Sex, lies, investigations and re-counts
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/06/30/sanford/art.sanford.gi.jpg caption="Gov. Mark Sanford has said it's better for him to keep his governorship to 'learn lessons.'"]
Candy Crowley | BIO
CNN Senior Political Correspondent
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has admitted he “crossed lines” with a handful of other women..but "never crossed the ultimate line," which I assume is code for having a Monica Lewinsky-style affair.
Sanford also now admitting to seeing his mistress more than the three times he copped to initially, including at least one tete-a-tete in New York. Apparently this is going to be one of those “evolving” stories.
Anyway, the latest “evolvement” in the Sanford story has prompted the South Carolina Attorney general who really didn’t seem to want to get into this now wants an investigation of any Sanford trip during which he saw his mistress.
Oh—and this: Sanford called his mistress his soul mate but says he is trying to fall back in love with his wife. Do not get me started on this one. All from an AP interview.
Under a separate circus tent, Supreme court of Minnesota has turned back Republican Senator Norm Coleman’s appeal of the counting process for LAST NOVEMBER’S election.
The Republican governor there had said he would sign certification if the State Supreme court directed him to . And now this just in–after fighting for the governorship all these months, Sen. Coleman has conceded.
Bottom line, the Senate is on the cusp of getting its 60th vote - 58 Democrats and 2 independents - who generally vote with the Democrats.
And... the Senate is about to get an actual comedian, as opposed to all the accidental ones up there.
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Candy Crowley • Raw Politics |
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re: "Sanford called his mistress his soul mate but says he is trying to fall back in love " So, he is TRYING to fall back in love? Newsflash buddy, most people dont stay IN LOVE their whole marriage. It would be great, but then reality and human flaws become visible. This is where mature love comes in and resides. Sanford, you're an idiot and if that statement alone doesnt make your wife file for divorce, I dont know what would. You are a weak, pathetic, whiney man having a midlifer. Go to Argentina and be with your soul mate. You are of no use to your children as you are right now. Wimp.
I think if we are going to enforce the No Gays in the military that we should dethrone any public officials who engage in any extracurricular sexual activities. I dont know why we tolerate this type of behavior from voted officials. Where in the world do they get the time and energy to play and have so much fun? We are actually PAYING VOTED OFFICIALS TO HAVE SEXUAL AFFAIRS AND RENDEZVOUS's.
This is what kills me about Republicans so quick to say the party for family values. Truly they are just the party that knows how to paint a picture of family values. Is this not the party that does not want to teach sex education in schools but abstinence? When half of them should attend a sex education class and understand STD's contraction increases with the number of partners. Now Sanford is the one who called for Clinton's impeachment maybe Bill should return the favor. I truly could care less if he cheats on his wife he took vows to his wife not the citizens of SC. But I do feel he should pay for his cheating habits not taxpayers. He should not abandon is job so he can cheat.
about lies to the public from a position of trust
the people who make a contract and hold a public office in a position of trust,are not in the position to break their contract and say I'm sorry. all can't be forgiven.
saying i'm sorry does not say the person who breaks the rules or laws ,has changed.
i want to have leaders and policy makers in charge of themselves.
these folks need some therapy to get intergrated. so they can have some integrity.
Here is the picture that tells the story of America in 2009:
Sen. Boxer , Sen. Franken, Sen. Finestein
We are offically in Decline.
I wonder if PeeWee Herman in looking for work...
I had a vision of Russia intervening Korea, the orient, and makes a stab towards world power completely. I had a vision of an American politician making an effort to change and control New York politics, the west coast is hit with horrors, made body parts and food, drugs from genome tech causing strange deformations in offspring. I had a vision England/Europe gets a nasty terror attack. Why waste your time with simple sex in marriage debates?
Sanford should be getting tired of putting his foot in his mouth. What in the world is that man thinking? trying to fall back with his wife? What is she thiinking, and what message is she sending to her children.
He seems to have the morals of an alley cat.
Good Evening All: Governor Sleazeford should just go away, He should resign. He is getting a reprive with all of this coverage on Michael Jackson. He can slink around under the radar a little bit. If I were the wife I would kick him to Argentina. How could she ever trust him again. He keeps saying he crossed the line. I would say yeah he crossed it alright. All the way to fantasy land if he thought nobody was going to find out his dirty little secret.
