In a press conference with reporters, Knotts said he is actually calling for two investigations - one by the state's law enforcement agency, and the other by the State Senate Judiciary Committee with "full subpoena power."
"Irrational behavior. Lies, lies, lies. It's time that the truth to come out," said Knotts. "Like Joe Brown said, you can lie, but you can't hide... Everybody has found out where he's been hiding. In Argentina."
Knotts said he wants the investigation to focus on "the misappropriation of taxpayer money, malfeasance in office, misconduct in office and all the area surrounding the recent behavior concerning the governor's office." The investigation also would include the question of whether Sanford's office may have been deliberately misleading about the governor's whereabouts during his absence.
Knotts added he is not yet calling on Sanford to resign, but said the embattled governor is "in the fast lane to make that decision, along with numerous other legislators that I have talked to on the phone."
Later, in an interview with CNN, Knotts said he would take Sanford's resignation "in a heartbeat."
From CNN Politics
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The next tidbit they're going to discover is the alleged "mistress" isn't even a mistress at all. It's a mister.
Good to see a man with spine. Let the rogue governor go...
That's because he slept with a SPY and shared secrets. Along with using OUR $$ for "government" sponsored trips. Governors all ALL states need to stay in our country. They have NO business traveling on OUR $$. We have enough freeloading senators and congressional representatives doing that for us.
If Republican leaders, some of the most self-righteous people ever, do not force Sanford out of office (either for having the affair or for using state funds to pay for it, or for both), then the Republican Party will have nothing left to run on.
Btw, Vitter, Ensign, and Craig are still in office, and the Republican Party already appears to stand for nothing.
God, I love it when the elephants start to turn on each other.
A criminal investigation may be warrented. Same for palin and her use of state funds. Will any Alaskans be dumn enough to vote for her ever again?
Courtesy of Avi: "People lighten up, he broke no law".
__________________
Avi, that's right! He only broke his non-essential marriage vow. That silly certificate means nothing; and as to South Carolina, they can run themselves with vigilantes for a couple of days while Señor Romeo tangos with Señorita Julieta, so who needs a governor? Anything goes in the good ol' USA.. Ay dios mio!!!!
Noticed the article on Palin was closed for comments except from the liberals, way to go again CNN, maybe you are with the majority and just rope a doping the libs. There is so much anger at the democrats, libs and Obama and you keep hiding it to make them smug and thinking they are the majority. Nice job.
hope they can nail sanford to the wall for abandoning his post as governor, the state, and those that voted for him. sanford should be tossed out of office. if sanford was honorable, fat chance since he cheated on his wife by falling in love and more, he would resign. wonder if he too is a christian promise keeper like senator ensign of nevada who also has been cheating on his wife. it continues to be the GOP's most finest times.
I don't understand why CNN posted this story. It does have one negative thing to say about Governor Sarah Palin? I thought that was a requirement of The National Enquierer.....er.... I mean CNN.
Oh boy- alright investigation! As long as he does not resign- this is better theater that Sarah Palin!
The guy thinks he like King David and living in the Thornbirds-
Another laugh a minute from the family values crowd! Too bad is so close on the heels of Sen. Ensign because he still has some good speeches left I am sure.
The emails are so choice clear down to the tan line drooling- much more sophisticated than Mark Foleys- and the true love it kind of remains you of our good buddy Rev. Haggard. And life is SO tough trying to refuse stimulous money and all the stresses he has like his wife kicked him out of the house.
Where are all of the out cries for this guy to go ahead and step down?
Mr. High and mighty wanted to leave his citizens with out stimulus help, while he illigalley takes sex trips. The Party of real, red blooded Americans, True Americans, Values has done it again.
Salacious as Gov. Sanfords "tale" is, it is lacking in only one thing: the facts. How many times have you heard it asked: "Why did he have such a public meeting to confess all?," and "Did anyone check his passport, when he left the country?" and "Did his staff know where he was?" and, "How could he have composed such beautiful love letters (emails)?" These are just a few of the unanswered questions that most people would be demanded to answer. So, why is the media giving this sleaze-ball a pass? Do they just not want to know the truth? Consider this: the whole narrative was scripted to detract the media, the public and other officials from questioning the real reason he frequents Argentina, such as to meet with foreign agents who are helping him to craft and launch an extremist right-wing agenda for the USA. It is certainly easier to admit to an affair than it would be to treason! We need hard answers to all of the above questions and in addition: Who did he meet with in Argentina, and for what reason. I doubt that the truth would be that "romantic."
