Well, I’d say that that presser definitely answered a lot of questions. In fact, while Sanford probably saw the end of his political career today and obviously deceived a lot of people — and just acted profoundly irresponsibly with respect to his job as governor, let alone with respect to his wife and family, which is his own business — I can’t not give the guy some real credit. Unless there’s a lot more we don’t know, and it’s hard to imagine what more there could be, he just came up there and leveled with his constituents. I’m not sure he had much choice. But that sounded pretty frank and total.
It’s not a matter of ignoring or papering anything over. But it’s worth remembering whoever it was who said that none of us deserve to be known or remembered only for our worst moments.
National Review’s Rich Lowry …
First Ensign, then the “Crying in Argentina” press conference. If Republicans want a presidential candidate who lives clean and whose family hasn’t been involved in tabloid scandals, it might soon be Mitt Romney by process of elimination.
Gov. Sanford explains how his affair with the mystery woman from Argentina began.
Tough week for Capitol Hill the C Street group, the bible fellowship and group house that both Gov. Sanford and Sen. Ensign belong to.
Commenter on Buenos Aires news website (translated by TPM’s crack bilingual intern staff):
its crazy that those people in the USA have to go out to ask for forgiveness…here in argentina they are almost idols. mark, come to Baires because you are going to have it easy.
(Thanks to TPM Reader TC for flagging.)
I agree with Josh that Mark Sanford deserves some credit for partly coming clean in the end. But while I’m finally willing, for the first time this week, to believe the “official” story coming out of South Carolina, I don’t think we have the whole story yet. Zack Roth runs down some of the unanswered questions and lingering contradictions.
Late Update: In a statement issued after the press conference, Sanford basically cops to lying to his staff.
Gov. Sanford’s wife apparently just put out a statement saying she asked him to leave two weeks ago.
You can read the whole statement here.
Here’s the key passage …
I believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity, dignity and importance of the institution of marriage. I believe that has been consistently reflected in my actions. When I found out about my husband’s infidelity I worked immediately to first seek reconciliation through forgiveness, and then to work diligently to repair our marriage.
We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. I therefore asked my husband to leave two weeks ago.
This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage. During this short separation it was agreed that Mark would not contact us. I kept this separation quiet out of respect of his public office and reputation, and in hopes of keeping our children from just this type of public exposure.
Because of this separation, I did not know where he was in the past week.
I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal. I believe Mark has earned a chance to resurrect our marriage.