behind him...clearly, no one had a clue that this was going to happen...and I remember one girl (maybe 14 or 15) looking like she had just caught grown ups being naughty and she had this little smile...

[PatSeg]

90. They were probably wondering

what kind of grownups behave like that, telling the entire world their most personal secrets. He was like a 15 year old girl on Facebook! I guess he was "smitten".................with a whole lot of stupid.

[winter is coming]

62. ^^ This. Whether or not voters want to ding him for stepping out on his wife is a personal

matter and opinions on that could vary, but ignoring his responsibilities in office is definitely a public matter that should be stressed.

[Capt. Obvious]

58. I hope his pajamas become a campaign issue

[IdaBriggs]

59. Hmm. Perhaps we should ask John Edwards? nt

[AngryAmish]

60. He skipped town. Of course it is an issue.

[librechik]

61. ask yourself, "Would Karl Rove use it against a Democrat?"

If the answer is yes, seems like fair game

[DollarBillHines]

81. That's it, librechick

What Would the Other Side Do?

[HappyMe]

63. Yes, he left town.

Nobody really knew where he was, and he misappropriated funds to do so. Besides, he comes from the "Family Values" and "Marriage is Sacred" party.

[yellowcanine]

64. Whatever, Stephen Colbert will have a field day with the Appalachian Trail episode.

Count on it.

[CTyankee]

71. He already is with sme crack about eating "trail mix."

[yellowcanine]

65. Senate Dems should pass a resolution in honor of the SC portion of the Appalachian Trail.

[Carolina]

66. It's not the adultery...

Yes, Sanford publicly disgraced himself and humiliated his wife with his diarrhea of the mouth about his Argentinian soulmate; but more importantly, he abandoned his job as chief executive to go chase tail. If there had been a statewide emergency (e.g. hurricane requiring an evacuation, nuclear event at the Savannah River plant…), there was literally no one in charge to call the order(s). The state police, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, the state legislature, his family… no one knew where he was or how to contact him.

I repeat: NO ONE knew where he was! That is dereliction of duty and he should be discredited for life, but he’s a repuke. The rules are different for them. Imagine if a democratic governor had done likewise?!

I live here, though not in the 1st district, and I hope Colbert Busch harps on this. In this hypocritical part of the Bible belt, he not only broke private/marital trust, he broke public trust with the 4 million people in this state.

[CTyankee]

72. But he confessed his sins and embraced God...that's your ticket out of your problem.

Plus, he "fell in love" and that understandable, right?

[R B Garr]

73. Bravo! You used the absolute correct terms to describe his behavior

You elevated his personal conduct to describe breaches in very objective terms. The adultery is still out there for those that only want to focus on that, but the way you've summarized it shows that his conduct did affect his professional commitments in very serious ways. Great post!

[Carolina]

74. Thank you for your

supportive words and welcome to DU

[R B Garr]

85. Thanks for the welcome

to DU!

[Demoiselle]

67. I think it should be.

But then I am quicker to condemn Republican transgressions than Democratic ones because so many Repukes insist on holding themselves up as moral arbiters. If Kattie (y?) is right and he fooled around on the state's dime, he should be booted out.

[spanone]

68. 2 words....bill clinton

[lumberjack_jeff]

70. Anything that makes him lose SHOULD be an issue.

There's no such thing as good and bad politics. There's effective politics and ineffective politics.

The guy should be a laughingstock. Fuck this "high ground" shit.

[SoCalDem]

75. Yes.. It is the ULTIMATE in sneaky, devious & calculating.

If he was out-of-love with his wife (to whom he swore a sacred oath before "his God&quot , he should have divorced her BEFORE she (and everyone else) found out he already had #2 in the on-deck circle.

He WAS still in love with her........MONEY, so he kept sneaking around (and probably still would have been, had he not been caught red-handed)

He gave no regard to his wife, his kids, his staffers, his office.. He only thought of his secret affair and probably spent a LOT of time planning their trysts.

He is undeserving of public trust..

[Auntie Bush]

77. Yes, It wasn't only the adultry but his negligence as governor.

No one even knew where he was...not even his wife. You don't pull stunts like that when you are governor and expect to be re-elected. He adultery was secondary. All his god talk is making me sick. I hope the religious right don't fall for it and see it's pure politics. He didn't talk like that before he wanted the Christians to forgive and vote for him.

[CTyankee]

79. well, I don't think he can live that down, as you say. It was pretty bad...

but he's counting on the religious right to give him a pass now that he's come to God. That's how that works in their "world.".

[Sanity Claws]

80. His being irresponsible and not letting people know he was should be an issue

Remember he gave the story about hiking the Appalachian Trail? No one could reach him for days. And for Chrissakes, he was the governor and no one could contact him for an emergency. That is highly irresponsible.

[onpatrol98]

82. The guy is undependable...

If his own kids can't trust him, why should voters.

[treestar]

84. Yes, if they are Republican family values blowhards

Then their failure to live to the standards they set for others is a sign of hypocrisy, or that they believe themselves to be special and above the rules in some way - a thing shown for this one by the fact he took off and apparently misspent state funds.

[jmowreader]

87. We ARE talking SC here. Answer is yes.

Accusing your opponent of Fucking Someone Your Opponent Is Not Married To is an expected part of any SC campaign. Here we have the added benefit that Sanford really did it.

[struggle4progress]

88. He spent public money on his affair. Why give him another chance?