Gov. Sanford of SC – to be replaced by “eccentric” Lt. Gov.?

“[Lt. Gov.] André Bauer … has somewhat eccentric behavior patterns … The prospect of him in the governor’s mansion has caused a lot of people who might otherwise pressure the governor to resign not to do so.” – James L. Guth, a political scientist at Furman University (Greenville, SC)

Well, we may already be violating our statement of critiquing quotes from “celebrities”, but the above quote is related to issues regarding the recently-discovered transgressions of the governor of South Carolina. This deep-South gubernatorial kerfuffle has certainly risen to celebrity-like levels, so we will give it the “ONYDST” treatment. What is shocking is that, despite the governor’s awful judgement, clear deception and rampant hypocrisy, there is a current of thought in SC that Lieutenant Governor André Bauer (R) would be a lousy alternative.

Just to recap briefly, it is now common knowledge that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (R) was involved in an at-least one year affair [Update: "crossed lines" with other women; had "some kind of connection" with Argentinian woman in 2001] with an Argentinian woman and returned last week from a seven-day disappearance that had left staffers, reporters, and voters scratching their heads over the governor’s whereabouts. Though Sanford has been contrite and stated, “What I did was wrong. Period,” there have been calls for his resignation from state lawmakers in both parties.

However, there seems to be a level of unease about the prospect of Lt. Governor Bauer assuming the role of governor. Mr. Guth says, “It’s a much larger factor than anybody’s willing to state publicly.” Bauer has had some notable run-ins with the law, at least as far as his driving skills. According to his driving record with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Bauer has had at least two accidents, four tickets and one suspended license for failure to pay a ticket, including an incident where an officer drew his gun after the lieutenant governor began heading towards the officer’s cruiser in an “aggressive manner” (he was subsequently issued a ticket for reckless driving). Bauer was also apparently pulled over for speeding over 100 mph in Chester County, South Carolina in a state-issued car, but was allowed to proceed without a ticket or warning.

While none of these incidents disqualify Bauer from becoming the chief executive of the Palmetto State, the current situation is causing people “in-the-know” in South Carolina to engage in an excrutiating “lesser of two evils” debate. Do you give the benefit of the doubt to a sitting governor that went AWOL on his constituents on an adulterous tryst and whose actions have raised questions about state-paid travel expenses? Or take a leap of faith on a young lieutenant governor whose has exhibited “eccentric behavior” in the past and who’s potential ascension to governor would “allow a disaster to be replaced with catastrophe”, says an aide to attorney general Henry McMaster (R)?

These issues are obviously for the citizens, elected officials, and other authorities in South Carolina to decide, but for airing what could be construed by many as some of the state’s dirty political laundry, we say to Professor Guth:

“Oh no you didn’t say that!”