To be honest, I'm really not interested in South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's personal life. That is between he and his family. With every day that passes, the media focuses more on the details of his affairs and not on the dereliction of duty as Governor. Chris Christie said earlier on that Sanford is someone he admired and Sanford potentially left all the residents of the state he leads vulnerable should any problems that could have occurred while he was out of touch. Christie is seeking the same responsibilities from the New Jersey votes that Sanford abandoned.
The State Committee wants Christie to condemn the Republican Governors association for the the connection to Sanford and the advertising attacking Governor Corzine:
"Christie should publicly repudiate an RGA that would have Mark Sanford as its Chairman," said Cryan. "Christie has leaned on Sanford's support since the primary to curry favor with the RGA so they would run ads distorting Jon Corzine's record. Christie gladly accepted the support of the Mark Sanford led RGA and now he should call for the negative advertising created by Sanford to be pulled. The hypocrisy of Christie's candidacy is exposed with every advertising dollar he continues to accept in Mark Sanford's name."
I always enjoy the calls from one side to have the other side stop running ads. That's clearly the politics of the situation, but i'd be more interested to hear what Christie has to say about the leadership of Mark Sanford being out of touch from his state for nearly 5 days. Here was clammyc's take over at dailykos:
If the tables were turned, and it was Corzine or Paterson or Rendell or Kaine or any of the other Democratic Governors who went "missing" for days without putting the Lt. Governor in charge, or so much as telling anyone where he or she was going, there would be (rightfully so) nonstop calls by the Villagers, the right wing noise machine, and quite possibly many prominent Democrats for removal from office - through impeachment, through resignation or whatever other means.
When you are in such a high level position of responsibility, you don't have the flexibility or the ability or the justification to just pick up and leave.
Period.
While the focus is on the emails or the wife or the children or the "begging the Lord for forgiveness" or any of the other sidebar items, the biggest story is being missed or glossed over.
Does Christie think that is an effective way to manage as the Chief executive of a state? What do you think, if anything Christie should say on the matter?
So earlier today, came the inevitable chat was McGreevey - on the TODAY Show [TODAY Show VIDEO]:
Well, I think it's a very human ... I'm filled with a sense of pain and anguish him and for for his family ... but I think it was a very human moment, and it was very truthful, sort of to come back the long process of healing and the long process of redemption. I think first you have to be truthful with one's self, with one's family, and with reality as it is and not like how we would like it to be.
McGreevey also encouraged him to admit his nature and understand the wrongs. He discussed the power of forgiveness, which he says he interprets through his own Christianity. McGreevey appeared to breeze past the possibility that Sanford will be forced to step down as Governor, particularly if it's discovered he used state funds for his little trips to Argentina. It was, frankly, measured, and kind.
Gee, with Sanford now a sad national joke, and McGreevey weighing in for understanding on behalf of Christie's idol Mark Sanford, I think Christie's going to have to find a new stump speech. Beating up on Corzine by tying him to McGreevey just ran out of gas.
Who wants to call Chris Christie today, and ask him some questions?
Christie's suddenly without an idol, suddenly without the national Republican - Gov. Mark Sanford - dedicated to using the Garden State as a springboard to reverse the fortunes of the entire Republican Party. Sanford just resigned as head of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) - it's still unclear whether he can keep his own governorship - at a bizarre, teary press conference. [VIDEO].The GOP was already bumbling around without effective message, little money and no win-strategy. This doesn't help much.
South Carolina's Sanford, who disappeared off the grid a few days ago - his wife didn't know, staff probably forced to lie for him, and some cockamamie story about the Appalachian Trail - turned up today. Turns out he was in Argentina, cheating on his family. And state.
Frankly, the level of irresponsibility is staggering, and terribly sad. Sanford not only left his state rudderless, but was so far off the grid he was on another continent. He was milk-carton gone. Gone a week.
Mark Sanford is Chris Christie's true north.
Here's a great audio clip posted on Blue Jersey by JRB - about how Christie based his own plan to reject federal stimulus package money for NJ if he's elected (good plan, dude!). JRB points out Christie chose the night before Obama addressed the nation on economic recovery to stand beside Sanford and pledge to reject stimulus funds for us. Same way Sanford had - RGA bright-idea man, first Republican Governor in the country to make that pledge. Christie had not yet even read the stimulus plan.Sanford lauds Christie at RGA.
So, who wants to call Chris Christie and ask him the following:
1. Do you plan to give back contributions that Gov. Sanford gave you, and raised for you?
2. Will you comment on the irresponsibility of Gov. Sanford's leaving the country, with no warning?
If you get answers - even from staff - please post them here.
