WASHINGTON (CNN) - Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association, CNN has learned.
Barbour immediately takes over as head of the national Republican campaign organization following South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s announcement he was leaving the post. Sanford acknowledged Wednesday that he had an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina.
“The news revealed today hurts all of us who have gotten to know Governor Sanford over the years and so it is with regret that the RGA accepted Governor Sanford’s resignation as chairman,” Barbour said in a statement obtained by CNN that will be distributed Wednesday afternoon. “While this news is deeply disappointing, I also know it’s important to remain focused on the future and Governor Sanford’s resignation allows him and us to do just that.
Barbour added: “The RGA has an important task over the next two years. I am committed to seeing it through and confident we will succeed.”
Nick Ayers, the RGA’s executive director, expressed disappointment about Sanford’s revelation.
“While I am personally disappointed in today’s revelation, I also know that it’s important for both Governor Sanford and the RGA to move forward as quickly as possible,” Ayers said in the forthcoming statement. “Therefore we accepted his resignation this afternoon.
“However, the RGA is fortunate that Governor Haley Barbour was in line to become RGA Chairman, a position he assumed today. As a former RNC chairman and one of the best governors in the country, no one is better positioned to takeover as RGA chairman than Governor Barbour.”
From CNN Politics
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This is just all too funny and another example of why I don't read fiction. The Republicans are more fun than Monty Python anymore.
Republicans shoot themselves in the foot again, Haley Barbour was a lobbyist and still works on behalf of lobbyist. Read this man history.
Is it me or is it that every time politician claim they have a new hope, they have to quit in tears because they can't be faithful....?
this guy is a LOON!!!!!
The republican staff that covered for Governor's Sanford's absence should also face legal repercussions. This is not just a man feeling his oats story. There is real malfeasance involved. It's a republican so those SC voters that are in the republican camp will look the other way (hypocrits), but still – there must be some disciplinary action imposed upon all of those staffers who willingly lied to the press to cover for Sanford.
The party of family values. Yeah.
and it all falls down; this is but the beginning the way all you folks in tese power postions go around thinking your mightyer than thou. all you folks w/ your crooked evil politics and the way you have been doing bussiness as usual. one way or another "you WILL reap what you sow". i do not feel for a man who has turned his back on people in need kids in need of education. it ain't over yet....... pharaoh
So what will it be with Haley Barbour, an affair with a staffer, playing footsy's in a washroom, an affair in Argentina. I mean it's getting hard to keep up to the GOP unless one has a score card, so you can just continually cross out their names.
Love how the Libs are pouncing on this...how quickly they forget Spitzer, John Edwards, Blagoiavich, Clinton., etc
“However, the RGA is fortunate that Governor Haley Barbour was in line to become RGA Chairman, a position he assumed today. As a former RNC chairman and one of the best governors in the country, no one is better positioned to takeover as RGA chairman than Governor Barbour.”
What a crock! His state is on the verge of shutting down in days with no progress being made and he's campaigning out of state!
Whose next, self righteous politicians? First it was a Nevada senator, now it's Sanford. Who's next GOP? Haley are you also a disgrace waiting to happen?
do yall forget that the Republican party was not a southern invention? it started in the midwest by people opposed to slavery. now if we are talking southern party than we have to say democratic party.pre and civil war southerns were the democratic not republican .
my goodness!! As a person who knows a little something about Public Relations, I can tell you that they have a serious image problem if this pudgy old guy is the best that they could come up with.
Sounds like the party of "family values" had haley waiting in the wings because they knew what the announcement would be from gov. sanford.
TO: john in SD June 24th, 2009 3:34 pm ET who says:
Love how the Libs are pouncing on this…how quickly they forget Spitzer, John Edwards, Blagoiavich, Clinton., etc
What you say is true, but the libs have their affairs without holding a Bible in their hand and preaching to the rest of the world.
.... just another member of the Grand Old (white man) Party. Nothing has changed here.
Just another good old southern BOY. It's becoming a plague or the normal...announce you are a Republican candidate for president, then go our and have an affair. They are the most immoral group.
The Republicons will not see office(President) for another sixteen(16) years.
I thought I would be so happy to see the Republican Party go down so hard. But this is just getting sad at this point.
Hey there! Not every Democrat has forgotten Clinton and the rest of the political filanderers. We call a spade a spade. The outcry is basically because he does not uphold the ideals of the Republican party.
john in SD,
There are cheats and crooks on both sides. We didn't forget about the Dems who have cheated. They, however, did not preach on and on about Family Values and the Defense of Marriage! It is the hypocrisy that we are pouncing on.
Dear GOP Abby,
I want to run for office as a Republican because the competition is so light, but I have a problem. I'm faithful to my wife and do not frequent prostitutes. Does this mean that I can't run as a Republican? Or can I run as a Republican in Name Only (RINO)
Prospective Family Values Republican
How about those CONSERVATIVE family values Sanford.....no thanks. I think I will stay married to the same woman and remain faithful.
This perpetual parade of so called GOP conservatives who talk one way and act another is beyond belief.
I guess Sanford had his OWN stimulus package. He screwed that one up too.
Such hypocrisy!! Now 3 time married Newt and 3 time loser Rush can get in the news and talk about those GOP values.
I myself......a moderate.....of which the majority of people are continue to be amazed at the drivel some of these guys put out there.
“While I am personally disappointed in today’s revelation, I also know that it’s important for both Governor Sanford and the RGA to move forward as quickly as possible,” Ayers said in the forthcoming statement.
"(moving) forward as quickly as possible" is code for "Damage Control."
Good luck to Gov. Barbour! I hope under his leadership the GOP will move to a more reasonable party. The states are being sorely tested because of the economic crisis. Please seek a two party solution to the conflicts facing Americans.
People need to get over this relevation. The Gov. of SC had an affair, admitted it and come clean. That's all ya get. He is not going to resign from office as Gov.
He is not going to bring her here and parade her around Columbia and he is not going to go around the state on an apology tour.
We must remember that he is a good man. We all know this as he is a devoted conservative Republican and we all know that Republicans are the party of Family Values.