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Bruce Smith / AP
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford speaks with reporters on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at a polling place in Charleston, S.C.
A disgraced ex-governor and the sister of a popular comedian came out victorious on Tuesday in South Carolina's special congressional primary, possibly setting the stage for an uncommonly tight race for what is normally a Republican safe seat.
Republicans in South Carolina's 1st congressional district showed forgiveness by supporting Mark Sanford after a campaign focused as much on the former governor's personal transgressions as his record. Sanford came out on top of the crowded 16-candidate Republican primary, according to the Associated Press.
Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford talks about attempting to revive his political career Tuesday at a South Carolina congressional primary vote.
Sanford, who gained more than 35 percent of the vote, will face a runoff election on April 2 against the second place finisher. The race for the Republican runner-up was much closer and votes were still being tallied late into the night.
Also victorious on Tuesday was Elizabeth Colbert Busch — the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert — who easily won the Democratic primary and will face off against the winner of the Republican run-off election in May.
The seat opened in December when then-Rep. Tim Scott was appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Jim DeMint.
Bruce Smith / AP
Elizabeth Colbert Bush, the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert, shares a laugh with reporters after voting in Mount Pleasant, S.C., on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.
Sanford's bizarre disappearance from the governor's mansion in 2009 became fodder for comedians and political onlookers alike after it was revealed he lied about hiking in the Appalachian Trail in order to visit his mistress in Argentina. He served out his term, but faced ethics fines, a divorce from his wife of 21 years, and what many thought was the end of a promising political career.
He has spent the years since asking for forgiveness and acknowledging his mistakes, but he attempted to keep the focus of his campaign on his record as a conservative spender in as a governor and in Congress.
South Carolina congressional candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch casts her vote Tuesday in the state's primary.
“If we live long enough, we’re going to fail at something and I absolutely failed in my personal life and in my marriage, but one place I didn’t ever fail was with the taxpayers,” he said on the Today show last month.
Still, Republican rivals competing in the primary criticized Sanford for using his candidacy as much as a PR tour as a bid for Congress.
“His personal tour of redemption now is a disservice to the people of the Lowcountry who are looking for the next leader to represent them in Congress,” Mike Biundo, an adviser to rival candidate Andy Patrick, said in a statement.
Throughout the campaign the well-funded Sanford was seen as the GOP front runner to reach the runoff. According to the non-profit Sunlight foundation, the former governor raised more than $300,000 with contributions from well-known Republican financiers David Koch and Foster Friess, the billionaire who largely bankrolled Rick Santorum's presidential campaign.
Sanford also enjoys a name recognition level much higher than his rivals, fueled both by his tumultuous tenure as governor and the fact he served as the representative from South Carolina's 1st district from 1995 to 2001.
Sanford's front-runner status made the primary largely a race for second place, where Teddy Turner, son of media-mogul Ted Turner, locked in a television ad war with Chip Limehouse. Turner painted Limehouse, a member of South Carolina's house of representatives, as a career politician. Limehouse accuses Turner of duping business investors out of millions of dollars.
Rivaling Sanford's funding on the Democratic side is Colbert Busch, whose famous brother has campaigned for her and talked about her on his satirical Comedy Central talk show.
Colbert Busch supporters argue their candidate can make inroads amongst those still unforgiving of Sanford's actions.
"I want to say to the voters of the 1st Congressional District of South Carolina, Democrats, Independents and Republicans, I have been listening and I hear you. I understand your frustrations and your aspirations. I will never stop listening to you-and I am ready to be your voice in Washington," Colbert Busch said in a statement released after her win.
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Colbert...yeah...we will at least get some comic relief...even a sister still gets funny bones
Sanford? Go away, why don't you go to Argentina and cry.
P.S.:
Yeah, Sanford...take a hike.. & go away ... and find a real job ... preferably in the Appalachians, a.k.a. Argentina.
I hope SC voters will send Sanford back-packing, LOL!
and send Colbert-Busch to DC!
