CNN

[...] South Carolina, it’s still uncertain whether Mark Stanford will resign yet, but if he does, the Lt. Governor Andre Bauer could step in and be governor until there can be an [...]

Since we haven't heard about in the last few days, I am sure the Lipstck Fido from Alaska will be chiming in soon enough. Wonder what she will say???

Extramarital affair with a woman from Argentina ????????

She could be Russian Spy ????????

I disagree with people who say a politician's personal life is personal. A politician is a public figure and someone who would betray his wife in the worst way cannot be trusted. I'm tired of celebrities and politicians cheating on their spouses and dropping in and out of drug rehab like it is something normal. IT IS NOT. The majority of us are people who try to live a good life, do not do drugs and do not cheat on our spouse. If you're unhappy, get a divorce. But only a scum cheats on their spouse. I wouldn't trust him for a trip to the grocery store.

"Did John Edwards resign? ...is that all ya got? Edwards didn't have an elected office to resign from!

The point that keeps getting made is dereliction of duty – abandoning the people of SC (who paid for his jaunts) lying to his staff... and so efficiently pointed out – breaking SC law against adultery! Which he's already admitted to!

Above the law: both man and God's Law: and still wants it all to be business as usual! Fat chance!

@robin:

Not a racist robin (I've got a very healthy mix in me of caucasian, black), just a REALIST. Why do you think that affirmative action was instituted in the first place. Left to their own devises people will make a choice.... not necessarily the RIGHT choice.

@rs who asked HOW? Thanks for asking. I was referrring to the days when there was NO RECOURSE for a black person who was denied basic human rights, much less opportunities for advancement. It was the accepted status quo.

This was the only open site I could use to respond to you.

It's so ironic...Sanford wanted Clinton impeached, but he feels
empowered to stay on. Hypocrites...all/most of the Republicans.
The party of "NO" responsibility. I feel bad for his boys, but that's
it; his wife was a Wallstreet Exec...plenty of morals there?!
Why is white collor crime accepted in our society so readily; going
off without denoting a power transfer can't be legal, or at least
eithical?

He needs to go!

The Republicans need to ditch the following:

The "Conservative" moniker: They are social-control freaks, quite the opposite of true Conservatism.

The "Family Values" farce: They seem to cheat on their spouses at an alarming rate

The "Anti-Gay" stance: There seem to be more gay Republicans holding public office than there would be at an Elton John-Barbara Streisand concert.

Dicky Cheney better put his antennae up. What if Sanford was "sleeping with the enemy" (which is a form of terrorist infiltration). Far-fetched? Yes. Impossible? No, no, no!

Then he needs to think harder and resign - or the state legislature needs to remove him from office.
Sanford is just another smug, self-righteous, selfish conservative who lives by the mantra "Do as I say, not as I do."

"Resigning would be the easiest thing to do," Sanford said in the AP interview.....
but then he thought of this ol' ally cat named Bill Clinton

Sanford said that "resigning would be the easiest thing to do" so he is not going to resign.

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!

He is trying to make himself an embattled martyr and a brave hero for not resigning by not doing the "easiest thing". That is selfish and self serving.

Mr. Sanford – resigning would be the HONORABLE thing to do!!!!

Another hypocritical Republican!

Mark Sanford like most politicians who "Cheat "on their wives, or "Cheat " on their Taxes, will eventually, at some time in their political careers, "Cheat" on "We the People" whom they represent.

The Honesty and Integrity of a Politician is measured greatly by the loyalty he shows to his spouse, and family, and to the people of the Country he serves.

Sanford has displayed a decided lack of those qualties and should step down and allow more honorable men succeed him.

Having said that, I would recommend someone check the water supplies of State Governors to test them for "aphrodesiacs" that may have been nefariously and covertly added. The sexual track record of our Governors is alarmingly suspect. ( and STUPID !!!)

I realize here in SC we are between a rocl and hard place with this governor and his mistakes. He really ius not what we in SC need. He appears to be a morally weak person and does not need to hold this office but we do have a need for leadership. It would be hard to stop at this time a nd allow someone else in that office. We definetly need to check out our next one. An office such as governnor should have a man with high morals to help lead this country. AS you can see we have inmorla leaders popping up everwhere. That just goes to show our country is going to pot faster that we realize. I feel that when a person, man or woman are tempted they need to go on a spiratual sabbatical to get his priorities in order and his heart in the right place and not let his body dictate to him. there are groups, seminars to help couples find a good balanced relationship between themselves and get advise on how to developa a friendly relationship with theri mate. If they all put God in theri lives and Jesus Christ between them they can stay togetehr and weather any storm that comes. I speak from experience.

Several Repubs claim that "liberal" CNN is making this a story, and that it would go away if only they would. Is that how it worked with Clinton's affair? Was it just media-driven? Or did the right-wing wolfpack descend on Clinton looking for blood? You can't have it both ways. Sanford made this a story with his outrageously irresponsible, selfish, and hypocritical behavior, and he continues to fuel it with his unbelievably lame excuses for not resigning. Sanford is getting what he deserves because, unlike Clinton, he set himself up as a paragon of virtue and a guardian of American morality. In other words, he was ridiculous from the beginning. He set standards that he evidently had no real intention of following when temptation struck. That's called rank hypocrisy, and we've seen far too much of it from Republicans. You right-wingers can't whine and moan about liberal attacks if your own leaders are going to betray their professed ideals over and over.

Hello, CNN – you need to change "admittance" to "admission" in order for the first sentence of the second paragraph to be grammatically correct. And, as always, I ask that you not leave this comment in "awaiting moderation" status permanently.

