Should Governor Sanford Resign?

June 27, 1:37 PMColumbia Conservative ExaminerAnthony G. Martin

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In spite of the fact that I did not always agree with the Governor, it is my firm conviction that Mark Sanford has been a stellar example of a true fiscal and political conservative.  He has never wavered from those conservative principles of low taxes and small government, even in the face of astounding opposition from his own Party.

Never in all my years of observing politics have I ever been so thoroughly disappointed in a GOP-controlled legislature.  They have fought the Governor tooth and nail on almost every single important issue.

The reason is not far to find.  Most of them are not real conservatives.  They are big spending Democrats who saw which way the wind was blowing in the state, and became Republicans just to get elected.  The fact that they squandered a budget surplus just prior to the financial meltdown of 2008 is a perfect case in point.  The legislature is singularly responsible for the financial woes of the state due to their mismanagement of funds.

They went on spending spree rather than exercise fiscal restraint.  And when the crisis hit, the state was out of money and unable to address the crisis.

Sanford's opposition to the federal stimulus money was an act of courage designed to protect South Carolina taxpayers from a trainwreck of gargantuan proportions that will hit in 2 years when the stimulus money runs out.  At that point, either the legislature will be forced to enact the single largest tax increase in the state's history, or else we will have more financial woes that will be even worse than we presently experience.

Due to Sanford's relentless opposition to the reckless habits of the legislature, he has made some enemies over the years, some of the worst being in his own Party.  They have an ax to grind with the Governor.  And some of them are using the present scandal as an excuse to accuse him of malfeasance and force him from office.

One such legislator is the gentleman from Lexington County, who is calling for a massive investigation into Sanford...a process that will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars.  Perhaps while we're at it, we should also investigate the gentleman from Lexington.  People who live in glass houses should cast no stones.  I'm not saying he's guilty of anything.  I'm saying that no one that I know of is so perfect that they have a right to cast stones at others for their moral failures.  We have enough of our own.

To be fair, the Governor is distracted, no doubt.  As he focuses his attention on putting his marriage back together, the question is, can he properly focus on the business of the state?

Sanford asked for forgiveness after admitting his mistakes.  Unlike Bill Clinton who looked into the camera and lied to the American people, Sanford was man enough to own up to his failures.  He is far and away a better man than the likes of Barney Frank, Bill Clinton, Rod Blagojevich, Eliot Spitzer, and others who were caught with their hands in the cookie jar.  As a Christian, I am constrained to forgive Mark Sanford.

But the larger question looms concerning his ability to fulfill his duties in office.  Is he up to the task?

I have no definitive answer to that question.  And I'm afraid that on this issue, only Mark Sanford, in his heart of hearts, can discover the answer.

For commentary on other issues, visit my blog, updated daily, at The Liberty Sphere.