Sanford Skips Meetings To Go On Trip With Wife

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford headed out of state Wednesday for personal time with his wife, as the two try to reconcile, and skipped a meeting with a top economic adviser ahead of what's expected to be more bad economic news including rising joblessness.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer refused to say where the Sanfords were headed or how they were getting there, but allowed they won't be traveling with their four sons. Sanford is in the midst of trying to reconcile with first lady Jenny Sanford after a tearful confession of an affair with an Argentine woman, Maria Belen Chapur.

"This trip is personal in nature, and we're not going to offer any further comment," Sawyer said. "The governor remains committed to repairing the damage he's done to his marriage, and so it shouldn't be any surprise that spending personal time with his wife is a part of that process."

Sawyer said meetings skipped this week will be rescheduled.

A month ago when the state's unemployment numbers came out and set a record, Sanford was with Chapur in Argentina. He later called her "the love of his life" and his "soul mate."

Sanford had no public schedule this week, but had private meetings planned, including one with John Rainey, the chairman of the state Board of Economic Advisors. That state revenue oversight board is expected to reduce its forecast Thursday and likely trigger across-the-board spending cuts at agencies. The state's spending has fallen by more than $1.2 billion in the past 12 months, or nearly a fifth.

On Friday, the state's unemployment numbers are expected. South Carolina's jobless rate in May was 12.1 percent, a record for the state and the nation's third highest behind Michigan and Oregon. That news broke a day after Sanford slipped his security detail and headed to Argentina.

Legislators aren't criticizing his effort to repair his marriage, but question his timing and ability to keep his eye on the state's affairs.

The reconciliation effort "doesn't negate the fact that we've got some serious, critical problems in the budget that is hemorrhaging every day because of the employment situation and the weak economy that requires our best efforts," said state Sen. Larry Martin, a Pickens Republican who has called on Sanford to resign.

"I think his preoccupation with his personal life right now is certainly expected but doesn't serve the state very well," Martin said.

Senate Minority Leader John Land is happy Sanford is working on his family problems, but noted the economy's ills demand his attention, too. "I think he does need to be here to manage that and to do whatever he can to improve the unemployment rate and the decline in revenue we're suffering in the state," said the Manning Democrat.

Sanford, who said he intends to remain in office and repair the damage he's caused, has had virtually no public schedule since details of his affair emerged from extensive interviews with The Associated Press two weeks ago. The Republican chief executive tearfully described details of the Chapur affair and disclosed dalliances with other women without providing details beyond saying they stopped short of sex.

Sanford had disappeared for six days in June to visit Chapur even though first lady Jenny Sanford had told him not to see the woman again. She had discovered the affair in January and allowed her husband to visit Chapur in New York City to break off the relationship. The Sanfords would later go through weeks of sessions with other couples to save their marriage.

Comments

[KeepItMoving08]

I'm on my way my Sun Tan Lover....


Until.....

[lawgrrl]

When you tell the world that another woman, who is not your wife, is the "love of your life" and "soulmate", that kinda kills any chance in reconcilliation, doesn't it?

[ohmetoo]

Well one would think so!

[DessLoch]

Hmm, Jackie O married two men who had proclaimed other women to be their as soul mates without letting that frozen smile thaw one bit over it.

[heyjude4545]

And you're attacking this woman why?

[lazercat2008]

Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., said he would be "struggling" during Christmas over whether to support Livingston, even though the speaker-designate had not broken the law. "We as a party want to hold ourselves to high standards, period," Sanford said.

But one House Republican, Mark Sanford, said: "The bottom line is that he lied under a different oath -the oath to his wife."--AP

[TheLibs]

But the bottom line to Sanford involves a tan.

[Waiting4Hope]

Maybe he should just go away himself and then send her love letters???

[AlisonCarnie]

As a mother, the most important job in the world, I felt, was to protect my children from the world and sometimes that includes the father ... the message sent to these children by the women that stay with these narcissistic politicians is horrific ... children don't need two parents ... children need a parent that is loving, protective, supportive and capable of earning respect ... to have a mother that allows a cheating, lying father to stay or invites him back in that home is disrespecting her children and most importantly herself ... how can the children have respect for their mother if she doesn't respect herself?