.
FORWARD! :-)
sanford wins GOP vote in SC. NOW it makes sense. if it wasn't for mississippi, they'd be 50th in every major category instead of 49th. carry on.
Sanford was once a member of the House of Representatives (1995-2001), he was one of Gingrich boys. He voted to impeach Clinton, calling Clinton's behavior to be "reprehensible." Obviously Clinton was not as reprehensible as the hiker in Argentina.
^^^The Irony!*** great post Pigoty
I'm sorry but uber religious South Carolina choosing Appalachian Trail Sanford? Could they possibly be more hypocritical?
Sanford's only real problem was infidelity. The issue appears both had priorities that cause enough separation that Sanford bolted.
Otherwise, Sanford left the State of Carolina in pretty good shape. There is really no reason to keep him out of Washington. Clearly the Republican membership thinks he is the best choice.
I think one should wish him well on his efforts to not only to restart his personal life, but continue to serve the public.
Note: there is only one accuser of men to God. Hint: it's not the angels and not other men.
Jesus, DB - he used taxpayer funds to go to SA to see his mistress. He only paid it back when he got caught at it. He left the state to visit his "soul mate" and didn't tell ANYONE where he was at. His staff was scrambling and stumbing around and his wife had the guts to finally say she had no idea where he was at. He made a mockery of his office. That's ok with you?
Ah, yes, "leave judgement to God", a favorite refrain so often heard from Republicans whenever one of their own gets caught with their hand in their cookie jar of choice. It isn't the opinion I scoff at, it's the fact that they seem quite willing to throw the first stone when it's a Democrat in the headlines.
(Don't get me wrong; I see Democrats do the same thing all too often. The only difference is that the Democratic party hasn't put itself forth as the arbiter of 'traditional values'. That makes for a special kind of hypocrisy.)
Sanford did more than drag his former wife through the mud - he had FOUR young sons that were undoubtedly affected adversely as well. If Sanford ever wins another political office, then for sure there is no God.
Sanford is classless jerk.
DB....Sanford"s only real problem was .....infidelity?....And according to Sanford himself ...Infidelity is reason to be removed from office.......Then add Sanford's lying to the nation....and top that off with his mental instability........Ye"ah...that would be a typical top choice for republicons to have run for office.......
I can see Colbert doing a Where's Waldo/Sanford" now skit nightly.......I thought the repubs were funny last election...this will be great!!!
Sanford again??? A man (or woman) that cheats on their spouse can NOT be trusted NOT to cheat on the congressional district he would represent.
Cheating on your wife does not make you an irresponsible leader incapable of command. Clinton did it. JFK did it. There are more examples of this than we can count. What makes him pure filth is that he BAILED ON HIS JOB.
Leader of the State and THEY COULDNT FIND HIM.
"Hey guys... anyone see our leader? We have a crisis..."
This guy is filth. I can't believe a single republican voted for him.
I wouldn't think a politician could come back from a disgraceful episode, such as Mark Sanford disappearance in 2009 to be with his "soul mate" in Argentina.
But here he comes. Apparently South Carolina Republicans cannot find anybody better to run for congress ...and they wonder why we make fun of the south.
Most of you don't seem to realize that all Sanford has to do is take the GOP nomination and that is a virtual guarantee of victory in the low country of South Carolina.
Colbert Busch may have some name recognition but it is nothing compared to Sanford's in this state.
Highly disturbing to have a man who abandoned office and who was cheating on his wife while leading her and others in a prayer group on fidelity succeeding only a few years later. Jenny Sanford will tell you what sort of man he had become. But she has been virtually ignored. The day he left office he began this tour begging for Christian forgiveness from his former voters. The guy is as big a phony as John Edwards.
But no surprise he could win here. No surprise at all. This is a state where Jim Demint and Tim Scott can prosper. It isn't a place for the rational (although there are still a few of us left). It is a state where anything is possible, no matter how absurd, where you can cloak yourself in the mantle of family values (LOL!) and Republican conservatism and by default receive half the votes.
