The Recent Indiscretions of  the Governor of South Carolina, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to describe the recent indiscretions of  the Governor of South Carolina, this including areas of considered past incompetence. It provides a synopsis of reported factual statements and determination of public reaction to the reported events.  Consideration is given as to how the communications were delivered to the Public and whether these might have been delivered better.

The main theme of the paper commences with Mark Sanford, the Governor of South Carolina admitting that he had an extra marital affair with an Argentinean woman.  This was reported via a press conference to the media in 2009.  The announcement was the result of a several day disappearance of the Senator where neither his wife, family or friends knew where he had gone.  ” After detailing his previous adventure trips, “profound frustrations” and “emotional” exhaustion following the recent legislative session, he eventually acknowledged having an extramarital affair. So, the bottom line is this: I have been unfaithful to my wife, Sanford, 49, told a crush of reporters. ” (Hussein, 2009).

The timing of this announcement was particularly unfortunate for the Republican Party as only the previous week another US Senator from Nevada , John Ensign, equally admitted cheating on his wife.  Ensign did not offer to resign his seat.   Sanford made no comment as to resignation or his future political plans.

The Announcement

In the first instance after Sanford’s mystery disappearance his staff announced that he was out hiking on the Appalachian Trail.  This was then later retracted which energized the media into speculation of his whereabouts and ultimately resulted in the Press Conference.   During the press conference Sanford spent the first half apologising to family and friends for his series of indiscretions.  Eventually leading ton his admission of adultery.  ” he had spent a week with a woman in Argentina with whom he had conducted a months-long affair that developed out of an initially “very innocent” eight-year friendship conducted mostly via email.” (Hussein, 2009).

Sanford stated that this was a harmless affair started by a series of e-mail exchanges but developed into a more serious affair.  The largest State newspaper in Carolina managed to get hold of certain e-mails and publish them.  The Washington Politico magazine added further fuel to the fire stating the Governor had taken a series of trips to Argentina at the taxpayers expense. At a time when the country was facing a recession and unemployment, there was no excuse for such inconsideration to the electorate.  The Governor did not deny this but did clarify that the last most recent trip was paid for by himself.  These actions did not seem to prevent his wife Jenny from seeking a trial separation ” We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. I therefore asked my husband to leave two weeks ago.” (Hussein, 2009).

The media pressure continued to build on Sanford and despite the support offered by fellow republican candidate Lindsay Graham, Sanford was left with little alternative to resign ending future political aspirations of being a presidential candidate in 2012.  ” Sanford resigned as chairman of the Republican Governors’ Association and was replaced by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, another possible 2012 candidate. “Any aspirations for 2012, if he had any, are certainly out of the question,” said Robert Oldendick, a political scientist at the University of South Carolina. (Bigg, 2009)

Upon close examination of the events leading up to the announcement, it is clear that the support administration for Sanford handled this very poorly.  In the first instance they released information without being unsure of their facts.  This in itself may have been interpreted by the media as lies and republican complicity in some form of “cover up”.  Hence the media had already been wound up into a potential drama situation.  Given the high profile position of the Governor within the Republican Party this might have been handled with a lot more discretion. Certainly the possibility of taking the Governor aside at an earlier point and explaining the potential dangers of his indiscretions.  Also the need to ensure legitimacy over business expenses and trips. It is fairly obvious that anyone in high office will come under public scrutiny by the media an watchdogs in terms of how public money is being expended.  Information seems to have leaked out all over the place.  E-Mails to the media, the reaction of his wife to the media when he went missing.  These all suggest a degree of complicity by a number of parties that would gain either personal or political victories in bringing the Governor to a point of personal disgrace.  The wife may potentially have already been informed or suspected these affairs and took the opportunity for the simple motive of revenge.  Sanford gained early prominence in his party when he rejected the Obama Stimulus package ” Sanford gained prominence this year by opposing Democratic President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus bill and rejecting $700 million of South Carolina’s portion of the funds on grounds it would undermine the state’s fiscal stability. The state’s Supreme Court ruled this month that the federal cash must be accepted.”  (Bigg, 2009).

