Sanford To Reimburse State For Trip To Argentina

In a statement, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said that he would reimburse the state for a trip to Argentina on which he met with his mistress.

"As noted by the Department of Commerce, I attended a trade mission with the Department of Commerce last June. As the agenda notes, the mission was spent meeting with government and private business officials in both Brazil and Argentina. This trip was handled very professionally by the Department of Commerce, and I'm proud of their work there.

"However, while the purpose of this trip was an entirely professional and appropriate business development trip, I made a mistake while I was there in meeting with the woman who I was unfaithful to my wife with. That has raised some very legitimate concerns and questions, and as such I am going to reimburse the state for the full cost of the Argentina leg of this trip," Gov. Sanford said.

According to documents released by the state Department of Commerce on Thursday, the state paid $8,644.03 in airfare alone for the trip -- more than $9,000 altogether.

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Comments

[MSMSucksCom]

"While the purpose of this trip was an entirely professional and appropriate business development trip, I made a mistake while I was there in meeting with the woman who I was unfaithful to my wife with."

=================

OK, I am tired of (mostly) Republicans always calling their actions "mistakes." These are NOT mistakes. Sanford acted with intent and deliberation.

A mistake is putting in the wrong grade fuel into your car. A mistake is handing the clerk a $10 bill when you meant to hand him a $20 note.

A mistake does not warrant punishment or sanctions, albeit a mistake might cause damage or injury.

In contrast, knowing well ahead of time (as will be established by e-mails) that one will be paying a visit to one's mistress when on supposed official business is a scheme, plan and acting with intention and deliberation.

So note to all cheaters: Quit calling your intentional conduct a mistake.

Sidenote: Obviously the intent of the trip was not to conduct state business. What's the odds that SC had business in Argentina, where Sanford's mistress just happen to live too. The real reason for the trip was a very expensive charade or cover so he could see his mistress.

So Sanford owes the state the money it cost for everyone to make that trip, not just the price of his ticket or the "mistake" portion of the trip.

[lianmolive]

Thank you for your post! Yes, finally someone gets this. It's getting irksome that people call this "little deplorable act" a simple "mistake."

[lianmolive]

fanned

[AhnAmuru]

The adult erer now admits he's a thief!

The stimulus package grief he gave Obama!

All feigned - he all the while was getting his own package stimulated!

[damebee]

You know I find your comments deplorable, yes he is a cheat, yes he is not honorable, I'm sure many women and men have faced the same dilemna, a wife or husband I don't love, what to do? most people would seek a divorce, however his wife holds the pocketbook, probably if he really searched his heart is one of the reasons why he married her! What a dilemna to find love at 49 with a woman thousands of miles away and no way to make a living!

[chriss0114]

he has a way to make a living-at the public trough off the taxpayers--which he will continue to do as a politician or at a "think tank" or as a lobbyist

[totaldisbelief]

He could always get a real job like the rest of us (the ones still employed that is).

[MSMSucksCom]

Only someone as confident and arrogant as the man exhibits in this video would think that giving the money back makes it all OK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvgkfLbGqNU

He should propose changing the law on robbery. If you rob a bank, get caught, but promptly return the money, it's no harm, no foul, everyone gets to go home.

[Dave-O]

It's amazing. If it was the average human being, we'd be locked up without bail. What he did is criminal and he should be charged as such.

[unesupernana]

Hear, hear!

Unfortunately this is the typical modus operandi of the status quo, is it not?

[lianmolive]

How great Sanford is! How honorable was that to admit to his affair (after he got caught); and now we learn he's going to payback that which he stole (after he got caught). Sweet!

Which god does he believe in again?

[damebee]

I did not notice Sarah Palin paying back for her trips! Fine let's go after Bailey in Alabama where all the Fema money was supposed to go for housing and somehow managed to get to gambling industry!

[chriss0114]

she did pay back 8 grand for her kids(FINALLY) for SOME of their unnecessary travel

[MSMSucksCom]

Gotta love Letterman, one of his Top Ten on Sanford was:

"Made it safe for me to tell jokes about Republican governors again."

LOL.

[VOTER]

PERFECT!

Thanks for the morning laugh.

[jfrye]

Spot on

[lianmolive]

why do we bother imprisoning embezzlers? just have them reimburse what they stole like Sanford...

would save taxpayers a whole lot of money and solve prison crowding.

[Aranxa]

Really now, how much hypocrisy can the Republican party exude? Grandstanding on values while doing the nasty behind your wife's back is bad enough, but then trying to pass off the bill for the booty on the tax payers? Fiscal conservative, family values, ah yeah, right.

[damebee]

My problem is this "C" House that is tax exempt and listed as a church! Sorry a two story house that rents out 5 bedrooms, to congressmen is not tax exempt. They should be paying taxes on the income that is generated from that income, sorry doesn't cut the mustard!

[bby328]

I'm ah goin' to reimburse the state for the full cost of that Argentina leg . . .

[joyce628]

this guy must be glad that Michael is dead , because this has certainly taken him out of the news.

[unesupernana]

You are so right - I'm sure he is most relieved!

[mayan2012]

resign soon.

[georgiegirl]

Sounds like he needs to reimburse the state for more than one trip.

[nomobull]

just what i was thinking

[damebee]

Let's talk about New York where he met her again, she makes a good living and is not a slouch, however New York is not cheap!

[DrDemon]

Oh.... how convenient !

[DrJon]

Maybe he can use TARP money!

[WakeMeUpNow]

Looks like you are going to make us all suffer longer! Selfish GOPer!