A scarred legacy
Fair or not, scandal will be Sanford's albatross
By Robert Behre
Sanford
Regardless of whether embattled Gov. Mark Sanford stays or goes, he has cemented his political legacy in his seventh year, just like he expected to, only not in the way he expected to.
Whatever the perception of him before June 24, it changed suddenly and irreversibly after he was spotted in the Atlanta airport returning from Argentina and after his staff had said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.
It changed after his awkward initial public confession of an affair and marital problems, and even more after a second round of comments last week about his mistress and other women.
Fair or not, the scandal will be remembered long after his other accomplishments are forgotten.
"What has happened has scarred Sanford's legacy and scarred his office and scarred the state," Clemson
University political science professor Dave Woodard said. "It has a long effect. It is a bad legacy."
The turmoil of the last 10 days marks a sudden fall — from an independent-minded governor whose principled stand on spending had drawn growing interest from national Republicans to yet another philandering politician whose passions damaged his family, his office and his reputation.
Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell said on Monday that he felt Sanford would survive the scandal.
But after the governor's interview with The Associated Press disclosed more about his affair with Argentine mistress Maria Belen Chapur and dalliances with other women, McConnell and everyone one else began puzzling about the governor's state of mind and his ability to continue to lead the state.
"That interview was like the iceberg was to the Titanic," McConnell said.
Lost stimulus fight
Sanford was aware that South Carolina's two previous two-term governors had cemented their legacies in their seventh year. Gov. Dick Riley was able to get the Education Improvement Act passed, while Gov. Carroll Campbell was able to get the Legislature to restructure parts of state government.
Sanford had hoped his legacy would be a continuation of Campbell's work — further reform that would give the governor's office a greater role in running state government.
His poor relationship with state lawmakers, and the epic battle over accepting $700 million in federal stimulus money, prevented any such progress this year. Sanford lost the stimulus fight, too.
Now, the question is: How badly has he set back the reform movement he has fought for for so long?
For a governor who had spent much of his time in office trying to convince voters and lawmakers his office should be given more responsibility, his decision to leave the country for five days without alerting the lieutenant governor and without keeping a cell phone turned on didn't help his cause.
"There's a lot that could be said for keeping the status quo given what happened with Sanford," Woodard said. "There's no reason to want to reform, especially if the Legislature has to take the lead in impeachment or in an investigation or something like that.
"Then they'll be saying, 'Aren't we glad we didn't relinquish any of our power? We needed every bit of it just to handle this scandal.' It actually fortifies their argument not to reform," he said.
The next 18 months
One of Sanford's staunchest supporters, state Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Columbia, initially feared that the reform movement would be set back if Sanford were to step down. But she released a statement later last week saying the public has heard enough about Sanford's personal life.
"We do not need to hear any more of that," said Haley, one of several Republicans considering a gubernatorial run. "What we do need to hear from the governor is an explanation as to how he can lead our state going forward.
"He has a responsibility to outline what he wants to accomplish over the next 18 months and how he intends to accomplish it. I remain willing to listen to that case, but if he cannot make it convincingly, then he must move on."
Before the year began Sanford had prided himself on helping create a State Conservation Bank, reforming of the Department of Motor Vehicles and toughening DUI and domestic-violence laws.
His more ambitious agenda — to restructure state government, curb state spending and consolidate South Carolina's many state college and university campuses — had stalled out before his Argentina trip.
Before the year began, Haley told him he might be like Moses.
"She said, 'You know how Moses started the walk of the Israelites to the Promised Land? He never made it, but he got it started,' " Sanford said in December. "She said, 'I want you to know how real what you have gotten started is.' Again, I hope I'm not Moses."
But if Sanford spent much of his gubernatorial career plowing the fields for restructuring and reform, he may be remembered more for the way he scorched that earth.
"Had this never taken place, he could have left office saying, 'There's still worked to be done,' and his successor could have picked up the mantel," Woodard said.
"Now, no one wants to touch anything he said simply because it's so tainted. Even if it's necessary or true or needed or whatever, it has almost a radioactive quality in the wake of this," he said.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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sardis12 (anonymous) says...
And a scarred South Carolina, thanks to Mr. Sanford's unreasonable refusal to compromise or work with anyone to overcome the serious problems facing our state. He's been a disaster as governor, and he's no better as a husband, is there anything he can do right? Resign maybe?
