Jenny Sanford Statement

Statement from First Lady Jenny Sanford

Columbia, S.C. – July 2, 2009- The last week has been very painful for me, my
family and for the people of South Carolina. However, throughout this terrible
ordeal, the incredible outpouring of kindness, support, and prayer I’ve received
from countless friends and folks I have never even met has been truly uplifting.
I appreciate that more than I can say. Please know that my sons and I are doing
fine, given the circumstances. We are surrounded by friends and family, and we
will make it through this. I believe it is how we respond to the challenges we
face in life, and what we learn from them, that is most telling about who we
truly are.

There is no question that Mark’s behavior is inexcusable. Actions have
consequences and he will be dealing with those consequences for a long while.
Trust has been broken and will need to be rebuilt. Mark will need to earn back
that trust, first and foremost with his family, and also with the people of
South Carolina.

The real issue now is one of forgiveness. I am willing to forgive Mark for his
actions. We have been deeply disappointed in and even angry at Mark. The Bible
says, “In your anger do not sin.” (Psalm 4:4) In this situation, this speaks to
the essence of forgiveness and the critical need to channel one’s energy into
positive steps that uphold the dignity of marriage and the family, and lead to
reconciliation over time. My forgiveness is essential for us both to move on
with our lives, with peace, in whatever direction that may take us.

Desmond Tutu said “forgiveness is the grace by which you enable the other person
to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew.” Forgiveness opens the door
for Mark to begin to work privately, humbly and respectfully toward
reconciliation with me. However, to achieve true reconciliation will take time,
involve repentance, and will not be easy.

Mark showed a lack of judgment in his recent actions as governor. However, his
far more egregious offenses were committed against God, the institutions of
marriage and family, our boys and me. Mark has stated that his intent and
determination is to save our marriage, and to make amends to the people of South
Carolina. I hope he can make good on those intentions, and for the sake of our
boys I leave the door open to it. In that spirit of forgiveness, it is up to the
people and elected officials of South Carolina to decide whether they will give
Mark another chance as well.

The following can be attributed to Joel Sawyer:

We’re pleased that SLED has concluded its review, which confirms what we’ve said
from day one * no public money was used in relation to the governor’s admitted
marital infidelity. This issue is behind us once and for all.

Now that SLED has finished its review, we believe it appropriate to also release
the governor’s personal travel records to the media, so that there can be full
and complete disclosure and transparency.

Those records are attached, with personal identifying information and
information unrelated to this travel redacted.

Please Answer These Questions

I am trying to get a handle on demographics. I would really appreciate the answers to these polls. The results are confidential. It would help a lot!
Happy 4th!

Thanks a lot!

Time has Come Today

I have strayed from national politics because I feel I am so often preaching to the choir. I get hundreds of e-mails a week telling me how it’s all over and why.
I would argue that it’s not.
Up until this week, Barry has been living a “We Are the World” life, although the next line, “We are the children” might be more appropriate.
Up until now, Americans have been lulled into thinking that it’s okay (Boy, that stimulus bill worked like a charm, didn’t it?)
I keep saying that things have gotten to the point that the Average American is feeling pinched and is somewhat reluctant to embrace the maw of unrestrained federal government and the dictatorship of the masses. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue.
Even the press is starting to catch on.

I got an e-mail from an old friend from Charlotte who forwarded this e-mail. The video is an old one, but the sentiments are timeless:
“Sorry folks..I don’t usually send out political stuff to the great number of my contact “list….just a few…anyway this one just can’t be believed…we are in a most sad state if any of it is true…”
The original message:
This was received from a long-time internet friend in response the video I sent a few days ago, titled: Government Gangsters—-UNBELIEVABLE !
If anyone can watch this video and not become upset with what is going on in Washington, I simply do not know what it would take !!!!
I know I sometimes chide you for being politically biased, Carl, but this is really not a political issue. It is an American issue…period.

Some of the posted comments in response to this video are patently offensive, but the idea that this person (in this video) is in charge of monitoring our/your money & can’t answer the most basic questions about where it is going & what it is going for is pretty damned scary. This is neither a Republican nor Democrat, Left nor Right, Liberal nor Conservative issue. It is simply one of the survival of the United States of America and the raping of our wallets by the illegal, privately held & secretly run organization called the Federal Reserve. Is it too late for us? If not, let’s all get our dead asses out of our E-Z-Boys and start the revolution rolling before it IS too late!!! Please forward this to any of your contacts who actually care about their future and the future of the would-be-overburdened generations to follow us. Maybe something will actually happen to prevent the inevitable collapse of our economy and our nation!

SENDER: (Censored)

“We are the World” was a Michael Jackson creation. The King of Pop died broke. By the way, how’d that feeding Africa thing go?
We have time to turn this around, but not much time. If we lose this country, it’s because we sat on our fat asses and decided we’d let somebody else do it. We have very little time to educate people on what this country is supposed to be about. If we lose, the “Noble Experiment “is over.

Elizabeth: The Stem Cell Debate…

Imagine for a moment, if you will, that you are paralyzed. Now imagine that there could be a chance for you to be mobile once again, possibly within the next decade.
Except there is a problem.
The very thing that could be the building block of your cure has been outlawed–embryonic stem cells.

For the last eight years, until just this past March, scientists, doctors and patients have been battling this ban that was based upon a hypocrisy of faith. It is clear that many faiths believe that to destroy an embryo is to destroy a life—that no matter when a human identity is formed, the potential for life is apparent even when cells begin to merge. This particular thought process is all well and good for these ardent defenders of life until we delve just a little deeper.

The process of In Vitro Fertilization recently celebrated its 30th birthday. For thirty years, IVF has given countless couples the ability to fulfill their dreams of parenthood. Who among us would deign to take away that magnificent gift from these joyful couples? Well, anyone who believes that life begins at conception, that’s who.

According to this same line of faith, IVF should be abolished. Embryos are created with the knowledge that most will either be frozen indefinitely, be thrown away, or die with the other two or three rejected implantations. Currently there is estimated to be four-hundred thousand frozen embryos stored around the world. That is 400,000 frozen potential lives. What are we to do?

Scientists believe that only about 25% of these long-frozen embryos would survive the thaw process. So, essentially, 300,000 potential lives have already been destroyed. Why is there not an outcry from the religious leaders about this staggering number?

If a couple has decided not to utlize their remaining embryos, why not (with their consent) allow those embryos to potentially save a life rather than expire in a freezer and be completely for naught?

I, as well as our President, do understand that this research must also be carefully guarded and supervised to avoid issues such as human cloning. We can all agree that the road must be clear of those hazards, but we cannot, in good conscience, prohibit the possibility of immeasurable help and healing simply out of fear.

When President Obama lifted the ban on embryonic stem cell research, he said, “I can also promise that we will never undertake this research lightly. We will support it only when it is both scientifically worthy and responsibly conducted. We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse. And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society.”

Perhaps we can agree to disagree on the idea of when life begins, but let us work for the greater good by allowing the injured and diseased the chance to, once again, be whole and healed.