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Scandal Fallout a 'Gut Punch': Jenny Sanford

SC first lady dishes on confessional press conference: 'way too long'

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:42 PM CST

(Newser) – Jenny Sanford continues to offer tantalizing glimpses into her relationship with South Carolina governor and soon-to-be ex-husband Mark Sanford and the fallout of his affair. Sanford sat down with Good Morning America and provided NPR with an excerpt of her new book, Staying True. Some quips and revelations:

  • The confessional press conference: Sanford continues to make short work of questions about why she didn't appear with her husband when he announced his affair. "I don't know what I would have stood by him about," she tells NPR.

  • The aftermath: "How'd I do?" Mark Sanford asked after the press conference. "Talk about another gut punch," she says. Want her opinion? "He did not say what I wished he had said. And frankly, from a political perspective, he talked way too long."
  • Yes, he's cheap: Well, frugal. One year, for her birthday and for Christmas he gave her two halves of a drawing of a bicycle. "And then he delivered the bike—it wasn't even a new bike. It was a $25 used purple bike."
  • The scandal has taken its toll: "You get one good shot to raise your kids," she tells GMA. "And we've had a lot of challenges thrown on our plate this year." But she's optimistic about her four sons. "My hope is in the long run they'll be better men for it, better husbands and fathers in the long run."

South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford, right, looks on as her husband Gov. Mark Sanford, takes a photo.
South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford, right, looks on as her husband Gov. Mark Sanford, takes a photo.   (AP Photo)
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GMA talks to Jenny Sanford.   (ABC News)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
fancygapva
Feb 9, 2010 12:48 PM CST
Bill and Hillary are not "together" and haven't been at least since he left the Whitehouse. Her home is in Long Island--I'm not sure where she stays in DC, but she travels so much it doesn't matter. There are no pictures of him at her Long Island home or any family gatherings except whenever she was campaigning and Chelsea and her dad were there with her. He lives in his "Office" in Manhattan and at his Library in Arkansas. If you believe that they are "together" you're gullable. Now, as for Jenny Sanford and her erstwhile husband. He did not cheat privately and there's no reason she should keep her mouth shut, anymore than Elizabeth Edwards (who stood by her man in public and look what it got her). I don't think that the institution of matrimony is worth a hoot, but most women married to powerful men would rather stand by them and hang onto the money and the power than have the integrity of Jenny Sanford or Elin Woods and publicly reject the treatment they have received. Of course, Elin is hanging onto a LOT of money, whichever way things go, so I don't see her as having the the same kind of integrity as Jenny Sanford.
hankhill
Feb 9, 2010 3:47 AM CST
jenny is a sad case but i did not like her interview at all i would have just left her.
shusss
Feb 9, 2010 3:34 AM CST
Gov. Sanford is a jerk (or worse) for what he did...but if you had seen her on the Jon Stewart show last night you would realize she is far from a sympathetic person. She comes off spoiled, snotty and elitist. Based on her behavior last night the only mistake her husband made was to not dump her before he started his tryst. Stewart tried hard, but there is little to like about her. BEFORE YOU START CONDEMNING MY COMMENTS, LOOK AT THE INTERVIEW!

More Newser Stories

Jenny Sanford to Pen 'Inspirational Memoir'

Jenny Sanford Files for Divorce

Jenny Sanford, Kids Move Out

Emails Don't Mention Sanford Affair; Critics Smell a Rat

How Sanford Can Get His Groove Back


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