Bennett: Sanford needs to stop 'embarrassing himself'
(CNN) - Mark Sanford is "embarrassing himself" and needs to resign as governor of South Carolina, conservative talk radio host and CNN contributor Bill Bennett said Thursday on CNN's American Morning.
Bennett, the latest high profile conservative to call for Sanford's ouster, said it's time for the onetime Republican rising star to ditch politics and focus solely on getting his life back in order.
"I know Mark Sanford. I know him quite well," Bennett said. "He needs to get his life back in order, his marriage back in order. He is embarrassing himself."
"There is the old notion of indecent exposure, usually that refers to somebody showing some skin, and there's another form of indecent exposure. He is telling us way too much," Bennett continued. "We're not interested. He needs to stop and take care of his life."
Bennett also suggested the GOP can easily fill the gap Sanford would leave.
"We have other people," he said. "We have other people who are not only fiscally interesting and sound but also can keep their lives together. "
Bennett's comments come as more than half of the Republicans in the state senate have now called for Sanford to step down, as well as a host of other GOP leaders in the state. Sanford has indicated he does not intend to resign.
"The whole thing is pretty ugly. It needs to stop," Bennett also said.
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Sanford is the epitomy of why liberals hate Republicans. Rep[blicans are simply two faced hypocrites who want to preach to everyone about what not to do as long as they can do it if they "admit" their mistake. CRAP. These people are waste of time and breath! Graham, Bush, Cheney, Gingerich, Rice, Rummy and on and on and on. All hypocritcal liars with phony morals.
This is the first time someone has address the issue head on. Resign to allow someone else to govern, spend time finding out who you are, and start building trust with your family. Remove this wreck to the private domain and allow the state to move on.
sanford needs to be quiet until he regains his emotional balance later he will regret all he is now saying
What do you mean he needs to get his marriage back in order? He needs to be honest with himself and his wife for once. His wife is duty bound by Christan beliefs to remain in the marriage if Sanford acts the part of humbled husband. Acting is all he will be doing. Sanford's heart is else where. Why should his wife have to look at his face everyday knowing that? Sanford needs to stop acting. His wife will be fine. She is beautiful, smart and strong. She is no helpless wallflower. What is ugly is that we try and force two people who no longer love each other to remain married for the sake of Christan right wing duty. Yuck.
Sanford could be happy if he were honest. Sanford's wife could rebuild her life and be happy if he were honest.
If we are going to hold Sanford to a high standard we risk losing two thirds of our governing body in Congress and most of the business excutives around the world or are we suppose to be stupid enough to believe he is the only one. Power is the Viagra of politics and business.
The man is in love and there is nothing in this world that is going to stop him from professing his love for his mistress.The good part of it is that for once outside the "conservative hypocracy crap, Sanford is speaking his mind free from the BS of family values he and a host of adultarous republicans want you to buy.
Has The Leader spoken on this yet? Until Rush has ruled on Sanford's resignation, it isn't likely to happen.
I agree with loveable liberal – but I also do think it is time for Mr. Sanford to step down.
It seems to me that Mr. Bennett and the GOP are more concerned about the damage Gov. Sanford is doing to the party's image than the damage he's doing to himself, his family, and the citizens of South Carolina.
Mr. Bennett,
Do not through rocks to anybody. Do you not remember your gambling problems????? You are not better than Sanford.
Olga Gardiner
yeah.. this whole thing is pretty weird. this woman in argentina is his "soulmate" but he's going to work on his marriage with a woman who is not? how in the world does that make any sense? he really sounds like a whack job.
Bennett is just jealous because he can't get pretty Argentinian girls to even look at his bloated Republican ego and belly. Keep on gambling Billy Boy, the chicks don't like you pal.
Someone asked "what about his performance in office"? Maybe that question should be posed to the woman he had bent over his desk.
This is the same retard that went after President Clinton with such a vengence. Guess he is getting his just reward now.
Another black eye for the Republican party that they don't need right now.
As always, Bill Bennett – the consumate huckster!
They need to impeach this pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and his wife needs to
kick him to the curb.
"I come from the business side. If you had a chairman or president in the business world facing these allegations, he'd be gone."
Mark Sandford's statement on Clinton’s infidelity.
What did he do that was so bad he had to resign from the being the head of the Republican Governors association that was at the same time not so bad that he should resign as governor? Why the double standard? How many times do the Republicans have to put party above country before people get it?
Brina honey; you are sooooooooooooooooooo right (no pun intended).
Considering the millions of dollars Bennett's lost on the black jack table over the years, I'm not sure I'd split if he told me to. 😛
Hey Bennett, when will you ask Ensign to resign? Oh, forgot, he has a nice pad for you in Vegas while you gamble!
He is creatively trying to justify his hyprocrisy , lies, adultery, unprofessionalim....then continues to insert foot into mouth by revealing he may have cheated with even more women. Depending on what "crossed the line" meant.
The poor man is a tortured soul...if this Maria woman is truly the love of his life and his soul mate then go for it. Judge not lest ye be judged.
Bennett should focus on his own food/gambling/self-righteousness addictions and crawl back under his rock. I thought we were finally through with this blowhard!
Embarrassment? Gambling millions of dollars away–isn't that embarrassing? No, it is conservative values–I do as I please and I am outraged at this and that so I can be above and be observed.
If he waits a few years his brain will move to a different location and it will function without so many distractions.
As sorry as I am for Sanford's family, I am so glad that FINALLY people are changing their opinion of him. FINALLY people are seeing him for who he really is. Those of us that are educated, informed, and moderate-liberal knew he was crazy, knew he was bad for south carolina, and knew he only cared about himself. We saw it with the unemployment benefits as we are now ranked 3rd in the nation. We saw it with the stimulus money foolishness. We knew through policy decisions that he didn't have the interests of South Carolina at heart. We saw that he didn't care about families with children in the public education systems, and we saw his aversion to help downtrodden citizens that can't find work because he refesus to focus on job creation in this state (a priority for all governors, a job description if you will). Why did it take a public display of selfishness and forsaking his family to get through to everyone? I don't know, but his arrogance continues with his refusal to step down.