What a soap opera! I feel very sorry for Mrs. Sanford and her boys. It must be horifying to hear your husband tell the public that another woman is his soul mate and he's doing his best to fall back in love with his wife. I believe in marriage, but the Governor has crossed too many lines of decency. If Mrs. Sanford serves him divorce papers this week and names his mistress on the grounds of adultery I wouldn't blame her. As for the State of South Carolina, it must be so sad to watch this spectacle created by your Governor play out on television. The fact that he cannot shut up says to me that he's out of control. He's so heart broken about breaking up with this woman that he can't function. I suspect he will quit in a few weeks and head south of the border. I hope she's worth losing the love and respect of his wife and children and his constituents. In the long run, I don't think so. She's already had one failed marriage, what makes him think he would have any more success with her. In the end, he's going to feel like a fool, but it's going to be too late.
why is this guy still employed by us ?? he used OUR money for personal use, and he lied....whats taking so long to get him removed ? and his wife stands by him ?? she needs to wake up and move on quickly. The world is spinning out of control, hang on tight Anderson.
Mr. Clinton had hia affair right there at the office. I think that was supposed to be the reason for wanting him out of there. A clear violation of code of ethics in supposedly any office. Well Governor Sanford used taxpayer moneys to actually get to his affair.Isn't that a pretty clear violation of code of ethics? Or are the rules just being made up as they go along? Sounds like it.
Donna Wood
Lexington, Tennessee
The Governor got involved with a girl that went to Georgetown University. I know now why he had to use that girl from Brazil because the wife had the entire S.C. nervous to mess with her husband. I know that these girls now have to put their foot down on all the women over the world. Most women view people outside of the U.S. as nasty that's why she wasn't worried. The Governor wanted her to fight her also. Those Georgetown Women are crazy and then stress out the men.
As a lifelong citizen of South Carolina I am embarrassed that our state is now in the national spotlight because of Governor Sanford. Taking care of your own (family) is a basic value that Mr. Sanford has forgotten, including his own family and the citizens of South Carolina. Be selfless, not selfish Mr. Sanford. Tend to your family now and leave the citizens of South Carolina alone. But, I expect that he is no longer welcome in his family's home so he is staying on as governor so that he will have a place to live and call home. Sad for Mr. Sanford. Sad for his family. Sad for South Carolina.
BTW would there have been a call for impeachment on JFK for his infidelity if the communications technology of today had been as readily available to the general public? Money could buy a lot of silence back then; maybe it does today as well.
Never said Ted Kennedy was involved in a murder. Interesting that there were all kinds of posts saying let John Edwards, who was almost the VPOTUS, get on with his life; I suppose that we look at Democrats & Republicans with a predetermined opinion. As for spell-checkers, well I wish I was the only poster who occasionally misspells a word or 5.
I find it interesting that so many people think that this is just what he does in his private life and we shouldn't think that it will effect his functioning in public life. The way I sort this out is by asking myself ...
If he would deliberately cheat and lie and break his vows to the one that he "loves the most" and became one with when he married her .... do I believe he would be more faithful with his oath of office, his actions and promises made to me ... an individual he doesn't even know?
I am not a fool and I don't believe he will be more faithful in his conduct toward me than to his beloved spouse. So, his private life is directly related to his public life. He needs to resign because I don't and can't trust him any longer.
"Do not get me started on this one." LOL, Candy – wives and ex-wives are so with you on this one! Did you also need a barf bag to cover this story? What a snake he is.
Larry needs to learn how to use spell check, how to read and investigate his information before making rash statements! Ted Kennedy was never found guilty of involvement in a murder. One issue has nothing to do with the other.
The man is, by self admission, a lier, cheat and has mis-used public funds. Isn't it wonderful that he is willing to try and fall in love with his wife again! Kick the jerk to the curb and out of office, neither the public or his family need to tolerate his inability to control his little head.
Sanford should resign or be fired for being AWOL from his job! Any regular person would have been fired instantly if they were gone from their job without notice or explanation for FIVE days!
And...... wasn't it Sanford, that called for Clinton's resignation? Yep.
@ Larry....... seriously, we are talking about Sanford. This is not about adultery, the adultery is between him, God & his wife.
Sanford was AWOL from his job and used state funds for personal pleasure, he should be fired.
