SC Governor Mark Sanford Quietly Flies To Washington To Beg For “Stimulus” Money

There was a time when Governor Mark Sanford was a champion in the limited government movement. At the beginning of Obama’s term in office he stood against the stimulus spending, pointing out (rightfully) that it would do more harm than good in his state. That it would inflate state budgets, and worsen the budget crisis at the federal level given that all of the stimulus money represented the spending of funds the federal government simply did not have.
But then news broke of Sanford’s infidelity to his wife. His abuse of taxpayer resources to facilitate his illicit affair. And now the governor, still grotesquely clinging to power at a point when he should have done everyone a favor and resigned, is reduced to flying to Washington DC in a trip kept off his official travel schedule to beg for “stimulus” money for his state.

Gov. Mark Sanford flew to Washington on Thursday to tell the Obama administration that South Carolina wants $300 million in federal stimulus money.
Sanford, who spent much of last year fighting parts of the Obama administration’s stimulus plan, now wants S.C. to have a piece of $4 billion in “Race to the Top” education money.
The money is awarded to states based on their plans to improve education and innovate. Forty states have applied so far.
The Republican governor’s trip, which did not appear on his official calendar, drew praise from U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.. Clyburn sparred with Sanford over his refusal last year to accept more than $700 million in stimulus money to help public schools, colleges and law enforcement agencies weather the nation’s worst-ever recession.
“I am pleased to see that the governor is finally taking an interest in South Carolina’s public schools,” Clyburn said through a spokesman. “After going to court last year to prevent stimulus funds from coming to South Carolina, his meeting with (Education) Secretary (Arne) Duncan appears to be the governor’s admission that the stimulus was not only necessary but effective. I hope this is an indication he is willing to move forward together.”

I think it’s an admission that Sanford is a power-hungry politician now willing to cut any deal to keep himself in power.
This is almost, but not quite, a level of betrayal on par with the betrayal of his wife.