Pretty bad when your own Party is beating you up.
Let's hope this will be resolved quickly because it does neither the state nor his family any good. I am no judge, but the story is too fishy even for the ocean. This is a little tip for anyone in his office who was privy to his whereabouts and told a little white lie referring to the Appalachians: Pssst, just say that it was the ANDES MOUNTAINS, and that you had a slip of the lip. Case closed!
I thought that Pailn article was about the dumb chick pulling a Dick Cheney.
I started to fear the worst.
This is what comes of forbidding sex before marriage. Typical post 1950s scenario. You don't mess around, you wonder what you missed, you cheat, you divorce. Sanford should resign and go to BA if he is in love. You only live once. Too bad his conservative ideology ruined his life. Have fun. Have sex!
Jack in Des Moines,
Please stop spamming the blogs with your Palin line. If you don't like CNN go to Fox. I'm sure it's Palin all day everyday over there.
This is how rumers get started. The Governor never said that he was going to the Appalachian trail, he said he was getting some "Argentinean tail"
Nice to see at least one Republican being consistent, rather than acting like it's a moral outrage when Democrats are adulterous but tragic when Republicans do it. I'm so tired of them screaming about Democrats destroying the moral fabric of this country but then being so compassionate and understanding when it's one of their guys. The hypocrisy has to stop.
"There is so much anger at the democrats, libs and Obama and you keep hiding it to make them smug and thinking they are the majority."
In case you hadn't noticed, we won. We ARE the majority. Thanks for pointing that out, awaitingliberalizationbyCNN. This must be burning your butt.
Far be it from me to defend any Republican, but I gotta say that I really feel for Sanford - unlike most other politicians in sex scandals, Sanford seemed sincere in his press conference and genuinely in pain. You could see on his face that, right or wrong, he really loves this woman in Argentina and he knows that there is no happy ending here, that everybody involved loses. I'm not saying what he did was right, but geez, give the guy a break – we're all only human...
hey,jake knotts..........shutup and put your ugly face in a chair.
What was appropriate for Eliot Spitzer (a much more effective governor), should certainly apply to Sanford.
Fidelity issues aside, there is an odor to this that should be cleared.
republicans should call investigations on them selves
...Got to love TV's newest reality show: "Sanford and Sin"!
"People lighten up, he broke no law".
Actually, he did – Adultery is still a crime in South Carolina.
Sanford is the latest right wing zippercrite.
On the plus side for the Repugnantcans, they now have a streak of two consecutive heterosexual scandals. Perhaps a new trend for them?
And what clowns they are.
The party of Lincoln has become the party of Moe, Larry, and Sarah.
It's gotten so bad that the Republican party is even outsourcing mistresses???????
Amigos! Why the fuss! Nowa you hava governor who speakie Spanish like Bush. Obama said everyone shoulda learn to speakie Spanish and the govenor agree. Si?
Sanford is a bum ... I am sick of these liars and sneaks who occupy government jobs while playing fast and loose with other peoples lives. The only reason he has come clean and told the truth is because he got caught.
Now we are supposed to believe that it was just this one discretion for which he claims he has atoned. Hardly.
Go work in a factory and hope the new governor takes any and all stimulus money and doesn't use it to play political football while cheating on his wife and kids ...
On fathers day he took off ... some father. Waaaanker.
The Republicans are always talking about "Moral Values." They feel that homosexuality and abortion are the only two sins that God hates. But let me shock them into reality; God also hates ADULTERY. In the eyes of God, there are no big sins and no little sins. Sin is sin and we ALL sin. God loves everyone; even the homosexuals and lesbians. And yes, even the adulterer. It's the SIN God hates and not the SINNER. So, give the man a break and while you're at it Republicans, give the Democrats and Obama a break for loving the homosexuals and lesbians (you know, the sinners).
Whether a full blown investigation ever comes into being is a question to be decided. Presently it's clear that Sanford's political future is fully blown.
I wonder what they would find if they opened an investigation into Newt Gingrich. My guess is it wouldn't be pretty. Yet the moral hypocrites would still vote for him.
