THE GOP & RACISM...AGAIN

After years of trying to shake their long held racist image, the GOP is at it again.  First, they collectively take the odd position to fight against the first hispanic nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, and now they're caught stirring racist humor against African-Americans via Facebook.

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Audra Shay, Vice-Chair of the Young Republicans and leading candidate to be elected Chairman on Saturday, is now the latest in a growing list of GOP officials learning the "race lesson" the hard way.  On Wednesday, Shay, a 38-year old army veteran, mother and event planner from Louisiana who was endorsed by Gov. Bobby Jindal, was caught holding court on her Facebook page. Shay initiated a political conversation by posting that “WalMart just signed a death warrant by endorsing Obama’s healthcare plan.” Soon after, her friend Eric S. Piker responded by saying “It’s the government making us commies… can’t even smoke in my damn car… whats next they going to issue toilet paper once a month… tell us how to wipe our asses…”  Two minutes later, Piker posted again saying “Obama Bin Lauden [sic]  is the new terrorist… Muslim is on there side [sic]… need to take this country back from all of these mad coons… and illegals.” A few minutes after that, Shay gave approval to Piker’s comments by saying  “You tell em Eric!  lol.”

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Needless to say, a slew of pro and con comments ensued, most of which took issue with Piker's racist use of the word "coon" and Shay's eventual agreement.  Derek Moss was among the first to respond, saying “What’s disheartening is the use of the word “coon” in 2009. Wow… I’m usually out-numbered about 500-to-1 on Audra’s threads so go ahead, lemme have it, I deserve it.”  Soon after, Piker took the bait saying “This is still America… freedom of speech and thought is still allowed… for now any ways… and the last time i checked I was a good ole southern boy… and if yur ass is black don’t let the sun set on it in a southern town…”  In the interest of damage control Shay deleted the controversial exchanges from her page (but not before screen shots were taken) and tried to extinguish the fire internally.  She posted a Facebook update stating that neither she nor her Young Republican colleagues “condones the use of racial slurs on my wall…. It is not right to nor appropriate to talk that way and will not be accepted!” 

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Although the exchanges on Shay’s page might be dismissed as an isolated ugly incident, there seems to be a pattern emerging from the fringe of the GOP.  Three weeks ago, former South Carolina state election director and Richmond County GOP Chair Rusty DePass "joked" on his Facebook page that First Lady Michelle Obama was the descendant of a gorilla missing from a local zoo.  Only a few days later, Tennessee state legislative aide Sherri Goforth sent an email labeled "Historical Keepsake" which contained portraits of all the U.S. President's and a pair of white eyes peering out from a black background to symbolize President Obama.  When confronted, the aide to State Senator Diane Black only regretted sending the image to the wrong email list and carried no remorse beyond that.  And of course, we all remember Chip Saltzman’s bid to be RNC Chair and his parody CD featuring the song “Barack the Magic Negro.”
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Lenny McAllister, founder of the black conservative site HipHopRepublican.com  is embarrassed and disheartened by the actions of his party, saying “It seems like some of us Republicans are taking our conservative message, mixing it with personal prejudices and racist views, and calling it patriotism.  You can cover cyanide with chocolate, but you still can't call it candy.”

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PALIN IS DONE!

Although numerous Republican pundits who heartily backed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 2008 have been trying to argue that her surprise resignation would help her in a Presidential bid in 2012, the Weekly Standard's Fred Barnes had a different take:

Forget about Sarah Palin as the Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and probably ever. She may have no interest in seeking the GOP nomination. But if she does, her chances of winning the nomination have been minimized by her decision to resign as governor of Alaska. She's knocked out one of three legs of the presidential stool and a second one is wobbly.

In response to Barnes' comments, Steve Benen of The Washington Monthly had this to say: "When a shameless Republican cheerleader like Barnes believes Palin has done serious damage to her own, brief career in politics, it's a strong hint that Friday's bizarre announcement hasn't been well received among party sycophants."
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Truer words have never been spoken.  Even the usually Republican-friendly FOX NEWS took a jab at Sarah Palin, when commentator  Liz Trotta went off message to say "the woman is inarticulate, undereducated."  Ouch!  WATCH:
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SEN. FRANKEN SWORN IN

After an 8 month delay from a tightly contested race last November, Minnesota finally has full representation on Capitol Hill.  Democrat Al Franken was declared the official winner and was sworn in yesterday, giving Democrats a 60 seat filibuster proof majority.  Putting all jokes aside, Franken, the former comedian and Saturday Night Live performer, said he is ready for the challenge and looking forward to getting right to work for the people of his state.  The 58 year old Franken was escorted to the Senate floor by fellow Minnesotan and former Vice-President Walter Mondale, and will serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the Special Committee on Aging, and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

READ FULL STORY HERE!

