by Mark Silva
Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina facing a state Ethics Commission inquiry into his spending of state money on travel since his extramarital affair was exposed, also has faced growing calls for his resignation.
The latest comes from the state speaker of the House -- a fellow Republican.
"I think it's alarming,'' Sanford said today.
A lawyer for Sanford says the commission plans to give a report of its preliminary inquiry into probable cause for a broader investigation to the state's General Assembly - which is something not directed under state law.
"The General Assembly is not a prosecutorial body.... Even if we get down the road to impeachment,'' the governor's attorney said today.
"We have a real problem if members of the General Assembly are'' using information from the Ethics Commission to " try to use that for impeachment,'' Sanford said today. "If you go this route, you're setting up a kangaroo court.''
Sanford, who is at odds with many members of his own party and once was viewed as a potential candidate for the GOP's presidential nomination, has faced a spiraling cloud of controversy since he first admitted traveling to Argentina to see his mistress.
His use of state travel funds has come under state scrutiny since that revelation. He has reimbursed the state for some of the money he spent on a Commerce trade mission to South America. Now the Republican speaker of the South Carolina House has called on the Republican governor to resign.
"You have 30 years of history of people buying Business Class tickets with state money,'' the governor complained, and no one has complained before. "Democrats and Republicans alike have consistently used Business Class tickets.''
He should have stuck to the Appalachian Trail.
Comments
There's really no place in government for a guy like this - no matter the political party affiliation.
He should resign and spare his family the ridicule and further embarrasment.
Posted by: springfield | September 10, 2009 4:15 PM
"GOP Wilson Speaks" Yo Hips, Yo Thighs, they got us all so Hypnotized! You Lie! Governor Sanford, I mean Obama! Yo Hips Yo Thighs, they keep us so Hypnotized! Our Southern Alliance cannot and will not be broken, because her Hips, Her Thighs, got the Governor so Hypnotized! You Lie! You Lie! Because by reinserting, Attorney General, while in consultation with the Congress of the United States, by striking the Bush/Cheney Federalist Preambles, Her Hips, Her Thighs still has us all so Hypnotized! So just scream, just shout, show America what the GOP is all about!
Vitter Park!
Posted by: Roger Morris | September 10, 2009 4:28 PM
"Family Values" Republican hypocrites are starting to drop like flies, like the latest one in California.
"Michael Duvall is a conservative Republican state representative from Orange County, California. While waiting for the start of a legislative hearing in July, the 54-year-old married father of two and family values champion began describing, for the benefit of a colleague seated next to him, his ongoing affairs with two different women. In very graphic detail."
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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/gop_lawmakers_graphic_sex-bragging_caught_on_tape.php
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Posted by: I wanna be a Republican idiot | September 10, 2009 5:00 PM
Why is Mark Sanford still here?
Posted by: Quippy | September 10, 2009 5:49 PM
Hmmmm, 'kangaroo court'; good name for the Grand Old Donner Party. They are ones head-hunting 'Randy Sandy'.
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | September 10, 2009 8:31 PM
If Sanford had any shred of dignity left, he'd resign. Now that the SC legislature is back in session after their 3-month long summer break, the situation is only going to get more contentious. But typical of the C Street chosen, sanctimonious Sanford continues to believe that he is fit to govern. The people of SC deserve better. They need someone who is on the side of the people, not a politically ambitious wealthy elitist philaderer pretending to exemplify Christian family values.
Posted by: Carol All | September 10, 2009 10:59 PM
Really? That's how the average Joe feels when he is taking to court. . .
1. Twelve juries who are clueless. . .is going to decide their fate.
2.You are appointed a public defendant who can careless because he is overloaded.
3. Overzealeous prosecutors.
Welcome to the rest-of-us club! Just be glad you are not a poor Black or Hispanic. Then, you get the special treatment! And, guess what? This is still better than the 3rd world countries, where they lock you up for years without a trial! Imagine that? Ooops. . . .
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | September 11, 2009 3:26 AM
C'mon SC...Illinois threw out their governor for bad behavior, why don't you? Maybe if a few more states follow suit...these elected officials will think twice about taking liberties with the state's money, touting "family values" when they don't walk the walk, and taking money from people who are only out to earn a profit and everyone else be damned.
Posted by: lochnesssmonster | September 11, 2009 6:58 AM
It's the person not the party you Wanna Be A Democrat Idiot.
Everything with you is partisan. Do you smack your husband and kids if they don't eat crap like you?
Posted by: springfield | September 11, 2009 2:59 PM
you give christiantity alot of harm you have been reborn once and you said you had a direct conversation with god must of brought back a large goody bag from argentina if you are hearing voices do you now the ten commandments ?either you cant read or you just dont understand how many of those commandments have you deamed do not applie to you ,when bill had a service preformed the gop was ready to hang him,bush lied to the american people but to the gop thats alright hes got those high values to and it showes
Posted by: royce | September 12, 2009 7:11 AM
Mark Sanford fighting 'alternate' courts;
1. dork court
2. cretin court
3. hypocrisy court
4. mice court
5. platypus court
6. fools court
7. loser court
8. kuala court
9. phony court
10. Kafka court
Posted by: C.Morris✧ | September 13, 2009 9:07 PM