Mark Sanford’s Rising Star

The various bailout packages never cease to disgust me. The overarching purpose and ideology is bad enough, but the lame, pathetic response by Congressional Republicans is like salt in an open wound. Who can save the Republican party from itself?

Nearly two years ago I offered this post praising aspects of Mark Sanford, governor of South Carolina. One story in particular highlights some of his endearing qualities. In opposing pork spending after his own party overrode his veto in a 2004 budget showdown, Sanford brought live pigs into the state legislative chamber as a visual protest against ‘pork projects’. For good measure, the pigs even defecated on the House lobby floor.

More recently, Gov. Sanford has been the nation’s most prominent public official in opposing federal bailout proposals. Indeed, as countless states and municipalities clamor for more handouts at the federal trough, Gov. Sanford – much to the chagrin of his fellow state leaders – is refusing any bailout cash and calling out others seeking it. The Associated Press reports:

He’s loudly decried the $700 billion bailout of the financial services industry and the proposed bailout of the auto industry. He spoke against a proposed $150 billion economic stimulus proposal this fall and against one by fellow governors to provide billions for state infrastructure projects. His rationale has been consistent: More debt is not the answer, and the nation is already sinking in it.

In an op-ed in the The Wall Street Journal, he wrote, “While many states and local governments are lining up for a bailout from Congress, I went to Washington recently to oppose such bailouts. I may be the only governor to do so.” Actually, Indiana’s Gov. Mitch Daniels is also taking a similar position, but there’s no doubt that Sanford’s small government, conservative position is a rare one.

In dark times like these for the Republican party, Sanford offers a refreshing ray of hope. Prof. Scott Huffmon offers this nice take: “[T]here is an absolute ideological consistency to Mark Sanford. And to understand anything he does, you need to understand that.” Gov. Sanford currently heads the Republican Governors Association. I can only hope that his Republican leadership doesn’t end there.