Mark Sanford To Run For Congress
Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who’s time in office ended with an embarrassing sex scandal, is running for Congress:
It’s official (or will be tomorrow): Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford (R) is running in the special election for the state’s 1st district.
“Officially we’re going to announce tomorrow, and then it’s off to the races,” he told the National Review.
The House seat was left vacant earlier this month, when Rep. Tim Scott (R) was appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by former senator Jim DeMint (R). A special election primary will be held March 19 with a general election on May 7.
Sanford told the conservative magazine that he had thought his political career was over but that “miraculous events” had brought him back. Sanford held the 1st House seat from 1995 to 2001.
In the interview, Sanford attempts to preempt some of his critics’ arguments, contending that ethics charges against him were overblown. In the wake of his public confession of an affair with an Argentine woman, the former governor was charged with 37 ethics violations and agreed to pay a $74,000 fine. He is now divorced and engaged to his former mistress.
“I’m not questioning my failure in certain areas, I certainly mishandled things in that chapter of life,” he said. “Okay, the guy made a mistake. Let’s look at the magnitude of that mistake and let’s judge it in the light of other areas where he hasn’t wavered, as a champion of the taxpayer and reforming government and common sense solutions.”
Sadly, Sanford’s ex-wife announced yesterday that she would not be running for the seat. That would’ve been epic.
As Roy Rogers would sing, ‘Happy trails to you…’
A blessing for comedians everywhere.
I’m sure Sanford would _love_ to get back into politics – he hasn’t done anything else since 1994, and appears to have never held a job for more than 2 years prior to that. But one thing I don’t see in either of these articles is any other names that are willing to associate themselves with him… For the sake of SC’s people, I really hope this is all just inside his head.
Shamelessness? Who could have predicted that?
Psychologically distancing yourself from your misdeeds? That’s pretty creepy:
If Sanford were some schlub nobody garden variety whackjob, nobody outside of his family cares that much.
But he was the governor; to eff up that publicly, that spectacularly, that please-stop-me-before-I-do-something-really-stupid behaving, I’m throwing away everything everyone told me I should want in the most blatant way possible and then…
“Please vote for me to represent you in Congress.”
It’s horrifying / fascinating.
If he were within ten SDs of “normal,” Sanford would hide under a rock for the rest of his life petrified that someone would recognize him and remember “Oh yeah, you were the ‘Appalachian Trail’ dude. Ha! Hey, Honey, take a picture of us, it’s the ‘Appalachian Trail’ guy! Oh sorry, is it okay if we take a picture?”
But then, David Vitter still represents Louisiana in the US Senate.
So it’s all Jaysus’ fault?
@edmondo:
I blame it on the Bossa Nova. Or the Argentine tango.
@legion: sounds like a democrat!
Now why can’t we get this person to run for Congress? Oh… wait… she explained why pretty well now that I look again.
@bill: “sounds like a democrat! ”
Except he’s not. He’s another scumbag, self-righteous, moralizing Republican hypocrite who runs around claiming to be the epitome of morality while breaking every vow he tries to force other people to live by. Whine all you want about Dems, but this guy is one hundred percent yours. He’s a Republican, just like you.
Well, almost just like you. He can probably spell.
It’s a miracle his wife didn’t
shoot himkill himbreak his neckkick his ass…bust his balls??? (maybe that will work.)Look, if you want to run for political office again, run for political office again. Just don’t go all smarmily pious on us and talk about “miraculous events.” Ain’t no miracle here: just standard your-ego-is-bigger-than-your-brain idiocy.
I bet he wins on name recognition alone. Infidelity is hardly a career killer for Republican politicians these days. Neither is sanctimoniousness.
Is he going on the campaign trail ?
We can revive a wisecrack from 2009. “South Carolina: Where the Appalachian Trail runs all the way to Argentina.”
I am a republican from north carolina and I am sick that he is running for public office again. Doesn’t surprise me though. Any narcissist who puts his needs ahead of his wife and children will feed his ego before anything else. These men don’t experience shame or they would hide under a rock forever. Spitzer, Weiner, Clinton…..they are all alike. They need the attention and feel only they are qualified to serve! I think it is a damn shame if the people of SC can’t do better than him. I personally plan to do all i can to make sure he isn’t elected. He disgusts me.