Sanford reacts to his “tragedy”

The people of South Carolina have to be asking themselves how to get rid of Mark Sanford. The holy roller turned philanderer is punting it back to God in a new self-serving “apology.”

I have struggled with how best to convey my regret in letting so many down, and in that regard I realize this column does not do justice to the process of saying “I am sorry.” A hand-written note or phone call would ultimately be more appropriate, but given the number of people I need to apologize to, I write this to begin the journey of trying to get things more right with you and others.

It is true that I did wrong and failed at the largest of levels, but equally true is the fact that God can make good of our respective wrongs in life.

Way to take responsibility, governor. “I did wrong BUT blah, blah God” shows how much you still don’t get it. But just in case there was any doubt, you didn’t stop there.

I’ve realized…my approach needs to be less about my will and more about looking for ways to more humbly present the greater principals and ideas at play…It means less time fighting the tide, and a greater awareness of the fact that God controls it. In working with a few alterations to my approach, I think this could be a far more productive last session than the one that would have been had the tragedy that has unfolded not occurred, and in turn, people’s lives can be made better.

So you see kids, it’s all about God. How much responsibility can we expect Mark to take when God is in control? But this one part spells it out.

“…had the tragedy that has unfolded not occurred.” Which tragedy is he talking about? Having an affair in Argentina? Being discovered having an affair in Argentina? Having his wife choose not to leave him over his affair in Argentina but for the two of them to begin a series of public bible readings about it instead?

It wasn’t a tragedy, Mark. A tragedy is something like a plane crash or a service member being killed in the line of duty. This was an extramarital affair. And it didn’t “occur,” it was an action you took. Over and over again, with great planning and obscuration.

It’s hard to read Sanford’s bilge without the Lyle Lovett song, “God Will” running through your head.

Who keeps on trusting you
When you’ve been cheating
And spending your nights on the town?
And who keeps on saying that he still wants you
When you’re through running around?
And who keeps on loving you
When you’ve been lying,
Saying things ain’t what they seem?
God does,
But I don’t.
God will,
But I won’t.
And that’s the difference
Between God and me.

Sanford shows no sign he intends to resign. In this very statement, he promises his state and the nation 18 more months of asking forgiveness while never enduring an iota of disdain. Let’s just skip that part, he seems to say, along with all those hand-written notes he never intended to write and phone calls he didn’t plan to make. Just fast-forward to the time Mark Sanford can be welcomed back on the Moral High Ground team where he can tell us sinners how we should live.

I hope South Carolina figures out soon how to spare themselves and the rest of us.