July 5, 2009 at 1:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jazzgrrrl25 (anonymous) says...
sanford has shown himself to be dishonorable, dishonest, selfish,...and the list goes ever on and on...
singlehandedly, he has brought shame and embarrassment to a state already burdened with problems that he has made no effort to resolve...an abysmal education system, high unemployment, high domestic abuse...
the question is, are other elected officials going to follow his lead or are they willing to take a stand? do they have a sense of honor and responsibility to the people for whom they are employed?
this whole scandal is one hot mess of crazy and that the completion of his term is even up for discussion is shameful...if he doesn't have the good conscience to resign, can he not be held accountable for dereliction of duty? the man left his post for a week, with the intention of a ten day absence...surely there are those in power who see the narcissistic madness in this.
July 5, 2009 at 3:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillytheKid (anonymous) says...
His "Legacy" is etched in stone. We have nothing to look to for our Future at all. Our leader can't lead. They sure can stick their head in their butt. I don't want him, I don't need him and I don't like him.
July 5, 2009 at 4:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stoney1 (anonymous) says...
Perception is how the rest of the country sees us and unfortunately Gov Mark Sanford has ensured that we are a bunch of bumbling idiots just as our leaders show by example. Mr Sanford it seems your ego is trying once again to get in front of your decision making process of right and wrong. Forget the fact that you violated your vows to your wife of several years, but as you have admitted there maybe be several more women that are now implicated, you have violated the TRUST that was placed in you as a representative of the State of South Carolina. Laws may or may not have been broken, but you we're the duly elected leader of this state that placed you above other normal side venues and you tossed that aside to stroke that "ego" some more! It is time for you Mr Sanford to do the right thing for the second time in your life and remove yourself from the embarrassment you have caused us as a state and those that once believed in you as a human being.
July 5, 2009 at 5:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justmyview (anonymous) says...
"Fair or not, the scandal will be remembered long after his other accomplishments are forgotten." Prior to the governor's expedition to Argentina, his legacy of memorable accomplishments required a full scale investigation to discover what he actually accomplished.
July 5, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cwmcpa (anonymous) says...
P&C can not get enough of this meanwhile they are negligent in reporting the fact that house judiciary chairman John conyer's wife has pleasded guilty to bribery conspiracy charges, a felony. Charlie Rangel still has not explained his tax problems, Chris Dodd has lied on financial disclosure forms and refuses to let the public know about his Coutnry wide sweet heart deal, Jim clyburn's office continues to lie and say Mr Clyburn read the Cap and Trade bill before voting even thought there was no bill, eliot Spitzer commits a criminal act and has sex with a $4,000 an hour prostitute, JOhn Edwards and his mistress made a sex tape during Ms Edward's cancer treatment, Frank Lombard, Duke University administrator has been caught in a sting operation offering his 5 year old african american son on the internet for sex. All of this to report and the P&C for 10 straight day has Sanford on the front page, not even Michael Jackson is getting this coverage. I guess that is why P&C are practically giving away subscriptions, when this story finally dies what will the have to write about.
July 5, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Duchess (anonymous) says...
What a waste os SC time. I'm a sucker for romance but someone has to finace the romance. Its bad he did it at not only the cost of his family but the whole state of SC.He should have atleast waited untill he was out of the lime light before making a fool out of himself. Affairs of the heart are the most taxing and he should have known SC didnt neeed any of this kind.
July 5, 2009 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
cwmcpa if your looking for fair reporting it won't happen in this paper either.
Sanford should still step down. I say we march on the mansion and make him leave.
July 5, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smp (anonymous) says...
His legacy is one of hypocrisy and selfishness. If he wanted to leave something behind it should be the solid precendent started by elliot spitzer that fallen leaders should resign. We could slowly start to rid ourselves of some of the faulty or corrupt characteristics in our leaders.
July 5, 2009 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
martin (anonymous) says...
"Fair or not, the scandal will be remembered long after his other accomplishments are forgotten"
Accomplishments: "Before the year began Sanford had prided himself on helping create a State Conservation Bank, reforming of the Department of Motor Vehicles and toughening DUI and domestic-violence laws."
Well, I guess cwmcpa would be proud of all that in just 6 years time.
July 5, 2009 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
"principled stand on spending"? So he flies at $4000 while an aide sits in coach for $800.
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/8...
July 5, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
Sanford will be completely ineffective for the remainder of time his is in office. While the nation enters an economic recovery, projected to arrive here about 6 months from now, later than in most parts of the US, we'll have no effective state leadership to recruit jobs, investment or talent to our state. SC may miss the recovery while Sanford struggles with his personal problems.
If you don't want Sanford to remain in office, there is a rally Thursday in Columbia.
