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Sanford's 'Secret-Agent Mission'
Tim Dominick, MCT / Landov
In an exclusive interview, South Carolina's embattled governor, Mark Sanford, talks to The Daily Beast about his strategy for political survival, how his fall from grace disarms his opponents, why he's no Bill Clinton—and the temptation to "go hide under a rock."
Last week, Mark Sanford, South Carolina’s beleaguered governor, sat down to lunch. A waitress walked up, and offered him comfort—a scene that, given his troubles, has been recurring with surprising frequency these days. “Look, I’m a longtime Democrat,” she said. “I don’t really follow all this stuff that closely, but what’s going on right now is wrong.” She gave him a hug, Sanford recalls, and told him to “keep pushing.”
He knows he’ll need to push fast. Sanford was regarded as among the Republican Party’s better hopes for the White House in 2012 when, following a mysterious absence, he was forced to confess that he’d left the country to cheat on his wife and longtime political adviser, Jenny, with an Argentine journalist. Since then, he’s become the source of constant unflattering headlines, a staple on the late-night shows—and the subject of investigations and impeachment rumors in the state capital of Columbia. Lucky for the governor, the legislature doesn’t reconvene until January. Barring a special session, Sanford has four months to save his job.
“You know,” the exhausted South Carolina governor says, “everybody is assigned their own secret-agent mission in life. And at times the tricky part, the hard part, is finding out what that is."
“A lot of [South Carolina politicians] are saying, ‘Hey, it’s payback time, we got you now,” says Sanford, who granted me a phone interview last week. “And you know, I gave them the bullets, the guns, the noose, and the rope and all that stuff … You could have all the rational arguments in the world but you ain’t gonna change David Thomas’ mind,” Sanford says, referring to the Republican state legislator who is investigating whether the governor improperly used state money to fund his travels (Sanford says he has complied with state law and the precedents of others in office). “So I’m going to speak to anybody in the General Assembly that I can, and of even greater note, I’m gonna be speaking to regular working South Carolinians when I get the chance.”
Sanford has been a loner his entire political life; it was not at all out of character when he sought to turn back the Obama administration’s offer of federal stimulus money for his state—a fight he lost with the state General Assembly. Saving his scalp—with the legislature as well as the rank-and-file voters—will require him to do something he’s never been comfortable doing: slap backs, trade stories, and get on with the good ole boys.
It won’t be easy. He knows his brand of extreme fiscal conservatism is suddenly very much in fashion, as the Obama administration runs up the deficit. And he knows he’s shot himself in the foot, big time. “I’m a wounded soldier; I took myself off the battlefield,” he says. “It’s not until you lose something in life that you appreciate some of your blessings. If I ever had the chance to get back on the playing field, it would be a great honor and a privilege and a blessing.”
“You know,” the South Carolina governor continues, “everybody is assigned their own secret-agent mission in life. And at times the tricky part, the hard part, is finding out what that secret-agent mission is. Some of us do it early, some of us do it later in life.” Simply put, nobody else in the Palmetto State’s political class talks like that.
It’s tempting, Sanford admits, to go “hide under a rock, go down to the farm and never see another television camera again.” That temptation must have only grown last week, when Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer wrote a letter calling for Sanford’s resignation and offered to take over the job. But, as Sanford puts it, “you gotta stay around for the second half of the show.”
So what will that look like? What’s Sanford’s survival strategy?
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
JDK-JDK
Sometimes it IS honorable to fall on one's own sword. In most cases, when this happens, the one doing the falling at least loses their job.
Maybe that's the first step.
sailormoon
Yes , JDK JDK that is what happens to people who abuse their power and do not do their jobs.They keep retirement,healthcare,status,and power.
EdmondDantes
The guy is still in denial if he thinks he's doing the work of the people of South Carolina. He's lost his power base and credibility. Can he say lame duck? I wish his clear thinking wife would just tell him that he's delusional by clutching onto his job. He transferred his passion for the Argentine woman to his governorship. Wonder where that passion will be targeted after he leaves?
hibiscuscottage
Sanford is an idiotic simpleton. How in the world did this silly smallminded little man find a way with his itty bitty I.Q. to grab even a mailroom job at Goldman Sachs. That company must have been crazy desperate to find someone southern and low rent to work for them. Especially, with his hound dog looks and sloooooowwww drawl.
