CNN

Donkey, that is fine, go after him for those issues of not taking stimulus money and the suffering of his people, I think those are legit issues to attack the Governor on. However, in reference to this cat stepping out of his office...and doing a full blown investigation therein..that is just crazy. There is so much low-hanging fruit, why go after the clown on this one?

Stacy from Leesburg, VA June 23rd, 2009 11:55 am ET

I am a liberal Democrat, but I find this whole tempest in a teapot thing kind of annoying. Governor Sanford probably shold have told the Lt. Gov. that he was stepping out for a few. But this faux controversary is just stupid.

======================================================

No Stacy, you are dead wrong. The issue goes beyond that. This is a guy who refused taxpayer money, then jumps in a state-owned vehicle and uses taxpayer money to go on his tantrum. Also, he's another one of the holier-than-thou hypocrits that preach family values, then bails on his wife and kids over Father's day without even telling them. He is scum, like all his party and followers.

Guess we have a lesson in GOP morality, huh? Either he's lying to do something illegal, or he's a complete jerk because no husband goes on a hike in the middle of nowhere without telling his wife. Either way, he just scared the crap out of the federal gvt, probably meant alot of money spent trying to find him, and caused alot of trouble.

He should not get out of this. He could have been dead. Its not like this guy was just some clerk at a Shell Station, he's a Governor that has been trying to cause alot of obstructionist problems toward the new administration. For all anyone knew, he was being mutilated and tortured for it.

This isn't a little thing no matter how much some Republicans are trying to blow it off.

Too bad he came back!

Sit down, Clyburn.

Make another useless bill, or something that will cost us taxpayers more for your useless constituents.

When you spot a weirdo politician get rid of them ASAP. Same as Cantor spending time with truckers at Britney Spears concert instead of the SOTU speech. Or Ensign that sleeps with friend's wives. Or slick hair Edwards. Or diapper wearing hooker patrionizer Witter of New Orleans. The only problem is Witter and Ensign keeping their jobs while Edwards rots in political hell. I say get rid of the whole lot. And Witter running off his mug against Obama policies who at least represents American family structure in good light for our kids and young folks.

Melissa June 23rd, 2009 12:00 pm ET

Sanford caused a nationwide manhunt for him. He needs to face charges for this.
____________________________________________________________
Oh, please..........."face charges for this".----give me a freakin break. What to you want Melissa...........people to start reporting even when they go to the restroom.

He should be sensured.

SANFORD is LYING. What husband would leave to go on a hike without telling his WIFE??????????????????????????

Another GOP LIAR.

RESPONSIBLITY. When you are in charge of a state, you are RESPONSIBLE and held accountable if something goes wrong. It is your duty to inform your Lt. so that he can step in for you should the need arise. Not telling your family of four sons on Father's day where you are is a hell of an example to set for them. Way to go. We all need some down time. True. But this was a very irresponsible way of going about it. But oh wait, he's a Republican.

Looks like the sequel to Brokeback Mountain........lol staring Gov Mark Sanford. "Brokeback Trail"

This is the same irresponsible moron who wanted everyone to think he understood the financial crisis and that everyone else didn't, and that his state doesn't need anyones help. Glad I have quit spending any of my money in SC!

Guess somebody didn't get the memo?

I am sure he is very stressed out what with those tax cuts he put in that practically bankrupt his state. Refusing the stimulus money and than having to take it. At the end of last year, he was forced to get a loan from the Federal Government for unemployment benefits. He was willing to just let the fund run out and not do anything. Doesn't want money to educate his constituents, yet has live a privledged life on a plantation and married the heir to Black and Decker. What a guy.

Sanford is pulling a John Edwards.....Think about it (Father's day week end)

just another black making a useless stink about a white person. Whats next, going to scream black discrimination because Clyburn didnt get to go, probably.

I wonder if he will come back without those bags under his eyes. Hmmm. A little plastic surgery never hurts.

Yeah something about this just dosn't sit right. He "disapears" on Thursday, misses fathers day with his family, his wife finally wonders where he is on Monday and today we finally know supposedly where he's been. Very strange, very strange indeed!

Well said Rep. Clyburn. But I agree with some others that there is more to this story.

Maybe he should just wear an electronic ankle finder bracelet.

Oh who cares?? Those of you making a big deal out of it........get a life, he's not the president, whom we wish would take a hike!

ck – grow up

Sanford caused a nationwide manhunt for him. He needs to face charges for this.

This is the type of stunt a 17 year old would pull, not a governor. His family wasn't informed? He missed Fathers Day? Nice display of responsibility and family values.

Bye bye presidential aspirations! When the going gets tough Sanford runs away.

