Governor Sanford Needs an Intervention Before It's Too Late

When I began to write my latest HuffPost piece, I was going to really slam South Carolina "Lovey Govey" Mark Sanford for his stupidity sharing the greatest TMI (too much information) of all time about his affair with Ms. Argentina. When he said God wanted him to stay in his position as Governor so that he could learn a lesson in humility, I immediately thought he went to the Bible and read the life of King David who committed adultery and murder to marry Bathsheba, the wife of one of his most fearless warriors. A voyeur David was, he was just walking around on the roof of his castle one day and saw Bathsheba bathing. His adultery as King of Israel was shouted from the roof tops of the entire Kingdom.

David like Sanford suffered a great humiliation bringing public shame to his name.
In Psalms 51, King David cried out to God "Have mercy upon me, O God,.....Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."

When Governor Sanford speaks, it appears he is trying to be a modern day King David, servant of God; whom God favored despite his transgression. According to the Bible, David remained King, but Sanford will not remain Governor.

Sanford's juicy public confessions of love, lust, soul mates and betrayal have most of us into this so deep it is as though we are licking out of an empty bowl of good grub. Many of us are also shaking our heads in disgust; with some sort of righteous indignation over this sleaze, but we watch it still. Perhaps a good number of us are worried that the lie we told to our spouses yesterday or last week "that we needed to get away to find ourselves" will be found out - we are next to caught cheating. Then again, there may be another group of us who are so bored that Gov. Sanford's affair is more interesting then Young and the Restless and our own lives.Yet there is a growing number of people who are now turning off the television, radios and even giving the Internet the middle finger because of the information overload about this man's personal life. No matter what category we might fit, Sanford has made great tabloid over the phone, in the cafeteria, the office, the waiting room of a doctor's office or heaven forbid the church! Despite the motes in their own eyes, I am sure Pastors across America to their flock have sermonized, demonized and teachified about the sinful Gov. Sanford, but have any prayed for him?

We can expect the "Lovey Govey" to give us some more "shock and aww," in the coming days. But if you look beyond his Jackie Collins-style escapades he shares, you see a man who needs an emergency intervention. Sanford needs more than just a few Republicans calling him up, and asking him to step down. He needs someone who can come and help save him from himself. There is something dark about Sanford's confessions that makes one have sympathy and pity for his soul.
 
The media; particularly the cable chatter are too engaged in the breaking news about Sanford to really notice the real anguish on his face. As his bad news increases, his humanity decreases daily. A man crying uncontrollably and unloading on the nation like this is deeply troubled. Some who read this may get upset and shout, "What about his wife and children, they are the real victims!" My answer is, they are, but at least for right now the wife is not on the verge of some sort of mental/nervous breakdown that could lead to something we all don't like to discuss, but is a harsh reality that's happening more and more these days.

I only hope Gov. Sanford's true friends he believes he has don't leave him alone at night. I hope they are working overtime to get him to take a break from the media and get some counseling and real spiritual help. Sanford needs relief soon. I can only imagine how he must cry out to God in the darkness of night for someone to save his life. I hope his prayers get answered.

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Comments

[bbbear]

Hey, I'm a very left liberal, but It seems to me that Sanford's love life is none of our business. Sure, his previous judgmental actions show him to be a typical political hypocrite, but that seems to be part of a politician's package, especially a republican's. That said, maybe it's time to grow up and concern ourselves with insuring that our country acts with political integrity.

[Yvonne R. Davis - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey bbbear nice to read your comments. I hope you are well. You are right on all of this. I just wanted to bring out a different perspective. The bottom line is what you wrote - Integrity. Can politicians act with integrity. Have a great 4th.

[bbbear]

Thank you, Yvonne, and I apologize for not responding sooner... But these days, except for early morning, I'm mostly limited to my new Ipod touch and have yet to make a comment from that tiny device. That said, even though I'm not in the least bit religious, I liked the historical/biblical aspects of your reasoning, and enjoyed seeing the issue from your perspective.

[bbbear]

Geez, I skipped your essential premise, "Can politicians act with integrity.?"

My guess is the few politicians who seem to be acting with integrity may, like most sociopaths, merely be faking it. However, they may have simply become tainted by the Washington DC system of collusion to remain in power and other aspects of the 'good old boys club." Still, I strongly suspect Senator Bernie Sander's life remains based upon integrity, at least Bernie is the only one I'd bet money on...

[giorGgirl]

While I agree that all the primary players, i.e. all the Sanford family, need help getting through this curve in their life's road, the Governor has exhibitted behavior which indicates he needs professional help and he needs it NOW! His lack of judgment in leaving the country and being incommunicado for however many days as well as his ramblings and goings on when addressing the media are not the behaviors of a rational man. I repeat, he needs help NOW!

