It was just this morning that I was swearing, in our daily editorial meeting, to never, ever write anything about South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford‘s jaunt to Argentina. Now I feel overtaken by events, by the sheer importance and newsiness and depth of this story, and I cannot stay silent. So to recap: Sanford has a girlfriend in Argentina. His wife supposedly knew about it. The affair began about a year ago with what Sanford called, so touchingly, that “whole sparking thing.” He claims he went to Argentina, incognito, to break things off with the “dear, dear friend.” He is resigning as head of the Republican Governors’ Association, though his term would have expired next year anyhow. He is very, very sorry.
The best news about this whole thing is that Sanford’s wife, Jenny, who had claimed to be totally ignorant of her husband’s whereabouts, stayed home from the presser. Thank you. The “stand by your man” routine — see: Silda Wall Spitzer, Dina McGreevey — is so demeaning. And the most hilarious commentary on Sanfordgate comes from libertarian writer Will Wilkinson over Twitter: “Problem with being an American conservative is that from-the-gut romantic individualism is part of our heritage. Makes affairs likely.” That’s definitely a creative justification for infidelity! And I guess when liberals cheat, it’s because we just love humanity so much we can’t choose just one person to love! Yes. That must be it.
—Dana Goldstein
