Mark Sanford: Another Blow to Republicans? | 06/25/2009 10:00 am

Mark Sanford's Sensual E-mail Exchanges With Argentinean Mistress Maria Belen Shapur Made Public (Video)

Hours after the South Carolina Republican governor apologizes to his wife, Jenny, and four sons for affair, his lustful e-mails with mistress emerge on The State website

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Gov. Mark Sanford's Confession Video via NBC News

Hours after sun-kissed Gov. Mark Sanford made a very public confession that he left the country for five days without telling a soul to be with his Argentinean mistress, the sensual e-mails the South Carolina Republican exchanged with his lover are brought to light. E-mails obtained by The State newspaper in December are between a woman named Maria in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the governor — who once had his eye on a 2012 White House run. The series of e-mails date between July 4 - 10, 2008, and are posted online by The State newspaper. In an excerpt from one e-mail, the governor expresses deep chemistry.

From: Mark Sanford
To: Maria
Subject: RE:
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:24:54 -0400
Sweetest,

You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that is so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificently gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curves of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of night’s light — but hey, that would be going into the sexual details …

When the e-mails were first obtained, Sanford’s spokespeople would not authenticate them. However, The State reports, the governor’s office Wednesday did not argue the authenticity.

Sanford and Jenny, his wife of 20 years, reportedly separated two weeks ago and she has known about Sanford’s extramarital interest since December. Jenny is a former Wall Street executive and has helped Sanford manage all his campaigns.

Politico reports that Sanford has taken at least three taxpayer-paid trips to Argentina — but it’s unclear whether he met with his lover during any of them. For this latest trip, Sanford told reporters that he used his own money to pay for his plane ticket.

Argentinean media reveal a bit more information about the alleged mistress. Her name is María Belén Shapur, age 43, and The State believes she has two children.

For 18 emotional minutes, the 49-year-old governor apologizes profusely to his wife and four sons, who had no clue where he was. Watch:

Humans are far from perfect, we know. But tell us: Why do people in power (and in the public eye) cheat … and think that they can get away with it?

233 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Anyway you choose to slice it, when a President of the United States has an insatiable appetite for other women and lies about it he should be impeached. It doesn’t matter if he’s a democrat or a republican.

By deber B on 06/25/2009 11:45 am

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It’s any politician and there have been a ton of them in the past all the way back to Andy Jackson who can’t keep their zippers zipped.

By f p on 06/25/2009 11:59 am

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And, it will continue to go on and on….France accepts "paramours" for high level positions. They think nothing about it and it never seems to be newsworthy.

By deber B on 06/25/2009 12:07 pm

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Rebecca: Clinton was not a Hypocrite.

Debatable. What we do know is he lied to the Grand Jury. It isn’t about the BJ, it’s about lying about it under oath.

By Marjorie C. on 06/25/2009 12:07 pm

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Marjorie, name one politician that hasn’t lied. Lying defines politician. Always has, always will. What one has to pay attention to is what they do with the lies. :-)

By f p on 06/25/2009 4:33 pm

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how is that hypocritical?

hypocrisy is when you tell others how to lead their lives based on your idea of morality, all while you are cheating on your wife with whom you had 4 children.

saying that gay marriage would destroy the sanctity of marriage, while you are cheating on your wife who bore your 4 kids, is hypocritical.

democrats liking bill clinton for his policy decisions, while being able to see a hypocritical conservative for who he is, is NOT hypocritical.

By Amanda C on 06/26/2009 3:54 pm

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Marjorie..stay on point honey…Bill’s dalliance was 8 years ago…and stupid as it was…it’s old news (except for Republicans, who I think have it stenciled on their few brain cells) No matter the subject matter or critcism, the first thing out of a Republican’s mouth is Bill Clinton. That guy really worked you guys over…so let’s talk since slick willie…like Ensign and Sanford…we won’t talk about the guys into bathroom ballet. And honey, nearly impeached is like kinda pregnant. You are or your aren’t.

By Victoria J on 06/27/2009 9:39 am

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the hypocrisy wouldn’t even bother me if he wasn’t trying to legislate his own brand of morality into law.

he passes judgement on gays and their right to marry and have children with no validation or reason except homophobia - all while cheating on his wife who is caring for their 4 children alone, while he’s out of state, banging an argentinian woman on the tax payers’ bill.

that is what makes him a sick puppy.

if he didn’t tout himself as a moral leader and decision maker? i couldn’t care less what he does. that’s between him and his wife.

By Amanda C on 06/26/2009 3:50 pm

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Exactly. I don’t understand why the Rightys want to argue the point of hypocrisy even though they know that is exactly what is happening. Sadly, pseud-news shows like Fox have turned Americans into Us v. Them. That is not the way things should be but those of weak minds eat it up with a spoon and think they should argue their talking point no matter how obviously wrong they are. It’s sad really. I wish Americans would turn off their TVs and listen to each other instead. We are all the same, we all want the same thing but the vociferous minority with their own sick agenda seems to be winning.

Speaking of Gays. Look for me on my big long low black Harley in SF Pride tomorrow! I should be easy to find among 400+ other women on motorcycles. LMAOROF!!!

By Rebecca G on 06/27/2009 9:56 am

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What is sad is that this man shamed his family!! No better way to confirm to your wife where you were with your mistress than a news conference. I believe his wife also helped launched his political career!! SLIMEBALL!!!!!!!!! SNAKE!!!!!!!

It was irresponsible for him to leave the state without telling anyone that he was going to be gone: not his wife and family, the lt. governor, his aides, the legislature, no one…Anything could of happened!!!

This man deserves what he gets!!

By Kristy B on 06/25/2009 9:19 am

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Typo: Should have been "that you were with"

By Kristy B on 06/25/2009 9:19 am

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She had already kicked him to the curb two weeks ago.

By S G on 06/25/2009 9:20 am

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I didn’t know that. I’m sure that she wished that she kicked him to the curb sooner once all the information came out regarding this affair that he’s been having for over a year.

By Kristy B on 06/25/2009 9:35 am

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Fortunately, Governor Sanford is not the President of the United States. As President of the United States you are held to a much higher standard so that when you exercise a strong appetite for young pages in your Oval House and have at least two additional affairs you have not only been unfaithful to your wife and family but you are being unfaithful to the people of the United States.

So, Governor Sanford, shame on you, but you have entereed the republican and democratic circle of men who found it difficult to keep their zipper up.

Infidelity spares no political party.

By deber B on 06/25/2009 9:25 am

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Yes but hypocrisy is rampant in the Republican Party which likes to hold itself up as the "family values" party.

"By leaving the country without formally transferring power, critics said he neglected his gubernatorial authority and put the state at risk. It wasn’t clear how his staff could reach him in an emergency.

At least one state lawmaker called for his resignation. As a congressman, Sanford voted in favor of three of four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, citing the need for "moral legitimacy." "

By DeBúrca obj on 06/25/2009 9:54 am