OPINION: Sanford's wife distinguishes herself as role model

As Gov. Mark Sanford was embarrassing himself last week with admissions of infidelity, his wife was distinguishing herself with a regal quality rarely seen under such stressful circumstances.
Jenny Sanford refused to stand by her man as the governor told the world he was in Argentina, cheating with his lover on Father’s Day instead of staying faithful in South Carolina with his four handsome boys and wife.
If fact, the first lady has thrashed the Republican in public. There’s no telling what she told him behind closed doors. She made it clear she threw him out when she learned of the affair. And she revealed he asked permission to visit his Latin lover when they were separated.
Jenny Sanford has turned into a role model for the state on toughness and character, even as she’s experienced personal pain and humiliation.
Her decisions come with great potential for backlash. Many wives endure affairs, hoping to maintain a dignified home life and acting fearful of scrutiny from friends and relatives.
Clearly, Jenny Sanford was not worrying about scrutiny, the governor’s political future or his possible 2012 GOP presidential bid as she lambasted him.
“His career is not a concern of mine,” Jenny Sanford told reporters last week. “He’s going to have to worry about that. I’m worried about my family and the character of my children.”
Out of kindness, apparently, Sanford did not throw the governor out until recently. She knew of the affair in January and had to endure pleas from him to visit his girlfriend in Argentina.
“He was told in no uncertain terms not to see her,” she told The Associated Press. “It’s one thing to forgive adultery. It’s another to condone it.”
That strong statement in particular has resonated with supporters. They’re tired of seeing political wives pretend to be forgiving after they’ve been told of affairs.
“When I found out in January, we both indicated a willingness to work on our marriage,” she said. “But there’s not room for three people in a marriage. I have done everything possible to keep him from going to her, and to make sure she was really off the table, including asking him to leave.”
From what we can tell, the Sanford family will be fine with or without the governor. Jenny Sanford is tough and winning praise for her handling of the affair.
We’re not so sure about the governor. He is paying a heavy price for his infidelity. He has lost the public’s trust, and politicians in his own party have called for him to resign.
Despite his weakened position, Sanford has vowed to push ahead as governor. That’s his choice at this point. We doubt the legislature will initiate impeachment proceedings.
“I’m asking people to give him a chance,” U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Monday in reiterating his support for Sanford. “If he wants to stay on, I support him. I think we can move past this as a state.”
Nearly a week has passed since the governor’s admission. It is not going to be easy to move on.
House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham, R-Lexington, said, “It is clearly his decision to decide if he can lead or not. I am willing to give him that opportunity if he wants to take that chance.”
Many are looking to Jenny Sanford for guidance. And she’s no shrinking violet. She’s an independent woman and thinker, a former Wall Street vice president and millionaire heir to a power tool fortune.
If she takes the governor back, maybe citizens of the state should give him a second chance. She’s his toughest critic at this point.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).