Gov. Sanford

[Ringtail]

Mark Sanford had an affair on South Carolina's First Lady. This is a terrible day for South Carolina. I had such faith in my Governor; I'm broken hearted. He was/is my Governor in so many ways. He was the first Governor I voted for; I'm broken hearted. I'm disappointed.

[CarlaL48]

I am so sorry, Ring. As you know, I've admired Mark Sanford greatly myself. This is a huge disappointment, but I'm hopeful he'll repent to the Lord and to his wife and be able to pick up the pieces. We have to look at the fruit. And if he gets himself together he can still contribute great things to our country.

Slightly off-topic, one of the reasons I'm a defender of Mel Gibson is because for him to have made that movie, "The Passion of the Christ," meant that Satan was working overtime on him. But I firmly believe that the Lord will guide him back to where he needs to be. After all, the Lord didn't disavow David after he took up with Bathsheba.

Hugs,
Carla

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...lachian-trail/

[Ringtail]

I would like to start by saying I love my husband and I believe I have put forth every effort possible to be the best wife I can be during our almost twenty years of marriage. As well, for the last fifteen years my husband has been fully engaged in public service to the citizens and taxpayers of this state and I have faithfully supported him in those efforts to the best of my ability. I have been and remain proud of his accomplishments and his service to this state.

I personally believe that the greatest legacy I will leave behind in this world is not the job I held on Wall Street, or the campaigns I managed for Mark, or the work I have done as First Lady or even the philanthropic activities in which I have been routinely engaged. Instead, the greatest legacy I will leave in this world is the character of the children I, or we, leave behind. It is for that reason that I deeply regret the recent actions of my husband Mark, and their potential damage to our children.

I believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity, dignity and importance of the institution of marriage. I believe that has been consistently reflected in my actions. When I found out about my husband's infidelity I worked immediately to first seek reconciliation through forgiveness, and then to work diligently to repair our marriage. We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. I therefore asked my husband to leave two weeks ago.

This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage. During this short separation it was agreed that Mark would not contact us. I kept this separation quiet out of respect of his public office and reputation, and in hopes of keeping our children from just this type of public exposure. Because of this separation, I did not know where he was in the past week.

I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal. I believe Mark has earned a chance to resurrect our marriage.

Psalm 127 states that sons are a gift from the Lord and children a reward from Him. I will continue to pour my energy into raising our sons to be honorable young men. I remain willing to forgive Mark completely for his indiscretions and to welcome him back, in time, if he continues to work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance.

This is a very painful time for us and I would humbly request now that members of the media respect the privacy of my boys and me as we struggle together to continue on with our lives and as I seek the wisdom of Solomon, the strength and patience of Job and the grace of God in helping to heal my family.


I hate to say it but the vast majority of South Carolinians that voted for Gov. Sanford did so because they believed that he was a man of integrity. I for one was shocked at the news of his affair. Most figured he was temporarily burned out and left for a needed R&R. His supporters are disenchanted. Honestly it doesn't look good for his political career. Many of his former supporters think it would be for the best if he resigned. I can't say that I disagree. After all, even David had to face serious consequences. I just don't know. Not only was this wrong it was just stupid. I don't care who this other woman is; she has not done half of what the First Lady has done for the Governor plus this "fling” isn't worth the shame his actions has cost his family, career, and certainly not South Carolinians. This is embarrassing! Perhaps if the Governor publicaly brakes off all contact with 'the other woman' than maybe...

[CarlaL48]

Mrs. Sanford's letter is quite moving, Ring. It's going to take some time for Governor Sanford to redeem himself in the public's eye - regardless of whether he keeps his job. And it's going to take time for all you South Carolinians to get over the initial shock and sort out how you really feel about him. So don't rush this grieving period and don't jump to conclusions yet.

David may have faced consequences but look at the high esteem in which the Lord still held him. Oh, gracious, that the Son of Man would be born of David's line says volumes about how much King Jesus loved him.

Be comforted, my dear, watch for the Governor's repentance, and receive him with a forgiving heart - just like his lovely wife.

Hugs,

Carla

[Ringtail]

Originally Posted by Ringtail

I remain willing to forgive Mark completely for his indiscretions and to welcome him back, in time, if he continues to work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance.

