And to think a few months ago, I thought South Carolina politics was just Ayn Rand fetishists and griping about immigration. Nope, it looks like Sanford's rendezvous with Maria was just the opening act to a drama that looks like "Henry IV" crossed with "Mean Girls".
You may have heard that yesterday Mike Rogers officially outed South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer. As Rogers is fond of pointing out, he was right when he outed Larry Craig and Mark Foley, and with the very real chance that the anti-gay Bauer could become the next governor of South Carolina, this story takes on new significance.
But Bauer allies are choosing to fight back in a very strange way. Jake Knotts - a longtime critic of Sanford and a rather interesting character who almost ran as an independent to challenge the gov in 2006 - has accused him of spreading rumors about Bauer's sexuality in order to save his own job.
Politico writes:
The increasingly nasty fight between South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer escalated further this week with charges from a legislative ally of Bauer that Sanford and his supporters are spreading rumors that Bauer — a Republican like Sanford — is gay.
GOP state Sen. Jake Knotts made the charge in a letter to state legislators Wednesday that was obtained by POLITICO. In an interview in June with The State newspaper, Bauer voluntarily brought up the subject of his sexual orientation. Asked if he was gay, he responded: "One word, two letters. No."
But the rumor has continued to circulate widely on the Web and has become caught up in the continuing drama surrounding Sanford, whose adulterous affair with an Argentine women has led to calls for his resignation. Bauer, who would succeed Sanford if he left office, called for Sanford to resign last week.
Sanford communications director Ben Fox rejected Knotts’s charges. "This letter is simply wrong and in that regard, as bizarre as many of the other claims and attacks of recent weeks, " he said in a statement to POLITICO. "Some have even argued this indeed points to an obsession with slandering anyone who tries to change the ‘good ol’ boy’ system of politics in Columbia."
"South Carolina is facing serious challenges, and the governor is dedicated to addressing these challenges alongside other members of the Legislature committed to the same. We have a state capital with too much spending, too little transparency, and as shown by this letter, at times too many political attacks."
Bauer could not be reached for comment.
You can read his full open letter by Senator Knotts here.
It also seems that he is not the only one with suspicions:
Another Republican legislator, state Sen. Larry Martin confirmed to POLITICO that Knotts has been e-mailing the letter to members of the state House and Senate, and said that many state lawmakers think Knotts is "accurate in his suspicion of the governor."
"Everyone I’ve talked to thinks there is some connection to the governor, just because of the timing of it, but it is very hard to prove," Martin said. "Unless you’ve got proof, everyone can have their suspicions, but I certainly wouldn’t accuse the governor of that."
Far be it from me to judge the political skills of those who have spent years and years making backroom deals (no innuendo intended), but this seems like a very strange way to deny a rumor. Write a public letter which will ensure the talk percolates further? Maybe Knotts is supporting a different candidate for governor in 2010, and wants to knock them both out at the same time. I wouldn't know.
However I also have my suspicions about this story. From what I know, Bauer is a very eccentric guy. If Sanford wanted to start rumors about him he could surely begin with allegations about his recklessness and bad temper. I realize he and Bauer have been frenemies at best but why go for the gay? Surely, if the story isn't true, that's the kind of smear you would save as a last knockout punch. Sanford may be running out of time to save his skin but I wouldn't say he's at that point yet.
Whatever the story is behind this, I doubt South Carolina's drama is over yet. As far-fetched as it may be, if the infighting continues, the Democratic party may have an opening to at least contest the 2010 races, if not a shot at winning them. That would mean making the RNC defend a race that should lean heavily in their favor. So while I don't think Democrats should be jumping in the fray just yet - I hope that the SC Democratic party can compose itself and prepare to take advantage of the mistrust Sanford is sowing.