Sanford's Affair Sparks Debate In GOP Over Family Values Emphasis

Gov. Mark Sanford's admission to an extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina has sparked a debate within the backchannels of the GOP over how strongly the party should emphasize morality and religion going forward.

For decades, the GOP has used issues like respect for the sanctity of marriage and the notion of family values as a key component of its political platform and a point of divergence between Republicans and Democrats. A series of sex scandals involving high-ranking officials, however, has drastically altered that equation. And now some strategists are questioning whether the party should rethink the way it emphasizes these matters.

"It creates a very interesting tension for Republicans because they understand that there is a very interesting constituency that they have to appeal to, particularly in places like South Carolina, by resorting to that kind of moral values rhetoric," said Mike Maslansky, CEO of Luntz Maslansky, a predominantly conservative communications firm. "I don't say rhetoric as a means of demeaning it. Talking in those terms is a way to appeal to the base. In an election season they find it is a significant advantage to talk in those terms. Maybe for the other three years out of their term they wish that they hadn't."

The GOP, to be certain, will never get to a point where it willfully cedes the moral high ground to Democrats. The social and religious conservatives who comprise a large and vocal portion of the base won't permit such a drift. Nor, for that matter, does it make political sense. The failings of Sanford and others, they argue, were isolated and personal events and not reflective of the party as a whole.

"It is a personal tragedy that he talked about some length," said Frank Donatelli, chairman of GOPAC, a conservative political action committee, and former political director for President Ronald Reagan. "But I don't know that it has implications beyond that."

That said, conservatives have hit a rough patch in the last few years on the family values front, with Sen. John Ensign, Sen. David Vitter, and former Sen. Larry Craig all setting the stage for Sanford's own marital misconduct controversy. And there is a growing belief among strategists that Republicans might -- at least for the time being -- be better served to stress the economic components of their platform rather the social or moral aspects.

"Look, of course, we are the conservative party and we are going to have a conservative message," said Donatelli. "But I do think by talking a little bit more about economic opportunity that we as a party want to offer both at the national and state level, that is what we can do I think to broaden our ranks."

Craig Shirley, a long-time Republican strategist who has been vocal in his criticism of the party, added: "The problem with the Republican Party today is not having principles; the problem is the betrayal of principles. Frankly, I think the whole issue of 'family values' is overstated as a problem in the GOP. The Republican Party has a lot of problems, no doubt, but for every John Ensign or Mark Sanford are ten so-called conservatives undermining the Jeffersonian message of individual rights, individual dignity."

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Comments

[mereader]

Man oh man … you almost want to feel sorry! Life must be so very hard when you so want be in love with and make love to your Christian spouse (cue the tears!) but cannot help having those naaasty (!) desires to be with and to copulate with someone whose body and mind is so deliciously unchristian... But then it is so much fun to watch them ‘burn’ as they go for it while taking a break from being oh so (self)righteous… I know, this is an ‘unchristian’ statement (and attitude!) but then I am not particularly obligated here… Fun, fun, fun! (At least no civilians got incinerated in the process…)

[GHARDY]

Which ever republican that's keeping quite now without and opinions, he's next one to be caught in a scandel, watch Mitt Romney, he's keeping mum.

[TuoulumneFlower]

"It is a personal tragedy that he talked about some length" - ? A TRAGEDY? They just don't fathom how arrogant they are, do they?

This is not a tragedy, Donatelli, ya' maroon. Sanford's a lying, cheating, stealing, self-righteous hypocrite whose sins caught up to him. He should follow his own advice and resign his office; he should be investigated by a grand jury and tried for his crimes; and his wife should divorce him right now, at great cost to himself.

Funny how Clinton's dalliance with Lewinski and his lies about a personal matter rose to the level of impeachment proceedings. Sanford, that paragon of Christian virtues, didn't just lie to his wife and children, he lied about leaving his state and his official responsibilities. How do you suss that's personal?

The tragedy is how utterly clueless the Republicans are, as evidenced by this ridiculous discussion.

[lagumbo]

Everything these so call family value persons are doing , they have allways been doing. We just having been paying attention. I am sure with the election of PRESIDENT OBAMA their are few people who has been so into the politics and the politicians of these times. The republicans have always done what ever they wanted to do. With the introduction of the internet and so forth, we the public now knows what is going on. They can't hide it anymore. We have PRESIDENT OBAMA to thank for that. They now have to be honest with our tax money, with their life style, and their stance on their efforts for
the good of the american people. Their will be more falling from grace. In the republican party I predict 3 more before the end of the year. The members of the GOP has always been dishonest in waht ever they have done. Now we can keep their feet to the fire. They will have to stop telling us how to live our lives while they say one thing and do omething else. Watch them fall.

[mayan2012]

pffffffff

[solarian]

what family values

[DeBartolo]

The Republican Party of God is a modern day example of the Bibical Genesis Theory: " The sins of the seeds are in the fruit and the sins of the fruit are in the seeds"

[HHarvey]

I don't think he should resign any more than the ex governor of NJ should have resigned for coming out of the closet. The best idea of any politicians I've seen yet are those that remain bachelors.

[DFL]

The party of family values is choking on it's own vomit.

[Treeske]

very good!

[Rangergirl]

It is a hypocritical statement to put family values and Republican in the same sentence..­......Demo­crats and Republicans alike Make mistakes but They have Family values in their Platform.. They need to practice what they Preach.

[bronceye]

It's their blatant hypocrisy that makes them soooooooooo enjoyable. It seems to be their only common human trait.

[NuMexMama]

Ah, don't be so hard on Gov. Sanford. He was merely doing research in Argentina so see if he, as a White man, could find out some experiences of a 'wise Latina woman'.

[JessWonderin]

I thought he just exploring some "Offshore Drilling" sites . . . .

[LiberalUnderYourBed]

Oh yeah, researching the feasibility of laying pipe in South America.

[kannita]

THAT is SO Funny!!

[Littlewords]

The GOP can debate, contemplate, and pontificate all it wants.

Everyday greater quantities of the voting public see the hypocrisy that is the GOP!

Today's GOP = hypocrisy, bad policies, lies, and protecting the wealthy elite.

[uuunderground]

You forgot to mention aggressively telling the rest of the world how they should live and then banging war plans if they don't.

[armadillo]

I tried to pen something on this but you and Little words said it best.

[sippewissett]

"The GOP, to be certain, will never get to a point where it willfully cedes the moral high ground to Democrats. The social and religious conservatives who comprise a large and vocal portion of the base won't permit such a drift."

I for one hope that the GOP maintain this sanctimonious, pious, we-own-the­-moral-hig­h-ground stance because "the higher they rise, the harder they fall." The notion that one political party is more moral than the other is comical, as evidenced every week when someone in either party bites the dust.

We're all frail humans who mess up our lives regularly so the Repugs have no better chance at maintaining the moral high ground than the Dems. Surely the ongoing display of hypocrisy should move them to soften the "we're better people than you" posture of the last few decades. At the end of the day, it's one's ACTIONS that speak loudest, not one's moralizing to others.

[factotem]

If gay people being an imaginary threat to his marriage was sufficicent to deny them rights, why is Sanford (who was the real threat to his own marriage) allowed to keep his job and his rights?

Explain.