The man is a criminal. No wonder the state is bankrupt, the governor is misappropriating the funds. South Carolina receives $1.33 back for every dollar sent in to the federal government so he is stealing from all of us. Knotts stated on Fox that over a year ago, Sanford was caught transferring 100K grant into his PAC account, but instead of going to jail, he was allowed to return the money. No wonder South Carolina has the second highest crime rate in the nation. Apparently, if you rob a bank and get caught, all you have to do is give the money bank.
Oh the sanctity of marriage! What's to become of our family values. Where is the Christian right? Why are they silent ... Oh the humanity of it all.
And the children ... what do we tell the children?
This example will indoctrinate children to an immoral lifestyle and bring down society as we know it. Stop the heterosexuals before it's too late. Save marriage and save the world.
I give Mr. Sanford another week in office before he steps down. He has angered too many people on both sides of the aisle and has destroyed his credibility. He would be doing the people of S.C. a favor.
The republican party want the Obama adminstration to fail and are not interesting in spendingany money in the US economy. Are you telling me that Mark Sanford couldn't find any other waman in the US or another Argentinian living in the US to fool around with? In this challenging time, why would a State governor spent his or tax money travelling all that distance, for what?
Looks like Mr. Knotts wants to run for Governor.
Oh give it a rest. I seriously doubt that any of you want to be investigated or can afford it. I think he should run with Sarah Palin in 2012, thereby guaranteeing that President Obama will be reelected. I love how you conservatives have turned on Sanford like a pack of hungry dogs. At least we liberals stood by Bill Clinton, who was, by the way, a very good president despite not being able to keep is pants zipped.
I second the motion. Someone said he didn't break the law, but if he spend tax dollars to fly to Argentina and back for a non business issue, that is breaking the law. Throw the book at that clown, he deserves it.
second the motion. Someone said he didn't break the law, but if he spent tax dollars to fly to Argentina and back for a non business issue, that is breaking the law. Throw the book at that clown, he deserves it.
According to Time, adultery is punishable in South Carolina by up to a year in prison and a $500 fine. Although I don't know if it is still enforced, or it is applicable if the said offense happens outside its borders.
Nevertheless, Governor Sanford could face criminal charges.
Poor Sanford...........got caught did ya!!
I wish we would find out it was Palin with you.
How's that moral fiber now you cheating lying hypocrite
and they tried to tell us that gay marriage would ruin the sanctity of marriage? Do these guys not have mirrors?
While the GOP is at it, what about an investigation into the unethical payments from Sen. Ensign's indescretions? Or the admitted illegal activity from Vitter? Ah, those "family values" and hypocrisy from the Republican Party.
He will most likely resign because there's no way he can do a decent job as governor with all the heat and light he'll be getting.
Whether he resigns or not, he's toast as far as a political future is concerned.
how comments come back to bite you...i bet he is wishing he could take back all the self-righteous things he said during the clinton-lewinsky scandal. in the words of "maria", [he] "cant put the GENIUS back in the bottle". This is truly a beautiful disaster....
He was willing to refuse stimulus money and allow hundreds of teachers in SC to become unemployed in the name of fiscal conservatism while using our tax money to see his mistress...what a hypocrite...he has to go!
Fair weather friends. Christians are suppose to be forgiving however, it's amazing that the GOP (party of high moral christian values) will throw you under this bus when you mess up.
I'm so glad our God is not like the GOP. The true an living God is a God of a 2nd chance.
Everybody thinks just because he was unfaithful he should be punished.
If it was you would you think the same. I am not sticking up for him but be careful what you wish for.
What do you hope to find? He came out and said "hey, I ran off to Argentina to have an affair." I don't know what else there is. For all of you Republican haters, you seem quick to forget John Edwards and Bill Clinton (just to name two of the most famous examples). Neither party has a monoply on terrible human beings. Where did marital fidelity go?
Can't resist responding to a popular blog–good for you, Sarah–you are great–we all understand why you were upset about Letterman–but man, can you take a joke about yourself! Genius! I hav e never seen so many people stick up for the stooge Kerry–proves Sara is a winner! When libs are against you–it means you are doing something right!
"unlike most other politicians in sex scandals, Sanford seemed sincere in his press conference and genuinely in pain."
His pain was for missing his chance to be President.
You think it was for his wife and children?
