Sanford's shame

I will candidly admit that I am still in shock over this...and sickened...and deeply disappointed.

I was driving home from interviewing a candidate in Terre Haute and pulled Hannity's show in at about 3:50 PM EST, only gradually realizing what he was talking about. I went straight into another meeting, which just ended, so I still have not heard the entire tawdry press conference in its totality. But I don't need to, in order to make the following judgments.

Mark Sanford had become a Republican rock star (to use Michelle Malkin's characterization) and rightfully so. It was nothing less than inspirational to observe the way in which he championed truly conservative positions, from refusing to take the stimulus money to advocating spending limits that didn't surpass actual revenues to social conservatism...Bottom line, Mark Sanford had the street cred of a true conservative. Presidential prospects were in the offing.

All thrown away now in one of the most bizarre political stories in a generation. It is noteworthy that the last two consecutive posts have covered family-values Republican politicians who have admitted to affairs. Make no mistake: Mark Sanford's fall and subsequent meandering explanations of the "spark" between him and an Argentinian flame that led to it are going to deeply wound the conservative movement, though unjustifiably so. Honorable conservatism contains true principles, whether all of its proponents adhere to them or not. But in today's environment, failure to abide by one's own standards constitutes, in the minds of many, the proof that there is no defense for standards. A specious argument, yes, but one that gains traction when yet another high-profile conservative is caught in scandalous personal behavior that may not be illegal, but sure is messy.

In this case, there may even be legal ramifications because of the way Sanford left not just the state, but the whole country, leaving even his family in the lurch...over FATHER'S DAY, no less.

What a disgrace.