In my last blog, I gave pretty good marks to the apology that S.C. Governor Mark Sanford issued for his infidelity. I thought he spoke directly, took responsibility, and didn't try to blame anyone but himself.
It's not enough. His resignation as head of the Republican Governor's Association is on the right track but is insufficient.
Mark Sanford will find that to make his apology complete, he must resign as governor of South Carolina.
I predict he will resign in the days surrounding the July Fourth holiday.
I believe such a resignation is appropriate. Not because of his marital infidelity. That represents a betrayal of his wife and remains a private matter best resolved in the privacy of the relationship.
Resignation is appropriate because he betrayed the citizens of South Carolina. His deception about his whereabouts turned his staff into unsuspecting accomplices. Sanford's secret trip to Argentina can be considered a dereliction of duty. He has, to date, failed to apologize for these offenses to the citizens.
Sanford seems to be a thoughful man. I would have preferred he think out his apology before he gave his rambling statement, but that's another matter. I believe he will conclude that his behavior now makes his position as governor untenable. He will resign because as a thoughtful governor he will realize the truth of what I say in my book: you can't talk your way out of situation you acted your way into.
Governor Sanford's final act will be to resign his office.
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