EDITORIAL: Gov. Sanford enters period of introspection

Gov. Mark Sanford’s editorial board meeting with the Morning News on Thursday was nothing short of extraordinary. The governor, facing possible impeachment and attempting to salvage the final 14 months of his administration, was unabashedly and refreshingly candid about his ordeal and what he hopes to accomplish by staying in office.

Sanford was a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2012 until an extramarital affair destroyed his professional and personal life. The scandal, and the governor’s outrageous admissions about it, turned him into a comedic figure, and now, a tragic one.

Since admitting to the romantic liaisons and crossing lines with other women, his wife, Jenny Sanford, has moved out of the governor’s mansion with their four sons. Sanford has been accused of misusing state aircraft and violating state policy on travel, and legislators in both parties and Lt. Gov. André Bauer have called for him to resign.

This newspaper called on Sanford to step down shortly after he misled everyone into thinking he was hiking the Appalachian Trail and leaving the state unattended.

When Sanford said the Argentine woman was the “love of his life” and that he would “try to fall back in love” with his wife, we knew he permanently lost the trust of the people of South Carolina. We remain convinced the honorable thing would be to resign, allowing the state and Sanford to avoid the crippling spectacle of an impeachment trial.

In fact, the former congressman told us he came “very, very, very” close to resigning as a result of the scandal.

“Absolutely. I came within an inch of doing just that,” Sanford said. “When the whole first thing goes down, you’re feeling embarrassed and awkward. I wanted to go down to my farm in Beaufort County and never see another TV camera for the rest of my life.

“But as a result of conversations with friends, I did not go there. Two wrongs do not make a right in life. Did I fail morally? Absolutely. But I stayed. I am here because I think some changes can be made.”

At some point, the House will consider impeachment against Sanford, and he might be thrown out of office before the November 2010 election. Only two governors have been impeached since 1900 and only eight have been removed in U.S. history.

“There’s an amazing capacity for forgiveness and grace in South Carolina,” Sanford said. “I can’t tell you how many have told me, ‘God can use imperfect people.’”

Sanford told the editorial board he has been introspective since confessing to the affair. He’s living day to day, without long-term personal goals.

“I will simply say that if you’ve been through the storm I’ve been through the last five months, there’s a whole lot of introspection and soul searching,” he said. “And there’s also whole lot of letting go. You don’t get to be governor, you don’t get to be a member of Congress and do other things without striving. I’ve always been a striver, and I’ve pushed hard and worked hard.

“But you get to a point where you begin this process of letting go. For the first time, I understand success in politics does not depend on how hard Mark Sanford works.”

If he stays in office, Sanford said he wants to spend his final 14 months “moving forward, not looking back.” He would like to reform and consolidate state government and he would like to keep recruiting new businesses for the state.

“In the next 14 months, it’s about economic development and it’s about a limited, and I stress limited, legislative agenda in this next session,” he said.

By editorializing for Sanford to resign, we are not piling on. Rather, it reflects our sincere desire for legislators to focus on economic development and education — two huge issues for the Pee Dee, not Sanford.

Without question, we view Sanford as a tragic figure. Dashing, talented and supremely confident, Sanford seemed bound for even bigger and better things politically. He simply failed to live up to expectations.

“Any time you disappoint people, there’s a tragic component to it, and I disappointed a lot of people,” Sanford said.

“For the first time in my life, I am living one day at a time. It doesn’t mean you don’t have goals or dreams. The only day you have ... is the day you have. You can’t do anything about yesterday. And you can hope for tomorrow, but there’s no guarantee.”

We asked him if he had one wish, what would he go back and change?

“You don’t get that wish. That’s a reality of life. You can drive yourself crazy if you sit around thinking about the what-have-beens of life. You can spend your entire life in the world of shoulda.”

Sanford seems to be at ease in his period of introspection. The governor’s story is tragic and has the potential for a divisive ending for the state. He believes he failed morally, but he disagrees with accusations he broke laws or violated ethical policies.

The fight will continue, and Sanford will push ahead with his life, wherever it takes him.

Where will Sanford be at this time next year? “I don’t have a clue,” he said in a comment that rings true for the state as well.

— 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).