He more than likely knows that if he were to resign as Governor, and he were to return to their island home, his wife would kick his moronic ass to the curb.
He really doesn't have anywhere to go, except maybe Argentina.
xlntcat
Sanford did an internship at Goldman Sacs. They didn't hire him. Until he decided to run for congress, he sold real estate.
sophia5
Goldman Sacs. Congress. Real Estate.
What about Freddie Mac Fannie Mae?
Financial Collapse. Pieces of the puzzle ?
Has Sanford been investigated for "Conflict of Interest?" Corruption?"
BullMoose
He is a sick puppy, going through mid life crisis, and only saved by the redneck cronies who he has the goods on too.
theschmooze
Be it GOP or DEM this is the classic example of letting the little head do the big head's thinking. I would think that these guys know that every move they make can be seen and or traced. I would also want someone in public office who has more sense. If Sanford has found the love of his life in Argentina, then get divorced, stop making your public office and family the subject of ridicule, move to Argentina and live out the rest of your life. I also realize that writing this is much easier than the suggestions given by me to Sanford.
whipmawhopma
theschmooze - Exactly.
Embers
Great comment, schmooze. Who cares if your suggestions would be hard for Sanford to do? People in SC want him to resign but he refuses.
He's been an extremely crappy governor. All he does is stage publicity stunts and pick fights with the legislature and his other colleagues.
And he was in Argentina bonking his mistress on Father's Day, no less.
BTW, nice ass kissing job, Will Cathcart.
xlntcat
Could be he would have trouble with the part about moving to Argentina as his "soul mate" reportedly is connected to organized crime in Argentina and has a long history of liasons with married politicians and foreign dignitaries believed to be on the rise. My guess would be that she is already off to her next "assignment."
aperturemad
A childish belief in a personal God and some serious mommy issues. This man needs therapy, not public office.
Embers
Again, Will Cathcart, the butt-kissing in this piece made it very difficult to read.
Sanford's "brand of extreme fiscal conservatism?" Please! This is a man who flies a private jet at taxpayer expense to get his hair cut at Great Clips, and he uses a coupon. I guess the state doesn't pay for his haircuts.
tankertodd
Did that really happen?
Embers
Yes, it did indeed happen:
http://washingtonindependent.com/54481/welfare-for-mark-sanford
(you can also google "mark sanford haircut" for additional sources)
Sanford has always made such a BIG DEAL about getting cheap haircuts... hypocrite.
Kevlar
What a strange little man. I hope his boys don't suffer too much from watching their dad act like a complete fool.
Step up to the plate, Sanford. Either you want one thing or the other. Indecision is a sign of weakness.
You can't impose draconian cost-cutting measures on your staff and then use the state aircraft for booty calls.
You can't refuse federal stimulus money and claim to be a friend of the hard-working little guy. Your state is number two in per capita unemployment.
You can't talk about how important your faith is when you chase tail in BA.
You can't use the words "secret agent mission" to describe your life and expect anyone reading TDB to take you seriously.
So PICK ONE, and be that guy. Be a man. Your family troubles don't mean a thing to anyone but the religious idiots.
Embers
Will Cathcart, you are a poor journalist -- that's about the nicest thing I can think to say to you. Haven't you ever heard of investigating a story or checking facts?
Dutifully writing down everything your interviewee says isn't journalism, it's PR. Elitist, credulous people like you are the reason SC is the most backwards state in America.
sailormoon
Embers,its sailormoon.I hope you were able to re-read my post on,SP crazy vodoo church.I was misundrstood completely.I had meant to say that The Jews did not have and control all the wealth,I did say the church was weird,I had said that Rev Wright was also a nut, but I undrstood that what had been done to the black community was inhuman and immoral,and I had gone to drink martinis because the article was like voddo.I am a US citizen from another country,language,so I might exprss myself backwards.But being,Jewish,with many good black friends,I was worried my thoughts seemed offensive. Thank You,as for Sanford,How many of us can keep our jobs,our positions,doing and abusing all he has done..He should quit already Be fired.
Embers
No hard feelings, sailormoon.... I'm glad that's not what you were saying! In the future I will take your comments (below) into consideration. Cheers!!
Sanford's a terrible governor.
