Gov. Sanford's Tidal Wave of Admissions: Irreconcilable Differences?

Mark Sanford's subsequent behavior and admissions since coming out about his extramarital affair have been bizarre. The media printed word for intimate word, the contents of an email sent to his mistress. Reading those words, one would believe he was smitten. I felt uneasy reading the tenderness of expressions that were not meant for me. It was an invasion of privacy and callous indiscretions brought to light.

In his own words, this woman is his soul mate and he is trying to fall back in love with his wife again. A member in the State's House said there's a difference between ignorance and plain stupidity. He further said the governor has shown his stupidity to the citizens of South Carolina and the world!

Gov. Sanford continues to apologize about his indiscretions and has become a blabbering idiot about his intense relationship with this woman. To sneak away from the responsibilities as a husband, father (during Father's Day weekend, at that), and head of the State of South Carolina for a rendezvous with your lover proclaims the intensity of their relationship without him saying another word.

Disclosing this information publicly does not make fertile soil for reconciliation with one's spouse. How disrespectful it is for him to swoon over his lover while the woman who helped get him where he is suffers in dignity?

In an attempt to be objective, he's making it extremely difficult with each passing day. One might think he wishes to publicly humiliate his wife by publicly declaring his affection for the other woman. It might seem he feels this behavior might destroy her self-esteem and seduce her into accepting him without hesitation. It sounds bizarre, I agree.

He has admitted to seeing her more than he had originally stated. This admission came after the Attorney General has ordered a review of his travel schedule. The latest reports have 10 members of his cabinent calling for his resignation.

America and other parts of the world watches as the palmetto fronds sway in the breeze at South Carolina's state capital in Columbia. The Honorable Mark Sanford is a dishonor to his family and office. The grounds for divorce need not state his occasional trysts' with another woman. Irreconciliable differences is widely used and acceptable. Mrs. Sanford would in essence be saying in a dignified manner, "I no longer wish to be married to a stupid man." Perhaps he is ignorant, too? I've often heard, "The ignorant are very expressive." That he is!

This commentary was suppose to end with the last paragraph but something occurred to me. Mrs. Sanford is a brilliant woman. Just suppose she's the one in control. Suppose she's given the Gov. Sanford an ultimatum and he's being forced to publicly humiliate himself further with his true confessions? Suppose she's having divorce papers drawn as he speaks.

I do not watch them but, this is the melodrama Reality Shows, Soap Operas, and the Jerry Springer Talk Show are made of. His conduct is unbelievable. He's confessing to inappropriate behavior with women other than his mistress. These are private matters and should be handled as such. Hasn't he heard the expression, "loose lips sink ships?"

2009 June by Avis Ward