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'''Mark Sanford''' is the [[Republican]] Governor of [[South Carolina]]. He was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. Prior to his election as Governor of South Carolina, Sanford served six years in the U.S. Congress.<ref>http://www.scgovernor.com/about/</ref> He is married and has four sons. Sanford was mentioned as a possible running mate for [[John McCain]] in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election. <ref>http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/05/22/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-mark-sanford.html</ref>

'''Mark Sanford''' is the [[Republican]] Governor of [[South Carolina]]. He was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. Prior to his election as Governor of South Carolina, Sanford served six years in the U.S. Congress. He once had a reputation as an outspoken conservative, but now he is primarily the butt of jokes and ridicule.

 

He is married with four sons, but his wife has separated after his notorious love affairs. Sanford was mentioned as a possible running mate for [[John McCain]] in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, but his political career has ended, with Republicans and conservatives demanding his resignation as the ethnic inquiry and impeachment process move forward, leaving only the question of how much longer he will bedevil the state of South Carolina. <ref>http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/05/22/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-mark-sanford.html</ref>

==Stimulus Funds==

==Stimulus Funds==

Sanford made national headlines when he rejected a portion of the 2009 recovery act. This has drawn the ire of Democrats and they have mounted a TV campaign against his move. Governor Sanford said '''"When one is in a hole, the first order of business is to stop digging."''' He refuses to expand unemployment coverage because the terms dictate he can't repeal the expanded coverage after the stimulus money runs out. The governors of [[Texas]], [[Mississippi]] and [[Louisiana]] have adopted the same stance. The S.C. governor wants to use some stimulus funds to pay down debt instead.<ref>[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/10/sc-gov-wants-to-use-some-stimulus-funds-to-pay-down-debt/ S.C. gov wants to use some stimulus funds to pay down debt] CNN, March 10, 2009</ref> The secretary of state had sued the governor to accept stimulus funds. Sanford reluctantly agreed to use stimulus funds.

Sanford made national headlines when he rejected a portion of the 2009 recovery act. This has drawn the ire of Democrats and they have mounted a TV campaign against his move. Governor Sanford said "When one is in a hole, the first order of business is to stop digging." He refused to expand unemployment coverage, despite the 11% unemployment rate in a poor state. After threats of lawsuits Sanford reluctantly agreed to use stimulus funds.

== Bizarre Behavior ==

== Sex scandal==

Sanford admitted June 24, 2009, to having an extra-marital affair and covering up a secret trip to visit his mistress in [[Argentina]]. He made the admission at a press conference meant to clear up a mysterious week-long absence where his staff initially explained by saying the Governor was hiking the Appalachian Trail.  

Sanford admitted June 24, 2009, to having an extra-marital affair and covering up a secret trip to visit his mistress in [[Argentina]]. He made the admission at a press conference meant to clear up a mysterious week-long absence where his staff initially explained by saying the Governor was hiking the Appalachian Trail.  

"I've let down a lot of people. That's the bottom line," Sanford said. "I've been unfaithful to my wife."  He said he is resigning as chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA). The RGA announced shortly afterward that [[Mississippi]] Gov. [[Haley Barbour]] would assume Sanford's RGA duties.

"I've let down a lot of people. That's the bottom line," Sanford said. "I've been unfaithful to my wife."  He said he is resigning as chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA). The RGA announced shortly afterward that [[Mississippi]] Gov. [[Haley Barbour]] would assume Sanford's RGA duties.  60 Republicans in the legislature demanded his resignation, but --unlike New York governor [{Eliot Spitzer]] who resigned in 2008 when his sex scandals were revealed, Sanford decided to keep his salary coming.

== Multiple Scandals ==

== Multiple Scandals ==

A separate impeachment resolution has been filed in the State Legislature, but the ethics commission and the legislative action so far have dealt with different accusations. The ethics commission reviewed charges of misuse of public resources, while the impeachment resolution deals with the governor’s secret trip to Argentina in June 2009 to visit a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Sanford's wife has moved out and is not supporting him.

A separate impeachment resolution has been filed in the State Legislature, but the ethics commission and the legislative action so far have dealt with different accusations. The ethics commission reviewed charges of misuse of public resources, while the impeachment resolution deals with the governor’s secret trip to Argentina in June 2009 to visit a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Sanford's wife has moved out and is not supporting him.

Sanford has resolved to complete his term in office despite pressure from conservatives and most politicians to step down.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/01/AR2009070101801.html?hpid=moreheadlines</ref>

Sanford has resolved to complete his term in office despite pressure from conservatives and most politicians to step down, and the damage he is doing to the Republican Party and the conservative cause.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/01/AR2009070101801.html?hpid=moreheadlines</ref>

==References==

==References==