SC gov's press conference about why he was missing

[Amby 490]

more details on msnbc

COLUMBIA, S.C. - During a Wednesday news conference at his office in Columbia, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted to having an extramarital affair — information that surfaced after his recent, secret trip to Argentina.

The married father of four emotionally apologized to his wife and staff, saying, "I've let down a lot of people."

Sanford said he met the woman almost eight years ago, but "about a year ago, it sparked into something more than that."

The governor said his wife and family have known about it for the past five months.

He also announced that he was resigning as chairman of the Republican Governors' Association.

Earlier, the South Carolina governor told a newspaper he was in South America, not hiking the Appalachian Trail as his staff had told the public to explain his sudden absence. He said he "wanted to do something exotic" to unwind after losing a fight over federal stimulus money.

The State newspaper reported that Sanford arrived Wednesday morning at Atlanta's international airport on a flight from Buenos Aires, where he drove along the coast of what he called a "beautiful" city.

The Republican governor told the South Carolina newspaper he had considered hiking, but at the last minute changed his mind.

"But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford told the newspaper.

'Why all the big cover-up?'

Critics slammed his administration for lying to the public.

"Lies. Lies. Lies. That's all we get from his staff. That's all we get from his people. That's all we get from him," said state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia. "Why all the big cover-up?"

On Monday, Knotts raised questions about where the governor was after hearing reports from security officials that the governor could not be contacted and his whereabouts were unknown.

The governor's wife, Jenny Sanford, told The Associated Press she had not seen him since Thursday but was not concerned because he'd told her he wanted to get away and do some writing.

Later Monday, Sanford's staff said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. A day later, they said he had called and planned to cut his trip short and return to work Wednesday because of all the attention his absence was getting.

Sanford said he has taken adventure trips for years to unwind. He has visited the coast of Turkey, the Greek Isles and South America, sometimes with friends and sometimes by himself. "I would get out of the bubble I am in," he told the newspaper.

Sanford said the legislative session was a difficult one, particularly because he lost a fight over whether he should accept $700 million in stimulus money. Sanford said he wanted lawmakers to spend the money on debt instead of urgent budget needs, but lost a court lawsuit.

"It was a long session and I needed a break," Sanford said.

Sanford said he tried to return through Atlanta to avoid the media attention to his absence.

The coastal drive

Trying to drive along the coast could frustrate a weekend visitor to Argentina. In Buenos Aires, the Avenida Costanera is the only coastal road, and it's less than two miles long.

Reaching coastal resorts to the south requires a drive of nearly four hours on an inland highway with views of endless cattle ranches. To the north is a river delta of islands reached only by boat.

A spokesman for Argentina's immigration agency wouldn't comment Wednesday on whether Sanford entered the country, citing privacy laws.

When The State asked Sanford at the airport why his staff said he was on the Appalachian Trail, Sanford replied, "I don't know."

Sanford later said "in fairness to his staff," he had told them he might go hiking on the Appalachian Trial.

Presidential chances?

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he was concerned that the governor's staff lied about Sanford's whereabouts, adding that if they didn't know where he was they should have said so.

"For his staff to lie to the people of South Carolina and say he was one place when in fact he wasn't, that concerns me," Bauer said.

Sanford was in Argentina a year ago as part of an economic development trip to South America. In more recent months, he was rumored as a potential presidential contender in 2012. His critics brushed that aside Wednesday.

"Unless he runs for president of Argentina, I think he has no chance of becoming president. The rest of the country wouldn't have taken him seriously anyway," said ####### Harpootlian, a former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman who rapped Sanford for "apparently taking off to run away from home like some hormone-infused adolescent."

Thad Beyle, a political scientist and expert on governors at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, said Sanford's missteps require restoring credibility at the staff level. "My guess is they've got to do a lot. It shows they didn't know what he was up to and what was going on" Beyle said.

It's not unusual to take off'

Sanford, a trim, 49-year-old former real estate investor and Air Force reservist, is typically drained at the end of a legislative session, former aides said.

