South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is missing. Or was missing, anyway. Sanford apparently left his mansion on Thursday and wasn't heard from for days. On Monday afternoon the Lt. Governor's office said they had been in touch with him and his wife told reporters that she wasn't worried.
(NEWSCOM/FILE)Photos (1 of 1)
Missing: One South Carolina governor. Has sentimental value…
By Jimmy Orr | 06.22.09
What do comedian Will Ferrell and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford have in common? Both have been to the Land of the Lost. Let’s just hope Sanford fares better…
Most of us can escape for a few hours or maybe even a day or two without a lot of hoopla.
When you’re a standing governor, you don’t get that luxury. You live under a microscope. You’re lucky if you can hit the restroom without an escort. This all makes today’s news that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has been missing for four days outright astonishing.
Sanford apparently left the governor’s mansion in a black SUV on Thursday. His last known whereabouts, according to phone records, was somewhere near Atlanta.
His wife told the Associated Press that he needed time away from their children to “write something”. Apparently his children are really annoying or his writing project was really important, as he turned off both of his mobile phones (state and personal) and hadn’t responded to text messages or emails.
Is everyone in a panic?
Nah. The First Lady said she wasn’t concerned. The Lt. Governor’s office said Sanford has been reached. And his office put out a statement this afternoon.
“Gov. Sanford is taking some time away from the office this week to recharge after the stimulus battle and the legislative session, and to work on a couple of projects that have fallen by the wayside. We are not going to discuss the specifics of his travel arrangements or his security arrangements.”
Perhaps they won’t talk about security arrangements because the governor gave them the slip too. One state senator told Columbia’s State newspaper that Sanford has made a practice out of sneaking out.
“I was recently made aware that Governor Sanford has frequently been eluding [gubernatorial security] agents and disappearing at odd times,” Senator Jake Knotts said.
“As the head of our state, in the unfortunate event of a state of emergency or homeland security situation, Governor Sanford should be available at all times to the Chief of [security],” the senator said.
Gary Karr, who served as press secretary to former South Carolina Governor David Beasley, agrees. He told The Vote that “someone should know where Sanford is.”
“He’s the CEO of a multi-billion operation,” Karr said. “Doesn’t mean everybody and his brother needs to know, but someone needs to be able to reach him.”
“Governors should be allowed some time off, but if you are serious about running a state someone should know where you are at all times,” he continued. “It’s early and probably not much of a threat, but it is hurricane season. It’s just a wee bit important for the governor to be reachable in those sorts of emergencies
Did Karr ever lose Gov. Beasley?
“Me personally, I don’t recall any time where I ‘lost’ him,” Karr said. “But, I am pretty certain he never went on an extended trip without at least one security detail.”
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Hey, we promise to never elude you. And if we do, we’ll Twitter it so you always know where we are. So follow us!
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3. BrokenArrow | 06.22.09
If bush could take off weeks at a time to play at pulling brush, then a govenor should be able to get awaya for four days. In this case, however, something sounds askew, don’t ya think?
I know a lot of people who have home offices, you know with doors that close, and it works well to keep the noise down. Makes it pretty private, too, even if they’re French Doors. Wait…..he’s a Republicon, that means he would never have anything French in his house. Scratch that……anywho, the office thing works well for the rest of us.
Me thinks there’s something rotton in the state of Denmark….oops, they don’t like Danes much, either. Oh well, you catch my drift.
4. Jeremiah - Austin TX | 06.22.09
Maybe he took all that stimulus money he was going to reject and took a trip to Vegas?
5. jake | 06.22.09
THE PUBLICITY HUNGRY SOUTH CAROLINA “GNoP” GOV.is at it again. While his states Schools are crumbling under disrepair and unemployment in his poor state is going through the roof, the This “GNoP” gov. was turning down stimulus money to show his fiscal conservatism to his right wing voters.His own party folks out there thought he had lost it. The state supreme court had to compel him to take the money in the name of common sense. By the way gov. where were you when “W” AND his veep Dv WERE spending mula like it was going out of style? Back to mr publicity hound,so folks this is not going to be last stunt from this “GNoP”GOV. to get cheap publicity, trust me there are many more where this AWOL STUFF CAME FROM and from now till 2012 look out.