If I would even think about missing 2 days of work,no phone or anything... My ass would be out of a JOB..... thats the way the real world works...hello!!!!

Even the media cannot force him to resign.

I think south carolina has any brain, they should kick this idiot out of office....do not even elect for any office....what does this another idiot Mr. John Boener say about this????bunch of idiots...ok...just kick this s.c governor out of the office...guys...this guy is a total idiot....Johon King, do you agree????????

Irreguardless of him abandoning his job for 5-6 days and no one being able to reach him or know where he was he did commit a crime under South Carolina laws. Adultry is punishable by up to a year in prison and a hefty fine if convicted (since he already admitted to the affair this should be a slam dunk). Just apply the law. Since he broke the law he should resign and be prosecuted. Plain and simple.

Well, five days off disappearance.... no contact or whereabouts location? Had I done that... I would not have had a job upon return! This is outrageous!! Let the bozo move to Argentina!

Republicans have been above political law for 8 years...they do NOT know how to adjust to this "turn about is fair play" current political scene. I think it is about time that they had their feet held to the fire! They surely burned enough soles the last 16 years... starting with President Clinton! They deserve whatever they get... and this man.... he deserves All he is getting!

Many public officials, Republican and Democrat, lie and have extramarital affairs. But, I've never heard of one who went missing from his or her job for 5 days. That's the key issue here. The people of South Carolina deserve a Governor they can count on. Governor Sanford needs to resign or, be fired. Then, he can go cry in Argentina for as long as he wants and, not do it on Taxpayers money.

He talks a lot about spiritual things while desperately clinging to the material world, i.e. his political career.

What this country come to when a politician can't go out of the country to pick up a new backscratcher without all this fuss?

Mr. Sanford's affair would not have mattered to me if he had simply taken a 5 day vacation. Then only his wife could hold him responsible for his actions. But he walked off his job without telling anyone. Would this be allowed in the military? Could a surgeon with pending surgeries do this? Maybe he feels his presence isn't that relevant to the state's affairs. If that's the case, he should resign.

As for his extramarital affair... when are we Americans going to mature and understand that what politicians do morally is not a basis for their performance in government? If they brake the law is one thing, but what they do in the bedroom should be none of our concern.

Comparing himself to king David has to be the height of arrogance. If the phony groups who claim to be Christian had any religion in them, they would be screaming so loud you could hear them on the moon.
Not a peep out of them.

There's a plethora of Payday Advance Loan Companies in every nook and cranny of his state (especially in the poorer communities). These establishments do nothing but entice people to take out loans then tack on exhorbitant interest rates (THREE FIGURES for some) and people get terribly caught up in this racket when they cannot pay their debut which is sometimes doubled by these "add ons". Sanford, I am appalled at this and wonder why you cannot put an end to such a vice!!!!

The issue is not Dem's going after Gov. Sanford, becuase of the Clinton thing. The questionis why won't the S.C. GOP, impeach their Gov?
He lied about it to the public and his staff, and he used his office to cover the affair up. Furthermore the local press, The State, newspaper had the gov's . emails about his affair, as ealy as last December, and sat on them untill he came out . So much for the so called "liberal press" going affter the GOP.

Once and for all people, it is not about the affair. It's about the fact tha the arrogant bastard took off for 5 days without notifying anyone, and without leaving a forwarding "address" in case of a state emergency.

I could care less who he boinked!

Sanford is making the GOP look like fools. He'll continue his term, and when done he's free to continue his relationship with his mistress. It's obvious his wife and family don't fit into his plans because he would take time to repair the damage he's done to his wife and children. Sounds like his spiritual advisor already knows his plans or he needs a new one.

Did John Edwards resign?

Sanford is a bad dude and should resign, but how come CNN does not go on and on with stories of democratic and liberal scandals. No word about the Rangel scandal and Pelosis investigation of it. No word about Pelosi calling the CIA liars. One story for a few hours about the drug addict son of Killer Teddy Kennedy. One story for a couple of hours about the Murtha investigation. Nothing about ACORN, nothing about the billions that George Soros is making off the recession. Two of three Palin stories a day. And CNN, which gets its marching orders during the daily confernece between Emmanuel, Carville and Begala tries to claim it is not biased.

It astonishes me how quickly these self-righteous, pompus politicians are willing to throw the first stone.
It gives me a certain satisfaction to see them finally have a stone thrown at them.

Resigning is the correct thing to do.....it is not about easy or difficult....it is about what is right.

Were Federal funds used by Sanford in his international tryst? Time to put a Special Prosecutor on this. Is Ken (the Hitman) Starr available?
We have to deal with this moral outrage in a timely fashion or the very foundation of our republic will be shaken. What better way to celebrate the 4th of July than to force a lying, cheating, irresponsible politician from office?

Sanford is a double talking, wife crossing, pillow talking fake!

But the worst part is the fact he went AWOL, lied to his staff, and left SC vulnerable.

Resign and do the right thing.

Then why didn't you resign!?!

you are fired mark

Forget the hypocrisy, what he did is not a crime if you want him to resign then you better court-marshall Bush, Cheny etal. Those who lied about a war and trampled the constituation seems to be un-officially pardoned by the current administartion and more than 45 % of the population. If you can forgive for a crime then you better forgive for a sin.

Democrats generally resign when their extramarital affairs are made public and Republicans generally stay in office. Consider it an ideological separation of "family values" and state.

