Impeach Mark Sanford?
South Carolina's governor not only went AWOL for a foreign tryst, he's also accused of 37 ethics violations. Is it time for impeachment?
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford
(Reuters/Corbis/Joshua Drake)
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) was charged with 37 counts of breaking state ethics laws, including using state aircraft for personal trips, flying first class on the taxpayers’ dime, and illegal use of campaign funds. The GOP-controlled state legislature is now considering impeaching Sanford before his term ends in January 2011, for the ethics violations and/or going AWOL for five days to visit his mistress in Argentina. Is impeachment really the right response? (Watch MSNBC discuss the Sanford case.)
Impeach the lame duck: Sanford’s lawyers call the infractions “minor and technical,” says South Carolina’s Pee Dee Morning News in an editorial, “but they’re enough to merit impeachment hearings in January, in our opinion.” That would give Sanford a chance to clear his name, and Sanford’s opponents a stage from which to publicly expose his lack of ethics, judgment, and respect for the law.
“Gov. Sanford’s actions have been damaging”
Impeachment is not the answer: “Moral outrage” is not a proper basis for impeachment, says the Anderson, S.C., Independent Mail in an editorial. If the House finds “legitimate and legal reasons” to impeach Sanford, rather than just “indignation over his infidelity,” we might change our mind. But otherwise, let’s spare South Carolina “yet another public embarrassment.”
“What’s next in the Sanford Saga?”
It’s not worth the effort: You’d think Democrats at least would want Sanford impeached, says Jamie Sanderson at Daily Kos. But despite “how nice it would feel,” it wouldn’t be good for the state, or even the party. Another Republican is in line to replace Sanford, and it seems like a waste of time and energy to kick out a “worthless politician who has already sealed his fate,” when South Carolina has much more pressing problems.
“Let’s talk about this Sanford mess, shall we?”
Sanford should resign: If Sanford had any sense of shame or decency, says Jo-Ann Armao in The Washington Post, he’d “spare himself, his family, and his state further agony” by resigning immediately. But maybe that’s too much to expect of “a man who thinks nothing of leaving his four sons over Father's Day to travel to another time zone for a tryst with his mistress.”
“Where is Sanford’s shame?”
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13 Comments
Posted by Michael, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 9:37 am Douche bag.
Posted by Contractor, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 10:56 am Impeach him probably. He lied.But his wife most certainly should divorce AND take him to the cleaners.....How dare him . She should 'bitch slap' him in the nearest church parking lot.
Posted by pawiba, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 12:12 pm He should be tried for the misuse of public funds, that's the key point true criminal acts. His marital infidelity is only of interest in that it points out his hypocrisy. Like the awful Elliot Spitzer, it only matters that Sanford identified himself as an upholder of conservative family values, while he was engaging in adultery. Adultery, lowclass though it may be, is not a crime. THEFT is a crime, and one for which Sanford should be tried, if there is evidence he engaged in it.
Posted by Teresa, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 1:37 pm My Great Father always told us kidds to BEWARE of jerks carrying BiblesNow I know the gravity of what he mentSanford is one word HYPOCRITE. The Odyssey of this GOT DAM IDIOT preaching futility when he's been living high, Criticizing loudly the acts of other's committing adultry when he was endorsing in it himself, deliberately lying repeatedly in order to conceal his where about and his affair from the public and Most important abandoning and embarassing my many precious and dear friends that reside in South Carolina. That Ass GOT to GO!
Posted by myron, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 1:46 pm why doesn't this loser resign? why aren't the voters demanding he leave office? what is wrong with voters who sit back and play the victim?? you were wronged, get rid of the guy and get someone who will serve YOU.
Posted by Kameron, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 2:04 pm What do the people of SC want for Christmas? A new governor! Time for this guy to show a bit of dignity and resign. He is ineffective, so he should go. Why cares if he boffed some babe? Show me someone in office who hasn't strayed? That isn't the point... this guy's head is not into the state, so LEAVE with some dignity.
Posted by DJ, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 8:00 pm You know what's really funny? If you go down the GOP Ideological Purity Checklist, Sanford scores a perfect 10. Just thought that was worth noting.
Posted by Chris, Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 10:35 pm Ok I'm just some 28 year old, I'm not involved with politics, but I'm getting sick of the garbage going on in our state capitols and Washington. The headline reads 37 ethics violations, Is it time to impeach him? Are you kidding. Why not impeach him tomorrow. Since when has it taken 37 ethics violations to impeach someone. How come there is no more accountability in our country?
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