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APPARENT COVER-UP FUELS HIKING STORY
With thousands of stories and hours of television coverage across the world, the odd story of South Carolina’s missing governor and his curious “hiking” alibi has become major national news.
Until late Monday, no one — including Mark Sanford’s family and staff — had any idea where the governor had been more more than five days. That left state officials wondering, “who is in charge?”
Sanford’s staff gave a number of conflicting stories before telling reporters that the governor had gone hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
And earlier today, I was on CNN to discuss the case and some of the inconsistencies in the story that Sanford was hiking (watch the video above).
Just prior to that, the Democratic National Committee did their things and released a humorous web ad titled “Where’s Sanford?” You can check out that clip by clicking here.
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UPDATE: Just did a call in with B106.7 in Columbia. Host Tony Clyburn’s opening question, “What is going on in our state? Are we still part of the U.S.?” For audio, click here.
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UPDATE 2: From WYFF-TV in Greenville under the headline “Sources question governor’s story”:
On Tuesday, sources told News 4’s Nigel Robertson that a state vehicle is missing and was tracked down, not to the Appalachian Trail, but to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta.
Sources told Robertson that a federal agent spotted Sanford in the airport boarding a plane. Robertson was told that the governor was not accompanied by security detail.
Hmm… Not sure what exactly to make of that. I guess someone has to go pick up the Suburban in Atlanta.
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UPDATE 3: CNN is reporting from Sullivans Island that Sanford’s wife Jenny still has not spoken with her husband, despite previous reports that she had.
“I am being a mom today,” she told CNN’s David Mattingly. “I have not heard from my husband. I am taking care of my children.”
Notice how she said “my” children. Ouch… maybe we have a little Jon and Kate Gosselin situation on our hands here in South Carolina.
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UPDATE 4: The Politico has a pretty good rundown on some of Sanford’s previous quirky moments:
As a member of Congress in the 1990s, he slept in his office to save money. Political insiders recount tales of his walking around barefoot in meetings in the state capitol and even doing sit-ups at odd times. During his State of State speech in 2006, he lost his train of thought and admitted he was daydreaming about a fishing trip with a pal.
Katon Dawson, the former state GOP chairman, recalled when Sanford disappeared from the Republican National Convention last year in St. Paul, Minn.
“He called me and said he was in back in South Carolina,” Dawson said. “He didn’t tell anybody.”
They posit that all of these, plus this latest stunt, will make Sanford the “odd man out” in the 2012 Republican Presidential Primary. We shall see.
What’s the name of Sanford’s girlfriend? My guess is Misty.
I hope he enjoys no longer being a fiscal conservative after paying Jenny that alimony.
I doubt foul play. I bet he flew to the start of the App Trail up north. Everyone needs to get off his back. He is a man and needs downtime just like the rest of us.
Any connection to Lindsay Graham’s odd hours and behaviors ?
One thing for sure, this Sanford supporter will never vote for Andre Bauer, even though I have given him money and voted for him in the past.
This is low down stuff.
Congratulations on a great segment, Adam. You looked good up there on National TV. Great Job!
Mr. Fogle, I know your credentials as an investigative journalist are about equal to obamas political career. So I would ask if you have examined other politicians “quirky” behaviors. There is NO story here. Our governor has had a tough session, a tough media on his back, and four young boys. Why wouldn’t he want a break on his own? I’m sure a kid that writes a blog part time and does extensive investigations into unimportant stories would understand the pressure. Again GROW UP!
Maybe Sanford left the state to get away from the thousands of families who will be forced to place their loved ones in institutions and unsafe workshops he allowed DDSN to buy with tens of millions of Medicaid dollars intended to provide services.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (FOX)
The mystery surrounding his whereabouts was called into question after Fox News reported he was visiting a friend in Nevada. Several sources within the infamous Bunny Ranch brothel in Carson City, Nevada stated the Governor was seen “in and out of the establishment over the last several days.”
http://sameritech.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/s-c-gov-mark-sanford-missing-at-nevada-bunny-ranch-brothel/
On Tuesday, sources told News 4’s Nigel Robertson that a state vehicle is missing and was tracked down, not to the Appalachian Trail, but to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta.
Sources told Robertson that a federal agent spotted Sanford in the airport boarding a plane. Robertson was told that the governor was not accompanied by security detail.
But sources told WYFF News 4 that the federal agent who spotted Sanford saw him at the Atlanta airport, which is about 80 miles from the start of the trail.
http://www.wyff4.com/news/19837234/detail.html
Adam….what a hack job! I’ll add this site to my list of “Trash Sites”. Why is it that so many people in SC are opposed to Mark Sanford? Could it be jealousy? This Jake Knotts guy and your Lt. Governor sound like little boys that are tattletails…..”Look Mommy, Mark isn’t sitting in the corner like you told him to”. You South Carolinians finally get a governor who has some real principles…someone you can be proud of, and the nut jobs down there jump all over him! What a joke! (posting by a true Reaganite, in Raleigh, NC)
[...] Palmetto Scoop has dubbed it “Waldogate”. And Gina Smith, a reporter for The State newspaper in Columbia got a few words out of the governor, prior to his 2PM news conference today. [...]
[...] AP investigation stems from the increased scrutiny of Sanford following his June disappearance and revelation of an affair with a woman in [...]