What is wrong with the American people? When president Clinton had his affair with Monica Lewinski and lied to the American people, you all wanted to impeach him. When the Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford has apparent multiple affairs, lies to his wife and family, the people of his state, and abandons his job for 5 days you all don't demand his resignation or start impeachment proceedings. Instead you all let him keep his job despite his lies and abaondoning his responsibilities. How do the people of South Carolina feel about having a blatently obvious liar who abandons his responsibilities to his family and state? What is the difference other than power between the 2 men Clinton and Sanford? I hope Mark Sanford doesn't run for President of your country in the future.
I LOVE Candy Crowley! Right on. If you read these, please do get started on this (trying to fall back in love with his wife). I'd love to hear your opinion on that juicy topic!!
WHY is she even considering reconciling? Why do any of them stay?
Ted Kennedy should join Sanford in resigning; at least Sanfrd wasn’t involved in the cover-up of a death.
Forty years. You guys haven't given this theme up after forty fricking years. Points for tenacity. Deduct points for pointlessness.
With deplorable leadership at all levels of government and industry, it should come as no surprise that America is at a crossroads.
Americans are painfully learning what the international community learned long ago, that America has no leadership and no vision.
Whether it's OPEC, China, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela, Capitol Hill or Wall Street, everyone seems to be laughing at our fall from grace.
Turning to a neophyte who couldn't even clean up Chicago doesn't seem like the wisest of choices.
Something that is being overlooked and I would like to know why the MSM hasn't picked up on it. Governor Sanford is an Air Force Reservist. So my question is, since the military is so quick to judge and boot people out of the armed forces for violating Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue (the military actually violated the Don't Pursue accommodation in Fehrenbach's case), where is the call for a court-martial hearing on Sanford's violation of Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice? Under Article 134 Adultery is a military crime which carries a penalty up to dishonorable discharge, a fine and 1 year in jail. A local San Diego soldier was sentenced to 90 days in jail back in January of this year for violating Article 134. Sanford has already admitted to have had adultery, so I would like to know if the Air Force is looking into this matter.
Ted Kennedy should join Sanford in resigning; at least Sanfrd wasn't involved in the cover-up of a death.
Why do we care about peoples sex life? It is personal and no concern of ours. It does not change our lifes for the better or worse. Let us deal with health care, environmental issues, education, mental health, crime, equality.....and and. We must remain focused.
You go Candy. Great article which captures my sentiments exactly!
Great to see you back on the blog Candy. I like the part about getting a real comedian in DC rather than all the accidental ones. Very witty and so true.
I'm sure Governor Sanford's wife is relieved to know (NOT) that her husband is trying to fall back in love with her. Last sound bite I heard from her indicated that she didn't think much of him or his career. I hope she dumps him – every time he opens his mouth he humiliates her a bit more – first 1 mistress; now 2 or 3 other times where he stepped out but denies doing the actual "deed", and then the statement he is trying to fall back in love with his wife. Somebody needs to take the shovel away from that man – he's dug himself a nice deep hole. He really doesn't need for it to get any deeper.
Gov. Sanford probably ought to resign and get himself and his probably to be soon ended marriage out of the national spotlight. However, its starting to be enjoyable watching the Governor twist and turn in the air; seems to be a lot of relationship angst in DC lately.
Glad Coleman finally conceded. Even Gore didn't hang on this long.
As a South Carolinian, I think Gov. Sanford should resign. He is clearly mixed up right now and displaying very poor judgement. How does he have time to be the Governor? His smart, attractive, honest, and clever wife should give him the boot for good and go after his job. She has all the qualities necessary to make an excellent politician. The Governor is entirely too preoccupied with himself.
Greenville, SC
Why doesn't Sanford just resign, divorce his wife and move to Argentina with his soul-mate. I know lots of people who thought they had met and married their soul-mate only to find out not so much. Personally, I don't care he had the affair – I wish him happiness - just not at SC (or any) tax-payer expense.
As to Capitol Hill - the laughs just keep on coming. Maybe in between stand-up routines, they might actually find time to do right by the country ... for a change.
I am so glad his wife let him stand up there by himself and take the heat he created for himself...I like her....she is doing her job of being MOM.
I hope cheating men take her example to heart that not all women will stand idly by and support a moral loser. You made your bed elsewhere...go lay in it.
She has a back bone and self esteem and self worth enough to know....this is not her fault but his....Men.