Mark Sanford and his Public
While I’ve already posted my own initial reaction to Gov. Mark Sanford’s admission of infidelity, it might be of interest to TAC readers the reaction of South Carolinians at large.
The three primary reaction categories are:
1. Sanford is a lying scumbag who should resign.
2. Sanford is a good man who made a mistake, but should still resign to heal his marriage.
3. Sanford’s private life has nothing to do with his principles, he should remain in office and still run for president.
In our current WTMA text poll (1250 AM WTMA is the premiere talk radio station in Charleston, SC, where I’m employed) we’re asking “Should Sanford Resign?”
The results as of now: 70% “No.” 30% “Yes.” This is by no means scientific, but the phone calls we receive reflect similar results.
I mention this for two reasons. First, we’ve been interviewed by a few national outlets, and one particular interviewer, a Los Angeles morning talk host, kept bringing up red state “evangelicals” and their attitude toward Sanford’s indiscretions. Yet, amongst Christian conservatives, there’s been a lot more “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” than outright moral condemnation.
Also, this enduring support (quite surprising, actually) for Sanford is due in large part to the grassroots popularity in this state for his particular Republican brand – strict fiscal conservatism that is markedly different and more “extreme” than most other conventional, “conservative” Republicans.
Even with his admission of infidelity, there is still more rage amongst rank-and-file Republican voters against our big spending, GOP-dominated state legislature than our cheating governor.
It will be interesting to see what developments unfold this week. It will also be interesting to see what the future holds politically for Sanford, who though badly damaged, his career may not be as “over” as some might think.
And as I’ve noted a few times on the air, Sanford will only be 55 in 2014 – the next time the still, extremely unpopular Sen. Lindsey Graham is up for reelection.
Take a message Maria
Address it to my wife
Say I won’t be coming home
Gotta start a new life
He said he was walking the Appalachian Trail, but he was stalking an Argentinean tail.
He didn’t even have the courtesy to be home with his family on Father’s Day. He lied to his family and staff. He spent time and money on personal issues.
All other web sites are reporting 70% are calling for him to resign. Your web site is skewed or lying!
Activities surrounding the scandal, (out of contact, State money,etc) seem more damaging to me as an outsider than the fact of the infidelity itself.
That said, I’d love to see Sanford replace that squeaking little wetback defender. If he chooses to run, I’ll move to SC and work on his campaign.
What I cannot get past, is the stunning irresponsibility of his absence from the State – in fact, to another country – without handing off governance to his Lt.Gov. In our system a state’s Governor is actually quite an important link in emergency response, by both their own state agencies and Federal as well. So. Car. dodged a bullet here, but not by benefit of any care or attention to duty by this clueless fool. Anything could have occurred, and delays in official response could have cost lives, needlessly. It’s especially galling in a second-termer, who’s had over six years to learn his functions and duties. The adultery, the hypocrisy, the coldness to his four sons on Father’s Day weekend . . . all these are private failings. They speak to his character, which the voters are entitled to consider. However, the failure in his official duty is unforgivable and is reason, by itself, for Sanford to resign. Now.
What are these Republicans thinking: Gingrich, Sanford, Ensign…and all the others. They attacked Clinton for his morality and then turn around and become incredible hypocrites. The Republican Party is the party of NO and hypocrisy. There is now no future for such moralizing idiocy.
Candy,
I have not seen these other sites and am only reporting on the reaction we have recieved down here in Charleston.
I am also not excusing his behavior, as there is no excuse for it. From a moral standpoint, resigning might be appropriate and from the standoint of salvaging any political future, resigning might give Sanford the time to heal his marriage, a necessary move if he plans to resurface as a candidate in the future.
The WTMA text poll was at 70% for not resigning as of Friday and you can check out our online poll at http://www.wtma.com (right hand side) where 58% say Sanford shouldn’t resign as of Sunday at 5:31 PM EST.
In a very real sense, all these arguments are moot. Sanford has placed considerable political capital on being fiscally conservative and a advocate of personal responsibility. Previously, it worked well for him, largely because his wife, reputed to be a financial wizard, was also his smartest political adviser. Then came the affair. Not only did he abdicate his responsibility to the State for nearly a week, he pissed off the best person he had working for him.
So unless he gets his head our of his @ss, and grovels his way back into her good graces (see: Clinton, Bill) he’s political toast anyway.
Listen folks, Mark Sanford was elected to be governor, not pastor, of South Carolina. I don’t look to Sanford for moral leadership and neither should you. All I want him to do is be the best possible expositor for small government and to fight for that in the office he holds. He has done that superbly, and it’s my hope that he keeps on doing it. The Republican party needs more Mark Sanfords.
His lack of personal fidelity in marriage may be odious, but it’s NOT part of his job description. Let the man get the skewering he deserves from his circle of family and friends, but leave him the heck alone!
Leave Sanford Alone. He made a mistake. Like someone else, like Obama could not.
Please.
-Pat
Candy, if you put your faith in any internet pole, you need to get your head examined.
Personally I think Sanford screwed up big time. As a fiscally responsible politician who stands up and tries to fight the power of the federal government he has a lot of enemies. Any and all statists, including Republicans, Democrats, TV news networks, magazines, newspapers, Talk radio hosts, etc are always looking for any little thing they can to destroy a person who wants to give individual liberty back to the people.
So, Sanford has let us all down. Do I think he should resign? Of course not, but judging by sheeple like Candy here his political career is over.
Jack,
Nice of you to respond.
As you can see by the comments on this page, most people think SC would be better off without him. What I used as a basis for my statement concerning the percentages was simply reading online yesterday and today. I am sure you can find the same web pages that I found. Thanks for explaining your poll results. People don’t like the gal pal, but seem to be able to write that off. They are more upset with not leaving someone in charge, possible abuse of funds, and time spent on such personal matters. I have emailed Lindsay Graham concerning his support for Sanford and asked that he reconsider his support. The Father’s Day thing really bothers me, and his preaching attitude to other people while he was not walking the walk. Anyway, he isn’t Leadership material.
Candy
Jack,
Sounds like the SC stallion is at it again. It is beyond me how anyone can support him at this point. I know the base is 30% and, of course, they will continue to support him no matter what. He now admits there were more women, and more time spent with Maria than he first admitted. How did he have time to do anything for SC? He was too busy “blowing off steam”…right! Another thing that is really bothering me. I found out that his 4 kids all go to private schools. Why is he so adamant about not helping SC schools for other children? Not many families in SC can afford those private schools.
Well … and such opinion is acceptable. While I think that other options possible, so do not worry.