Newt Gingrish won here over Romney while still talking about colonies on the moon, and this might be one of the few states in the Union where someone as detached from reality as a Limbaugh or Beck could actually do well in an election.
Oh, good - another Family Values Republican protecting the sanctity of marriage.
That's odd, the first ting to look up was obviously unemployment. Which SC is 42nd, funny how there are 7 blue states in worse position, MS is 46th. So there goes your theory doesn't it?
But hey at least there are 3 blue states in the top 10, while tere are only 3 red states and 13 blue in the bottom 16, way to tbe factual. What do you have to say about those failed liberal states?
Ted Kennedy killed a woman. Nuff said.
Yep. The hero of the left killed/ drowned a women in his car during a drunken crash. My how the left has selective amnesia.
How can you call yourself "Honestdebate" when you are acting like judge and jury about Kennedy? Where is the evidence for your accusation?
You're kidding right Louie?
http://massgovscandals.com/ted-kennedy-mary-jo-kopechne/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_incident
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jo_Kopechne
He plead GUILTY to leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury, he let her drown instead of getting help!
". . . but one place I didn’t ever fail was with the taxpayers,”
Apparently, Sanford does not count lying to and steal from taxpayers a failure. Every taxpayer dime he used for personal comfort and convenience was theft.
@1SGFitzsWife4ID : Louie Bee asked for evidence. Material on Wiki is not evidence nor is media interpretation. The Senator did plead guilty, we all know that. Manning up is rare and admirable.
Vox....I thought you were talking about Idaho for a minute there. Hypocrisy is a difficult word to spell so the math challenged are also language challenged and that makes it easy for them to ignore the problem this guy represents for the face of America to the world, gezzz go work at Walmart and learn something Sanford.
BTW, justifying it by saying a dem did the same crap is no justification idiots.
Sanford's big brother, Fred, was a better man.
Notice how they refer to the democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch as "Colbert's sister"?
I suppose they figure some associated celebrity status can't hurt, eh? For democrats, this is more important than actual qualifications.
Sanford is the perfect Republican. He has the one characteristic that seems to be common among just about every Republican politician in the nation ---- HYPOCRISY!!!!
Mark Sanford the LemonFruit is fighting with Chip Limehouse in the GOP primary? But the Lemon is the front-runner? The GOP is doomed. But again, a Colbert has magic and she will be Crush the Lemon in the special election.
Good luck.
um..I have to ask. Were you high on crack when you wrote this?
Thats one ugly bush.
And the left had no problem with Kennedy in office? Really? A guy that killed someone while drinking and driving.
So your best defence of Sanford is to point the finger at Ted Kennedy? Grow up.
A Lemon versus a Lime?
So only the left can look past a persons faults, Kennedy and Clinton, to see if the person performs a greater good for the people? Kennedy killed someone but the left looked past that. Clinton, well, everyone knows this one, but the left look past that, which really does speak volumes of the selective amnesia of feminist. The late Robert Byrd, democrat, former senator of West Virgina, was a former member of the KKK, but the left looked past that. What gives the left the reason they believe they own the right to look past a person's faults?
"And the left had no problem with Kennedy in office?"
The oldest justification in the world --- 2 wrongs make a right. And -- in case you didn't get the memo --- Ted Kennedy is dead.
" According to the non-profit Sunlight foundation, the former governor raised more than $300,000 with contributions from well-known Republican financiers David Koch and Foster Friess, the billionaire who largely bankrolled Rick Santorum's presidential campaign. "
The superpac guys are at it again.
Spending $300,000. on a primary in SC for a Congressional seat.
Mark Sanford should just keep walking.... but some people never take no for an answer.
Sanford is an egotistical nutjob. he will never take NO for an answer.
The good news...spending all the money may get a little portion of it in the economy.......but will totally be a waste trying to elect Waldo Sanford.