LOL....You know where they sat in his list of people that he hurt...4th!
The mistress was the first person he said he hurt.
Oh yes..he is just so sincere..
I'd prefer to judge him on his job and not his infidelities. While I don't condone infidelity, I don't think it is anyone business outside his family.
People are fine electing a muslim communist from Kenya to the Presidency but a Republican makes one mistake (and begs for forgiveness) and he's crucified. Governor Sanford is already forgiven in the eyes of the Lord. Obama is not.
we must remember as we judge point and holler crucify when you do point that finger at him look in the mirror. god has a way of exposing all of us. and what is done in the dark shall come to light. i don't care for his politics in letting the schools suffer and the way he approached it like a pharoh but see he's not the only pharoh look at washington d.c. the. b.frank's the priv [jet] setter chuckie boy schummer. and on and on.
When you fall you get back up. But if you fall after a Jump, you fall a little harder.
Am I hearing right? The GOP want to investigate one of their own??????
Hypocrites, all of them
Dude. Calm down. The guy fessed up and apologized. Leave it alone...
what a guy, he would have been a great president, and contrary to a lot of republicans he likes south americans, and the part in his speach about jurassic park sheets was so cute, dont you wish all the republicans were like him..... holla baby
It's such a sad commentary on the political lifestyle that it seems that every other week begins a new scandal. One thing I can say straight up to all Republicans who castigated Pres. Clinton, let whoever is without sin cast the first stone. What Clinton did, was a shame on the country I do agree, But all that mudslinging at him at the time, Hmm, didn't a Senator or two from the GOP who had something to say about Him since have a bit of a problem with morals? What a circus. What a bunch of hypocrites!!! They should change GOP to GAP( God Awful Party).
Please gregg – I'm a conservative Republican and I can take all kinds of insults that I'll get here for saying so – but please don't embarrass us with that garbage about "Obama,,, muslim...not forgiven". I still take my conservative views seriously, but... not yours.
To: whocares????
I noticed that too that his wife was 4th on his list and the mistress was first. I could not believe he was that disrespectful to his wife and family publicly.
Just impeach the Bottom Feeder now!
He betrayed everyone with lies and mistrust in his state.
I feel sorry for his family whom he really betrayed big time.
Its not about sex, its about Judgement which he does not have in any form. Get him out of there!!
i hope sanford digs in and refuses to give up his seat.. i want SC voters, and the nation reminded for a long time of just what kind of hypocrites make up the elite of the republican party.. whatever happened to DOMA ??? so, gay marriage is going to destroy the institution of marriage ??? hmmm, and deceiving the electorate AND your spouse, as you fly to foreign countries to meet your mistress, THAT fits right in with a quality marriage ??? i just love the hypocrisy..
Well, the wife is not exactly innocent here either. She covered up the affair since January for her own selfish reasons and to heck with the good people of South Carolina!
My only question is: How did a little local newspaper manage to get the personal emails of the governor of SC? Jenny, was that you??
gregg – One mistake? Ok, one personal and private mistake.
Forgiven in the eyes of the Lord? Well, according to the Bible you're right, supposing that he really has repented.
But isn't it a little too presumptuous from your part to determine what is and what isn't forgiven BY THE LORD?
Ops... Hollier-than-thou attitude, incapacity to accepts the facts when they are against your personnal beliefs, the 'He's not AMERICAN!' combed with the 'He's NOT Christian!' (as if being grants you better moral/social values than those who aren't...) issue...
Oh, I got it! You're one of Sarah Palin's 'REAL Americans'!
I could care less – except – i have a hard tim ewith someone who chose to take a very moralistic tone about Clinton and then turned around and did the same thing. Why is it that when Dems do something like this they are crucified, and when Reps do it (see that fellow in lousiana who went to prostitutes) all they have to do is apologisse and announce that Jesus has forgiven them. A cheater is a cheater, regardless of party, and anyone who cannot keep their private picadillos out of the public eye doesn't deserve to be there.
Do not care about his private life although he is a hypocrite. But his disappearing for 5 days thing cannot be forgive. He should be fired for that. He is trying the forgive me for I have sinned routine (mistress) to avoid the main issue which is dereliction of duty as a sitting gov of a state.
Time for Truth wrote: Btw, Vitter, Ensign, and Craig are still in office, and the Republican Party already appears to stand for nothing.
