SC Governor's Trip To See Argentinian (Not Appalachian) Lady

Okay, teeny tiny upside to the Albany coup—we know where our governor is at all times, especially since David Paterson said he's not going anywhere with State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. claiming he's the acting lieutenant governor. This is unlike South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (R), who went AWOL for a few days. His staff said he was hiking somewhere along the 2,000+ mile Appalachian Trail, but it turns out he was actually in Argentina.

The State reported, "Sanford...decided at the last minute to go to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over how to spend federal stimulus money. [After initially considering Appalachia] ‘I said no, I wanted to do something exotic,’ Sanford said. ‘It's a great city.'" Sanford didn't make any arrangements for who would make decisions in his absence; his family didn't know where he was either. In an April interview with Newsweek, Sanford started crying when discussing the stimulus package.

Update: Sanford had a press conference earlier this afternoon and explained his "exotic" trip was to see the Argentinian woman he was having an affair with. Well, people of South Carolina, maybe you can be happy you didn't find out your governor likes hookers and unprotected sex (yet—there's still time!)? The NY Times called his press conference "rambling" before he got to the good stuff (video is after the jump):

"The bottom line is this. I have been unfaithful to my wife.

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"I developed a relationship with what started as a dear dear friend from Argentina. It began very innocently, as I suspect these things do, in just a casual e-mail back and forth. But here, recently, over this last year, developed into something much more than that. And as a consequence, I hurt her. I hurt you all, I hurt my wife. I hurt my boys. I hurt friends like Tom Davis. I hurt a lot of different folks.
"What I did was wrong, period. I spent the last five days crying in Argentina."

He did ask the media not to bother his wife Jenny or their four young sons. Jenny Sanford said that after reconciliation attempts failed, "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."

The Washington Post's Chris Cilizza offers these thoughts: "The problem for Sanford is that he appears to have willfully misled his staff, the lieutenant governor and the people of the state about his whereabouts -- signaling that he was likely headed to the Appalachian Trail before hopping on a flight to Argentina. There will almost certainly be some sort of investigation into whether Sanford misused state funds on this trip -- remember that he took a state-owned vehicle and parked it at the Columbia airport -- that will keep this wound raw for the foreseeable future," and "The cover up is ALWAYS worse than the crime. It's a cliche for a reason; note to future politicians: if you make a mistake, you need to own up to it immediately and totally. Do not obfuscate, do not try misdirection. In the modern media environment where private is public, the truth will come out."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on June 24, 2009 6:03 PM

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Not Your Sweetie

Another Clinton impechment House manager bites the dust

Not Your Sweetie

Another Clinton impechment House manager bites the dust

felixthecat2

http://www.terra.com.ar/canales/informaciongeneral/202/202099.html

The S.C. Politician's mistress now wants to reconcile with her husband.

starrygordon

I thought it was interesting that the U.S. press mentioned nothing about the Argentine except her sex and her nationality. I had to go look up Buenos Aires newspapers to get a full dish of the gossip, of which there was plenty -- this woman is prominent there, an interesting person in her own right and very good-looking in the Argentine style. However, they can't seem to agree on whether to spell her name "Shapur" or "Chapur", which I guess sound the same in the local variety of Spanish.

Jen S

I'll be the nerd and say I don't like that this is making headlines. He screwed up his personal life, and if that affects his political career, so be it. "Don't take the bait."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alec-baldwin/dont-take-the-bait_b_220402.html

nik13

I'm sure that Argentine woman, as a wise Latina with her richness of experiences, would bring Sanford to a better sexual conclusion than his white wife who hasn't lived that life.

Sanford committed near-intentional political suicide. What's wrong with men in power?

ANGRYGOD11

Don't blame the conservative Republican politicians.

All those wives must be just awful.

dadoc

Yeah, you can keep it up, but it's easier if you realize one thing: politicians are politicians, regardless of party. It is division of the populace that gives them their power. I would suggest perusing Machiavelli "The Discourses". Dem, Rep, all the same lying sacks of offal. And I do wish daily for Rush to choke on a handful of OxyContin, just cuz he's so friggin annoying.

Mr Mel

This has got to keep up. One more perverted Republican and Rush will go into cardiac arrest, thinking he's next.

NannyState

Rush limbaugh confines his perversions to himself...not by choice.

dadoc

Not quite so simplistic, FTC, but you're getting closer. Finally, not quite the usual derogatory usage, except in your implication. The woman consists of more than a few square inches. There's so much to enjoy. He "fessed up", give the guy a break for a bit.

felixthecat2

FYI, I posted this comment on my iphone and it posted thrice.

felixthecat2

Eventually we succumb to the power of pussy

felixthecat2

Eventually we succumb to the power of pussy

felixthecat2

Eventually we succumb to the power of pussy

dadoc

Need pics of wifey side-to-side next to GF, judgement reserved til then. Then those amongst you who would not pop off for a few days to SA with your Latina sweetie may cast the first stone. Don't forget Dadoc's Rule #1 of Life: "Men are all pigs, women are nothing but trouble". #2 is that thing about cooking bacon while shirtless.

just saying

Del Signore should have been given this story. He just lives for news stories like this. Double entendres, etc.

SP

SC being an fundy asshole state, over there adultery is a crime, punishable by six months to one year in prison, and/or a fine of $100 to $500. But of course, IOKIYAR so he will probably just say Jesus spoke to him and forgave him, and all the wingnut bible thumpers will tear up and say what a wonderful humble religious and repentant man he is.

Dirk

Are we sure it was a lady? The Governor's statement is that he had an affair with a "dear, dear friend".

Spirit of 76

Oh, grow up. What he did was wrong and we all know it, but to turn it into another excuse to display your gay-bashing insecurity is ridiculous. For your edification: "And as a consequence, I hurt her."