How Jenny Sanford handled Mark Sanford's cheating
Do wronged political wives have a new role model?
Jenny Sanford, wife of embattled South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford
(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
"Finally, a new model for the wronged political spouse," said Ruth Marcus in The Washington Post. Jenny Sanford—wife of confessed cheater Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina—is "neither enabler nor victim." The wives of Eliot Spitzer, Larry Craig, and others have stood by their men—"looking stricken"—as the cameras whirred. But Mrs. Sanford let him face the cameras as he deserved to—alone.
Skipping the press conference is just the first step, said Maureen Dowd in The New York Times. But Jenny Sanford—any political wife, really—must follow several pieces of simple advice to survive her husband's sex scandal. When the cad says, as Mark Sanford has, "that he has found his soul mate" after straying many times, "but he’s going to try to fall back in love with you, change the locks. (At your second home, too.)" And don't get "dragged into his drama"—Hillary Clinton "refused to let that happen," and she bounced back rather nicely from Bill Clinton's cheating.
Jenny Sanford doesn't need advice from a "Clinton enabler" like Maureen Dowd, said Don Surber in the Charleston, W.V., Daily Mail. Mrs. Sanford "already wrote the guide" on how to preserve your dignity despite a wandering spouse. "Hillary Clinton could have used the advice, which boils down to don’t be a doormat." Elizabeth Edwards could have, too. But Jenny Sanford demonstrated her enduring self-respect by tossing Mark Sanford out.
And Jenny Sanford will be holding some pretty powerful cards if she takes the next step and files for divorce, said Meredith Simons in Slate. Mark Sanford's admitted infidelity is, technically, illegal in South Carolina, and it's grounds for a fast-tracked "fault" divorce. It could also help Mrs. Sanford get a larger-than-normal share of the couple's assets.
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11 Comments
Posted by Chris, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 3:54 pm You can find the at dirtyspuses.com
Posted by Sharon, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 4:18 pm GO FOR IT, JENNY!!! TAKE HIM TO THE CLEANERS!! SET HIM FREE TO GO AND LIVE IN ARGENTINA WITH HIS 'SOUL MATE'....YOU DESERVE MUCH BETTER!! AFTER X NUMBERS OF YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND FOUR WONDERFUL BOYS, JUST GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE. BE HAPPY AND I WISH YOU WELL!!!
Posted by Marian, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 4:30 pm Does everyone know the state dance of South Carolina is the Shag?
Posted by Sharon, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 4:34 pm Oh, I forgot to add JENNY, BE A SHE WOLF !!! GET HIM OUT OF YOUR LIFE AND SEND HIM ON HIS WAY....MAYBE HE'LL LEARN TO TANGO DOWN THERE IN ARGENTINA WITH HIS 'SOUL MATE'!! THAT SHOULD MAKE HIM HAPPY!! WHOOHOOO!!!!
Posted by Scott Michigan, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, 11:51 pm Ms. Sanford, I feel for you and your boy's pain at this time. I will keep you and your boys in my prayers. Any man that would do this to his family and then discuss the particulars in public is not sane. I am a conservative and I do hold conservatives to a different standard just as the biased media. I am pleased to read that you are a strong and courageous woman. Reading your biography, I think the people of South Carolina should have elected you as Governor. My family will continue to pray for you during this difficult time.
Posted by Cathie from Kansas, Thursday, July 2, 2009, 9:43 am Jenny, you deserve better, get out, leave him high dry...send his ass to Argentina after you clean him out. You and the boys go live a fun great life...do not give him the opportunity to do this again to you, and he will...You are strong and beautiful, go for being the mother the boys need. Forget about being a wife to a man who has no pride or love for what you have given him. You will be happier. Send him on his way!
Posted by Rob, Thursday, July 2, 2009, 1:23 pm Sounds like there are a few angry victim women out there who enjoy empathizing with Jenny. From my experience albeit limited, those are the kind of women who don't do well out there hooking up with another man .... and end up commiserating for long hours with their angry victim cronies. Advice to Jenny and others like her.... stop seeing yourself as a victim, something must have gone terribly wrong with this relationship long ago, you were part of it and bear some responsibility, learn from it, move on, and have much love in your life.
Posted by Patsy Lesley, Thursday, July 2, 2009, 3:20 pm dont listen to everyone just talk to the Lord and let Him lead you to do what is best for your boys and you. God will not lead you in the wrong dirrections. My prayer are with you and your family.
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