.... Craig is no longer in office but he did serve the remainder of his term and now receives benefits for being a Senator for life. Vitter and Ensign are still in office ... and both up for re-election, I think.
I was just interested in how Knotts could not make a coherent sentence..."It's time that the truth to come out,"...I teach middle schoolers who can speak more correct than he can. I think we need an investigation into Knotts education record...
Personaly I think that this whole business SHOULD have been strictly private, a matter for him and his wife to discuss about, had he not abandoned his post as the elected governor and went to a foreign country thousands of miles away from his state to meet his mistress.
If that's the regard he has for his position...
Gregg, a muslin communist from Kenya have a lot better family values than your fine man Sanford,I do not know if god had forgiven him,
Watch Sanford now get crucified by his fellow Republicans as they scramble to repair the party's damaged credibility and reputation on the issue of 'family values'. You wonder how many of these guys are just as hypocritical as Sanford.
That's right, you all go and project your own sin and guilt onto Sanford.
One Republican calling another Republican a Liar ...
This is priceless ...
They all lie ...
The Party Of NO ... truth
The party of No should realign their prioities to include ADULTERY!
gregg: some people are fine electing moronic, chickenhawk [R] cowards into the presidency and vice-presidency, but a [D] comes along to clean up the mess caused by 8 years of abject [R] failure and he's crucified.
What's your point? ...other than to glorify the rightwing underbelly of this nation. It is abolutely stunning the level of hypocrisy and delusion it takes to be a [R]ightwinger today.
I only feel for his wife and children. He made his or her bed now he must lie in it. The best thing she could do for her family and herself is get a divorce. As for the rest....who cares
the Party of No needs to include ADULTERY in their voting!
I am not crucifying the man because of his infidelity; I am crucifying him because of his hypocrisy; I am crucifying him because he left his office without transferring power to his Lt. Gov., what would have happened should a state emergency requiring the National Guard occurred or even some guy with a death sentence who had last minute evidence clearing him and was in need of a stay of execution right before his final hour. I am crucifying him because he wouldn't accept stimulus money to protect the jobs of state employees to cover budget deficits. This guy is a clown, even worse, he is a hypocritical clown.
The gays and lesbians have ruined the institution of marriage. This is the only reason all this happened in the first place! Put the blame where it really belongs!
Obama hasn't been forgiven for what? He didn't cheat on his wife. Oh, right, he's "from" Kenya. I wonder if the Lord has forgiven all the other Kenyans for that cardinal sin of being born is Kenya.
Why do the Republicans take it so hard when infidelity or other immoral acts become an issue? Because they purport to be the part of morality! Don't preach morality, slam everyone else for having affairs, and then say "oooh, God forgave this Repub now we should leave him alone". I'm tired of the self-righteous, bible thumping, hypocrites.
Re: gregg June 26th, 2009 5:57 pm ET
Another fine example of the Republican base in America!
RIP / GOP
Republicans couldn't investigate a President who started a war under false pretenses, but they love to investigate what happens behind a person's bedroom door. Talk about the party of individual liberties and invidual rights.
Criminal handgun holders have more rights than a law abiding philanderer. That's their priority.
I'm r-e-a-l-l-y tired of those making poor decisions, as Sanford, making appologies and thinking everything is going to be forgiven because they admit to their indiscretions. It was reported that his wife has known for five months and they have been seperated for two weeks. So he committed adultery and after his wife found out he even chose to fly down to visit this woman again. In his personal life he has shown that he has made multiple poor decisions. And just who was in charge of the state of South Carolina? 1 – 2 – 3 strikes, you're out!!
What has another's party affiliation and religion have to do with Governor Sanford's own problems.
The Grand Old Philanderers are at it again. They are such GOOD people.
Gregg....You are nuts.
I agree with you Renee.
If he was an effective administrator, I'd prefer to have him in office rather than some incompetent moralist. I personally don't know his record as a politician though but you get my point.
And Gregg...seriously? Talk about ignorant. You act uber-Christian but then you have the gall to declare someone is and isn't forgiven in the eyes of God. Go read your Bible sir. You've seriously missed the message.
Gregg, I can't believe the people at cnn.com even allowed that slanderous, unfounded and simply foolish comment onto this blog. Shame on you for posting that.
