Mark Sanford Censured By South Carolina GOP, Which Stops Short Of Calling For His Resignation

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fellow Republicans have censured South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford after he left the state last month on a secret trip to Argentina to meet his mistress.

The state GOP met for more than three hours by phone Monday before 22 members of the executive committee voted to formally reprimand Sanford. Ten others voted to ask him to resign, while nine voted to support him.

In a statement, Sanford says he appreciates the party's position and will continue to work to earn back its trust.

Sanford might have survived a state probe last week into his travel, but plenty of his fellow Republicans say they are still hearing from unhappy constituents.

The governor also has repeatedly said he will serve his remaining 18 months in office.

Comments

[roshni]

Is there any democrat at all who can run against him?

[ObamAtomic]

Censure for the GOPers is,do it right ,don't get caught!

[SharpDressedMan]

It would be nice to know how long the censure will last.

[JonShank]

What is troubling is not that he cheated on his wife. It's that he did not tell his staff where he was going, and was completely out of touch for FOUR days!!! That is what is what is called 'Ungood'.

[cubbinincmh]

I know its somewhat hypocritical to trash this guy since I believe that what the Republicans did to Bill Clinton was politics at its lowest, but seems to me like they started going after private lives, why stop now? Besides, I have a bigger problem with him not turning over power to the Lt Gov till he came back. Seems to me in most situations this would be completely normal. Its almost like he wanted to get caught...

[roshni]

i have nothing against good, old fashioned revenge........

[judiNJ]

Interesting, Gov, Sanford thinks quitting is the easy way out, and Gov Palin thinks that staying is the easy way out. What is with these folks?

[bluguy8]

its in the water

[bayside]

Hear that crooks. Go work for South Carolina..If your a republican ,when they catch you stealing money they censure you and keep you on the job..You know this only works if your a republican dont cha.

[Forester]

SC, please secede again.

[Driver125]

OK--that did it. I feel sooooooo much better now. Alright now, everybody back to business as usual!

[jmsent]

I think I finally figured it out. Palin resigned for Sanford. Now it all makes sense!

[cognitivereddawn]

Sanford "cheated on" his wife? Words! Sanford CHEATED his wife, his boys, his family, his supporters, his state. He's a swindler, like Madoff is a swindler. Does this mean that South Carolina tolerates swindlers? Of course, it does.

[fodel]

Evidently, the GOP has one standard for Republican dalliance: censure; and another for Democratic: impeachment.

[Truthsfire]

Technically, INCORRECT. For Republican dalliance the standard is censure and you stay on the job. For Democratic dalliance, it's hounding, harassing, drilling, grilling, and needling until they can find a lie. THEN they impeach you, but it's for lying under oath and obstructing justice.

So the difference is we need to torture Sanford a bit in a monomaniacal feeding frenzy like they did with Clinton, until he snaps.

Seems fair to me.

[HekmabaJuzimax]

Maybe Eliot Spitzer should have stayed on as governor of New York. There would be no Albany crisis and no Bloomberg third term.

[bluguy8]

probably very true . and just look at Patterson-- one hot mess

[ClownPosse]

Republican Family Values, on display, AGAIN !

[desertdweller]

This is great news. Keeping Sanford in office keeps him in the spotlight. His actions will be scrutinized and it is likely that he will further embarrass the already humiliated GOP.

[Pilate]

The GOP doesn't seem to know the difference between an infected toenail and full-blown gangrene. Not that I'm voting for amputation either, mind you.

[desertdweller]

That's why they hired Dick Morris. He's an expert when it comes to feet and especially toes.