Mark Sanford in State of South Carolina Archives
On Budget & Economy:
Tipping point as civilization if we don't get spending right
Sanford stressed his efforts to rein in spending as a 3-term member of Congress and 2-term governor, noting that he was the first governor to turn back economic stimulus funds. "It all goes back to Nancy Pelosi and others. They have not pushed for
financial discipline in Washington, D.C.," he said."We're at an incredible tipping point as a civilization and I think if we don't get spending right in Washington, D.C., there will be real consequences," Sanford said. "I've gotten into this race with
the hope of taking what I've learned in Congress, what I learned in the governorship and what I've learned on the way up and on the way down and applying it to what I believe is the great debate of our civilization, which is indeed, how do we get our
financial house in order."
Colbert Busch portrayed things differently. "Here's the fundamental difference. This is not the end of our time as we know it," she said. "The sky is not falling Henny Penny. In fact our best days are ahead of us."
Source: News12 on 2013 S.C. House District 1 debate
Apr 29, 2013
On Government Reform:
I was against earmarks before being anti-earmark was cool
[Colbert-Busch] cited Sanford's vote against the dredging of the Charleston port while he was a member of Congress. Colbert Busch said she met with then-US Rep. Sanford when she was working as a government liaison for a maritime company to encourage him
to support the dredging project. Sanford, she said, indicated he would do so. "And, in fact, you didn't tell the truth. In fact, you turned around and did the opposite," Colbert Busch said to Sanford.Sanford fired back that Colbert
Busch later wrote him a $500 campaign-contribution check. "I don't think it must have bothered her that much, given she wrote a $500 check in support of my candidacy," said Sanford, smiling. Sanford also denied Colbert Busch's statements that he did
not support the dredging and other economic-development projects, saying he disagreed with the methods of paying for the projects, not the actual projects. "Because I was against (congressional) earmarks before being against earmarks was cool," he said.
Source: The State webzine on 2013 S.C. House District 1 debate
Apr 29, 2013
On Principles & Values:
Voted to impeach Clinton for affair, but should be forgiven
Colbert Busch reminded Sanford that he once used taxpayer funds to "leave the country for a personal purpose"--referring to the extramarital affair with an Argentine woman he had while governor. Later, Sanford was reminded by a questioner that he
voted to impeach President Bill Clinton because of his involvement with Monica Lewinsky and asked if he would vote that way again. "I would reverse the question," Sanford said. "Do you think President Clinton should be condemned for the rest of his life
for a mistake he made in his life?"
Sanford is trying to rebound from a scandal that sidelined his political career. In 2009, Sanford, after telling his staff he was out hiking the Appalachian Trail, revealed that he was in Argentina with a woman he
later became engaged to after divorcing his wife, Jenny. Before leaving office, Sanford avoided impeachment but was censured by the Legislature over state travel expenses he used for the affair. He also paid the largest ethics fine ever in S.C, $70,000.
Source: News12 on 2013 S.C. House District 1 debate
Apr 29, 2013
On Principles & Values:
Now engaged to woman from 2009 extramarital affair
Only one reference was made to Sanford's 2009 admission to an extramarital affair. Answering a question about spending, Colbert Busch referenced Sanford's surprise absence from the state in June 2009 during which he visited his
Argentinian lover, now his fianc‚e. "When we talk about fiscal spending and we talk about protecting the taxpayers, it doesn't mean you take that money we saved and leave the country for a personal purpose,"
Colbert Busch said. "She went there, Gov. Sanford," said the debate's moderator.
"I couldn't hear what she said," Sanford responded. "Repeat it, I didn't hear it."
"Answer the question,"
Colbert Busch said.
"What was the question?" asked Sanford, who then answered the original question on spending.
Source: The State webzine on 2013 S.C. House District 1 debate
Apr 29, 2013
On Civil Rights:
No civil unions; define one-man-one-woman marriage
Q Should South Carolina recognize civil unions between same-sex couples? A: No.
Q: Should South Carolina restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
A: Yes.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
On Civil Rights:
Affirmative action in state contracts, but not colleges
Q: Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity, or gender be taken into account in state agencies’ decisions on: Q: College and university admissions
A: No.
Q: Public employment
A: Yes.
Q: State contracting
A: Yes.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
On Crime:
End parole for repeat violent offenders
Indicate which principles you support to address crime. - Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills.
- End parole for
repeat violent offenders.
- Require all felons serve at least 85 percent of their sentences.
- Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
On Education:
Endorses teacher-led prayer & displaying Ten Commandments
Indicate which principles you support regarding education. - Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
-
Support displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools.
- Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
On Government Reform:
Limit campaign contributions but not campaign spending
Q: Do you support limiting individual contributions to state candidates? A: Yes
Q: For PAC contributions?
A: Yes.
Q: For Corporate contributions?
A: Yes.
Q: For Political Parties?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support requiring full disclosure of
campaign finance information?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
A: No. I believe we need to bring sunshine to the political process in SC. Soft money donated to parties should be disclosed.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
On Health Care:
Transfer more Medicaid recipients into managed care programs
Indicate which principles you support regarding health issues. - Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- Support patients’ right to sue their HMOs.
-
Use South Carolina’s portion of the national tobacco settlement only for anti-smoking and health programs.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
On Local Issues:
Supports term limits for state legislators
Q: Do you support the current limit of two, four-year terms for South Carolina governors? A: Yes.
Q: Do you support limiting the number of terms for South Carolina state senators and representatives?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support shortening the legislative session in South Carolina?
A: Yes.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
On Welfare & Poverty:
Redirect welfare funding to faith-based organizations
Indicate which principles you support regarding welfare. - Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
Source: 2002 S.C. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021