Where's Waldo Sanford now?....Now?.....Now?.........Now?.......Now?
Instead of spending $300,000 on a campaign, they should have spent the money for a one-way plane ticket to Argentina, (you know, the southern end of the Appalachians."
Sandford cheated on his wife and his constituency (by using taxpayers' money for personal reasons and by being out of contact for a week), he lied to them, and now he's confidence of their forgiveness and support. He asked his ex-wife to manage his campaign (she declined) and asked the voters to put him back into office. Backed by Koch and Friess, and their hundreds of thousands of dollars, this egomaniac has a real chance of having the gullible folks of SC sending him back to DC>
The superpacs work both ways dimwit. Thanks to superpacs, the unions, uber rich, and the media the empty suit in the WH won re-election.
Let's hope the SC voters wise up before the actual special election and vote against that disgraced former governor/representative. He does NOT deserve to be allowed back in politics, no matter how much money Koch and Friess put into his campaign.
Don't our employee,Political Representatives, have an effective ethics committee,or is their standards so low that anything goes? There are too many of them whose ethics are much lower than we, their employers and I.M.O. it shows that they should never be allowed to decide their fate if found guilty of what we ordinary voters consider unethical conduct.
I agree, if you can't be honest with your spouse and divorce them before you go on a screwing spree you can't be trusted, period! The people of SC are stupid and don't have a moral compass. But then again, who in government has a moral compass. If your prez doesn't have one, which he doesn't, then I guess that's where the bar is set. This country has become something I don't recognize anymore.
family-values conservatives in south carolina are such hypocrites. they nominated newt, the serial groom who dumped a cancer-stricken wife in the hospital and now they are approving of sanford. absolutely incredible.
Newt is also a lunatic...proposing a lunar colony on the moon. Why don't we send Newt to the moon to be the first pioneer there?
TampaBayRays1........
Many of these "family-values conservatives" are mere facades. Walk around back and you see there is nothing but a face on props. This vote is proof.
LOL we don't have to send Newt just tell him " his wife is terminal and there is a single woman who likes him on the moon" He will be on a rocket tomorrow morning.
That's not fair Ian they are all about family values that apply to others and not themselves.
"family-values conservatives in south carolina are such hypocrites".
It's not limited to the south. Most of these so called family-values conservatives across the nation are hypocrites.
Family values Repubs.....what a farce! Look at their record and you see nothing but lies and deceit within their family. Give me a raving liberal any day of the week! Sanford could not make it in the real world, back to taking money from the Koch scum bags.
You would think the people of South Carolina would have more pride than to send Sanford back into politics. There were 16 running in the gop primary side, for God's sake. For a party of "family values", you really have to question what those values are sometimes.
Only the ones that apply to others not themselves of course DUH!
Family values? Pride? South Carolinian's? To them Mark Sanford epitomizes these virtues. He'll win going away.
Ugh, Mac. You could very well be right.
Proves one thing, they are willing to forgive. As to why ? Got me !
Well most likely it is the same reason the President won the election for a second term.
Everyone forgave him for all of his broken campain promises such as a transparent administration, closing down gitmo, well I could go on but I am sure most people with common sense understand already.
"Well most likely it is the same reason the President won the election for a second term."
No --- President Obama was reelected because Mitt Romney was a LOUSY candidate, (even Republicans didn't like him much) with LOUSY ideas, who picked a LOUSY running matte, then had a LOUSY convention and followed that up with a LOUSY campaign. And if the Republican don't come up with a whole new selections of CANDIDATES and a bunch of new IDEAS, get used to saying President Clinton -- again.
" Family values, Family Values!!! What this guys who cheated on his wife could win?..Screw family values"
LOL always know where a Republican stands.
Doing exactly what they always cry about other people doing. Clinton should be kick out as president he cheated on his wife and did not come clean about it. A republican can do the same and not only not get kicked but the same criers will elect them.