OKWASSUP!

The King of Pop Michael Jackson will be mourned in funeral services today in Los Angeles.  Virtually every major network plans live coverage of the event, which should effectively preempt most other news of the day.  In light of this fact, we too will pause today in reverence to perhaps the greatest entertainer EVER.  RIP Michael Jackson.

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AL FRANKEN is expected to be sworn in today as the Democratic U.S. Senator from Minnesota.  This comes after an 8 month battle between Franken and the former incumbent Senator, Republican Norm Coleman, with just over 300 votes preventing a clear winner being named last November.  Franken will give Democrats the coveted 60 seat filibuster proof majority, paving the way for the likely swift confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court, among other issues.

The Republican Party of South Carolina met yesterday to decide just how to handle the embarrassing situation regarding Gov. Mark Sanford.  In light of the fact that he may have used state funds for his trips to tryst with his mistress in Argentina, Republicans had the option to reprimand the Governor or begin full blown impeachment proceedings. In the end, they decided to censure Sanford.

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I QUIT!

WHAT IN THE HELL IS SARAH PALIN THINKING???  After only two and a half years on the job of her first term, the scattered Republican Governor of Alaska announced Friday she will call it quits and resign her post at the end of this month. 

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Let me say it again:  WHAT IN THE HELL IS SARAH PALIN THINKING???  During the swiftly scheduled press conference in front of her Wasilla home on a slow news day, with low attendance, and less than 24 hours before the start of 4th of July celebrations throughout the country, Palin delivered an unprepared statement on why she's quitting.  She attempted to use a basketball reference and rambled aimlessly on her trying to be a point guard for her "team" (the GOP) but not being appreciated, even saying she's fed up with the "superficial, wasteful, political blood sport".  In her trademark folksy tone, Palin said:  "I polled the most important people in my life, my kids, where the count was unanimous.  Well, in response to asking, 'Hey, you want me to make a positive difference and fight for all our children's future from outside the governor's office?' it was four yeses and one 'Hell, yeah!' And the 'Hell, yeah' sealed it." 

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So exactly why is Sarah Palin quitting?  There are really only two possible reasons:

1.   She's legitimately tired of the spotlight

2.   She's preparing to run for higher office

Let's explore.  Number 1, Sarah Palin tired of the spotlight?  Hardly.  Moving on!  Number 2, she's preparing to run for higher office.  Now this is more likely, since everything she's done following her loss to Obama-Biden last November points to a future run.   Besides, she used her resignation remarks as a hint, even misquoting Douglas McArthur by saying "We're not retreating; we are advancing in another direction."  But this is where things get tricky.  Why would a 1st term Governor, who's been accused of having very little political knowledge or elected experience, quit her one major elected position as Governor just so she can run for higher office in the future?  Well, that's good ol' you-betcha Sarah Palin for you.  And it's the million dollar question political pundits from both major parties have been scratching their heads over in utter confusion. 

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Karl Rove, the former George W. Bush political cronie who orchestrated both of his runs for President, said the Palin resignation was risky, left her vulnerable to her critics, and would damage her chances of becoming President.   "When you're a sitting governor, you have the tactical advantage if you're thinking about running for president of turning down a lot of things with an excuse that people will accept. 'I've got a job to do as governor.' She's now removed that. Now the expectations are going to be she's going to be fully available, she's going to be able to come to the lower 48, and she's going to be able to do whatever people ask her to do. And that's going to be a problem. It raises the expectations. It's also unclear what her strategy is. Again, she said she wanted to lead effective change outside of government. Well, now people will be saying what is it you mean by that and how are you demonstrating effective leadership for change around America? I'm like Governor [Mike] Huckabee. I'm a fan of Sarah Palin's, but the effective strategies in politics are ones that are so clear and obvious that people can grasp it."  You know things must be pretty bad when Karl "toe-the-GOP-line"  Rove totally pans the political choice of a fellow Republican.  