Embers
P.S. Sailormoon, I'm glad I was wrong about you!!
phoebes
sailormoon and Embers, I remember weighing in on that thread, saying that I "thought" sailormoon was saying that Jews DIDN'T control everything. Glad to know I was right.
sailormoon
Embers,you made my day. !!!!Its funny,I like to be on the blog,I feel proud,isnt it silly,I learn alot. But i do not like cruelty,unfairly. No martinis,now,too early.Sanford.is terrible,his true found love,made him empanadas in Argentina.But what I get upset about,is politicians,,fool around,have power,retirements,social positions,and what.??If we ran our buss, or or jobs lik this,out we go.People who work so hard and well,and they have lost it all.Well,again,Have a great Day!!!Wait,that is what I try to say about SP.I do not agree with her politically,and many other things,but I personally feel that the media,and others attack her and her daughters and family in a horrible way.I did have the martini after reading the vodoo curch.
Embers
Funny, phoebes and sailor, but I also wanted to get intoxicated after reading that Palin article, too. What a world we live in!
Sailor, I'm glad that it was my mistake. I am sorry I misread your post.
diamonded
It looks pretty much like Beast readers share my disdain for Sanford and aren't about to let him off the hook with one lame puff piece.
hippiechik62
Embers - The Charleston Mercury is a self described "conservative" newspaper.
I have lived in SC all of my life and this is the first time I have ever heard of it... Granted we may be backwards - but THE most backwards state? Can't say that but we do have our colorful characters...
Corbettpc
I am highly suspicious of these folks who think they have been chosen by God to be governor, or president, or senator, or what-have-you.
Give me a break!
tumbleweed
A lot of us are sick to death of 'extreme fiscal conservatism'! The Republican brand of 'extreme fiscal conservatism' has almost destroyed this country. When politician's tout their extreme fiscal conservatism I vote for the other person on the ballot!
apparently
I'd have more respect - and maybe interest - in Sanford if he'd found the love of his life and acted upon it. Instead, he's got a marriage in shambles, a career in shambles and acts quirky.
oliverckerr
Throuout the whole incident, before during and after, has Sanford come up with even one measure for our country that makes sense. Aperture suggests he needs therpy, not public office. Yes, a long as someone else pays other than us.
I doubt he will be returned to office.
michaelslevinson.com
Embers
He can't be returned to the Governor's office because his term is up. There was talk of his running for President, but hopefully his lies and foolishness have killed those chances.
Take it from me, America, we dodged a bullet on this one.
westlm2
I'm a life-long Democrat who moved from my SC home a few years back. Yes, Sanford's recent moves have been inappropriate, unprofessional, and bizarre, but I think he should stay in office. For this reason alone, Andre Bauer should NEVER be aloud to run my home state. At the risk of sounding like an overprotective parent, I'll take a few more moths of Sanford any day. Bauer has an incredible reputation for philandering. It's a fact well known amongst anyone in Cola. He's the worst kind of climber, but unlike Sanford, he doesn't have the political finesse that could actually help SC. So I hope Sanford sticks it out and that in the mean time SC Dems can regroup and rally to take the Governorship. A Dem in SC would be incredible, and up til now, incredibly unlikely.
larry278
Markie, SC's, pseudo-secret agent governor, give me a break. If he does ever try therapy-it will be found that he has had delusions of adequacy since his teen years.
The boys at the cat house on C St & their bosses in the Fellowship or Family like the idea of touting Markie as a secret agency. I think that there was a book, "The Paranoid Style in American Politics", that might explain what induces the people in the Fellowship to constantly babble non-sense.
These people all are a few bricks shy of a load. That's too bad because SC firms make good, sturdy, bricks.
SCRebecca
The people of SC want Sanford to resign. He's a total embarrassment to the state and has cost its citizens so much more than an occasional misuse of state funds. He's overlooked the needs of a hurting, jobless people and watched company after company close or be shipped abroad. In short, he's done his best to destroy what's taken generations to create. This man's no fiscal conservative. Don't let the article fool you.
ccrider27
This is what therapy at the C compound or whatever that cult place is known as, will do for you.
I love this guy because he's delusional and he just can't shut up. He's competing with Michael Jackson and coming out ahead. It's incredible. These Republicans are truly an entertaining bunch. He thinks he's James Bond, for crying out loud!
Electing this guy in the first place is the true measure of the intelligence level of S. Carolina voters.
Keep pushin' Mark! You and your fellow S. Carolinians are a real laugh riot! I hope it never stops.
Thank you.
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