Gov. Mark Sanford's press conference yesterday reminded me (as sex scandals often do) of a quote from Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre:

"I had not, it seems, the originality to chalk out a new road to shame and destruction, but trode the old track with stupid exactness not to deviate an inch from the beaten centre."

Speaking of Sanford, posters at The Corner are arguing, here and here, over Chuck Colson's definition of integrity and how it applies to this situation.

(Image © Str/Reuters/Corbis)

Comments

[Stephen]

There are several arguments as to why Sanford should step down, not the least of which is the fact that he was one of the House Managers in the Clinton impeachment effort. If you lead the charge on that, don't live in a glass house.

And South Carolinians are within their rights to ask why he risked so much of the Governorship's prestige, why he irresponsibly left his post for a week, etc.

But all of these reasons are outgrowths of the main problem, namely the mental effects of immoral behavior. Quite simply, he has shown a penchant lately to act in a delusional manner. For example, his press secretary today is in the papers saying that the Governor was "taken aback" at all the media attention over this.

What did he expect?

When a public official has a mental state that allows him to exercise this kind of poor judgment, how can the public really trust him with running a state?

[vikingmother]

I saw a lengthy comment by this Gov. on Fox last nite...apparently some Christian friends are gently working with him on this issue...and have been for some time.

We will see if he is ready to follow through on the hard but good road of reconciliation with his wife, etc.

The governmental people will deal with him if it is shown he used govt resources to further his affair...

The votors will deal with him if they do not think he should continue in his post...

Anyway, I pray the man fully comes to (or back to) God.

And - yet again - persons in such vulnerable positions need to really be vulnerable to---solid persons who will hold them accountable for their actions.

I remember reading Mr. Colson's book years back about his prayer group during his Watergate troubles & later imprisonment and then later work...This group of MEN (with vastly differing political backgrounds) seemed to be an incredibly STRONG group surrounding Mr. Colson---as we can see the many positive fruits of his (and their) work and ministry to this day.

Anyone here who hasn't read Mr. Colson's book BORN AGAIN should find & read it. The accountability practices he put in place seem to be well worth imitating for EVERYONE in power!

[Ellen]

Just got wind of this downfall. How sad that Gov. Sandford stated that it started "innocently, as these things often do". I recently and unwittingly slid down the slippery slope of an emotional entanglement through Facebook Chat. Get this, it was with a high school buddy of my husband's; I started chatting with him to find out if he had info about any 20 high school reunion that might be happening - now we probably won't go to the reunion. There's some irony for you.

One to one communication between a man and woman is dangerous - it leads to emotional connection that, as Chuck Colson stated in Friday's commentary, cannot be controlled by reason. I just watched Gov. Sandford's press conference with horror. I was recently on the same road he traveled down, fortunately I cried out to God when I had some glimpses that my life was derailed; He rescued me from the trap I was in. I thank Him for His grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion as well as my Christian community that has agreed to walk with me and hold me accountable.