S.C. needs undistracted governor

The question for South Carolina citizens to ask is not "Should Mark Sanford resign as governor?" The real question is "Why shouldn't he resign?"

How can he solve the problems facing our state while being focused on how to resolve his personal problems? Although his family's embarrassment no doubt overshadows that of the state, the damage fully applies to both.

The family's pain, however, deserves more fully the governor's priority attention.

His reckless personal actions have made South Carolina a subject of ridicule. New York Times columnist Gail Collins extended her appreciation last week, on behalf of New York (Elliot Spitzer) and Illinois (Rod Blagojevich), for allowing them to move from the top spot.

Since World War II, governors such as Strom Thurmond, Fritz Hollings, Bob McNair, John West, Jim Edwards, Dick Riley, Carroll Campbell, and Jim Hodges all recognized the direct relationship between enhanced public education and economic development.

During the civil rights era, our governors understood that racial turmoil was bad for business. They provided responsible leadership that made that difficult and still unfinished transition essentially peaceful and productive. New industry moved in with new jobs.

Gov. Sanford instead has focused on tax cuts rather than enhanced public education. He has refused even to visit crumbling schools manned by many dedicated teachers and principals in the state's "Corridor of Shame." The state's current unemployment rate reflects the level of his success.

With South Carolina's current unemployment rate topping 12 percent and remaining third highest in the nation, thoughtful business leaders already recognize the problem.

Why would any corporate leader decide to locate a plant in South Carolina with a governor who issues a tearful apology after getting caught misleading his family, his staff, and his state's citizenry.

The chief executive officer of the S. C. Chamber of Commerce, Otis Rawl, said after the scandal broke that Sanford's capacity to lead in economic development already has been so weak that his current distractions may make little difference.

Others, however, are questioning whether the state will fall further behind because of its newly stained image. The governor came forward with his tearful apology only after reporter Gina Smith of The State met him at the airport in Atlanta and asked about his trip to Argentina.

Until then he was still portrayed as hiking on the Appalachian Trail. His credibility appears shattered.

If the strain of the office helped push him into his extramarital affair, as he indicated, perhaps he needs to remove that stress, resign as governor, and focus his full attention to repairing his broken private life. Most people of South Carolina would undoubtedly wish him their best.

Jack Bass, co-author of "The Palmetto State: The Making of Modern South Carolina," is a Citadel Fellow and member of the Department of History at The Citadel.