I seek the wisdom of Solomon, the strength and patience of Job and the grace of God in helping to heal my family.

That "if" is a good condition. You see, Gov. Sanford has known this "other woman" for eight years and has started a fling with her for a year. Its become public so he needs to publicaly brake it off completely.

I'm proud of the way First Lady Jenny is handling this. She isn't like other First Ladies that accepted a similar mess while faking a smile. She has graciously offered reconcilation to her husband but she has let him know that she won't blindly give it. He has to earn it and trust back. That takes strength. Who says Conservative women are weak! Pray that Gov Sanford will "work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance." And that the First Lady will continue to find strength in her God for the sake of her marriage and 4 children. Be prepared, Gov Sanford might very well have to resign; but I pray for the best for the Sanford family.

[Ringtail]

Gov. Sanford's wife not standing by her man
Jenny Sanford did not stand by her man.

By SEANNA ADCOX

Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. —
Jenny Sanford did not stand by her man.

To those accustomed to watching betrayed first ladies smile stiffly through their husbands' public confessions, the absence of Gov. Mark Sanford's wife at the soul-baring news conference where he admitted to an affair with a woman in Argentina was striking.

Instead, she issued a tough-minded statement saying she had thrown her cheating husband out and told him to stop speaking to her while she tries to deal with his infidelity.

That came as no surprise to those who know this independently wealthy, Georgetown-educated, former Wall Street executive. Around South Carolina, Jenny Sanford is regarded as a strong-minded figure, accomplished and politically astute.

Jenny Sanford doesn't have it in her to play the "namby-pamby Tammy Wynette," said Donald Aiesi, a political scientist at Furman University in Greenville, the governor's alma mater.

"She has very strong faith, very strong family values," said Marjory Wentworth, a family friend who was appointed South Carolina's poet laureate by the governor in 2003. "There's no gray area about the things that matter to her."

Many of Jenny Sanford's counterparts have stood beside or behind their spouses for similar moments of scandal: When New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey outed himself as gay. When former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer acknowledged he was the client of a call-girl ring. When Idaho Sen. Larry Craig denied trying to elicit sex in an airport men's room.

Some of these political wives were bitterly criticized for subjecting themselves to such humiliation, as was Hillary Rodham Clinton, who stood by her husband - figuratively, if not literally - during some of the most fraught moments of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Kendra Stewart, a political science professor at the College of Charleston, said Jenny Sanford was wise not to appear at her husband's side.

"The women receive a lot of criticism and even mocking on `Saturday Night Live' skits, criticism from woman's groups and other folks," she said. "People doing a lot of speculation about their expressions, what they were thinking. And by not being present, she removes all of that speculation."

As for whether Jenny Sanford's absence hurt her husband, Stewart said: "I'm not really sure any more damage could be done." In fact, the political scientist suggested that the 49-year-old governor might have helped himself somewhat by taking his lumps by himself, and not making his wife stand there the way other politicians in peril have done.

"In a way, I think the husbands took even more flak for their actions," Stewart said, "because everyone had to watch their wives humiliated while they apologized."



The governor's spokesman, Joel Sawyer, said he did not know if Sanford asked his wife to be at his side.

During the painfully frank news conference, the governor said the first lady had known about the affair for five months. In her own statement, Jenny Sanford said: "We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage."

Unlike other political wives, "she is laying down conditions at the outset and being very specific and emphatic that he's got to toe the line," Aiesi said. "The other wives sort of stood there like submissive somehow. She didn't take that approach. She said, `I love him. I want him back. But it depends on him.' She's holding the cards."

On Thursday, Jenny Sanford spent part of the day with her husband at their coastal home. Later, she left with some children in her car for what she said was dinner and a boat ride. Asked if she would be staying with her husband, she said: "It's a goal."

"I'm going to do my best to work on my marriage," she said. As for her husband's political future: "His career is not a concern of mine. He'll have to worry about that. I'm going to worry about my family and the character of my children."

Born Jennifer Sullivan, the first lady grew up near Chicago. Her grandfather founded the Skil Corp., a power tool manufacturer. She graduated from Georgetown University in 1984 with a degree in finance, then worked for the Wall Street investment banking firm Lazard Freres & Co., where she was a vice president in mergers and acquisitions. Mark Sanford was also working on Wall Street.

