JENNY SANFORD STATEMENT: Wife Says She Told Him To Leave "To Maintain My Dignity"

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's wife, Jenny, issued a statement in which she says that she told him to leave their home two weeks ago "to maintain my dignity, self-respect and my basic sense of right and wrong."

Read the statement:

I would like to start by saying I love my husband and I believe I have put forth every effort possible to be the best wife I can be during our almost twenty years of marriage. As well, for the last fifteen years my husband has been fully engaged in public service to the citizens and taxpayers of this state and I have faithfully supported him in those efforts to the best of my ability. I have been and remain proud of his accomplishments and his service to this state.

I personally believe that the greatest legacy I will leave behind in this world is not the job I held on Wall Street, or the campaigns I managed for Mark, or the work I have done as First Lady or even the philanthropic activities in which I have been routinely engaged. Instead, the greatest legacy I will leave in this world is the character of the children I, or we, leave behind. It is for that reason that I deeply regret the recent actions of my husband Mark, and their potential damage to our children.

I believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity, dignity and importance of the institution of marriage. I believe that has been consistently reflected in my actions. When I found out about my husband's infidelity I worked immediately to first seek reconciliation through forgiveness, and then to work diligently to repair our marriage. We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. I therefore asked my husband to leave two weeks ago.

This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage. During this short separation it was agreed that Mark would not contact us. I kept this separation quiet out of respect of his public office and reputation, and in hopes of keeping our children from just this type of public exposure. Because of this separation, I did not know where he was in the past week.

I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal. I believe Mark has earned a chance to resurrect our marriage.

Psalm 127 states that sons are a gift from the Lord and children a reward from Him. I will continue to pour my energy into raising our sons to be honorable young men. I remain willing to forgive Mark completely for his indiscretions and to welcome him back, in time, if he continues to work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance.

This is a very painful time for us and I would humbly request now that members of the media respect the privacy of my boys and me as we struggle together to continue on with our lives and as I seek the wisdom of Solomon, the strength and patience of Job and the grace of God in helping to heal my family.

Comments

[MiHi]

SANFORD FLEW!

JENNY KNEW!

[Know-some-secrets]

Bill played played played and played
HIllary stayed, stayed, stayed and stayed

[thepoliticalcat]

What's it to you, bubbe? Neither one of them were hypocritical bible-beaters yawping on endlessly about the sancti(monious)ity of their marriage.

[Hans Meiser]

That is one strong woman. All the best to her and the kids.

[Onfya]

Why is she strong??

[AddyGmom]

One, she didn't stand by her philanderin' husband. She, in essence, said 'Mark, you screwed (up). I'm not going to take heat for you. "

[MiHi]

Oh please. Maybe if she wasn't such a stuck-up bible-quoting holier-than-thou who thinks she gets to decide who can get married (and who cannot), her husband might not have had to seek the comfort of another woman. Ever think of that, lady?

[Onfya]

I agree with you! Instead of going to bed hugging a bible, try hugging your husband.

[bowthai]

Wait, whatever her views on who does or does not have the right to marriage, I hardly see how that bears on her husband's infidelity. Having heard from both parties, it seems that Mark Sanford is the one who admits to any wrongdoing. I think it's unfair that every time a male politician comes out about an affair, criticism has to be doled out in almost equal measure to the wife. She is always at fault somehow - for giving him to much support, for not sticking by him enough, for causing his infidelity in the first place. Let's leave Jenny Sanford out of the blame game and try our best to respect her privacy. So far, she seems to mature and well-intentioned in her handling of this difficult situation, and until we see otherwise, there's really no need to criticize her because of her husband's irresponsible behavior.

[samjer]

Your right! Every time someone screws around it the wifes fault for not giving him what he needs. They have to make a snap decision to dump them or the knives comes out about whats wrong with her and why she deserved it. She needs time to figure out whats good for her and her family. Unfortunatly the knives are out nomatter what she decides.

[thrugreeneyez]

Oooooh- SNAP! :)

[floridafun]

why shouldnt she gain comfort from her faith? do you know her personally? is she over-the-line extremeist out of reality? i doubt that. she obviously has good reasoning skills and good self esteem, all considered. i am an atheist so i dont go the bible route, but i sure respect her needing what she believes in right now!