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Sanford on Planes: 'I've Got a Busy Life'

SC gov defends use of official aircraft

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 11, 2009 2:15 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Mark Sanford defended his personal use of state-owned planes today, arguing that the competing demands of fatherhood and the governor’s office required that he mix business and family travel, the AP reports. "I've got a busy life, and I've tried as best I can to be a reasonable father, while at the same time, a good governor,” Sanford said.

Responding to reports that he used the state planes to go to his kids’ sporting events, the South Carolina governor said, “I can't tell you the number of sporting events I've missed, of theirs." Sanford’s cushy travel habits contrast with a reputation for thrift—the governor is a vocal opponent of government spending and tried to block South Carolina from receiving funds from the Obama administration’s stimulus package.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford fields questions for the media about his use of state and commercial planes after his cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, in Columbia, SC.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford fields questions for the media about his use of state and commercial planes after his cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, in Columbia, SC.   (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford fields questions for the media about his use of state and commercial planes after his cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, in Columbia, SC.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford fields questions for the media about his use of state and commercial planes after his cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, in Columbia, SC.   (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
In this Tuesday, June 30, 2009 file photo, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford talks to the AP in his Columbia, SC, Statehouse office.
In this Tuesday, June 30, 2009 file photo, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford talks to the AP in his Columbia, SC, Statehouse office.   (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 18 comments
Robert_Dada
Aug 12, 2009 12:31 PM CDT
"I've tried as best I can to be a reasonable father, while at the same time, a good governor..." - and yet, he had failed miserably as both.
AdaptAndOvercome
Aug 12, 2009 10:49 AM CDT
Well what can you say, HYPOCRIT! Why is it that politicians think their plight is different from real people. We all take jobs and sometimes they interfere with our kids games, drama performances, etc. But for him to say that he's trying to be a good dad and blaming that on his expenses is a crock of shit. Politics is a time consuming business and he knew that going in and now he tries to use his kids as an excuse...what other Gov or ex-Gov does the exact same thing? Oh the Gotcha Queen. These people need to stay out of the kitchen if they can't handle the fire and quit using their families for scapegoats when they get caught.
schmidtkoff
Aug 12, 2009 6:20 AM CDT
Try living here in SC. the the little miscreant finally got busted. i'm truly susrprised. you go AP. as one sc outsider yankee transplant thinks, he's no different from others who speak with forked tongues. he's a hypocrite, an elitist who thinks he deserves 1st class travel at the taxpayers expense, the state is going broke for pete's sake. no transportation, no jobs and the damned 'good old boy mentality.' keep them down on the farm, ie. plantation.
Politics • US

 
South Carolina • air travel • fiscal conservatives • governor • airplane • Mark Sanford

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