It is amazing how the right wing nuts are connecting this issue to President Obama. The right wing is showing their bigotry and hatred to minorities. This issue is about your own party showing lies and deceptions not in any way connected to President Obama.
Sanford lacks discretion, leadership, trust, and let the people of South Carolina in a vulnerable position. He should step down. He not only broke his wedding vows but he broke his vow and trust with the people.
Gregg---thank you for that immensely ignorant statement. Way to
'stick it' to someone you disagree with. Regurgitating the vile racist rhetoric of Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage gets us absolutely nowhere in our political discourse. Open your mind...think for yourself.
This is the beginning of the end for Sanford but he will probably resign before he puts his family through more embarrassing moments. This is what you call piling on the pressue for him to resign.
He must go yes Bill did it, but didn't leave his office and go awol....
Sanford was a do nothing gov. maybe we can get someone who
might do something not the drunk Lt. Gov. Bauer.
Gregg, you are an imbecile and a tool. I can only hope the retarded God you pray to will offer you forgiveness for your stupidity.
Thanks, Gregg, for letting us know who the Lord forgives. Your idiocy is much appreciated.
Gregg wrote:
"People are fine electing a muslim communist from Kenya to the Presidency but a Republican makes one mistake (and begs for forgiveness) and he's crucified. Governor Sanford is already forgiven in the eyes of the Lord. Obama is not."
My advice to you:
1. Remove the tin foil hat.
2. Put down the crack pipe.
3. Seek professional help asap.
hypocrites... aren't u the same set of folks who ousted Spitzer...
what is the difference – legal Vs illegal prostitution????
Private affairs in public eyes…What do these politicians think off in the modern media circus when they commit these afffairs? Sanford, Ensign, Spitzer…
@ Gregg, you and Palin are cut from the same piece of cloth. Thank God the American people are seeing you and your kind for the hypocrites that you are. By the way, what is your last name? I bet we can trace your family back to being immigrants. So, I question your citizenship.
"Gregg" – There is no truth to what you said. You need to turn off Rush Limbaugh and join the rest of us in the real world.
Is the GOP still the party of traditional marriage and family values? Or can we just go ahead and call them racist, homophobic swindlers?
Fair is fair. They impeached a president over a cigar and a dress stain, and he never went missing for 5 days or left the country on the taxpayers' dime for trists. Sanford was front and center for throwing Clinton from office. Live by your own rules.
This problem Gov. Sanford is having is all the fault of President Obama. If you recall, the President stated that we should learn to speak Spanish so the South Carolina Governor took him up on his suggestion.
I hope he resigns and moves to Buenos Aires to be with the woman he loves. Life is too short. Buenos Aires is a great city, beautiful architecture, great food. He should go be happy.
I used to work for local and state government agencies (fortunately, not in SC) and I can tell you that if I had disappeared for a week without telling anyone or leaving a contact number, I would have been fired on the spot. That is how I judge this incident, regardless of how I feel about his politics.
Now, if he had been a Democrat, I suppose I would have forgiven him immediately. It sometimes scares me the way our two prominent parties bite and devour each other. We should all get along and quit attacking, realizing that all of us mess up at one time or another.
Yet another GOP sleaze bag.... just like Bush, Cheney, Palin, Rice, Rumsfeld, Rove, Nixon, Gonzales, ad nauseum
Palin apparently has so little hangle on any of the big issues that are currently being addressed, that rather than making any substantive contribution about healthcare or energy reform, the economy or evrn IRan, she just picks at silly stuff that none of us would even be aware of if she wasn't calling our attention to it.
Sanford was one of those who stood up to have Bill Clinton impeached and removed from office for a" flirtation " with an intern. Clinton never went missing for 5 days or took taxpayer trips out of the country to be with her. He continued, at least, to do his job. Sanford needs to live by his own moral code and step down.
June 26th, 2009 5:57 pm ET
gregg says :
"People are fine electing a muslim communist from Kenya to the Presidency but a Republican makes one mistake (and begs for forgiveness) and he's crucified. Governor Sanford is already forgiven in the eyes of the Lord. Obama is not."
