Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Several outlets reported this weekend that Fox News has hired former Governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford as a contributor to its 2012 election coverage.
I know this is only a position as a commentator on a network that already has strong opinions both in support and opposition of it, but this type of hire does more harm to the brand than good. After denouncing CNN for giving Eliot "Client-9" Spitzer a position, why follow that trend by offering one to another former governor involved in a sex scandal?
The question here is an old one: does personal baggage really matter when we're evaluating anyone from presidential candidates to pundits? If we're deciding whether or not someone has a integrity, then their personal character is definitely worth taking into consideration. My fear is that Fox News will suffer by association. I can already see Stewart, Colbert, and Saturday Night Live continuing with their demagoguery of Fox News by showing clips of Sanford saying something somewhat judgmental, reminding their viewers of his affair, and furthering the audience's misguided perception of Fox News as illegitimate.
I know Sanford has apologized, and I'm willing to forgive people for their shortcomings and past mistakes. I ultimately hope he does well and provides great insights. I guess my issue with all this rests in Fox News' decision - especially with the Murdoch's and the phone-hacking still on people's minds - and adding fodder to the fire.
Those that like Fox News will probably be able to move on and take him for what he is now: a talking head on a news-channel. Those that swear against it now have more reason to do, and I guess we just have to ask if that matters.
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Comments:
Apr '11
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Ick. Bad move on Fox's part. Why can't these people ever just quietly go away?
Dec '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Maybe he's only doing travelogues.
Dec '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Seriously, here's the major problem with hiring him: Who cares what he says to say?
What is he adding to Fox, anyway? There have to be 100 ex-politicians far more interesting than he is.
Of course, I can't understand why David Gergen still works at CNN. It's not like he's an insider anymore.
May '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Remember Michael Jackson died about 3 days after the Sanford scandal broke??
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Mark Sanford
Mark Sanford who?
Thank you Michael Jackson!!!
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Mark Sanford? I think the problem here is folks won't listen to what he has to say -- they'll look at him and think "scandal".
As for South Carolina, why not turn to Ainsley Earhardt? Pretty please, Mr. Ailes?
Oct '11
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Fox News the me too channel. "Anything you can do I can do better", says Fox to CNN.
May '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
I pray that one day our society recovers its sense of shame. Then perhaps we will be spared embarassments like Sanford begging for our attention on the national stage to make a quick buck.
John Profumo had the decency to leave public life for good after the exposure of his affair and devoted the rest of his life to quiet good works. There is much to be learned from his example.
Nov '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
What a ridiculous step for Fox.
AmishDude and Bill Whalen are right: who cares anything for what he may have to say? Fox ought to spend its spare pennies elsewhere. Mr. Sanford is not only bereft of ideas and ideals, he will be a continuing embarrassment to the whole organization and to those of us who watch its programs..
Sep '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
One syllable response:
"Ick."
Jan '11
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
I like the guy. Before his marital issues and infidelity, the Gov. was one of the only politicians that I could tolerate. I think the guy is going to have a lot to add to the limited government cause; he sure put the rhetoric into political action while he governed SC. Far too many politician won't/don't do that.
Aug '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
As pathetic as I found his hopeless crush on his Argentinian "soul mate," at least he didn't do anything plainly illegal, as Spitzer did.
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
As reprehensible as Sanford's behavior is, we shouldn't too easily conflate it with Gov. Eliot Spitzer's hiring of prostitutes. Minor distinction perhaps but distinction. In any case, as for his ideas, I'll admit that i'd be interested in hearing what he had to say. Before he destroyed his family, he was one of the few politicians I could stomach and seemed to be very principled in his approach to a government limited in size and scope. Better a Sanford than another big government conservative such as Huckabee.
Feb '11
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
I cannot imagine what unique talents or perspective Fox thinks he brings.
So what does that leave? A built-in following like Huckabee? - I don't think so. A self-imagined possible comeback like Spitzer? - maybe, but unlikely? Plain celebrity? - too bad for Fox.
Edited on October 24, 2011 at 11:01amJan '11
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Yes!
Mar '11
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Maybe Rupert heard that MSNBC was thinking of hiring Anthony Weiner and was afraid of not having coverage of the "skeevy guy" market.
Oct '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
The problems for the GOP Republican Presidential field started not when Mitch Daniels announced he wasn't running, but in June 2009 when Sanford's marriage fell apart before our eyes.
Sanford would have been the perfect tea party candidate. He is Ron Paul, but without the insane foreign policy views.
As for the Fox News gig, I look forward to hearing what he has to say. Yes, he was wrong, very wrong, and he showed very poor judgment- but the fact is, the guy fell in love, madly in love, and he is probably going to marry the woman. This is not Spitzer with a prostitute or Clinton and a stained dress. I have no idea what was going on in that household, and neither does anyone else.
Sep '10
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
His crush wasn't pathetic; it was his Oprah like constant yammering about it. It could have been set to Shania Twain's "I feel like a woman" in the background. Cringe inducing.
Jan '11
Re: Former SC Gov. Mark Sanford Joins Fox News
Pseudodionysius
His crush wasn't pathetic; it was his Oprah like constant yammering about it. It could have been set to Shania Twain's "I feel like a woman" in the background. Cringe inducing. · Oct 24 at 1:20pm
Yeah. I like Sanford and all but this is just too funny and has too much a kernal of truth to it.