"Resigning would be the easiest thing to do,"

It would also be the correct thing to do given his past outspoken opinions on other politicans that have violated their oath of marriage.
But, it appears...Conservatives don't resign.
They just get more religious – and think their sins are magically washed away because, some religious right wing priest or minister declares it eventually.
He should resign NOW and save his sorry story for PEOPLE MAGAZINE
He should take Vitter (who's even worse) and Ensign with him when he goes.

Sanford said that he wants to "earn back the trust of the people of South Carolina". That doesn't pass the giggle test.
What is his real motive for digging in his heals?

Everyday that Sanford remains in office, S.C. is without a effective Governor and his wife and children are constantly the focus of this public humiliation.
Sanford is putting his selfish motives above his family and the best interest of his State.

What a creep!

resign mark sanford.its not the cheating that we dont like,its the fact that you left your job for 5 days and flew on our taxdollars to argentina.

right wingers are such hypocrites...at least when bill clinton cheated he never left the oval office.

Why do republicans always use the excuse that "someone else was worse" when they are caught with their pants down? I wouldn't accept that sort of exzcuse from my child. Every republican commenting on here wants to excuse this sort of behavior by assertiong that Clinton or Spitzer was worse than this fellow. Since when does that justify anything? Again, if your kid broke a window, would you excuse that behavior because your kid was able to point out that someone else broke two windows? I fail to see the difference. Everyone is all over this story for one reason – the blatant hypocrisy of the republican party leaders. When you set yourself up as a paragon of proper values, you have to expect you will be held to that.

I hope he does NOT resign. It will be interesting to hear what he says the NEXT time he is caught. Anybody this dumb, will do it again.

Let's see. What do Americans really need to see. Michael Jackson obits, Sanford obits or Tehran obitsWhile CNN and other MSM deluge the internet and TV with trollope, important news takes a backseat. How many went unemployed last month?
What is the government doing to counter right wing hate crimes against Hispanics?
What is the real cost of the current Environmental legislation?
How many women and children were killed by our bombs today?
CNN should drop the Rupert Murdock tabloid model of reporting and deal with the NEWS people need to hear. Put Jackson and Sanford/Jenny/Maria in the entertainment section where they belong and get back to business. Please.

You sir are not fit to be Governor,

1 You wanted to refuse the stimulus package for your people.

2 You walked off the job without telling even your staff where you were. During hurricain season!!!

3 That is it there is no three from this corner. Everything else is your personal business. Just as it was for Bill Clinton when you voted the articles of ompeachment you hypicritical SOB.

Don't continue to think about resigning. Just do it. No excuse for abandoning your position as governor for 5 days.

How can this guy govern effectively with this kind of stuff in the news about him every day? He needs to quit. For the sake of his state.

It is amazing how Senator Grahm from this state stated on Meet the Press that Governor should not resign. Remember Governor Sandford and Senator Grahm were in the US House in 1999 and voted to impreach President Clinton for his affair. I guess if you are in the GOP that is good Family Values and if you are a Dem you should resign.

Please am I the only one seeing a double standard here?

You Republicans wanted to lynch Clinton, and now you want to let Sandford, and others, get away with it?

Hypocritical children are you?

The Republican part is imploding.

The Democrats may be spending too much money, but the Republicans are behaving like nasty five year olds.

it,s funny to see all the news on your sight, yet nithing about obama' judge being overrulled? why?

This man is a hypocrite, just like the rest of the do as I say, not as I do GOP.

After what he said during Clinton...how can he no resign?

The Republican party is simply the party of hypocrites.

The man needs to resign.

I don't care if he is a Republican or Democrat. He is a discrace to the office of Governor and if he really cares he will step down.

If he can't be trusted in his family affairs he surely can not be trusted in the affairs of state.

Plain and simple he is white trash.

how come this guy is trying to hold on to his job. does anyone recall his statements regarding eliot spitzer and bill clinton. talk about double standard. i think it is a great time to be a republican that is synonymous to hypocrisy. go GOP....

It is not that he had an affair per se. It is that he is a hypocrite and that he went missing from his job for 5 days. That is irresponsible.

I'm certain that other women have fallen prey to this monster. A man lusting for a piece of meat will take whatever comes along. No wonder S/Carolina is in such a mess. Strong sex takes a toll on you mentally and I'm afraid it's wearing Gov. Sandford down. Resign my friend and then you could paint the town red everynight.

He should resign for lying about where he was, and being derilect of his job for 5 days. Like him or not Clinton never left the country for 5 days without telling anybody where he went or how to get ahold of him.

Sex isn't the issue, being gone from his job and lying about it to everybody is the issue.

Not to mention how low do you have to be to leave the country and lie about it when you have 5 kids and it's Fathers Day weekend. I guess being a Dad means about as much as being the governer of SC does to him.

Yes, resign. Goodbye and good riddance.

Mark Sanford has an autoritarian personality like most of the neo-cons who have taken over the republican party. These folks possess an ego yhat will not permit morals and ethics to get in the way of their political objectives, personal agendas and pocket lining.

I agree with LacrosseMom this guy should be fired.

LacrosseMom, you are right if you walk off a job any time and try to come back the NEXT DAY in most cases they assume that you quit so you would be terminated, if you dont call your job the NEXT DAY or dont show up they call this a no call, no show you would be written-up or fired so if that happens to ordinary people whats makes a Governor any better. So their is no question Governor Sanford should be punished for his actions.

@ RR June 29th, 2009 10:14 am ET
if Clinton didn't have to resign, why should Sanfird?

