Mary C. Curtis

Contributor

The Other GOP Governor Stays Put

Posted:

07/8/09

Filed Under:Republicans, Sarah Palin, Woman Up

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This time last week, who would have thought that there would be a Republican governor resigning, and it wouldn't be Mark Sanford?

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South Carolina Republicans have decided a censure is enough and have not asked him to resign. Barring any additional embarrassing discoveries -- the state's notorious governor will serve out his term.

After Argentina and Maria and the emotional press conferences that told the world more than it wanted to know about his private life, Sanford looked like a goner. (The words "Appalachian Trail" took on an entirely new meaning.) But then Michael Jackson knocked the Sanford Saga off Page 1 -- and Sarah Palin kept it off.

Sanford's party members weren't just being charitable. Many have their own reasons for keeping him in office. Politicians chasing the seat fear giving Republican Lt. Gov. R. Andre Bauer a head start in the 2010 race.

State Democrats called for Sanford's resignation but aren't making too much of a fuss about his decision to remain, perhaps realizing that his effectiveness is muted. Sanford once was best known for resisting federal stimulus funds. No more.

It seems ages -- not weeks -- ago that it was all Sanford, all the time. But celebrity deaths and a politician whose star burns brighter took care of that.

In a culture suffering from attention deficit disorder, wait long enough and you, too, will be yesterday's news.

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Mary C. Curtis

Mary C. Curtis, an NPR contributor based in Charlotte, N.C., was previously a writer and editor for The New York Times and the Charlotte Observer... more

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Richard Koch

10:14AM Jul 8th 2009

Old News like the Economy,cap and trade,more taxes,Media uses these other story's to keep heat off odumbo

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moderate

1:35PM Jul 8th 2009

that is president Obama to all true americans, you know the ones who want us to succeed and prosper.

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David S.

3:04PM Jul 8th 2009

South Carolina Republicans took the lazy way out here, but whatever consequence it brings is on their shoulders, as Sanford is in their party. They have just handed the Democrats an issue to hang around the Republicans necks for the next election. Not to mention Sanford's remaining time as Governor will be miserable. He has no credibility, and the state legislature will run right over him. Sanford should have been adult enough to step aside and deal with his messy personal life and stop being a silly sideshow. The real losers here are the residents of South Carolina.

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sloane

5:33PM Jul 12th 2009

I agree that merely censuring Sanford, rather than calling for his resignation, is a bad move on the part of the SC Republican party and can only hurt them.

John Tantillo has done a few posts on the Repulican and Democratic parties on Fox Forum, analyzing them from a branding perspective. It's an interesting way to look at them - worth checking out - http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/author/johntantillo

Last week, in his weekly winner/loser blog post, he named Governor Sanford the brand loser, pointing out that in personal political brands there is less room for error than with celebrity brands. (Michael Jackson was the brand winner: "You know a brand is strong when people would rather that none of the scandal had ever happened to it.")Full post.

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sloane

5:36PM Jul 12th 2009

whoops - link to Tantillo's full post - http://blog.marketingdoctor.tv/2009/06/29/john-tantillos-brand-winner-and-loser-michael-jackson-and-governor-sanford.aspx

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