SC Governor reappears...after going to Argentina?

[DaemonSeid]

I think one of my questions is getting answered....whose money he spent to go and this looks like this was for last year's trip:


COLUMBIA, S.C. — One day after admitting an affair, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford reunited with his wife and sons and announced he will reimburse the state for a trip he took last year in which he met his Argentinean mistress.

Sanford said he "made a mistake" in seeing the woman last June during a trade mission to Brazil and Argentina. State records indicate he spent more than $8,000 in airfare, lodging and meals. The governor's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said Thursday that Sanford will pay back the money spent in Argentina. Sawyer had said earlier that no state resources were used.

Republican state Sen. Jake Knotts called for an investigation. "That's like a bank robber getting caught and wanting to return the money," Knotts said. "He should strongly consider resigning."

Sanford resigned Wednesday as chairman of the Republican Governors Association but said he'd "let the chips fall where they may" otherwise. He spent Thursday at his family's beach house near Charleston after spending Father's Day weekend in Buenos Aires.

Knotts said the use of taxpayer money was too much to accept from a onetime presidential contender who made his name as a staunch fiscal conservative.

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[UGAalum94]

It's hard for me to see why he shouldn't resign.

It's pretty clear he self-destructed; if members of your own party want you out and you've clearly screwed up. . . .

I understand self-interested behavior, but he's not just undermining his own success at this point.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

It's hard for me to see why he shouldn't resign.

It's pretty clear he self-destructed; if members of your own party want you out and you've clearly screwed up. . . .

I understand self-interested behavior, but he's not just undermining his own success at this point.

The state funding the boom-boom-room trip was the turning point for me. It's just so weird.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

The state funding the boom-boom-room trip was the turning point for me. It's just so weird.

Me too - at that point, it goes from "embarrasing personal story" to a major issue with his governmental responsibilities.

[sdeason1]

whether legal in either country or not, he is in a long line of political figures who have strayed and I am sure will not be the last. He should do the manly thing and step down as his political star has dimmed greatly. who can trust him now? should he pay the money back he use, dar, that is a given! it was not for the people of his state but for his lustful ways. just say good by and fade into the sunset. wonder if there could be a club started where he could join or at least a program he could enroll in?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

The state funding the boom-boom-room trip was the turning point for me. It's just so weird.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Me too - at that point, it goes from "embarrasing personal story" to a major issue with his governmental responsibilities.

Weirdly, despite not completely considering his going missing for a few days OR his having an affair as necessarily being resignation worthy on their own, the combo of those two alone, even without the previous state funded trip, are enough to make me say that he should be done. The flakiness reflects on his competence.

(A guy under work related stress can completely detach himself from work for a few days, in my opinion. If your extra-martial affair hits the public, you could try to serve out your term if your ability to govern wasn't otherwise affected. But you can't just flake out, leave town, and go see your mistress for a few days to break up. Nope.)

The other trip on the taxpayers' dime just formalizes it.

And, it just seems really selfish to try to hold on. Who benefits from his not resigning? Only he does, as near as I can tell.

[sdeason1]

a gentleman on gma this morning explained it pretty well. they, the poiticians are held in such high esteem, they feel that they can do so many things because of the male ego. just look at all who in the recent past have done the same thing. he should resign for the betterment of his family ands citizens of the state.
get them out of office and be done with them.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

I think one of my questions is getting answered....whose money he spent to go and this looks like this was for last year's trip:


COLUMBIA, S.C. — One day after admitting an affair, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford reunited with his wife and sons and announced he will reimburse the state for a trip he took last year in which he met his Argentinean mistress.

Sanford said he "made a mistake" in seeing the woman last June during a trade mission to Brazil and Argentina. State records indicate he spent more than $8,000 in airfare, lodging and meals. The governor's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said Thursday that Sanford will pay back the money spent in Argentina. Sawyer had said earlier that no state resources were used.

Republican state Sen. Jake Knotts called for an investigation. "That's like a bank robber getting caught and wanting to return the money," Knotts said. "He should strongly consider resigning."

Sanford resigned Wednesday as chairman of the Republican Governors Association but said he'd "let the chips fall where they may" otherwise. He spent Thursday at his family's beach house near Charleston after spending Father's Day weekend in Buenos Aires.

Knotts said the use of taxpayer money was too much to accept from a onetime presidential contender who made his name as a staunch fiscal conservative.

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Now my question is answered...

Aside from the damage done to his standing as a social conservative, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s recent admission of an extramarital affair may end up tarnishing another of his political credentials — his carefully honed reputation as a tightfisted steward of taxpayer money.

A POLITICO analysis of hundreds of pages of state travel records requested to explore the circumstances of his affair found that in his 6 1/2 years as governor, Sanford traveled frequently and in a style markedly at odds with his political persona.

The records detail more than $468,000 worth of state-funded travel for Sanford and show that he routinely billed taxpayers for high-end airline seats, racking up more than $44,000 on business- and first-class tickets. He often stayed in pricey hotels that far exceeded the rates he imposed on other state employees.




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