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So again:  WHAT IN THE HELL IS SARAH PALIN THINKING???  The truth of the matter is it's likely no one really knows.  But for a woman who frequently crashed and burned right before our very eyes on national television last fall, it appears this is her way of gearing up for a future run and a likely repeat performance of unbelievable failure.

EDITOR'S NOTE:   Watch for our special SARAH PALIN TRIBUTE, on Friday, July 31st, her last day in office.

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PLEASE GO AWAY!

Amid his brutally honest, almost "TMI" detailed confessions of infidelity, Republicans are said to be totally fed up with Gov. Mark Sanford and his shenanigans, and are pressing him to step down.  In a story posted yesterday on POLITICO, South Carolina's Republicans say they have had it up to here with the lame duck Sanford, and for the good of the party they want him to go away...YESTERDAY!  Here are excepts from the story:

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Gov. Mark Sanford’s long and emotional interview with The Associated Press Tuesday appears to have been the final straw for South Carolina’s Republican establishment, much of which is now actively seeking his resignation.

While Sanford seemed to have weathered the storm in the brutal days immediately following his admission of an affair with an Argentine woman, his support has cratered in the wake of the AP interview in which he talked of his “tragic” and “forbidden” love for his “soul mate,” and admitted to having “crossed lines” with a handful of other women.

Fourteen GOP state senators — more than half the Senate Republican caucus — have already called for Sanford’s resignation, joining a list that, as of Wednesday afternoon, included 11 Republican members of the state House and six of the state's biggest newspapers.

And three leading South Carolina Republican officeholders, including the state’s two U.S. senators, called Sanford today for what sources close to the lawmakers described as frank conversations about the governor’s ability to carry out his job.

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With so many Republican turning against Sanford almost by the minute, it seems illogical he can be at all effective in successfully serving out the remaining 18 months of his term.  His agenda would become frozen and would not at all serve the people of his state.  And a pending inquiry into allegations Sanford utilized state funds for his travel expenses to visit his mistress in Buenos Aires will only create further distractions. Republicans feel Sanford would best be served by dedicating this time to his personal and family life, not political office.  They also note if Sanford were to step down,  Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, a fellow Republican, would be promoted, allowing him a free ride to set his own agenda and prepare for a run of his own for the office next year. 

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CHANGE...?

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WHAT FAMILY VALUES?

After Gov. Mark Sanford embarrassed the GOP with yet another scandal involving sex and/or marital infidelity, Republican bigwigs are behind the scenes reconsidering how strongly the party should emphasize morality and religion in the future.

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For the past several decades, Republicans have played up issues like respect for the sanctity of marriage, no sex before marriage, relationships are meant to be between a man and a woman, and "Family Values" as their core political platform.  This narrow approach attracted Christian conservatives to the party by the boatload and created a very pointed difference between Republicans and Democrats.  But a series of sex scandals involving high-profile officials, has made the GOP appear like a party of hypocrites, forcing Republican strategists to question if the party should take a second look at how it emphasizes such matters.

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JUNE 11, 2007:   Republican Congressman Larry Craig of Idaho, was arrested for lewd homosexual acts in a men's restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

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JULY 9, 2007:   Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, apologized after his name and telephone number appeared as an active client in the phone records of the woman dubbed the "D.C. Madam."

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SEPTEMBER 1, 2008:   Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin announced that her 17 year old daughter Bristol, had engaged in pre-marital sex and was 5 months pregnant out of wedlock.

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JUNE 16, 2009:   Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada, announced that he was having an extra-marital affair with a woman on his campaign staff, who just happened to be the wife of his longtime friend and Administrative Assistant.

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JUNE 24, 2009:   Republican Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina calls a press conference to explain his 5 day absence from governing his state --- he was visiting his mistress in Argentina.