I am a liberal Democrat, but I find this whole tempest in a teapot thing kind of annoying. Governor Sanford probably shold have told the Lt. Gov. that he was stepping out for a few. But this faux controversary is just stupid.

If he had told people there would have been no drama. Since the Republican Party has decided to counter the No Drama Obama campaign with a Nothing But Drama campaign this was totally predictable.

go back to DC where you disappear anyway, Clyburn.

If something happened to the Gov. people would have been notified.

"Clyburn, the highest-ranking African-American in Congress" What the heck does this representative's race have to do with the story? Why on earth does the author even mention it?

Who cares?

GOP the party of responsibility and family values!

"Jenny Sanford said Monday she had not spoken with her husband for several days, including Father's Day. The Sanfords have four sons.
"He was writing something and wanted some space to get away from the kids," she told The Associated Press while vacationing at the family's Sullivans Island beach house. A message left for her wasn't returned after the governor's hiking plans were disclose"

Hahahahahaha!

oh god, they just don't get any uglier than this!

Gov. Sanford's actions were selfish and disrespectful to the citizens and residents of South Carolina.

@ ck

I dare you to jump off a cliff and take your racist attitude with you – come on I dare you.

He probably wanted a place to hide the stimulus money. When it actually helps his state he will look foolish. Better to hide it and let people suffer.

Thank you Mr. Clyburn for explaining that to the governor. You can't just leave the state and not tell anyone. Did Sanford do the same ting when he went overseas and Myrtle Beach was going up in flames? The governor needs to explain himself and offer an apology to the people of S.C.

He was looking for Eric Rudolphs old hiding spots.Good morning TCM,nice to see you out making posts already and using all your names and telling us all your Rush Limbaugh talking points.You must have really missed him yesterday,unless you spent your day with him and Sanford.

what do you exepcet from GOP they are a bunch of pinheads. He is no different, this idiot is mad because he did not get his way when he refused the stimulas .

did he say "crisis"? yep thats the code word that liberal dems use to scare people into thinking that the sky is falling and we will all day tomorrow if we dont spend trillions of dollars. clyburn is such a racist. I know it, he knows it and you know it. he will do everything he possibly can, moral or not, to ensure that the dems stay in power forever, or until the world ends, whichever comes first. it is not beneath any dem to scare the people into submission. we have been hearing this since jan 20th. anytime a republican, especilly if he is a middle aged white man, does something different, you libs have to make him look like he has a mental problem. its unbelievable and yet expected.

If this was Preisdent Obama all hell would have broken lose. This is a man (Obama) who has a fairly good knowledge of how things work in the middle east and the moslem world and has tried to wlak that line but it,s not good enough for the hard liners. All talk and no action is all the Republicans do or start a war and ask questions later. I have heard all the rumbling of people that don't have the knowledge of what happens behind the scene. Tough talk and no action. Or act now and ask questions later. What a disgrace that is.

****************************************************************************
I believe that we American's have a lot more to worry about then a hiking trip, Health Care, No Job's for our youth, Banking Industry, Housing Industry and the list goes on. Both Republican and the Democratic Parties are CORRUPT with GREED its time for us American's go into Rebellion Mode ! ****************************************************************************

perhaps next time mr. clyburn, and mr. sanford could hike the palmetto trail together, and observe the need to get back to basics, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, and provide for the citizens of the state of S.C...

And this man wants to be President????
Something is off here , a public figure gives up many things and leaving his state etc and not telling anyone to go hiking is one of them, even his wife did not know where he was. Definetly something you could and should not do as Governor . VERY STRANGE INDEED!!!

This whole thing doesn't pass the smell test. That would be true no matter what party Sanford represents.
It sounds vague and is not believable. Makes you wonder. I can understand the need for alone time but he should have at least told his wife.

There's more to this than just a hiking trip.

It's a no-brainer for the governor of a state to tell at least one person when they're taking off. That's just common sense.

Using state vehicle for pleasure !!!!!!!!!

Anytime you're hiking, someone should always know exactly where. How many stories have you heard about missing hikers? Just for his own personal safety he should have let someone know where he'd be. And if he's incommunique, how's he going to know if there's a state emergency that will require him to be available? It was totally irresponsible.

Why does CNN put "permalink" on threads that contain comments that point out Obama's inexperience and controversy??

Censorship, get used to it because Obama wont tolerate criticizm.

WAKE UP AMERICA! We are heading toward Russia circa 1970 or Iran today!!

I dare CNN to post this!

How symbolically fitting: I'm pretty sure there are a LOT of people in South Carolina who actually wish Sanford woudl take a hike.