(heavy sign) I can not believe you need to have this explained to you again, but evidentially you do, so here goes: Bill Clinton did not dissapear for 5 days, going out of the country, without letting anyone know where he was so that he could see his mistress on the taxpayers' of SC's dime. Sanford DID!

Bill Clinton did not, and so far as I know has not, proclaimed himself to be morally superior to anyone. Sanfor HAS!

That's the short answer to your question, RR. Do you get it yet????

No, Marco, resigning would be the correct thing to do. Most people who can quote the bible are good at memorization, but have no critical thinking skills to apply the lessons. When You destroy the public trust and the trust of your family you make reparations OUTSIDE the public domain. Simple resign.
Your sons deserve a father with character, but are getting a father smitten with himself and no real desire to show them how a real man stands up to disgrace. How sad.

He can always get a job as CEO at one of the scab hiring foreign car companies in his state.

Republican values....Do as I tell you, not as I do.....
What a joke!!

if he had thought about resigning as much as he thought about lying we might have something.

It's not about the affair. It is about the irresponsibility Gov. Sanford demonstrated when he went to Argentina without telling his staff or transferring power to his Lt. Gov. It is about the impropriety of taking a "trade trip" on taxpayer funds to Argentina to see his mistress.

As a Democrat, I hope he drags this thing out, so people can see the continous hypocrisy that is the Republican Party.

go back to what he has said in the past, how he was righteous in his behavior, how the right wing nuts need to "drive" this country to where it needs to be. have him now join drug addict spokesman for this party of shame–rush limpbaughs in telling us Christians how we are to vote. someone please write an article how we wanted freedom from the church of england and all their sins-I love the Lord and know that our trust in people in anti Bible-it says put your trust in God man will forsake you every time as this party has done.

I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's not like Sanford did anything wrong. He's just like King David from the Bible. He is a man of god, and he made a mistake, like all of us make from time to time. All of you who are so eager to lynch him, remember this: let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

This situation is totally different from, say, Elliot Spitzer. Now that guy was crooked, trying to take on AIG while he's visiting hookers. He got what he deserved. And if he hadn't resigned, the Honorable Joe Bruno was all set to impeach him!

Now leave Mark Sanford alone! Let's get back to the real issues: Obama's fascist-socialism that has wrecked our economy!

He sure did sing a different tune when Bill Clinton was the sinner and he was the righteous one. At the time, he said that the honorable thing to do would be to resign. Now, he says that resigning would be the "easy way out". Come on governor. Stop being a hypocrite.

What goes around comes around.

"Resigning would be the easiest thing to do..."?
It would certainly be the RIGHT thing to do.
How noble of the guv to do the wrong thing, even if it is hard. Must take character.

Karl in Charleston,SC: actually, you have NOT been through Sanford's situation. But, as you are one of the rightwing neo-morons that actually votes for and then supports this [R] failure, I can certainly see why your significant other looked for greener pastures.

Sanford on Bill Clinton:

"I think it would be much better for the country and for him personally (to resign)." In explaining why he voted to impeach the president, he said, "I think what he did in this matter was reprehensible... I feel very comfortable with my vote." He added that Clinton lacked "moral legitimacy" after his affair."

I guess what is good for the goose isn't good for the gander?

FORMER republican, NEVER again! June 29th, 2009 9:59 am ET

The republicans, ESPECIALLY sanford went after Clinton to be impeached for lying, exactly what sanford did yet why won't sanford resign?? Hypocrisy at its best!
===========================================

So, to keep it fair, he should suffer the same fate as Clinton? Go through a bunch of political theatre, but stay in office?

resign already!

Grahame June 29th, 2009 10:49 am ET

He's going to lose anyway come election time. Another nail in the Republicans coffin.
==================================

Sorry to bust your bubble, even the short story above states that:

"Sanford, who is serving his second term as the state's governor, cannot run for re-election in 2010 because of limits on terms."

If you would have read the WHOLE article, you would have known that. Thus, rendering your comment moot, except for the gratuitous unrelated slam on Sarah Palin.

Are you a member of Congress?

I dont think he should resign. His marital issues are between him and his wife and they have to work that out. However, those 5 days taken where "nobody could get ahold of him" and state monies spent in that regard, if any, are an issue for censure by the state legislature.

But I honestly dont believe he couldnt be contacted if absolutely and positively necessary. EVERYONE can be found if need be.

I must admit I felt sorry for him when I watched him on TV.. For A MINUTE....then I realized how awful this is...He definitely must resign.. He has defamed his family. those beautiful children where is Our moral ethics in this country? More importantly though he broke the law. He was AWOL which I find to be the worst of it all and then he used public funds for his enjoyment.. He may be a very religous man and I believe this to be so but he has sinned which he is repenting.. God Bless him..I heard Bill O'Reilly ask if people felt the Left wing media is having a field day with this.. Who is the left wing media? I have watched CNN and ABC and they have all been decent about it? Does he mean National Inquirer ?Who cares what they say??? Maybe at the very least there should be a hearing of some type.. Thankyou.

Grahame June 29th, 2009 10:49 am ET

He's going to lose anyway come election time. Another nail in the Republicans coffin.
==================================

Sorry to bust your bubble, even the short story above states that:

"Sanford, who is serving his second term as the state's governor, cannot run for re-election in 2010 because of limits on terms."

If you would have read the WHOLE article, you would have known that. Thus, rendering your comment moot, except for the gratuitous unrelated slam on Sarah Palin.

Are you a member of Congress?

