While women, children and men are getting their brains blown out in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and all around this world, yesterday on "Hardball with Chris Matthews," three old men were sitting around a newsroom dangerously near tears in their repeated expressions of sympathy and dismay at the "tragedy" of Mark "don’t cry for me Argentina" Sanford throwing his political career down the toilet by not only cheating on his wife while in office but also deserting his post as Governor during his impromptu, south of the border, booty call. AAAAARGGGGGHHHH!
Witness Tweety’s pain below the fold:
So a matter of the heart, which this appears to be, has this time stirred up a comic tragedy, or a tragic comedy, depending on how much you care about the feelings of the men and women who have the guts, the ambition and the sense of public duty to enter big-time political office.
Really Chris? "...sense of public duty?" So now you are channeling Mark Sanford. This would have been more useful during Sanford's most undutiful disappearance. Forgive my cynicism, but why don’t you let Sanford speak for himself. As for "sympathy". I’ll reserve mine for the students and education officials in South Carolina who had to file lawsuits in federal court to force Governor Sanford to accept his state’s allottment of the stimulus money.
Not to be outdone, Dan rather agreed with Chris that Sanford’s demise is a "tragedy":
Well, I consider it a tragedy. Certainly, it‘s a tragedy for him and his political career, and most importantly, for his family, his wife and his children. He‘s a father. He referred to that. I thought he was a pretty sympathetic figure up there today. That‘s to take nothing away from what he‘s apologized for. But number one, I see it as a tragedy, not as a tragic comedy or a comedy tragedy, it‘s a tragedy. It‘s a family tragedy, a tragedy for his political career, which he had nothing but blue skies and open road in front of him. I think he could have been a credible candidate for the Republican nomination next time around.
Well at least Rather had the decency to mention Sanford’s wife and children before agreeing that Sanford deserved our sympathy.
I have also seen a number of comments in other diaries referencing the fact that Sanford is obviously "in love" as if this excuses his outrageous behavior in deserting his children on Father’s Day and abandoning his responsibilities as Governor. Excuse me while I upchuck my dinner. What about the millions of us "public servants" out there that work at jobs at least as stressful as Sanford’s, for much lower pay and often less appreciation. I’m talking about the teachers, police officers, fire fighters, armed services members, medical assistants, nursing home and hospice workers, and many many more who don’t cheat on our spouses helped by taxpayer money, disappear with public property, "diss" our children, or go incommunicado for days at a time only to return with a premature request for "forgiveness".
Check back with me Chris and Mark when you right wing politicians start showing some sympathy for the everyday struggles of working people and start advocating for universal health care, worker's rights, and the repeal of DOMA and DADT for starters.
I won't hold my breath.