From Facebook
"A Citizen's Rally calling for the resignation of Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina (5:30pm EST Thursday, July 9, 2009 on the North grounds of the South Carolina State House). With a membership of more than 5, 600 members, the non-partisan "Impeach Mark Sanford" group has been actively calling for Sanford's impeachment for more than 4 months and is now focusing on obtaining his resignation in light of his admission that he was not available to his staff and other elected officials to carry out his official responsibilities as Governor of South Carolina."
July 5, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Yar continue floggin' yer dead horse....
July 5, 2009 at 8:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
He lied about it. He tried to cover it up. Then, he admitted it - parts of it, anyway. And then he offered up sensational details, some of which contradicted sensational details he had offered before.
"About as bad as you can do,"
• Offered an unequivocal apology. Sanford did, but to his lover before his wife. Jarringly, he then continued to refer to his lover as his "soul mate."
Sanford acknowledged he had met with his mistress more often than he had previously disclosed, called her his soul mate, said he will try to fall in love again with his wife and said he "crossed the lines" with other women - but not "the ultimate line."
Mark Sanford said: ....uh uh uh ...wait ... wait ...let me finish ...uh uh uh ...
July 5, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charleston1960 (anonymous) says...
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
Same lame comments everyday. Please find some new evidence or move on.
If you could cast aside your obsessions with the Gov, Did you know that there is a serial killer on the loose in this state?
July 5, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
UrGatorbait, As long as the Sanford appointed head of SLED gives him a pass, as long as McMaster refuses to obtain an independent probe, as long as Tom Davis continues to fawn over him, as long as the news media, with Sanford's help, keeps the story on the front page, then it ain't dead yet. How to kill it? Show him the door.
July 5, 2009 at 9:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
A Governor, a King, and the Tragedy of Adultery
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/on...
July 5, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ballachulish (anonymous) says...
cwacpa,
I assume you're an accountant, but I'm glad you aren't working for me 'cause your case doesn't add up.
The P & C is a South Carolina paper reporting on a local scandal, a scandal which has an impact on South Carolinians.
Whatever smut that Conyers, Edwards, etc. are guilty of have negligible effects on the lowcountry.
If you are keeping track of recent perversions you failed to mention the Republican aide in PA who dressed up in costume and propositioned high scool boys or the Baptist teacher in Charleston hitting on a 12 year old.
July 5, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
charleston1960, to whom are you referring? The commentors did not post this story and the similar others. It was the P&C. IRT new evidence, I assume the "old" evidence will continue to be rehashed until someone in authority does something with the evidence at hand.
July 5, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FeetontheGround (anonymous) says...
So now Sanford is compared to Moses. Of course he would rather be compared to King David.
Let's face it, he's been very ineffective in his leadership and has been completely unable to get any of his agenda passed. Do you really think that the legislature will take him seriously or want to give him any more power?
While this state is mired in unemployment, all he can say is that he's happy because he's found his "Soul Mate". We should all understand and be as proud for him as he appears to be for himself.
Maybe his family understands, but I do not.
July 5, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shoelaces (anonymous) says...
Stepping down would create chaos in Columbia. I think staying in office, finishing his term, trying to accomplish something with an ignorant group of legislators, and keeping his mouth shut will be his best approach.
There is no reason why he should resign. If we required all politicians or elected officials to resign when they broke their marriage vows, or broke protocol, NOBODY would ever finish his/her term.
Move along.....nothing to see here....get a new dead horse to beat.
July 5, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
usa99 (anonymous) says...
When is enough going to be enough? I've stopped watching the news because of the whole Sanford deal. No one should ever be desensitized from the news, but I have become just that due to this overindulgence of someone's private life. He cheated, none of us should blame/judge, and certainly should have no say in what his wife should do. Plenty of people cheat on thier spouses daily, why isn't that published? He just so happens to be a public figure who isn't what....capable of flaws? he's still human and he's going to do whatever he wants. I wish the news, p&c, and whoever else would just get over it already. move on to something more newsworthy. this is worse than a soap opera.
July 5, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
shoelaces, get a clue. Who he sleeps with is not the issue. His relationship with his family is not the issue. He used and diverted state funds for his personal use. Plain and simple. He preached thrift, for everyone but himself. The sham of an "investigation" by the SLED head Sanford appointed was never going to turn anything up.
July 5, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
1254343 (anonymous) says...
Why are you all keeping him around?
July 5, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Liberals_Are_Maroons (anonymous) says...
Why don't you worry about something that really impacts you instead of which ink well Mark Sanford likes to dip his pen in?
Thing like the "no tax increases on anyone making less than $250K" lie, for example.