The couple have four school-age sons.

Jenny Sanford, a millionaire, helped launch her husband's political career nearly 15 years ago, running his campaigns for Congress and governor and putting up with campaign workers living in the basement of their Sullivans Island home.

Though she has stayed largely in the background, it is common knowledge that she was her husband's chief adviser. She has been a regular at his morning meetings with his top aides.

Close friends know her as a warm, bubbly person with an infectious smile. But in political circles, she is seen as a formidable figure, not to be crossed.

"She's a highly organized, corporate-type person," said former state Rep. John Graham Altman, a Republican. "I think Jenny's very calm, very controlled. She's extremely gifted and talented. ... It's clear she was the governor of the governor."

Her more public efforts included overseeing the restoration of a home on the mansion's grounds and promoting healthier living for South Carolinians.

"She has a very good strong political mind and has always been the mastermind behind Mark's campaign, but at the same time she does have a very tender side to her, particularly as it relates to her children," said Mike Campbell, an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in 2006.

"Some people are not quite sure how to take her, that she's really tough, sometimes even cold. But I've always found her to be very personable and gotten along well with her."

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

[CarlaL48]

I'm still praying for the family.

Hugs,
Carla

[CarlaL48]

In my lay opinion, Governor Sanford is having a breakdown. He's already put his wife through so much, now he admits to some other lesser dalliances. AND, to say publicly that the mistress is his "soul mate," but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife - all I can say is breakdown. We need to continue to pray for him, and that he stops talking now. How much more can his wife and sons take? Carla

S.C. governor ‘crossed lines’ with more women
Mark Sanford denies having sex with any but his Argentine mistress


Sanford admits to more relationships
June 30: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he crossed the line, but did not have sex with six other women, besides his wife and mistress.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he "crossed lines" with a handful of women other than his mistress — but never had sex with them.

The governor said he "never crossed the ultimate line" with anyone but Maria Belen Chapur, the Argentine at the center of a scandal that has derailed his once-promising political career.

"This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story," Sanford said. "A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day."

During an emotional interview at his Statehouse office with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford said Chapur is his soul mate but he's trying to fall back in love with his wife.

Continued at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31664990...-more_politics

[Ringtail]

You're right Ms. Carla, the best thing Gov Sanford can do now is shutup (unless he publicaly breaks off the affair).

My dad is a republican chairman. Gov Sanford personally called Dad today and apolagized for his behavior. When he asked Dad what he thought Dad told the Gov that Dad believes in redemption and forgiveness; but that Gov Sanford should seek forgiveness and restoration outside of office (in other words; the Gov needs to resign). My Dad said that he served 25 years in the Air Force and the Gov knows (Gov Sanford is in the AF Reserves) that the military wouldn't tolerate such behavior (his adultery and MIA for 5 days). In the military if you leave without justification you get arrested and put in jail. My Dad ended by saying that by staying Gov Sanford is hurting his state and party. Basically the Gov is making South Carolina look like butt. Also, there is no way this can be helping his marriage.

Oh and to add insult to injury, Sanford's so-called-soul-mate had a boyfriend. Of all the stupidity! "I'm trying to fall in love with my wife again..." Arrgh!

If anyone comes out smelling like a rose its First Lady Jenny Sanford. Right now I wish she was the Governor. Sigh, God bless Gov Sarah Palin.

[Ringtail]

By Larry Collins
Reporter
Published: June 30, 2009

After a week of scandal and revelations, many in South Carolina are rallying around First Lady Jenny Sanford.

Some think her reaction to Governor Sanford’s confessions could sink or save his political career.

Mark Sanford told the Associated Press that his mistress is his soulmate and that he is trying to fall back in love with his wife Jenny.

That is not sitting well with many in the state and is pushing the First Lady and her four children into a sympathetic spotlight.

The Palmetto Family Council is launching a “Stand with Jenny” campaign. They applaud the first lady for putting her children first and not Mark Sanford’s political career. They say, unlike other political wives in similar situations, Jenny Sanford is not by her husband’s side and they appreciate that.