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The GOP has placed itself on an extreme moral high ground, which has played directly to the interests of conservatives, particularly in the south.  But how can Republicans continue to preach "Family Values" when its own members continuously fail to live up to their own mantra?  They can't continue to be the "Morality Police" if they can't keep up with their own rules.  Said one Republican official:  "We have placed the bar so high, we have that much farther to fall."  Perhaps it’s time for Republicans to put an end to their hypocritical "holier-than-thou" image and stop trying to measure up to a misplaced and self-imposed Judeo-Christian rule of law in modern day politics.

READ FULL STORY HERE!

SEN. AL FRANKEN!

After nearly an 8 month legal battle that cost millions to stage and left a state without proper representation on Capitol Hill, Al Franken can finally add a coveted title to his name --- SENATOR.

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On Tuesday, former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman conceded the race he fought every legal battle to hold on to, making way for Sen. Al Franken to be certified and sworn-in.  Coleman admitted further litigation is only hurtful to his state, and that he is at peace with his decision to step aside and allow Franken, who won by only 312 votes, to be seated.  With Sen. Al Franken, the Democrats now have the filibuster proof 60 seat Senate they have long wished for.  WATCH:

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'PRETTY-PLEASE, CAN I GO SEE MY MISTRESS?'

GRAB A LATTE AND HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS ONE...

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We all now know that Republican Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, recently admitted to abandoning his state for 5 days so he could go have an extra-marital tryst with his "chick-on-the-side" in Argentina.  But what we didn't know is that after the Governor's wife found out about the affair but forgave and tried to work on the marriage, Sanford had the unmitigated gall to repeatedly beg his wife to allow him to go visit his Buenos Aires mistress!

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South Carolina's  First Lady Jenny Sanford went public over the weekend, recalling how her husband continuously asked permission to visit his lover for months and months after she discovered his affair.  “I said absolutely not. It’s one thing to forgive adultery; it’s another thing to condone it,” Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press during a 20-minute interview, which were her first official comments on the affair.  Mrs. Sanford said that when her husband inexplicably disappeared last week, she hoped he had gone hiking on the Appalachian Trail, which is the official tale his staff told anyone who inquired about his absence.  But when she realized he had gone AWOL to Argentina to see the other woman, she was stunned.  “He was told in no uncertain terms not to see her,” Jenny Sanford said in a strong, steady voice. “I was hoping he was on the Appalachian Trail. But I was not worried about his safety. I was hoping he was doing some real soul searching somewhere but was devastated to find out it was Argentina. It’s tragic.”

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The "other woman" has now been identified as María Belén Chapur, a journalist and translator of English for the Argentine television station Canal America.  Mrs. Sanford discovered the affair after finding an explicit letter the Governor had written to Ms. Chapur several months ago.  But even after being told of the affair, Mrs. Sanford believed her marriage and family was salvageable --- that is until the Governor started asking her permission if he could remain married to her but still go fool around with his girlfriend. “I had every hope he was not going to see her,” the First Lady said after her husband's odd disappearance over Father's Day weekend.  “When I found out in January, we both indicated a willingness to continue working on the marriage, but there’s not room for three people in a marriage. You would think that a father who didn’t have contact with his children, if he wanted those children, he would toe the line a little bit,” she said.  But he did not.

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Some Republican leaders have called for Sanford to resign, but he refuses. Some lawmakers and watchdog groups are even pressing for investigations into whether he improperly used state money to pay for his many trips to Argentina.  But utilizing every excuse from "not being a quitter" to quoting the story of King David, Sanford has sinned, but continues to try and brush the entire episode under the rug and hope against hope it is quickly forgotten.

READ FULL STORY HERE!

THE DAILY SHOW MOCKS SANFORD

Leave it to Jon Stewart of the popular Comedy Central program THE DAILY SHOW to shed a bit of comic relief on the Gov. Mark Sanford infidelity scandal.  WATCH:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Governor Mark Sanford's Affair
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

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GAY ADVOCATES TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE

Advocates for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender rights have been very critical lately of President Obama for failing to keep campaign promises to help advance their cause. So the President has responded by inviting LGBT leaders to an East Room reception today to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the 1969 Greenwich Village demonstrations which is responsible for the modern gay rights movement.  Although the White House has not publicized the reception, gay leaders from around the country acknowledged they  received either telephone calls or written invitations to the event directly from the White House, and were told Mr. Obama is expected to speak.
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In related news, 77 members of Congress sent a letter to the White House urging the President to take the lead on the "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" military policy, by issuing an immediate moratorium on further gay discharges. Following the moratorium, Congress would then have time to repeal the controversial law by legislation on its own schedule.  This will almost certainly come up during today's meeting between the President and Gay Advocates, which incidentally coincides with the final day of GAY PRIDE celebrations throughout the country.