Previous Record of Incompetence

The Governor Sanford did try to clamp down on state authorities that provided the Executive with 6 figure salaries. In particular the State Employment Security Commission that evaded audits and maintained a position of secrecy.  “It is unbelievable that any state agency would hold such outright contempt for taxpayers and the unemployed that they would refuse to sign a very simple request for audit compliance and sharing data they already collect,” Gov. Sanford said. “We will not punish the unemployed for this agency’s incompetence”.  (Sawyer 2008).  The disturbing part of this story is that Sanford was declaring that lack of transparency and secrecy in public spending would not be tolerated. This exacting proclamation from his own office is somewhat hypocritical when he was indulging in non disclosed trips to Argentina and expending public monies for his own self-gratification.

The Pandora’s box opened by the adulterous affair created a witch hunt against  Sanford for further breaches in professional; ethics whilst carrying out his office of Governor.  The New York Times went on to say ” Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina will face formal ethics charges on 37 counts of using his office for personal financial gain, according to a list of allegations issued by the state ethics commission on Monday.”  (Dewan, 2009). The ranges of breach in professional ethics ranged from that of  use of first class air tickets, political and personal parties,  using campaign funds for non campaign expenses,  The actual impeachment order against the Governor stated ” The impeachment resolution says Mr. Sanford, a Republican, is guilty of “serious misconduct” and “dereliction of duty” because he left the state without leaving anyone in charge and “directed members of his staff in a manner that caused them to deceive and mislead the public.” (Dewan, 2009). The counter argument by Sanford’s lawyers stated that this was not the case and in such an event power automatically transferred to the Lieutenant Governor of the  State.  Perhaps a somewhat thin argument given that he was not advised or informed of the temporary absence.  “A governor’s temporary absence from the state — whether on vacation or otherwise — does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense under South Carolina law,” the lawyers wrote. “In fact, the state Constitution specifically outlines the automatic, temporary transfer of authority to the lieutenant governor in such a situation.” (Dewan, 2009).

The indictment document presented did somewhat smack of a political smear campaign against the State Governor.  One might justifiably argue that the State Governor is like the CEO of a Corporation and as such you would not expect that person to fly coach whilst representing the Company.  Similarly you would not expect the State Governor to attend international meeting and delegations flying coach.  He may be required to read confidential papers or wish to work whilst travelling and only the privacy of First Class travel would permit this.  ” The 17-page document, similar to an indictment, lists 18 times when Mr. Sanford improperly flew business class or first class, 9 improper uses of state aircraft, and 10 counts of using campaign money for personal or nonofficial expenses, totalling $2,940.  (Dewan, 2009).  The amounts in question also seemed somewhat petty in trying to labour this point.

Sanford was logged as having made 198 trips in 18 months of which 75 were solo trips. Equally he is reported to have indulged in numerous liaisons during these trips.  The State Newspaper questioned his mental state and whether he was fit to hold office.  “As the saga of Sanford and his Argentine lover continues, the public, the governor’s political rivals and some allies are speculating about the governor’s mental stability and whether he’s able to lead the state,” the newspaper states.” (Tencer, 2009).

One of Sanfords main barriers to progress has been his inability to work with the State Legislature and as such most of his initiatives and proposals have failed to work.  This increasingly has created many political adviseries.  His stance on unemployment was particularly disturbing in a State with high and rising unemployment.  The refusal to receive Federal aid and then subsequently reverse the decision illustrates an indecisive and somewhat incompetent administration.  The drama of carrying two squeeling pigs into the legislature was equally insulting and provocative. Hence he had built up a considerable lobby that would have welcomed his demise.  He equally came from a rich realty investment background, this in a relatively poor State did not perceive or see him as a champion of the people and supporter of resoving the unemployment situation in the State ” Just hours before the unemployment-benefits fund was to run out in South Carolina, the state with the nation’s third-highest jobless rate, Gov. Mark Sanford relented Wednesday and agreed to apply for a $146 million federal loan to shore it up, after weeks of refusing to do so. ” (Nossiter, 2009)

Another interesting twist to this story involves the Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General both running for the Governors office.  This hampers potential legal investigation and prosecution of Sanford. Hence if the AG was to press charges against Sanford this might well diminish his chances in the campaign and drive the Lieutenant Governor into office.  Hence they are reluctant to mix law with politics.  The public perception being important here and the fact that it looks like some conspiracy from the AG’s office to promote Henry MacMaster (AG) into the Governors office .. ” McMaster is running for Governor against Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, and filing charges against Sanford might elevate Bauer to the very office McMaster seeks, giving his opponent a boost. The AG has rejected calls for a special prosecutor, asserting that “Law enforcement and politics do not mix.”  (Jones, 2009).

