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The title of this Friday series says it well and today we add a twist."Everything's personal" like email but "nothing's sacred" when the person who wrote the email is in the public eye. To wit, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's "personal" Byronesque e-missive to his paramour now spread in an "un-sacred" manner all over the internet and on news shows worldwide. Below is an abridged version of one of the most intimate and sexual letters we have read. (Almost, but not quite, as good as the comment Prince Charles made, via cell phone, to his then mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles about desiring her so much he wished he was her tampon!)
Here is Governor Sanford's e-mail.
"You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that is so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night’s light - but hey, that would be going into sexual details..."
How sweet! How romantic! How sensual! How damn sad this email wasn't for your wife, governor!
Seriously, if the governor had been writing this to his wife no one would have thought anything about it except to think that his wife was a lucky woman to have a husband who wrote such erotically charged words to her. It would have been the same with Bill Clinton. Had Hilary been the one servicing him in the Oval Office, nothing could be said except that they still had a hot marriage. And while we 're on the subject of Bill and Hilary, let's not forget that Governor Sanford was a "holier-than-thou" critic of President Clinton's own sexual indiscretion. I guess we can call your own present peccadillo a little sweet revenge for Bill, right Mark?
Mark Sanford, Republican governor from South Carolina, chose to write this "naughty" email to his mistress and now has to deal with spousal anger. (I do not blame her for telling him to leave two weeks ago; she was very restrained. I don't even want to think about what some women would do to their men were they to read this explicit email.
For me it's the words "...two magnificent parts of yourself..." that would make me seethe. Those words and the mention about her "tan lines." I'm sorry but no jury in the world would convict Mrs. Sanford of anything she chose to do to him after reading what he wrote to another woman. (What I would do myself in her situation is unknown but I know I wouldn't be half as polite as the First Lady of South Carolina).
Some psychiatrists say there's a chance he couldn't help himself. They say, "Cheating? It's in the genes." Sure. Well maybe if it is in the genes, the governor and politicos like him might want to consider this action: Keep IT in your jeans. Then we won't have to watch half-hearted apologies on the news by a man who isn't sorry for what he did; he's only damn sorry he got caught.
And to all men in politics, for God's sake please remember that everything that is personal isn't always sacred!
“Everything’s Personal, Nothing’s Sacred” by Kristen Houghton appears every Friday.
© 2009 all rights reserved Kristen Houghton
Do you put your own happiness on hold just to make other people happy? Learn how to put your life first in Kristen Houghton's new book "And Then I'll Be Happy!" due in stores 12/22/09 Pre-order it today.
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Comments
Give me a break! The poor guy is obviously smitten with what must be a pretty good-looking and exotic (Argentine!) woman. I am no fan of Republican self-righteous moralists, but morals-schmorals aside, what he's done is strictly between himself, his family and his mistress. His dipping into another woman's honeypot didn't cause anybody any physical harm, quite unlike what G.W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitzh and Donald Rumsfeld have done in Iraq. So stop sensationalizing other people's sex lives and put things in their proper perspectives!
I don't think he's a poor guy, CC. But then again, he is using SC tax money service his you-know-what. Did he cause physical harm? No! Did he cause his family grief? Yes! If he was a Democrat, would he deserve the kid gloves be left on? No! What he did was wrong! No excuses! The four names you mentioned have nothing to do with the column. I'm sure the politico writers would welcome your opinion. If people would stop sensationalizing their own sex lives, there would be no perspective to put proper. Take a break.
he had an affair, get over it, happens a lot, part of being human, if it werent he wouldnt have done it. he wanted something new. often hard for middle aged women to swallow.
Great one Kristen! THat guy should be nailed; we all agree,, even the men here. Love that Prince Charles comment!
June 26, 2:43 PM
Gee Jack..I guess you Sanfords have to stick together. You have a gal down Argentine way?
I agree. Not only at what he did, but that he was so self-righteous and scathing toward Clinton. I really was disgusted with Clinton's behavior but more about his lying. He should have just said yes, it is true and went on. I feel awful for Sanford's wife.
Here! Here! Good grief, these guys just don't get it; how many times do we have to read about these public figures who think they won't get caught? It is amazing the level of stupidity.
In regards to Jack's comment, if he wanted something new he should have been a real man about it & ask for a divorce.
I'm 52 & not old looking & in shape. Us "middle age" women can also get tired of the "middle age" men we are with.
It's 1 thing to think of it & to actually cheat. The only reason this exotic lady is with him is because he was spending alot on her. What ever power & status she thinks he has attracted her also.
Stop putting down the wives of these sneaky men who cheat. It's not his wife's fault. He was the 1 who cheated, not her. We all get older, even the exotic beauties.
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