People Shocked, Dismayed To Find Out Mark Sanford Was Having An Affair With A Woman

Like many people, when I found out that Mark Sanford had been having an affair with a woman who lived in Argentina I was shocked.

He was having an affair with a woman?

Not a man who had undergone gender reassignment surgery to become a woman? Not a transgender woman? But an actual conventionally female in every way woman?

I have to say I was stunned.

Last June when Sanford said, "It is my personal view that the largest proclamation of one's faith ought to be in how one lives his life" I just kind of assumed he was having meth-fueled orgies with male prostitutes. But shockingly, the family-values Republican was merely having sex with a woman who was not his wife.

Most of my friends I spoke to about the situation were similarly shocked, but some were simply dismayed.

"I mean sure she lives in Argentina, but is she a male student who was in the country illegally? No, not even close" said Jessica Patrick. "I'm very disappointed. He's a governor after all; I really expected a lot more from him."

Others were simply confused. "I don't know what to think anymore. I mean am I supposed to believe that I live in a world where Republicans lawmakers who oppose civil unions and even gay adoption are only having affairs with members of the opposite gender?" said Chuck Evans. "This makes me question everything I thought I knew about the world."

My friend Jessi Smith also expressed bewilderment: "I don't get it. What does this have to do with Michael Jackson?" she asked.

Mr. Sanford's office could not be reached for comment.