Please tell me you are kidding =(
Denna is right about two things. Clinton was a pretty good president. Also, liberals did indeed stand behind Clinton during his affair(s) scandal(s). That includes the National Organization for Women. You know, the ones who worry so about powerful men luring or coercing gullible subordinates into sexual relationships. They also rise to the defense of women who are judged or ridiculed based on their appearance. Right Governor Palin? Sure. Party before principle, right?
I don't think the issue that he betrayed his wife and children. That's just an extra tibit for the media to exploit.
The issue is that the Governor of a state went AWOL. And the way he did it by not following proper proceedure and using taxpayer money for the trip.
Jake Knotts is a self serving blow hard who lives for the chance to put himself on television. I live in a neighboring district and Knotts is such a joke he laughing stock around here.
I'll betcha Jake Knotts has plenty of dirty laundry of his own. This pattern is just way too familiar at this point...
I suspect that the average South Carolinian could give a flip about this, so reporters or news agencies looking for pitchforks in the streets are going to be disappointed. The gordian knot of internal politics will determine the outcome, and given the relative importance of SC to the national scene, the nuance and subtlety associated with that process will be rightfully ignored.
But a quick note to birther Gregg: You're a fungus on the body politic, and it's a blessing indeed that your stunning ignorance represents but a pitiful minority.
Timw for Truth says that ‘the Republican Party already appears to stand for nothing.“ I disagree – it stands for an arrogant hypocrisy. Remember, it was a younger Sanford who pompously and self-righteously called for Clinton to resign for lying about HIS affair, and Clinton didn’t temporarily abandon his post.
South Carolina state senator Jake Knotts attributes the quote "you can lie, but you can't hide" to one "Joe Brown." Close but no cigar. The quote he mangled: "You can run but you can't hide," uttered by the African-American boxing champ Joe Louis, aka "the Brown Bomber." So Jake - who said, "Duke, I am your father"?
Really Gregg???
Was he selling State secrets to the dictator Chaveas while he was there?
Sanford sure isn't taking this very seriously. He went AWOL for several days. He needs to resign.
Gregg, what are you smoking?
gregg is clearly a white male evangelical christian racist who lives in an insular world with a hard-wired brain. The bad news is that people like him are totally delusional. The good news is that they are totally insane and therefore have no idea of how delusional they really are.
Jake Knotts is a spineless twirp.
That being said, I live in SC and have supported Sanford...until now. I think he should resign. Not for his affair but for abandoning the office.
Oh, and jenifer from alabama........Clinton lied under OATH!!! That is why he was impeached. But don't let facts get in your way.
gregg June 26th, 2009 5:57 pm ET
Muslim communist huh?
I thought Obama was responsible for what his Christian pastor of 20 years (you remember Rev. Wright right?) said in a 30 second clip. I also thought, according to the GOP, he had the most liberal senate record out of everybody and is currently trying to impose his socialist/marxist/fascist polices on America.
Obama: a liberal socialist/marxist/fascist, who wants to take away everybody's (Democrats and Republicans) guns and reads from teleprompters. It's getting tough to keep up with the smears you guys tries to stick on him. But that's ok. I'm just a extreme left-wing radical liberal that needs to call your leader Colonel Rush and update the list.
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The reason that I am SOOO GLAD that President Obama held the conference with PM Merkle is that the have the technology to locate
the idiots who post hateful things on websites
Hope this gets your attention :GREGG
Hey Gregg....... Re: People are fine electing a muslim communist from Kenya to the Presidency but a Republican makes one mistake (and begs for forgiveness) and he's crucified. Governor Sanford is already forgiven in the eyes of the Lord. Obama is not.
It's obvious that you don't know either President Obama (POTUS) or the Lord. I hope you KKK haters (I would give you the benefit of doubt but since you didn’t I wont) learn some sense and stop writing the same stupid stuff that you hear.
This guy abandon his state. If he was a DEM, what would the GOP be saying right now. FIRE! ! !
This from a man who is dead set against gay marriage because it threatens the sanctity of marriage. What a joke.
He fell into temptation. Help him come clean and get his life back on track- privately. He needs to get his head cleared. Enough media coverage.
Awwwww. Sanford seemed so SINCERE in his apology.
Yeah--after he got caught!
@gregg: "People are fine electing a muslim communist from Kenya to the Presidency..."
Seriously??? You have GOT to be kidding!
But I'm guessing you aren't. Wow.
