Spring Break
Don't cry for him, America
Gov. Mark Sanford owes constituents an honorable letter of resignation.
By: Ian McPhail
Issue date: 6/30/09 Section: Opinion
After a week of dominating news headlines with his affair in Argentina, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford stands firm in his decision not to resign from office.
Both citizens and leaders of the political right are justified in their unanimous clamor for Sanford's resignation, but lost in the media firestorm over his affair is the real irresponsible behavior that left his state temporarily without a governor.
While sex scandals are routine to politics, a governor should put the well-being of his state over a South America fling. An affair in itself is bad enough for a Republican party claiming to support traditional family values, but what is worse is that Sanford's attempt to hide his tryst in Argentina played out like Professor Brody hiding with the map from the Nazis in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."
Sanford left his staff and security detail, lying about a hike in the Appalachian Trail as he left the country and turned off his phone. The governor was unreachable in case of an emergency requiring a decision, and left staff to uncomfortably lie to reporters.
For nearly a week, Sanford forced South Carolina's caretakers to gamble with the state's security because the governor was too selfish to chance revealing his affair to even close staff members who needed to know.
Sanford's emotional press conference certainly has aroused sympathy for his situation. Sanford and his wife were all but separated, playing pretend to a ravenous media.
America's consciously hypocritical opinion on divorced politicians kept his marriage together for years longer than it should have, with the couple obligated to live a lie to keep high poll numbers.
Sanford's wife already knew about what was a long-running affair, which Sanford went to Argentina to end. The couple should have been allowed to divorce without fear of a massive public backlash.
Politicians certainly deserve to be given the same allowance that about half of the country has in their personal lives.
Personal problems have plagued many of our best politicians, and certainly they deserve some semblance of a private life. But Sanford's behavior allowed a private indiscretion the potential to derail the government should his state have needed him. Sanford should resign because he has proven himself unable to place the interest of his state above his personal problems.
It is easy to feel sorry for Sanford; the pressure America places on its politicians in the media spotlight is extreme. Divorce is a problem for many people, and it is wrong to punish politicians for having the same flaws the rest of the country does.
Politicians deserve to be judged on their performance in office, like any other job. And like any other profession, deciding to skip a week of work without notice is grounds for termination. Sanford should do himself and South Carolina a favor by quietly resigning.
Ian McPhail is a sophomore history major.
Both citizens and leaders of the political right are justified in their unanimous clamor for Sanford's resignation, but lost in the media firestorm over his affair is the real irresponsible behavior that left his state temporarily without a governor.
While sex scandals are routine to politics, a governor should put the well-being of his state over a South America fling. An affair in itself is bad enough for a Republican party claiming to support traditional family values, but what is worse is that Sanford's attempt to hide his tryst in Argentina played out like Professor Brody hiding with the map from the Nazis in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."
Sanford left his staff and security detail, lying about a hike in the Appalachian Trail as he left the country and turned off his phone. The governor was unreachable in case of an emergency requiring a decision, and left staff to uncomfortably lie to reporters.
For nearly a week, Sanford forced South Carolina's caretakers to gamble with the state's security because the governor was too selfish to chance revealing his affair to even close staff members who needed to know.
Sanford's emotional press conference certainly has aroused sympathy for his situation. Sanford and his wife were all but separated, playing pretend to a ravenous media.
America's consciously hypocritical opinion on divorced politicians kept his marriage together for years longer than it should have, with the couple obligated to live a lie to keep high poll numbers.
Sanford's wife already knew about what was a long-running affair, which Sanford went to Argentina to end. The couple should have been allowed to divorce without fear of a massive public backlash.
Politicians certainly deserve to be given the same allowance that about half of the country has in their personal lives.
Personal problems have plagued many of our best politicians, and certainly they deserve some semblance of a private life. But Sanford's behavior allowed a private indiscretion the potential to derail the government should his state have needed him. Sanford should resign because he has proven himself unable to place the interest of his state above his personal problems.
It is easy to feel sorry for Sanford; the pressure America places on its politicians in the media spotlight is extreme. Divorce is a problem for many people, and it is wrong to punish politicians for having the same flaws the rest of the country does.
Politicians deserve to be judged on their performance in office, like any other job. And like any other profession, deciding to skip a week of work without notice is grounds for termination. Sanford should do himself and South Carolina a favor by quietly resigning.
Ian McPhail is a sophomore history major.
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