Sanford's resignation would lead to redemption

Years ago, as a stupid teenager, I acted like an ass at a friend’s house in front of that friend and his parents. Now, they were kind of enough that they eventually forgave me for being the stupid kid I was. But, my dad took a hard stance on my behavior. There were two enduring lessons my father’s hard stance taught me that will be with me until the day I die. First, a man does not show his behind at another man’s home, period. Second, there are sometimes when simply saying I am sorry is not enough. There has to be a real price paid in trying to find redemption.

As a teenager, my redemption was paid by not only an apology to the folks who I acted up in front of but hard physical labor in the form of digging up tree stumps that my dad found for me to do and considerable restrictions on my freedom imposed by him and my mother. I count myself lucky to have such a father who laid out reality to me. Simply asking for forgiveness was not enough. An apology was not enough. A price had to be paid.

As the facts keep coming in about Governor Mark Sanford and his affair and possible misuse of the state plane and whatever else that might come out, I wonder if Mark Sanford had a dad like mine. Governor Mark Sanford seems not to know that there are some things done that an apology is not enough. With those types of things, a man has to step up and pay a price.

I understand Mark Sanford more than most would think. I was born with that independent streak the Governor has. Just read some of the archived posts on this blog if you doubt that. I call my own shots, and sometimes I have paid heavily for it. I can be difficult man to deal with. But, I learned as a teenager what Mark Sanford does not seem to know now. When that independent streak actually hurts other people, a man has to step back and see his mistakes and then step up and pay the price for them.

Before Maria, Mark Sanford made hundreds of mistakes as Governor in how he dealt with fellow elected officials in the South Carolina General Assembly. The hostility between the Governor and members of his own party is unprecedented. But, the Governor made mistakes that hurt people, including his own family. That cannot be chalked up to being independent. That cannot be dismissed as politics and hoped to be solved with some press conferences with apologies. Sometimes, sorry does not cut it, action does.

The fact that the SC House Republican Caucus spent time talking about what do about Sanford over the weekend should be the ultimate wakeup call to the Governor. He is not 16 and full of beans. The Governor is a grown man. While the Governor need not dig up any stumps, his resignation would be a nice down payment to the people of South Carolina for redemption on the damage he has done to them.

Perhaps the Governor is unable to do such. I thank my father for my being able to call it like I see it, not only in sports and politics, but on myself. The latter is the hardest thing to do. No one really wants to admit that they hurt people and are not accountable. Further, no one really wants to get help when they have done wrong. It takes time for a man to realize that those who held him accountable were helping, not hurting.

So, Governor Sanford, when you read this post, or you listen to a legislator friend who encourages you to resign, they are not out to hurt you or get even with you. They are trying to help you find true redemption. Resign, and find your way to a better day. Stay on and fight, and well, even if you stay on as Governor, you will always be remembered as a man who put his selfish interests first and the state behind them. It comes down to how you want to be remembered by folks. Do you want to be remembered as a man without the sense of a headstrong teenager, or do you want to be remembered as a man who put his family and his state first and walked away with some sense of dignity?

I say, Governor, forego the silly press events in Greenville or Conway. Be a man. Pay the cost for redemption. Resign. I can assure you Governor resigning will be easier than digging up a tree stump. 