Sanford is desperately trying every trick in his (christianist) work book to keep his job. He thinks that he should be forgiven for his flaws and given a second chance to be Governor. Apparently, judging by his repeated efforts at getting forgiven by the voters, it's not working. It shouldn't. Sanford is too incompetent to be left in the job of governor.
I won't disagree that true Christianity suggests that we should forgive the sinner his sins. Of course, I don't think he is aware of all the sins he committed in that little escapade. All he sees is the adultery, and he excuses that because of his "love" for the woman involved. What about his sins of abandoning the job he took on and committed to perform for nearly a week?
Nothing in Christian forgiveness says his constituents should keep an incompetent governor filling that job. He disappeared for for roughly a week, did NOT turn his job over to his Lt. Governor and left no method of contacting him. What would have happened if he had died en route or had a accident or was robbed and killed in Argentina? How long would it take to straighten out the mess he left behind? He can ask for personal forgiveness from those who are close to him. He has no right to ask for professional forgiveness in a job for which he is profoundly unsuited.
I don't think it is any of the public's business if Sanford cheated on his wife and family -- If he can keep that subterfuge from effecting his job. He clearly cannot keep the two separate, so he should resign immediately. He is simply not a competent governor.
Regarding Sanford's profound incompetence to be Governor, consider the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual's criteria for the Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
DSM IV-TR criteriaHe appears to be likely to meet at least item's 1, 5, 6 and 9. His repeated public statements about how much he loves his paramour suggests that he has no empathy at all for his wife and children, so item 7 is probably there also. The only reason he is saying anything at all is that he was caught out cold with no chance of "spinning" his sin and trying to keep it out of the public discussion. As for the other items on the list, we simply have no information at all in the national public record. Yet.
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:[1]
1. Has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty or ideal love (megalomania)
3. Believes they are "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, people (or institutions) who are also "special" or of high status
4. Requires excessive admiration
5. Has a sense of entitlement
6. Is interpersonally exploitative
7. Lacks empathy
8. Is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