READ FULL STORY HERE!

JIB JAB'S OBAMA

Popular comedic site JibJab.com, known for it's politcal ribbing of everyone from George W. Bush to Sarah Palin, have now introduced a new parody of President Obama.  There stuff is usually pretty funny, and this one is quite entertaining.  WATCH:

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GONE TOO SOON...

MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON

August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

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MORE PHOTOS AND VIDEO TRIBUTE BELOW

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I HAVE SINNED!

OKWASSUP!  has been closely  following the strange disappearance of Republican SC Gov. Mark Sanford over the weekend.  At first many called it "much ado about nothing,"  saying the Governor would simply return to work after a weekend break. But nothing could have been further from the truth as one could have never predicted the events of yesterday, when Gov. Sanford admitted to infidelity.

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After being AWOL for nearly 5 days, when his own staff and even his own wife said they had no idea where he was, Gov. Sanford appeared before the media and turned the press podium into a make-shift confessional.  He admitted that he had not been away hiking as was originally reported, but that he had traveled to Argentina to visit his mistress, with whom he has been having an affair with for quite some time.  And if you thought you heard a sonic boom at the very moment of his announcement, it was merely the screams and moans from disappointed Republicans across the country as they watched in disbelief the demise of yet another one of their own.  (EDITOR'S NOTE:  Just one week ago, GOP Sen. John Ensign of Nevada also admitted that he was involved in an extra-marital affair with a former campaign staffer, who happened to be the wife of his own Administrative Assistant).
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There are several things wrong with the Sanford story beyond the obvious angle.  First, Gov. Sanford abandoned his state, which is a big NO NO!  He just up and fled for nearly 5 days, without letting his family, staff, or constituents of South Carolina ever know.  Had some emergency come up within the state, the leader was MIA, which is incomprehensible.  Second, it has been discovered that Sanford has taken many trips to Argentina AT TAXPAYER'S EXPENSE, which is also a huge NO NO!  Surely the people of South Carolina should not have to foot the bill for Sanford's extra-marital trysts, but it's this sort of foolishness that already has some within the state whispering "Impeachment."   Third, it is believed Sanford thought he could slip away to Argentina, visit his "chick-on-the-side," and sneak back into South Carolina without anyone ever knowing he was away or even why.  But the media foiled his plans when reporters were tipped off that Sanford was not "hiking," but was out of town and would be arriving at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport where they were waiting for him.  The swiftly staged press conference and confession by Sanford is said to have only been scheduled once Sanford realized he was caught and details of his affair would come out. And finally, Sanford (like many other conservatives) has always taken a "holier-than-thou" approach to morality.  He has always placed himself at the very pinnacle of morality and beyond reproach when it comes to family values.  In other words, he's been among the first to cast a stone against the very activity he himself has now admitted being guilty of. 

HYPOCRISY...IN HIS OWN WORDS:

Mark Sanford in 1998 on Bill Clinton's Cheating: "I think it would be much better for the country and for him personally (to resign). I come from the business side. If you had a chairman or president in the business world facing these allegations, he'd be gone..." “The issue of lying is probably the biggest harm, if you will, to the system of Democratic government, representatives government, because it undermines trust. And if you undermine trust in our system, you undermine everything.”
 

Mark Sanford in 1998 on ex-GOP Rep. Bill Livingston's infidelity: "The bottom line, though, is he still lied. He lied under a different oath, and that is the oath to his wife. So it's got to be taken very, very seriously.

The Mark Sanford admission was a bit creepy, and probably told us all more information than we ever needed (or even wanted) to know.  But it had all the trappings of a Made-For-TV movie:  love, sex, betrayal, dishonesty, conflict, scandal.  Special kudos to Mrs. Sanford for NOT playing the role of the "Supportive Wife" who through it all still stands by the side of her jerk for a most uncomfortable photo op.  She was not there.

WATCH Sanford discuss lies and marriage:

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