The ppl. in S.C. aren't stupid enough to put this guy back in office are they? I hope they realize, that if he wins. he also makes policy for the rest of us.. Wake-up, and send this guy packing..
Sometimes, stuPigity (or stupidity) knows no bounds.
I recall thinking the same thing about "W" Thomas lol
Come on now, Sanford is the ex governor and had his name in the national headlines. That is all you need, major name recognition. The two top vote getters had that. American politics has been reduced to who garners the most press, whether positive or negative. It basically is a popularity contest akin to a HS class president election. Case in point was last year's GOP primary/caucus season. Santorum won Iowa, when he was only getting like half a dozen people to show up at meetings and other events, but the local press gave him some nice write ups, and the national press did the same. Gingrich won SC just because he told Cooper Anderson to &^%$ off, when he brought up all the marriages. Voters are @!$%#ing stupid, and most folks should not vote at all. They here a name, maybe like a few of his/her ideas and votes for that person without really educating themselves about the candidate beforehand. 2016 is going to be another election that I will stay home for. Couldn't win between Romney and Obama in '12 as both were bought off by special interests. Why do you think any of these turds at CPAC or Hilary is going to be any different. Every candidate mentioned is an insider already, and not to mention rather wealthy to boot. I wouldn't count on Paul getting the nomination. He isn't an insider, not yet anyway. All it will take for his pro peace anti police state stance to go up in smoke with the American voter is another terror attack or an attack on our troops somewhere. Face it, deep down most Americans love war. Like Tocqueville said we are a nation of killers.
Rock on Ms Colbert Busch! Regards to your little brother as well.
I wonder if Steve will do any campaigning for his sis. Does he still have money in his Superpac? Will his staff do any volunteer speechwriting for her? Oh, such a delicious target for sarcastic spoofing.
Why is it, that every time a Dem gets caught doing something stupid, they either resign or go to prison, but a Republican gets promoted.. I don't understand. No wonder this country's messed-up.. Wake-up ppl..
If that was the case why is Rangle still there (tax evader)? How about Kerry (also tax evader)? They sure resigned or went to prison.
There are plenty more examples................of course on both sides, but you were just singling out one side.
If Sanford wins the seat it will prove once and for all that the voters in SC are the biggest idiots in the world
Idiots, hypocrits, and terribly inconsistent in how they choose to judge various people. If a Dem did what Sanford did can you imagine that anyone in SC would even consider voting for him/her?
the 1st congressional district abutts against the 6th congressional district in SC. These 2 districts are highly gerrymandered to concentrate the dems (poor and black folks)in the 6th (Jim Clyburn) and the the repubs (wealthy and wellthy wannabee whites) in the 1st. The folks in the 1st had their very well spoken token black (Tim Scott) that they could all feel good about - now this man, never had an original thought in his political career IMO.
I campaigned like hell for Colbert Busch and am so glad she pulled it out, but it will be a tough go against Sanford. SANFORD, OMG, highest ethical fine in SC state history for using taxpayer funds to travel for Argentianan nookie, but hell, he has an (R) after his name, all MUST be good............
Let's hope Sanford fails to "redeem himself" and people see him for the egotistic person he truly is.
Thanks for letting me rant - I feel better.
Audrey....push for a Colbert...."Where's Waldo/Sanford" watch sketch daily.......Colbert can't lose!
It might be interesting to see what happens in that primary. If he got 35% in the run off that leaves 65% who weren't happy with him so in the primary he could have a problem. Let's just see. But it sure seems like an opportunity for a comic show election if he is the candidate.
I can hear the conservative saps in SC. now "Well, God has forgiven him and we should forgive him". What is it SC? Are you all inbred ignorant fools?
Harry....Newt will forgive him.......because God forgave Newt........Newt said so........he heard the voices....in his head.....and Newt needs to fit in the public eye soon........just a matter of time.....the two will be praying together, then poof...all better....guilt free!
Some South Carolinians are a real piece of work. If a republican makes a mistake they're very willing to forgive and forget. If a Dem makes a mistake they're after his/her hide and want to make sure they cannot hold public office again.