Current Public Opinion of the Governor

Mark Sanford is essentiially helping that elapsed time will erase adverse public opinion of him.  Statistics, however are not in his favour ..” In a Gallup poll just last month, 92 percent of Americans said it was “morally wrong” for a married man or woman to have an affair. That is almost everyone. (In another poll, 64 percent said that if their spouse stepped out on them, they would probably or definitely not forgive it.)” (Langer, 2009).  This is an indicator that at the very heart of American Society morals is still high on the agenda.  This is even higher for those holding high elected office who are expected to be role models for society.  Oddly enough those involved in the political framework seem to be more easily forgiven.  President Bill Clinton overcame his affair and his current standing being one of the most respected and revered Presidents of the current generation.  Bill’s administration seemed to have got it right on the domestic economy front and as such by and large he was forgiven.  It is also considered that people believe that politics ultimately corrupts people and as such aspirations and expectations are lower than say the CEO of a large Corporation.  The ABC News Reporter did produce some interesting statistics on partisanship ”  look at it by partisanship: A far higher share of Republicans, 62 percent, said they’d be less likely to vote for a candidate who’d had an affair. That dropped to 37 percent of independents and 25 percent of Democrats. ”  Republicans being far less forgiving in this area than the democrats.  (Langer, 2009).

At the moment it is difficult to predict the public reaction to the Governor in the longer term.  The opposition would certainly like to see him out of the way but that would be to invite further audit work and possibly another Pandora’s box.  A saying in political circles being some stones are best left unturned.  Although Mark Sanford may well in the days to come be able to resume office for the remaining period it will be another thing being a potential candidate for the next presidential campaign.  His party are most unlikely to support any future nomination after this situation and all the other countless issues raised against him.  The position with his wife also remains unclear, whether this is a trial separation or whether they can reconcile. From a moral perspective he does not portray the right background for the presidency.  It is a difficult thing to predict but there is adequate evidence of other committing far more sinister acts and surviving on the political scene.. ” David Vitter seems in pretty good shape for his reelection in Louisiana despite his admitting, more or less, to cavorting with a  prostitute which is not only untoward but illegal. Rudy Giuliani was done in by many things in his presidential bid but his affairs were not the coup de grace. Roland Burris is still in the Senate; Larry Craig isn’t. I really wouldn’t venture to guess how this plays out in the coming day. ” (Ambinder, 2009)

The State Governor is already planning on Christmas Tree lighting and other festive celebrations in the State . So this is some indication that he feels that he can contain the situation and keep most of his administration board.  Time will tell.

Works Cited

Ambinder, M. (2009, 6 24). We’ve Got More Questions for Mark Sanford. Retrieved 12 7, 2009, from Atlantic Magazine: http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/06/questions_for_sanford.php

Bigg, M. (2009, 6 24). South Carolina Governor Sanford admits extramarital affair. Retrieved 12 7, 2009, from Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE55N3GZ20090624

Dewan, S. (2009, 11 23). Cronyism, Incompetence & Immorality . Retrieved 12 6, 2009, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/us/24carolina.html?_r=1&hp

Hussein, S. (2009, 6 24). South Carolina governor admits affair. Retrieved 12 7, 2009, from http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hLC1Fz_FsH_rUCI2kBjMROgLqfKg: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hLC1Fz_FsH_rUCI2kBjMROgLqfKg

Jones, A. (2009, 12 1). Should the Feds Be Looking at Governor Sanford? Retrieved 12 7, 2009, from Wall Street Journal: http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/12/01/should-the-feds-be-looking-at-governor-sanford/

Langer, G. (2009, 6 24). Mark Sanford and the Affairs of State. Retrieved 12 7, 2009, from ABC News: http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenumbers/2009/06/mark-sanford-and-the-affairs-of-state.html

Nossiter, A. (2009, 1 1). South Carolina governor relents on loan. Retrieved 12 7, 2009, from New York Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008579439_scjobless01.html

Sawyer, J. (2008, 12 31). Governor to Continue Aggressive Push for Accountability. Retrieved 12 7, 2009, from Office of the Governor of South Carolina: http://www.scgovernor.com/news/releases/12-31-08-2.htm

Tencer, D. (2009, 7 2). Report: Sanford left without security 77 times in two years. Retrieved 12 5, 2009, from Raw Story: http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/07/02/report-sanford-left-without-security-77-times-in-two-years/