So it shouldn't be a surprise that Mark Sanford (R/Lost in the Woods) defeated Elizabeth Colbert Busch last night by a rather large margin. Sanford claims to have been "born again" following his scandalous affair, his ridiculous attempted cover-up and glaring unexplained absence from office for five days while he was boinking his mistress on the public dime.
This is from today's Chicago Sun-Times:
"Sanford saw his political career disintegrate four years ago when he disappeared for five days, telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He returned to admit he had been in Argentina with his mistress -- a woman to whom he is now engaged. Sanford later paid a $70,000 ethics fine, the largest in state history, for using public money to fly for personal purposes. His wife, Jenny, divorced him.
"Sanford told a cheering crowd of more than 100 supporters after his election victory that he has experienced human grace as he came back from political scandal to rebuild his political career.
"He said that, unless you experience God's grace, you really don't get it and he says he didn't get it before when his career was sidelined by a scandal in which he admitted an extramarital affair."
By the grace of God, the shifty Governor has risen again! Hallelujah!
Maybe Sanford's constituents should send their prodigal son a trail map he can tuck into his Holy Bible. Or a compass. Or at least a handful of breadcrumbs. Washington DC is quite a hike from the hills of Appalachia. Sure would be sad if the little lamb found himself lost -- again.