The hypocrisy among many conservative voices is deafening. And laughable.
Classic.........
The party of "Morals" and "Family Values"
runs a disgraced on both counts former
governor.
Just keep shooting yourselves....idiots.
Vote democrat 2014 and 2016. Please lets end this mess!
@Bernice Green - YOU GOT THAT RIGHT GIRL!! The Dems Will Be Out In Both Elections! Hey, Repubs, where are all the jobs that you are supposedly trying to create??? To busy with Wayne LaPierre and his ilk? Of course, if you would come to Washington, DC and report to work ONE DAY-A-WEEK, that would be helpful! Oh, that's right, you have to go to Wall Street every week to pick up your money!! The Repubs are such a bunch of losers!
Well with the famous Koch brothers backing Sanford the romantic (LMAO) it is time for us to have fun with it, and what better way, COLBERT!!!
I hope she is as witty as her brother, instead of Sanford crying his way through an election , we instead as Americans can laugh all the way to VICTORY!
WOOHOO Colbert !!!
Maybe Sanford is the brother of Boehner because both of them like to CRY! haha'ha'hee'hee'hee' lol
South Carolina - Too small to be a country, too big to be an insane asylum.
So True
I always said that ALL AMERICANS should be forced to go to South Carolina for a week and see what a "DUMP" really looks like! They are still fighting the Civil War down there! Sheesh!
SC is not a dump. It is absolutely a beautiful place, especially on the coast where the 1st district is located. Some of the folks are a bit strange tho - I'll give you that.
What a joke. A liberal whack job vs a conservative whack job. I'm sure all you libs posting on here were equally up in arms when Marion Barry was re-elected in DC after getting busted for buying cocaine, right?
Hey Bernice, yea, keep voting democrat and the country will come to an end.
Actually, Colbert Busch is anything but a "liberal whack job". She's actually quite conservative.
"Colbert sister" ??? The Democratic Candidate has a name. Just because it is a woman, your reporter did not need to demean her by not giving the name, then using "Sanford" over and over again. Gues we know his politics. Yellow journalism, from NBC no less.
I don't care if he had sex with monkeys in public. If he is against Amnesty for illegals, I'll be rooting for him.
lizard legs-Why do I get the sneaky suspicion that you have had sex with monkeys IN PUBLIC! Birds of a Feather? Are you a member of M.F.A?
lizard legs -- He wants to marry his Argentinian girlfriend. He will give her amnesty. If he gives it to her he must give it to everyone.
Sanford, the Fornicator, darling of the Evangelical right , is just what the religious bigots in S.Carol. need. These people all talk out of both sides of their mouthes. Praise the Lord, Sanford the savior is back.
Non-story....but the really big news.....is that fat Eddie Schultz is OUT @ 8:00 PM.......the KING of that time slot (you know who...LOL) sent his porky a** packing.....MSNBC has tried everybody to take down "you know who"....and they can't do it....
Chris Hayes is the next sacrificial lamb to take on "you know who"......that'll last 6 months.....(hate Hayes myself)...but after that.....
Hey....Reverend Al....whatcha doin' these days at 8:00 >>>>
Wanna move up and take on....."YOU KNOW WHO"
Bill O'Reilly slays them all.....America has spoken....again
Bill O'Reilly is just another raving, loose-jowled Right Wing favorite son. Has nothing important to say and is only adept at demonstrating his extreme hatred of true Americanism.
Or maybe it has more to do with his wife being ill and him wanting to spend more time with her and his family.
Compassionate conservatism at it's best on display right trouble#'s?
I notice how you totally avoided commenting on the article and instead just decided to post your personal drivel about a media talk show host. Guess you're just fine with having men like Mark Sanford represent your party's values and beliefs in Congress.
And Republicans wonder why non-republicans just look at them and shake their heads in disbelief!
We get what we deserve for a government.
But God told me to vote for this adulterer. Strange god.