What ‘lessons’ can we learn from Gov. Sanford’s affair?
Once again, a high-profile politician bites the dust. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford held a press conference yesterday to confess his infidelity to his wife, and his failure to “be there” (literally) for the people of South Carolina. What can we learn from this in particular, and from the many high-profile politicians who’ve let their followers (and their pants) down in recent years?
I think the number one “lesson” we may learn from this is that powerful people need some sort of DAILY “reality check” about their own importance and their responsibilities. I truly believe, whether it’s rich people, celebrities, and/or politicians, that such folks reach a feeling that they somehow are 1) invincible, 2) untouchable by their critics, 3) way to clever to get caught, 4) entitled to special sexual/material privileges, or, 5) all of the above. They simply and clearly need to “get over themselves.”
A second very important lesson for us all is this: Human failure (shall we call it “sin” — I’m okay with that) is bipartisan. I would not dare to make cracks about Gov. Sanford’s politics, party affiliation, or any such stuff. The last 10-15 years is filled with a litany of men who were prominent Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, that have failed to keep their pants on when they should have. And there are probably thousands (yes, at least thousands) of other politicians and people in leadership roles who simply were never caught.
But perhaps the most important lesson in Sanford’s case for us all would be this: He must accept responsibility for destroying his wife, harming his family, and harming “the other woman” and her family. I watched his June 25 press conference where he revealed his infidelity. I also read the published email excerpts of emails he had sent to his mistress nearly a year ago. I came away just a little puzzled at his mixed message. On the one hand he confessed and called his actions “sin” by his own admission. On the other hand, he did not express, I thought, true repentance, leaving a sort of “affairs of the heart that we just can’t help ourselves with” attitude when he left the podium.
It is my prayer and my wish for Gov. Sanford and his family and all involved that he DOES work through this and resolve it in a manner that’s least harmful to all parties involved, especially his children and his mistress’s children. When adults destroy marriage and family relationships, it’s always the children who get dumped on the worst.
Oh, and then there’s the little matter of Sanford’s offense(s) against the people of South Carolina. He truly needs, in my opinion, to step down as governor. The people of South Carolina didn’t offer the governorship for sale in some fashion — they elected him governor and he accepted the responsibilities of that position. Somehow “following your heart” has no place in overseeing responsible governing of the state. He literally disappeared for several days. Had their been a state emergency requiring their governor, the folks in South Carolina wouldn’t even have known they didn’t HAVE a governor until it may have been too late.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:24 am
I have never understood how people can cheat on their spouse. Even if everything has gone wrong in your marriage, and you are unhappy, at least have the decency to respect your spouse, and get a divorce before you start seeing someone else.
She gave birth to your children, for God’s sake, show some grace.
Although I am diametrically opposed to just about everything that Obama stands for politically, I have to say that his family seems happy, he seems quite content with his wife, and she with him, so it is nice to see, for the third term in a row, a Presidential Family that appears to be faithful to one another, as that kind of implies he will at least have his act together in other areas of his life that affects us.
As for cheating, personally, I can’t handle the one I got, what the heck would I want two for??!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Hey, you and I absolutely agree on this one. I appreciate your comments — even when we disagree, or maybe especially when we disagree; that brings variety and healthy discussion — and thanks.