[LibKitty]

I agree. It's up to parents to teach children about relationships. If one parent allows the other parent to use and humiliate them in public, the children will think it's ok to use and humiliate other people in their lives. As a parent, you need to set the example of how adults behave towards each other. By acting like a door mat, Jenny is showing her son's how to treat their future girl friends and spouses. I do hope those young boys have some good role models in their other relatives, teachers and other adults in their young lives.

[thaneb]

You seem to go from narcissistic politicians to a more general statement. In general don't the children also love the father? That being the case, isn't reconciliation a good thing? However, I do not know the frequency of reconciliations in estranged marriages nor their long-term success.)

[DessLoch]

prob is, one of Jenny Sanford's first comment to the press was he's done this before.
Many men learn how to disrespect women by watching their doormat mothers (which is where many women learn to be doormats).

Her family money may have bought her education, her executive career and her husband's political offices but looks like it stopped short of buying her some self worth.

[Adartist777]

Probably heading down to Argentina for a threesome...

[paulita]

Speaking of mafia: Meant to add: Still Waiting on the Apology Senator! (to former President Clinton=.

[paulita]

The C Street seemingly: mafia/cult/frat boy house according Rachel Maddows show is really bad. They justify their hypocrisy by saying we tell each other everything but we tell the outside world nothing. Tony Soprano couldnt have planned it better.

[blues101]

Don't hold your breath on the apology for the hypocrisy.

If i understood it correctly, hill was a member albeit unknowing of their true behaviors - so how do we know that Mrs. S wasn't or isn't in on what goes on there, but was ok with hubby's double turned- triple life? She had no problems whatsoever having religious meetings at the guv's mansion with a so-called spiritualist named "Cubby".

[HisPetGoat]

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/fred-astaire-1948-steppin-out-with-my-baby/994483609

[ohio4obama]

Am I missing something? SC has unemployment of near 20% and he's sauntering off again b/c he FEELS like it......yet he STILL has a job?

Umm, contrary to your delusions Marky, your personal cr@p does NOT come before your responsibilities as gov.....But what is to be expected from an egotistic@l, cult-loving loon?

[blues101]

It is the fault of the state legislators because they did not force him out, and they look the other way as the entire state becomes unemployed, with huge state debt that can NEVER be paid down.
What you might be missing, but i'm sure you've heard........
Mark the Spark thought he could take the stim that was to go to education, unemployment and infrastructure, and apply it to the big stack of bills he created for s.c. No money for social programs, no way. The president said, nope, don't think so. It's not for you, it's earmarked for programs. He denied the state the stim money to be spiteful and to score presidential-run points with his keepers. The state supreme court cleaned his clock and forced him to take it. No idea where it is or where it went..........cetainly not to the starving and unemployed people in s.c.

Sanford had a large part in creating that debt, and an even larger part in keeping the residents of south carolina poor and verging on idiocy, if you see the stats. The people have no say, but if they did, nobody's listening - too busy with that relationship thingy, not worth going to a meeting about the disastrous south carolina economy. He's not done ruining the state, now his wife is helping him do that by, let's face it, forcing him on a vacation alone with her. S.C. can't wait, apparently his wife can't either.

[Bitsko]

Nekkid hiking. It's not just for singles anymore.

[AnalyzeIT]

C Street - yes if walls could talk - for some reason I get a feeling that they do not always go there to get their lives straighten out. ~wink-wink~

[SusieQ45]

Hope she's haulin' him to Reno.

[Einstein44]

The cesspool of lies that Republicans happen to cover-up.....The people of South Carolina deserve better.

[ndnd]

the majority of the people of SC elected a libertarian social conservative and should therefore not be surprised by him being self absorbed and irrational. As for the rest of them - you are correct.

[joshua2]

what is "a Pickens Republican"?

[blues101]

Slim Pickin's - as in the odds that you'll find one with integrity, humanity, intelligence and conscience.