Wow this guy has really become a deceiver and slickster... "I thought about resigning" Not gonna work sir... Sorry. Calculated comments like this to try to quell the calls for him to resign. "resigning would be the easiest thing to do"... if you didn't have such a desire to hold on to power and your politcal career. Easy? Really? Ok then show us how easy it is to resign and go home to your wife and children & rebuild your family relations w no political incentive. Let's see how easy and if it's for real. I'm not gonna be fooled.

Dear Mark Santimonious Sanford:

Please keep citing Scriptures and other religious dictums so that I can learn from your failings and wisdom. You can preface your comments with "Been there, done that, listen up."

Your unthinking lemming-like servant,
Brainless Twit

The GOP once again is turning its head to something they know is wrong! How can they say they are about Christian values, yet everytime someone does something illegal, they remain in their position.. I mean this is funny! People ripped Edwards and his wife for that affair and all Dems could do is sit and watch.. this fool left the state for 5 days to mess w/ a woman! I mean really can he be trusted with anything else? I wouldn't want someone that is so immoral being the head of my state but Republicans will go for anything.. and then say God told them to do it to justify their means. What fools!

[...] Mark Sanford guy, who is governor of South Carolina, is going back to work today. This is newsworthy, for some reason, but since coverage of Michael Jackson's death has [...]

HYPOCRISY! At its best!

Gov. Sandford should be moved from the Governor's house to the OUT-HOUSE where he and his Republicans mates belong.

Ed in Tallahassee: Term limits in SC preclude Sanford from running again for Governor.

That being said, if Sanford has the gonads to try to govern after this, and in view of his self-professed "high moral and family values", then so be it. But, if I were in the SC legislature, I would have already introduced Articles of Impeachment against this neocon, racist hypocrite. He violated SC law by committting adultry (a law still in their statutes but not enforced), and dereliction of duty by not notifying his security detail of his whereabouts for the six days he disappeared. What if a major catastrophe had hit his state while he was dallying with his little Argentinian Tart?

Actually, resigning would be the hardest thing to do because then he’d have to deal with a betrayed wife on a full-time basis while pining away for his girlfriend. I lost all respect for this man when I heard he continued his affair after his wife found out. He wanted his cake and eat it too, and now he’s choking on it. Good.

Glad to know CNN is on the job, reporting on this rather than all of the other problems in the world. Go Libs.

He is such a loser. He is no better than the rest of these idiotic men who think with the OTHER head. Never mind what this would do to his kids-he is selfish and weak. I wouldnt want him in political office. he should stand alone-no wife-no family for awhile.

His mistress is nothing more than a homewrecking hooker with NO morals equal to the lack of morality on his part.

I hope he and she felt it was worth a few romps in the hay. Both her and his children will grow up to learn that they both were cheating adults who ruined their family's lives. Congrats on joining the likes of other policians who think they are really something and at the end of the day are really..NOTHING

Since he threw the first rock at President Clinton he should resign. This would show he's not one of these do as I say but not as I do. He was not without sin after throwing that rock. Anyway he will reap what he has sown. Good Luck Gov. Sanford you sure as hell are going to need it when the Misses takes you to court and cleans your clock and out your bank account. I wouldn't even let this bum be dog catcher.

Think again about resigning, only this time use the correct body part to do the thinking.

I guess if he is King David that makes Eliot Spitzer Moses.
bluecub

Ed in Tallahassee,

Going on AWOL is definitely a official state matter.

Also, there is no dispute that the tax dollars were used to allow him to see his mistress. He is going to reimburse the expenses to the state of SC.
As it is stated clearly in the article the second term Governor Sanford cannot run for another term, thus voters cannot vote him out in the next election cycle.

Sanford and the GOP hypocrites, there goes your family values! Enjoy it.

What a hypocrite the man is. He was all over Bill Clinton to resign the Presidency after the Lewinsky affair, and is supposedly a conservative "Christian". I don't know what he actually is, but a "Christian" is not one of them.

Since he apparently disregarded US policy to arrange and cover-up a meeting with his mistress, along with using taxpayer dollars and lying about it all, he really needs to resign. He disregarded the best interests of his state and country.

Just another "holier than thou" Republican hypocrite who is now abusing scripture to try and justify the fact that he has NO shame!

Thsi man is a disgrace and should do the honorable thing and resign... but he wont. NeoCons have no pride!

Stick around, Mark. Don't let them bully you into leaving office.

That way we'll always have a perfect example like yourself to remind us of the hypocricy you and your party have displayed over and over again.

Why do democrats always resign from office after admiting extramarital affairs but republicans the party of "strong moral and family values" always reluctant in doing so?

"Resigning would be the easy thing to do."? Are you kidding me? I guess this guy fancies himself indispensable. Narcissistic hypocrite. He needs to spend less time making a show of speaking with his "spiritual advisors" (is he getting his palms read?) and maybe think of penning an apology to Bill Clinton, of whom he demanded resignation after a less serious marital failing about 10 years ago.

See, if only he would have bombed a baby formula factory instead of travelling to Argentina, he could have avoided this whole mess.

If only Bill Clinton had been there to give him pointers on how to sneak around. To bad he's too busy chasing women....I mean spreading goodwill in Haiti.

Mark, grow a pair! I've been through your situation (but I was the one cheated on) and you have to soldier on! South Carolina needs your leadership in these tough economic times. You and Jenny keep your private lives private. No more crying on national TV and GET BACK TO WORK!

Resigning............Good idea.

I'm sure if I abandoned my job for 5 days I would not have a job right now.