6. BlueLiner | 06.22.09
Is “recharge his batteries” South Carolinan for “relieving some tension”, which is, of course, slang for doing the “Bill Clinton”. Strange that he sent his security detail away, didn’t Clinton tell his State Trooper security detail to look over there for a spell while he was having his way with one Jennifer de-Flowers? One has to wonder. As a high ranking politician, it is bnest not to do anything where people have to guess where you were and exactly what you were doing. if he ever runs for higher office, expect this to be the basis of several off-color jokes.
7. OMG | 06.22.09
Governors are just figureheads who have no real power. Explain most state economies. Did the governor’s and their administrations really make things better for their citizens, or just better for their wealthy constituents? Mostly the latter. If you look at governors by political party affiliation, it isn’t pretty: Republican governors “run” the worst states. In Florida, the governor there is jumping ship to try to get a U. S. Senate seat — something is totally not cut out for. Bobby Jindal — well, Katrina was not Lousiana’s biggest disaster. And in California, maybe the big guy tried, but the skies aren’t any bluer after Grey Davis! Who’s at fault? Banks? States? Big business? Yes, all of them. And the governors who allowed them to operate.
8. Sanjay | 06.22.09
Mark Sanford is a million times better than Obama and Bush who are big-government, bail-out smoking, war-mongering, federal-reserve fraudsters and evil-doers.
neocons and marxists on this board are jumping with glee over mark just because he takes some time off and does not want you to pry over exactly where he is.
9. semoreglass | 06.22.09
Sounds like a publicity stunt by someone who may run for president in ‘12…best thing…all this media attention is free!
10. SAL | 06.22.09
Sanford is self absorbed and irresponsible toward others. Most South Carolinians are just trying to survive until his term expires. If he refuses to be responsible and fulfill the duties of the office, he should resign or be removed from office. Our state would breathe a big sigh of relief.
11. Gordon Miller | 06.22.09
Kind of typical for today’s Republicans. Off into the sunset when he should be taking care of business. Sure wish my job was like that. Republicans living in a fantasy world with no sense of responsibility…but obstruct everything essential that they can. This guy like the Republican Party is a one giant void, intellectually and spiritually bankrupt. I am ashamed to say I used to be a Republican.
12. billy bob | 06.23.09
……….Hey if the President can take off for some greasy cheesburgers……then the GOV can get some TOO..Ha Ha…
………..maybe even cheaper…………
13. tg kitt | 06.23.09
who is really missing this governor? as he enters his 8th and last year in office absolutely nothing has been accomplished in his missed-administration. maybe if he could continue to take a hike to maine the state of south carolina can finally get something done, or at least look like an attempt is being made.
14. jrl@sfo.usa | 06.23.09
Anybody check the tree fort?
Everybody knows to check the tree fort when kids are giving the slip to the ‘rents.
And NO GURLS ALLOWED!
15. Shawn | 06.23.09
Frankly, I’m surprised by all his on-line defenders. This is not normal behavior for someone in such a position of responsibility - both to the great State of South Carolina and to his family.
Thank God and the First Amendment for the Fourth Estate - they’ll gleefully get to the bottom of his latest shenanagins. I, in the meantime, will be anxiously awaiting the salacious details as they unfold.
16. Thomas | 06.23.09
What I want to know, is, if he’s a Republican, how could they even tell that he was AWOL? That IS their style of governance…
17. Patrick | 06.23.09
Does anybody in the GOP work anymore?. Mark Sanford takes vacation all the time just like Bush did. No wonder South Carolina is getting into a depression. It’s very suspicious that this clown goes to Atlanta without anybody knowing. Sure he was hiking. He thinks people are stupid to believe that. Sooner or later is going to come up. They should investigate this guy, he’s planning something weird or he has mistress around there. We’ll expect to read more on this clown.
18. Seneca | 06.23.09
Sanjay writes:
“neocons and marxists on this board are jumping with glee over mark”
Ah, that well-known, deadly, close-knit team of Neocons and Marxists.
I mean, when you have so much in common with with each, just how could not come together to tag-team your enemies?
I assume (and certainly hope, for his sake) that Sanjay was making a joke.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Mike | 06.22.09
Sanford is about as goofy as they come, pig toting and all. He and Illini Rod Blago should start a funny farm somewhere- Maybe in Iran. They need some more nut cases over there helping the situation-