Sanford censured by state party

The S.C. Republican Party state executive committee talked for three hours on June 6, and ended up voting to censure Gov. Mark Sanford for disappearing for six days and having an affair with international businesswoman Maria Belén Chapur.

Karen Floyd, the SCGOP chair, said following the vote, “The events of the past two weeks have been as divisive as they have been disappointing for Republicans. But today has brought a large measure of resolution to a sad chapter in our state party’s history. Republicans came together to speak with a unified voice, and now is the time for healing. Now is the time for healing for the Sanford family. We must pray for them – Mark, Jenny and their four beautiful boys. Now is the time for healing for the Republican Party. We must hold true to our core beliefs and re-commit to being Republican now more than ever before. And now is the time for healing for our great state. The task ahead of us is tall. But as Ronald Reagan said, the best days are ahead of us. We are now united and we pledge to focus our energy and efforts on finding conservative solutions to the challenges facing South Carolina.”

The censure resolution said:

Whereas, the South Carolina Republican Party adopts this Resolution of Censure as a unified expression of the Party’s opinion in the recent matter relating to Governor Marshall Clement Sanford, Jr.; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Republican Party adheres to a set of core principles and beliefs, primarily but not exclusively expressed in our Platform; and

Whereas, the revelations regarding Governor Sanford’s private and public conduct demonstrate repeated failures to act in accordance with these core principles and beliefs; and

Whereas, Governor Sanford’s conduct, in addition to falling below the standards expected of Republican elected officials, has breached the public’s trust and confidence in his ability to effectively perform the duties of his office; and

Whereas, a formal admonishment by the South Carolina Republican Party is appropriate and necessary and, barring further revelations, will be the Party’s last word on the matter;

Therefore, be it resolved, that the South Carolina Republican Party does, with great regret, censure Governor Mark Sanford for his recent conduct.

Finally, and thank God for this, it looks like the SCGOP has finally decided that Sanford is a horrible representation of the state party. However, it doesn’t look like Sanford is going to take any clues from the vote.

“It’s difficult to tell whether the resolution will influence the governor, who continues to resist calls for him to step aside, including those from members of his party. One Republican official who spoke to Sanford on Monday told CNN that the governor dismissed resigning, calling it ‘the easy way out.’”