I'm tiring rapidly of this guy playing the "Jesus card" on every tough question.

well its a good thing he didn't have the sex attorney chasing him like clinton had– Kenny i love talking sex Starr. 60 million questions for sanford.

Amazing when Pres Clinton was caught with an act of infidelity, the holy'er than thou Republicans were ready for impeachment, including Sanford. What a bunch of hypocritical asses the Republicans are. At least Clinton didn't try to steal money by paying for his activities with government money. That is the real crime and why Sanford needs to go.

It should not be "business as usual" if you use taxpayer dollars to take a trip to South America to visit your mistress on Father's Day Weekend, when you have four boys and a wife at home. Throw the bum OUT–PERIOD.

He should make it plain that remaining in office is a purely political decision. We have already been subjected enough to his spiritual angst.

Resigning would be the Honorable thing to do.

This is between the Sanford Family to handle, but I do believe that the people of South Carolina need to make sure their tax dollars were never used improperly.

Then at election time the people of South Carolina can vote him back in or out.

I hope they tar and feather the hypocrite and run him out of the state. maybe he can run for office in Argentina.

Governor Sanford, you stick to your immoral guns and stay in office so you can springboard in the national campaign in 2012. Matter of fact, tag team with Sarah Palin – you both have a lot in common. Like being unsuited to hold public office and being totally devoid of any of the high morals and family values your party stands for!!!

Resigning would be the right thing to do, but you'd be breaking years of hypocritical history of the GOP if you did!!!

The Governor leaving the state, heck country, without transfer of power; must violate the state constitution. Lets hope the assembly do the right thing. REMOVE THE GOVERNOR. Thanks for your time.

Resigning would mean that he actually has a conscience, but like Madoff, he's only concerned with the fact that he was caught and damage control. Resigning would be the honorable thing to do, but I guess that's not one of his christian family values either.

The problem isn't the affair (though thats personally despicable and disgusting), the problem is that he went AWOL and used his destitute states funds to do it. Fire him.

Last week Sanford cited the story of David and Bathsheba as justification for his staying in office. Even by the standards of those who cherry pick scripture to justify their oppinions, this is a new low–using the Bible to justify adultery. What's next–the story of Lot and his daughters as justification for incest?

Democrat has a session with a prostitute and he resigns.

A Republican violates his wife's trust & his vows ... has an adulturous love affair with another women and he refuses to resign.

Which offense is worse? Which man demonstrates more integrity? Which man proved to be more accountable for his actions?

I don't have to "spin" this in anyway. These are all resonable questions / expectations for the public to have.

I think he abused his power. Sounds a bit like Sarah Palin if you ask me. Unethical! Republican senators in his state are calling for his resignation. So don't make it seem like us on the left are asking for his resgination.

I really don't want him to resign. I think he should hang around until the next election for Democrats to keep voters reminded what he had done. Him resigning now, would make voters forget him by the time next election comes around. Resignation is not enough punishment for those elected officials who are hypocrats and have different rules for others.

Resign, Governor hypocrit.

He's going to lose anyway come election time. Another nail in the Republicans coffin. Hopefully we can put Palin in the coffin and bury her, since it's all her fault and her belief that the world is only four thousand years old.

Sanford is only listening to people whose advice affirms his own narcissism. Every poll shows that at least 65% of South Carolinians want him out.

He is an arrogant jerk. BTW He has never said he ended his relationship with Maria.

are you kidding me??? leaving the country, no explanations, lies & more lies.
"Resigning would be the EASY thing to do."

how about this: RESIGNING WOULD BE THE "RIGHT AND HONEST THING" TO DO.

Good for Governor Sanford to not give in and resign. Normally I enjoy watching hypocrites dangle in the wind and tearfully resign their positions, but I guess we should stop thinking that anytime a politician sleeps around his marriage, that it does not mean he should quit. Affairs and their messy repercussions are only to be dealt with privately, not publically.

What would happen if every politician who had an affair resigned? There wouldn't be much government left!

Maria Belen Chapur said her private life "has already been made too public during these last days, bringing to me even more pain."

Oh, I feel SO sorry for her–NOT! She should have thought about that before she got involved with a married man. She didn't think about anyone but herself–not HER children, HIS children or HIS wife.

And this "love" business is ridiculous. Sure, you can have an 8 year email correspondence and find out exactly what the other person wants you to know about them, and you can have fantasy days together three times in one year, but you can't really know a person until you live in close proximity for many many months and see that person in all of life's everyday situations. This is not love, it's just selfish fantasies. How immature.

Hey, Gov. Go ahead and take the easy way out. It's not like it's going to ruin your reputation or anything.

"The Lord uses the Good Ones. The Bad Ones use the Lord."
Cheater. Liar. Adulterer. Manipulator. Hypocrite.

Sanford should resign and so should have Bill Clinton. Most politicians have no ethics. VOTE THEM ALL OUT.

Sanford's friend and chosen successor Sen. Niki Haley is running for governor against current Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. No doubt Sanford has been approached by Haley to stay on so that Bauer won't become governor and have an advantage in the upcoming Republican primary.

So the people of South Carolina will be stuck with an ineffective governor for another 1 1/2 years because Sanford wants to play politics. The simple answer is for SC to vote Democratic and leave the drama queens to have their slapfest on their own time after 2010.

There are only two quesitons about the Govenor that should be asked- does he do his job as elected? and Was there any law broken that would have him removed from office.
Othere than that- thisis his families perosnal life adnwe need to stay out of it.

Did he at least manage to work some "foreign" travel funding into the budget so he's be better prepared the next time? Maybe a budget item for a state paid divorce attorney?

