South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford: 'I've Been Unfaithful to My Wife'

Is it too late to allow S.C. to secede from the Union??

This is a private matter and the governor should be left to deal with the pain he's caused his family privately.

The appearance that he really did abandon his post (ie, his staff honestly did not know how to get ahold of him) might raise questions about his leadership judgment, but his personal failings have nothing to do with his ability to govern.

Sanford deserves public criticism for what he does in the office, at home should be left to his family and God.

Why are the Public Office holding officials so pitiful when they get caught? They hold public office - there is someone always scrutinizing their daily lives. If they cannot control their bodies and the lusts thereof, how can they be responsible for holding a top Public Office?President Obama cannot even sneeze without it being scrutinized. It never fails, you reap what you sew. No excuses. Mr Sanford knew the consequences of his actions when he made the decisions to cheat on his wife. We all have to take responsibility for our actions. So why is he crying now?????

It is not a private matter when a Governor abandons his post in secret, leaves the State in confusion and without a clear replacement during his absence. His ability to govern is seriously called into question. The affair is another matter entirely.

What if an emergency had happened in his state, and no one knew how to contact him, and even the Lt. Govenor was not sure if the Govenor was going to be there to deal with it? What then?
This guy is irresponsible, obviously. He should resign and let the Lt. Govenor take over.

Do you know that in South Carolina adultery is a crime? Punishable by a fine and/or 6 months prison time? Maybe it is a personal thing between him and his family, but this dude enforces this law against other private citizens in his state.... TIME TO PAY THE PIPER!

Nevadder:" leaves the State in confusion and without a clear replacement during his absence."

There was a clear replacement (the lieutenant governor) and it is not clear if his staff really did not know where he was (within cellphone range) or if they were just covering for him.

Republicans, Republicans. Always pointing the finger and calling names.Yet time after time we see what they are truly made of. This is just another example of the true essence of Republican morality. Or lack thereof. I can't understand why anyone is surprised.

"This is a private matter and the governor should be left to deal with the pain he's caused his family privately." - jhw539

Yes jhw but when a public official who makes big decisions on the people's behalf can't make the right decision when it comes to the most important thing in his life, his wife and family, then you have to doubt that he can serve the people properly.

Sanford should resign.

This is a personal tragedy for the Sanford family, but a greater tragedy is that it has to be played out on the national scene. I hope we can show some compassion for this family, and remember that only those who "are without sin" can cast the first stone. Let's leave them alone to heal their family tragedy the best they can.

The fact that a governor went AWOL for a week is another matter entirely. It shows he is not capable of acting responsibly under pressure due to exhaustion, or whatever. He needs to be removed from the responsibilities of governorship until he gets the psychological help he needs.

Here we go again. Ok so the man was unfaithful to his wife and not a good deal for the kids either but it happens. We need to realize people are people and no matter if the person is a street walker or a PHD it happens, In this case he’s a politician.
You may get tired of the person you are with over a long period of time and that is a result of it, maybe not the result you want. We need to reevaluate if our expectation of what a relationship really is. If you look at the divorce rate, 50 to 60%, can it be said that maybe other forces are at work. Come-on folks read between the lines we have a problem here. See, if you’ve had had three wives: the first two you divorced and the third one died, it’s time for a review. It’s like my mother use to say “Boy, you better look at that thing”. In this case reevaluation and redefining what a union of two people really means for me and me alone.
Do we have a civilization that has a hidden agenda which pushes the union of two people so they will send money? Mind you I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but it may be a reality. How can we develop relationships that are more organic than we currently have? In nature synthetic materials tend to break down faster over time than organic ones, same thing with relationships.

Just a passing thought….. LaHawk

Too bad he's not made of the same teflon as Bill Clinton.

PLEASE......SOMEBODY......get me a score card !

Seems as though there is a consistent theme in politics, professional sports and highly compensated CEO's. Give people money, power, status and temptation and many if not most of the time they fail.

If this had been a Democrat, the only place you would hear about it would be on Fox News.

what an jerk to say he hurt his mistress and everyone else before he mentions his wife!!!

I hope everything works out for him and his wife.

LaHawk said: "Ok so the man was unfaithful to his wife and not a good deal for the kids either but it happens."

Agreed.

It's sad that so many people screw around on their spouses and families. But it's hypocrisy and disgusting when a politician (on both sides of the aisle) builds a platform on "God and Family Values", makes state LAWS against "fornication and adultery", and then procedes to violate his own rules! What did the man call Bill Clinton? A "rascal". Put down those stones, Markie Mark. Glass houses.

He broke the law...PUT HIM IN JAIL...It is entirely unfair that SOME people can break the law and not do jail time while others heads get slammed to the ground and they spend time in jail...HE BROKE THE LAW!!!! MORE THAN ONCE.

Its not the fact that he cheated. Its the fact that he BROKE THE LAWs..that he helped to create. Secondly he used OUR money to "rub some off" on ONE of many new found loves. He is a hypocrite, a liar (as he has already lied so many times), A thief, an adulterer, and i am sure if he can do these things he can and has done other things..he is not a favorite in SC