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GOVERNOR AGAIN PICKS FIGHT WITH MEDIA AT CONWAY PRESSER
During the third leg of his bizarre “I’m Not Guilty” tour, Gov. Mark Sanford Friday said he had nothing to hide and agreed to waive confidentiality in a state ethics probe into possible violations.
The announcement came during a press conference in Conway — Sanford’s third in three days — in which the embattled governor addressed allegations that he misused taxpayer funds and violated state travel laws.
“In the continued spirit of a fair and transparent process, I am today announcing that I’ll be waiving confidentiality as the Ethics Commission studies some of the allegations made in the press and by political detractors,” Sanford said, noting that he has been a champion of transparency, including signing a Campaign Finance Reform bill in 2003. “Our administration has nothing to hide. We would welcome the public to scrutinize our record, just as the Ethics Commission will do.”
The governor was unaware, “to my knowledge,” whether or not the State Ethics Commission had commenced and investigation.
Sanford said the independent Legislative Audit Committee previously cleared his travel expenditures in 2002 and 2004, during which business class tickets were purchased. State Sen. David Thomas (R-Greenville) has charged that, multiple times, the governor broke a state law requiring travel be done at the lowest rate possible.
The governor also called on legislators to embrace his new-found transparency in the matter, which he said they haven’t done in the past, by allowing the Ethics Commission to investigate them in the future.
“Ethics investigations involving members of the General Assembly are conducted entirely by the members of the General Assembly themselves, not by an outside Ethics Commission,” said Sanford. “And such investigations are done entirely in secret, with the results very rarely known.”
Added the governor, “I welcome the taxpayers of South Carolina getting a clear view of everything our Administration has done with regarding to treatment of tax dollars. I would urge the members of the General Assembly to join this effort at greater transparency and agree to open up all future ethics matters relating to the conduct of members of the House and Senate.”
Sanford also used the presser to once again blast members of the media, which have relentlessly pursued him since his June disappearance and revelation of an affair with an Argentine woman.
“One of the disappointing things that I’ve seen in several instances over the last 60 days of my life as I’ve been through this thing is that, in some cases, it’s not been about objective journalism, it’s been about advocacy journalism with an agenda,” Sanford said, adding that, if not reported properly, the situation could become “a circus, a Mickey Mouse court.”
The governor challenged “my friends in the media to really look at, what are the real facts in this case? What is the larger context in this case? And to lay that out”
Sanford specifically targeted The State newspaper and reporter John O’Connor, which he said failed to air his side of the argument and five pages worth of data that he claimed cleared his name.
“Since y’all may have missed it yesterday, John, can I give it you again?” Sanford said holding up a copy of Friday’s paper.
When pressed at the end of the conference by O’Connor to take questions, Sanford said, “John, we’re not going to play your game. I don’t work for you John, I don’t work for you.”
Let’s see, legislature appoints the GA ethics cmt and the Governor appoints members of the Ethics Comm. So not really sure what Sanford’s argument is here. Also, no Governor you don’t work for The State News, you work for the people of this state, and the people of this state deserve respect, straight answers, and you not making an absolute mockery out of this office. Be an adult, stop blaming everyone else and please be a man and resign.
Here’s my Hero
Here’s the only man in South Carolina with some balls.
Let’s give a big round of applause for Jeff Horne.
God Bless Jeff Horne!
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CONWAY, S.C. — A man walked into a Lions Club meeting uninvited and told South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford he should resign.
It happened Friday in Conway, shortly after Sanford told reporters he will allow any Ethics Commission investigation into his travels to be public. Jeff Horne of Myrtle Beach entered the meeting room at the back of a steak house and told Sanford that while he forgives the governor, his actions are “totally unacceptable.”
The 31-year-old man was escorted out of the meeting attended by about 50 people. Sanford said Horne was entitled to his opinion but he believes most people in South Carolina want to move on.
http://www.islandpacket.com/1493/story/948584.html
From Fits news comments this AM:
I have it on very good authority that the Bauer people have consulted a well known lawyer to find ways to “finesse” over 70 private airplane flights which have not been disclosed to the Ethics Commission.
Is this true?
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