A person can do a good job and still have a messed up private life. If the people of South Carolina like the job Sanford is doing then they will vote him in again otherwise he will be out of a job. I am glad that Sanford isn't resigning. His job and his extramarital affair are completely separate things.

Deriliction of duty. Taxpayer-funded resources used for personal trips to sleep with his girlfriend. Lying about where he was and when. Allowwing staff to lie to cover his misdeeds. Hypocritical rhetoric. Sanford SHOULD resign.

I know it is up to the people of South Carolina (or is it?), but this
guy should give it up. More important is his wife and what she
wants. Hopefully, she will see that she and her sons can
survive without this mess of a man. I wonder if this character would
be willing to move to Argentina to live with this woman? No more
wife, no sons, no American flag, no home, no job......................
just livin on luv. What a dopehead. Guess the Republicans aren't
the pinnacle of virtue like they seem to think, but we all knew that
a long time ago. Now they have to face the truth. Thankyou.

What a self centered loser. I feel sorry of the people of South Carolina. He needs to focus on his job, not his personal life. Resign!

Selfish governors who only care about themselves... First Blagojevich and now Sanford. If Sanford cared about his constituents or his party, he will step down. Based upon his comments and actions, he is still a self-centered egomaniac.

Oh common! Stop the lying! It never even occurred to this man to resign! He would no more resign right now than I am likely to walk around on my hands, and answer my phone with my feet. CNN, don't perpetuate this man's constant indescressions by allowing him the ability to rehabilitate though more falsities. This man adds a wretched name to a morally sound ideology, thereby tarnishing the credibility of an entire movement, meanwhile, introducing a chance for him to say something along the lines of "I can't resign, I need to continue to work for the people of South Carolina" thereby making it seem that he is not out for his own self interests. I'm not saying that I am convinced that he should resign, lets just not play this silly game please. If you want a politician (any politician) out of office, either don't vote for him, or get the legislator to impeach him. He messed up, lets get over it, or get on it, either way, lets not play the usual tic tac toe that we all know is absolute bull honky.

I am heartsick for the governor and his family, but he should step down and save extended vitriol toward himself and his family. He needs to take full punishment for his violation of oaths freely made.

Wasn't it Sanford who first stood up to ask for President Clinton's impeachment? Sanford is a coward if he doesn't resign.

Most of us would be terminated from our jobs for a five day absence without notice. For a governor to be "AWOL" for that period of time is not only a disgrace but should be grounds for immediate impeachment.

Sanford's indiscretion was a moral failure. His abandonment of his post as governor was more grievious since it involved the welfare and safety of all the citizens of So. Carolina.

Dereliction of duty? I would say so, at the risk of engaging in rhetoric.

But, while he is just the latest example of conservative
"family values" hypocrisy, it really doesn't benefit anybody but the sanctimonious, morally-conceited right for him to resign with the elections coming around next year.

Business as usual?? The main issue with this situation is beyond the indiscretion. It is the fact Gov. Sanford left his post without the proper protocol of delegating responsibility and notifying his staff.

One can only hope incompetence and hypocrisy are not "business as usual" but then again, GOP....!

As a dem( thought i should identify myself) I could care less if the gov cheated on his wife. The stats on cheating spouses is pretty high, meaning more people than not cheat. If he is repaying the money, than no harm on foal, I don't NOT like his politics at all, but i don't not live in SC. He hurt his wife and kids, but not us. I am proud of his wife. She is hurt, but she knows her worth obviously. I appalled strong women, she will be fine no what what! The hippocracy he spews will caught up, the gop needs to stop pretending they are on the oral high ground.

How can you trust a Governor who first will lie to his wife and then to his state about how he spent state money for personal pleasure. This includes him trying to arrange business meetings in Argentina just so that he can see his mistress.

No, No... He was a vocal advocate of family values who chose not to practice those values, though it was OK for him to be critical of others who also chose not to practice those values.

Hypocrisy has no place in government. I do respect it, I don't condone, I don't have to tolerate. Gov. Sanford...get out of dodge.

if Clinton didn't have to resign, why should Sanfird?

The governor cannot accept the facts. He had already written his life's script, which I suspect led to the White House. Alas, along the way he fell in love, and that was his ruin. Love is often a very destructive force, though our social conditioning will not allow most of us to admit that.

The best thing he can do is to move to Argentina, pursue his woman, get a good job with an Argentinian corporation that does a lot of business in America, and smell the roses.

When your dream becomes unattainable, you have to find another one or be miserable for the rest of your life.

Resign now governor. You let us down with your mariagate. We need ethical leaders and not cheats and crooks. Resign and got back to your dear dear friend whom you love more than your own family and state. Get lost now.

Sanford was among the righteous right types who would call for any Democrat's resignation under similar circumstances – yet he won't do so himself. Power and selfishness mades one blind, doesn't it?

As for his mistress – she's blaming this scandal on those who accessed her e-mail rather than taking responsibility for her own inexcusable behavior.

These are the kind of people you're dealing with: Self-absorbed, cruel in their lack of concern for Sanfords kids and wife, not really comprehending the impact of a governor running off like a smitten college freshman to leave his state unattended for a week – yet no one really willing to take their medicine.

Sanford has already proven himself emotionally incapable and irresponsible. It shouldn't be up to him to determine if he deserves to remain in office.

Just resign and you will be free to go and cry in Argintina

Wasn't Sanford one of the ones who was very vocal about Clinton resigning or being impeached? Not that this is a shock or anything but talk about severe hypocrisy.