[bbbear]

Well, it seems to me whenever anyone falls madly in love they become radically insane. I've only been there a couple of times, but it's both delightful and disturbing... But, all the same, wonderful... Hmm, let's see, I seem to remember it's considered to be ( at least by poets ) a major factor in the human condition.

[ispa]

I appreciate the article and think in many ways you re correct- the man does seem to be suffering- however, the idea that he deserves an intervention before the people of the SC (he has not served well), his wife, and his children- is misplaced. Also, to assume that his children and wife are not suffering as much or more than him- is impossible to know and no one should presume to know such things.

[Yvonne R. Davis - Huffpost Blogger]

Ispa,

You are right. I do not know if his wife (who I referenced in the piece specifically related to this issue) is suffering from a nervous breakdown or even potentially. That is why I wrote, it appears for the moment this is not the case. I was careful in how I worded this part of the piece. In terms of the people of SC, I do not think they are going to lose their minds if he stays or goes. If anything, if he stays they are angry, embarassed and wish he would go away. But beyond that, their sufferings are similar to many of us during this economic crisis. I understand that many don't want the Lt. Governor to step in Sanford's place because people can't stand him either. So the state has a serious leadership crisis. My comments are not to take away from what you wrote however. I appreciate them.

[emilylime]

Thank you for writing this compassionate article. While I am not a fan of Mark Sanford as SC's Governor or his politics, I still feel sadness and concern for the man and for his family. I, too, hope that those who are genuinely close to him will support him through the dark moments of this personal crisis and guide him to genuine counseling --- not just "spiritual" advice. And, Ms. Davis, you are so correct that the state has a serious leadership crisis! Andre Bauer stepping up as Governor of SC would be adding salt to the o-so-public wound, surely beginning a new round of public embarrassment for the state.

[FORLOMC]

I appreciate your empathy for Sanford. Where is his empathy for his constiuants? Where is Sanfords empathy for his homeless, his hungry, his unemployed, his undeducated, his ill? I find it incredible that he is crying for himself and cares nothing for his people. That is by far more disgraceful than his sexual affairs. I can forgive him for sexual indiscretions, I cannot forgive him for his stance not to help his people.

[Yvonne R. Davis - Huffpost Blogger]

Forlomc,

Empathy for Sanford in one area does not mean he deserves empathy in other areas. If he is not compassionate for the poor and the hungry then perhaps the focus to discredit his leadership should have been on this; which is by far more important that where he lays his head at night. But unfortunately you and I know what gets ink; and its now the homeless, hungry, unemployed or undereducated in his state. Thank you for your comments.

[bbbear]

Bang on!

[bogues]

This debacle is by far the best example I have ever seen for keeping Church and State separate.

[Yvonne R. Davis - Huffpost Blogger]

Amen to that. Can't add much more. Thank you.

[Beegood]

I can see some truth in what you are saying, but honestly there isn't anything that anyone can do to help Mark Sanford at this point. He has to follow the path that he has cleared before himself. He chose with free will to lead a life of hypocrisy. I am not just talking about the affair, and how he railed against Bill Clinton. I am talking about his faux-Christianity. It only took him so far and now that house of cards is falling down. He made this bed and only he can lie in it. The easy-way-out life he has chosen to lead up until now has not prepared him well for the mess he currently finds himself in. He's gonna have to (finally at 49) sink or swim under his own power. Based on what I have seen so far he's sinking. It's the same as when dealing with an alcoholic. Nobody can save him but himself and the sooner he realizes that the better.

[Roscheblue]

The difference between Sanford and King David is that David sinned and paid for it with steep consequences, while Sanford wants forgiveness without paying the consequenses. Sanford needs to resign and get himself together.

[Yvonne R. Davis - Huffpost Blogger]

Roscheblue. I actually had the consequences King David paid in my original piece, but it was too long. You bring up a brilliant point, but I still feel he is acting out this scenario; which would perhaps be towards delusional. I appreciate your point.

[Roscheblue]

Yes, David was brought all the way down for his sins, and he appreciated God for doing that. It made him a better man. Sanford does not want to be brought down. There is no lesson without consequenses. You are right about the delusion. I agree with others that he need to seek help from a real doctor about that.

[ankae]

Ok...I'll take the bait.......


When should this intervention take place - before or after he resigns as the Gov of SC? If you are indicating an intervention then you are suggesting he is unfit to carry out his current duties.

..and one final thought you dont know the mind of his wife or children - many people suffer in silence, thats why their issues are not addressed. All parties in this sad tale need help not only the Gov.

[Yvonne R. Davis - Huffpost Blogger]

Ankae,

The intervention I am implying has a lot do with his life at this point. It has nothing to do with the Governorship. As I wrote in my piece, I think he will not keep his post. In terms of his wife; please see the above comment I wrote. I worded it very carefully as to not presume that she is not suffering.