Posted by denised in 
Actually, more like flying dirty. Most people involved in clandestine activity do everything they can to fly under the radar – pun intended. Not South Carolina’s governor. Turns out, the governor, who refuses to resign even after going AWOL to hook up with his non-wife soul mate in Argentina, has been misusing the state aircraft.
Providing additional fuel for our Really Bad Political Boss files, the Associated Press is reporting that the governor used state planes for dozens of personal trips for himself, his wife and family during his tenure. Some of the fun trips include:
- A pick up from Myrtle Beach and return to Columbia, at a cost of $1,265 for “personal time” at Sanford’s favorite “discount” hair salon. Does anyone else see the irony in that?
- A pick up from his son’s football game in Bishopville and then on to a commercial flight to a Texas lake house for a gathering of Republican donors.
- A book signing in Mount Pleasant and then a 65th birthday party for a business owner and supporter.
- On five of the last six Thanksgiving weekends, Sanford used a state plane to fly himself, his wife and their four sons from the family’s home in Beaufort County to Columbia for the state Christmas tree lighting.
- First and business class flights on commercial airlines at taxpayer expense, despite a law requiring lowest-cost travel.
Sanford with pigs
What makes Sanford’s behavior even more aggravating is that he’s made a career of appearing thrifty, demanding state employees use both sides of Post-it notes and attempting for months to block federal stimulus money for South Carolina schools.
The governor, who’s grown fond of quoting scripture and likening himself to biblical figures, is now facing increasing calls to resign. We’ve got one question for the spiritually minded governor, WWJD? Thoughts after the jump.
Read more here.