Remember what he said about Bill Clinton being such a bad guy.Well aint that special,Now he has doing the same thing.

Typical Republican hypocrisy. How anyone follows this party is beyond me.

Hey, Gov. Sanford is just pulling a Bill Clinton by not stepping. Hey, if the President of The United States can get a you know what in the Oval Office by a nineteen year old intern, more than once I might add, why should this Gov. step down for having an affair with an adult woman. Both situations are disgraceful!!!

And resigning is what you should do..

Or, wait until you are thrown out as you
deserve.

If any Dem. gov. pulled this sort of stunt the Republicans would have eaten them for breakfast.

Sanford's affair is a side show to the serious facts that he abandoned his job for a week, lied to his staffers who in-turn lied to us, he put the state of South Carolina in jeopardy by leaving it leaderless, and put the United States of America in danger... what would have happened had some cartel or other hostile group taken him hostage. He had no security with him. Anyone who thinks a lone US gov. wouldn't be a prime target abroad is delusional. Sanford got lucky nothing else happened to him.

If he was the family man and ethical man he proclaimed himself to be before all of this then he would resign and work on fixing his marriage, his relationship with his children and his personal life in general and say to hell with his political career.

This man voted for 3 out of 4 impeachment articles on President Clinton. He has attempted to represent and fight for morals. He , obviously, fails this test himself. He is an embarrassment to not only his family, but to the citizens of South Carolina . He should immediately resign or the state elected representatives should impeach and remove him ASAP from office.

Business as usual:

Abscond with taxpayer funds to visit a lover, betraying one's wife and children in the process.

The second half is between Sanford and his family, but the first part was a crime.

He( Sanford ) should go around the state and apologize to the people of south carolina for his arrogance and lack of judgment and leadership.
What is he going to do with the stimulus money he finally accepted after a law suit, pay off her Agentine lover?
Sanford should resign if he has any ounce of integrity left.
The party of hypocrites should urge him to resign if they believe they are credible in their " family values" nonsense.

This man should resign – he's a disgrace. And I'm not talking about the cheating thing. That's between him and his wife and his God. I'm talking about leaving the country without telling anyone. About the possibility of using taxpayer dollars to do so, after making such a big deal about refusing stimulus money. He's incapable of governing and seems emotionally unstable. And that's me being nice.

CNN, some news please. This is the People Magazine equivalent of political reporting. He said – she said, he should etc.

Why not just give out the scorecard of the Waxman-Markey votes and ask the 44 Dems that voted against it why they did so. Then ask the 8 Repubs that voted for it why they did. This issue should have been a straight up ideological vote (Of course, which ones aren't these days, unless renaming a post office?). Do the location of the Ayes and Nos' (Or yeas and nays, if you will) districts reveal something? The electorate would be better informed with this kind of information than the 'reality' TV angle offered by the Sanford story.

I don't know why I even bother though, this probably won't get posted. 95% of my submissions never make it, doomed to perpetual moderation.

If iI nsult Sarah Palin and change my handle to "I Love Barack" would those odds improve?

Then why don't they call for him to go? Change the bed-cloth's

While it might be business as usual on paper, I think that this man's life has now been turned upside down. In the midst of all the turmoil, he has to consider how and where he will live (you can't stay in the dog house forever), and also what career path he will take when he demits office. Some stimulus money might help create a job for him when he says "adios!" to his political career. Oh, how life can throw you a curved ball!

You know, it's funny...I really wonder if the "news" media realizes how much worse they make these situations for not only the person at their focal point, in this case Sanford, but also by extension for the local government involved and thereby for the people that person is supposed to be serving. I know everyone is just salivating over the next tidbit of slimey, ooey-gooey pseudo-news to chew on here, but really people...is it all it's cracked up to be or is it just bottom-feeding? Leave off. If the legislature impeaches him, so be it. If he resigns, so be it. The rest of it from anyone with zero power over the situation is nothing more than waving of the political schwartz to see if it really is as big as the next guy's. Set the thrusters for ludicrous speed...

The republicans, ESPECIALLY sanford went after Clinton to be impeached for lying, exactly what sanford did yet why won't sanford resign?? Hypocrisy at its best!

Apparently what happens in Buenos Aires doesn't stay in Buenos Aires.

GOOD!

Remember when Clinton did it, in the Oval Office mind you... you all said, its only sex!

Fair is fair!!

LOL LOL

One of the things he did was embezzle funds, more or less, to fund his romantic international tryst.

Fire him!

Before the Governor even thinks about leaving office, Ted Kennedy should resign for driving drunk off a bridge and leaving mary Jo to drown in a car on Martha's Vineyard. And he should wait until Bill CLinton, gives up his Presidential pension for having sex with an intern in the Oval Office.

As for any other politician asking the Governor to step down, take a good look in the mirror before going down that road

The difference between the US and abroad: Abroad people expect and accept that their elected leaders are going to behave this way. In America, voters believe that their elected ‘puritan’ leaders are not going to behave this way; then fall down on the ground in shock and despair clutching their bibles and wedding photo albums when they do.

If you wave a pork chop in front of a hungry dog, he's not going to go and get you your slippers...

"Resigning would be the easiest thing to do,"

So do it already and let's get off this soap opera.

So remaining in office after committing FRAUD is OK?

No jail time?

Shall we let bank robbers just give back the money?

Dope dealers just apologize and give back the money and dope?

Burglars just give back the stolen items?

When Sanford answers YES to these questions, then I would say his answer is justified.

Anyone who walks off the job and disappears for 5 days would have been fired. Why not a governor?