Disgraced South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has rendered his administration impotent by his Argentine adventure. Sanford has no political strength to push legislation, nor any moral authority to make any points with the public. So why does he stay on, especially when he has given the impression more than once that he'd rather be back in Buenos Aires?

While we ponder that, 60 out of 72 Republicans in South Carolina's House of Representatives have sent the Governor a letter asking him to resign. Sanford says he has no plans to do so, though the wreckage his infidelity has made of his family and party appears to mount as long as he stays in office. He needs to go.

 

But many of us know that. We've known it for some time. How come it has taken several weeks for the House Republicans in South Carolina to gather 60 signatures to a letter demanding his resignation?

 

Unfortunately, in politics, it seems like no one has pure motives. The House Republicans may be right, but for the wrong reason: political survival for themselves. Had they come out in a united front soon after the Governor's indiscretions were made public knowledge, the people might have rewarded them for defending traditional values.

 

But having tarried to determine which way the wind was blowing politically, they look a lot like Sanford does: just clinging to power. That’s typical for politicians. But Sanford at least, as a self-identified Christian, should know better. Power, for a Christian, is not something to be craved for its own sake.