Jake Knotts is a fat head who should be careful least some unsavory thing about him surfaces. Seriously, stop looking being sanctimonious and stop acting so shocked.
Just another example of a Republican sending jobs overseas.
Gregg, if Obama WERE a Muslim communist from Kenya, he still wouldn't need to apologize. But since he's not any one of these things, you might want to do some serious fact checking. Stop swallowing everything you hear. Sanford's public "crime" isn't infidelity. It was abandoning the state of which he's governor without adequate provision for the transfer of power.
Nominal it a Democratic liberal tax and spend not a diehard conservitive spending tax payer money on a pleasure jockey. But give him a break we have to take his word on his reason.
" June 26th, 2009 5:57 pm ET Gregg wrote:
"People are fine electing a muslim communist from Kenya to the Presidency but a Republican makes one mistake (and begs for forgiveness) and he's crucified. Governor Sanford is already forgiven in the eyes of the Lord. Obama is not."
Are you for real? Really for real?
A previous post actually refers to the President as "a muslim communist from Kenya." And so-called conservatives wonder why the Republican Party is fading away. Govenror Sanford was derelict in his duty, was repeatedly dishonest and used taxpayer-funded travel resources to sleep with his honeypot in Argentina. At least twice. This is impeachable. He should do the honorable thing and resign, especailly considering his "family values" and " moral integrity" campaig history.
If Sanford were a Dem the Repubs would hire Ken Starr or some other Grand Inquisitor type.
If he is canned it should be because he's messing with his State's economy by refusing stimulus funds and not with his marriage.
Let's all kick this dog while he is down. He is a fool and he knows it. Let his wife put him in his place. I hope they do make it for the sake of the four lovely sons but his wife is well within her right to make him suffer. Come on all, we all know a wife can dole out much more misery than the press. He's got it coming and it will be severe.
gregg: How do you know who God has forgiven and who he has not; sounds like you have a Messiah complex.
Note that thie is a REPUBLICAN who is calling for the investigation; Pres. Obama has not said a word about it!!
oh... my.... I am sure the Republicans are demanding an investigation! *LOL* Why not an impeachment hearing? Surely there are those who would love to start the witch hunt as they did with Clinton! Anything to distract the public from what is REALLY important... like Universal Health Care... Energy reform.. and unemployment! They are always eager to pull that old tact off the shelf and spread it around until the stink of it is unbelievable. They are adept at this technique!
Quite frankly... I don't care what happens to him... I am much more concerned with Health Care Reform, Energy Changes, and Unemployment!! I'm just a bit... no more than a bit.... sick of political gossip instead of substance news about what really matters to all of us!
@Gregg..you need some real help. Try to finally let go of the Muslim/non citizen thing. It's real tiresome. As for forgiveness, who died and elected you God? What possible credence do you have to support that idiotic statement? The GOP is full of Hypocrites who preach morality and practice adultery. Democrats are adulterous too but they dont sit there and try to force morality on others. When will you tightie righties finally realize the difference???
Gregg your a bigot
Reply to Gregg who posted a comment onJune 26th, 2009 5:57 pm ET
Gregg, why do you have to be such a buffoon?
Sanford is a disgrace: as a husband, a father, and as a governor. He told the reporter at the airport that he was 'close to' hating his job. I think the people of South Carolina deserve better than that. Deveryone a favor and resign. Get someone in there that gives a darn.
Keep up the pressure, Jake.
Sure, why not? Spend more taxpayer dollars on an investigation into whether or not taxpayer dollars were wasted. Makes perfect sense.
@gregg June 26th, 2009 5:57 pm ET.... FYI Sanford called for Clinton to be Impeached ....How can you make such Hateful Racist comments Regarding President Obama and mention God all in one Breath.......Shut your Sour Pie Hole!!!
In a way I feel bad for Sanford. Humans make mistakes. But then again, I'm a liberal so I can forgive such a lack of judgement. But at the same time I feel he and the repu lican party are reaping what they've sown. They ARE the party of intolerance and have placed themselves in a position where they MUST live up to the extreamly high standards they have set for us all. Standards the vast majority cannot live up to, including themselves.
As they are proving over and over again.
Hey Greg
What is it Obama hasent been "forgiven" for? Not being supported by you?
Interesting that you feel yourself so worthy as to speak for your god.
From the mouths of fools come the consternation of the educated.