July 5, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
Liberals_Are_Maroons, what has anything that Obama said or not said got to do with a SC Governor who used and diverted state funds to his personal use? If I understand your position, Sanfraud can do whatever he wants because he is "conservative" and therefore is without sin, that right?
July 5, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
Sanford's other family.
http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/0...
July 5, 2009 at 1:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stanish (anonymous) says...
What legacy? What has he done for S.C.? Absolutely NOTHING! What are his ACCOMPLISHMENTS for the past seven years? Let's see, S.C. has ALWAYS had the highest Unemployment in the top three, Education is at the BOTTOM in comparison to the other 49 states, He tried to DENY citizens in this state from receiving unemployment compensation they were entitled to, NO Major Corporations or Businesses have setup shops or relocated to S.C., he SUES his OWN state over federal funds allocated to it by the federal gov't albeit it still would have to pay it back, He NEGLECTED his duties as govenor while continuing seeking media coverage to advance his OWN agenda by trying to be a serious contender in 2012, ALL his vetoes were overturned by his OWN republican leaders in the state legislature, He was supposed to be a TAXDOG Watcher over taxpayers money, but he uses the TAXPAYER funds to pay for his own infidelity, he committs a CRIMINAL act by misusing state funds, but is NOT charged like the average citizen, so he merely pays a portion of it back, He preached MORALITY and Family Values, but has since been exposed for being a role model HYPOCRITE! He subjects S.C. and the peole of this state as backwards, uneducated, hillbillies and as a JOKE to the nation and the world while being the butts of comedian jokes. I can continue to go on, but try digesting this for a moment.
July 5, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Liberals_Are_Maroons (anonymous) says...
Posted by CNSYD on July 5, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Liberals_Are_Maroons, what has anything that Obama said or not said got to do with a SC Governor who used and diverted state funds to his personal use? If I understand your position, Sanfraud can do whatever he wants because he is "conservative" and therefore is without sin, that right?
************************************************
My position is this: I don't care if he's conservative, liberal, communist, socialist, or anything else. Mark Sanford, one way or the other will be gone no later than next year. So all the time and energy being wasted on this would be much better spent on something that is going to impact you, your children, their children, and likely several generations after that.
July 5, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RuleNumberOne (anonymous) says...
Unfortunately,Mr Sanford has spent the past several years creating his legacy, and this recent fiasco is not exactly icing on the cake. I wonder how much his staff really knew about his escapades. Did anyone check the phone records of his chief of staff to see when they actually talked? Did his staff cover up? Are they a party to this sham or did they really not know where he was? We do know he cut the trip short. This was not a spur of the moment trip- he had to have his passport, and last I heard those aren't needed on the Appalachian Trail. I'm thinking we still don't know all of the details. But maybe that's a good thing,huh?
July 5, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
Remember the Sanford campaign signs? One word, "Leadership". It just didn't say where the destination was. Now we know.
July 5, 2009 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
furmangirl1998 (anonymous) says...
I can only compare Sanford to Bon Qui Qui and NOT King David.
July 5, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
studley (anonymous) says...
shoelaces: not chaos but rapture!
July 5, 2009 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lloyd007 (anonymous) says...
Alright,alright..Ok..Ok..So when does the bum leave Or when will those in Columbia do the will of the people and get rid of this guy. It's really time to DEAL with this matter so the State can go on about it's BUSINESS. IF HE WILL NOT RESIGN. IMPEACH THE IDIOT..!!!
@ Stanish: EXCELLENT POST. I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER..!!!!
July 5, 2009 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lloyd007 (anonymous) says...
@ RuleNumberOne : THANK YOU FOR ASKING SUCH VALID QUESTIONS..I DOUBT IF THERE WILL EVER BE ANY INVESTIGATIONS DONE TO GET AT ANY REAL ANSWERS. OTHERS OF HIS STAFF HAD TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS MAN'S SEXUAL ESCAPADES....
July 5, 2009 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
Seven GOP senators, including Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, issued a letter last Tuesday asking Sanford to step down, according to CNN.
"The bottom line is that the Governor's private matters should remain private, but his deception and negligence make it impossible for us to trust him, and for him to govern in the future," they wrote.
July 5, 2009 at 9:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
Sources close to Shapur say she is a former "swimsuit model" and Sanford himself describes her as a well endowed beauty. I'm sure his wife and kids totally appreciate that statement.
Angela Carson from The National Ledger is predicting photo offers to Sanford's lover and she could probably rake in a pretty penny if she takes any up.
July 6, 2009 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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