"It's not unusual to take off and kind of be by himself," said state Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican and Sanford's former chief of staff. "It's part of what makes him him."

The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.

But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails.

Who was in charge became the political and practical question.

Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they'd decide who to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. The state's constitution says a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31522908/ns/po...-more_politics/

[Peikko 1,575]

Just once it would be cool if it were something a bit more mysterious - like that movie The Game, where Michael Douglas wakes up in a coffin in Mexico with no wallet, money or ID.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

He wanted to do something someone exotic alright.

[Down With PMP 0]

He likes latinas. The man has good taste.

[Amby 490]

the women behind him during the press conference were just kinda giggling the whole time

[Down With PMP 0]

the women behind him during the press conference were just kinda giggling the whole time

She's had some of that too.

[caybee 21]

So if he divorces his wife, what's the best way to get his paramour here from Buenos Aires? A no-fault divorce in South Carolina would take him about six months. Could he apply for a K-1 before the divorce is final, so they won't have to wait so long? Or maybe his "dear, dear friend" has enough assets to convince the DOS that she doesn't have immigrant intent and qualifies for a visitor's visa. Sanford can put her up in a loft overlooking Finley Park, a block from the governor's mansion, and once the divorce is final, they can spontaneously decide to marry and adjust status. Think that might work?

My office is directly across the street from the governor's mansion, and there's a satellite truck right outside my window. Methinks traffic will be a little bit tedious this afternoon.

[Amby 490]

So if he divorces his wife, what's the best way to get his paramour here from Buenos Aires? A no-fault divorce in South Carolina would take him about six months. Could he apply for a K-1 before the divorce is final, so they won't have to wait so long? Or maybe his "dear, dear friend" has enough assets to convince the DOS that she doesn't have immigrant intent and qualifies for a visitor's visa. Sanford can put her up in a loft overlooking Finley Park, a block from the governor's mansion, and once the divorce is final, they can spontaneously decide to marry and adjust status. Think that might work?

My office is directly across the street from the governor's mansion, and there's a satellite truck right outside my window. Methinks traffic will be a little bit tedious this afternoon.

good luck

[Amby 490]

MS gov will take his place in the RGA

[almaty 19]

wow, i always heard those argentina girls was hot..but to fly 8 hrs,.divorced soon...and kicked out of govenor soon (in a non illinois state)..they must be lined with gold

[Amby 490]

wow, i always heard those argentina girls was hot..but to fly 8 hrs,.divorced soon...and kicked out of govenor soon (in a non illinois state)..they must be lined with gold

right because if he was from IL this would not even be news

[almaty 19]

of course, plus he would have committed fraud to get to argentina..used taxpayer funds..film in and put it on you tube and then tried to extort argentina gov't in a corn trade deal

[Marina-Del 10]

So if he divorces his wife, what's the best way to get his paramour here from Buenos Aires? A no-fault divorce in South Carolina would take him about six months. Could he apply for a K-1 before the divorce is final, so they won't have to wait so long? Or maybe his "dear, dear friend" has enough assets to convince the DOS that she doesn't have immigrant intent and qualifies for a visitor's visa. Sanford can put her up in a loft overlooking Finley Park, a block from the governor's mansion, and once the divorce is final, they can spontaneously decide to marry and adjust status. Think that might work?

My office is directly across the street from the governor's mansion, and there's a satellite truck right outside my window. Methinks traffic will be a little bit tedious this afternoon.

Even a governor cannot apply for a K-1 until a divorce is final! But your right in betting she'd probably be able to get a visitors visa.

[caybee 21]

wow, i always heard those argentina girls was hot..but to fly 8 hrs,.divorced soon...and kicked out of govenor soon (in a non illinois state)..they must be lined with gold

The president of Argentina is nothing to sneeze at, that's for sure.

[Down With PMP 0]

A good pair of titties is worth flying for. It's even worth getting fired for. I hope, for Sanford's sake, that her titties are soft, smooth and luxurious.