LETTER TO EDITOR: Sanford steals national spotlight from Jon, Kate Gosselin’s drama

Move over Jon and Kate Gosselin, the governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford has stolen the limelight. It seems the restless syndrome has hit politics once again in the form of a fallen governor. And this time it is not just an affair. This time it is much more serious.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. the Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford held a news conference. As the nation looked on in anticipation of an explanation as to his whereabouts over the last five days, he revealed to the world he has been having an affair with a woman in Argentina.

It seems he has known this woman for eight years meeting her in very normal circumstances. Then through the Internet he fell into that e-mail tryst trap whereby they became more intimate. This led to actual physical meetings. The Governor told the media the first lady and he has been dealing with his indiscretions over the last five months. This is indeed a personal problem the governor and the first lady will have to deal with. The governor first leaving the state and then the country is much more serious and there will be a lot said on this subject.

Leaving for a time of respite given the tension and frustration he has felt over the last months in dealing with his opposing beliefs about the government stimulus money is understandable. Leaving without apparently telling anyone where he was going for a time of R&R is not understandable.

Leaving the state and being out of touch with the governing bodies of his state is just not acceptable for any length of time. If leaving the state is not an acceptable option for any governor especially when he chooses not to hand over the reins to Lt. Gov. André Bauer then certainly leaving the United States is an even worse option.

So what should Mark Sanford, governor of the fine state of South Carolina do now? He has apologized to his wife, his children, his friends, his mentors and the citizens of South Carolina. He is resigning his leadership post with the GOP. Is this enough? Should Mark Sanford step down as governor of South Carolina? Should the state begin the impeachment process? Very likely he has killed any thought of running for President of the United States in 2012.

The city of Columbia, South Carolina, the citizens of the state of South Carolina and indeed the nation will be watching as the rest of this news report plays out.

Linda Belcher
Florence