Posted on Sun, May. 09, 2004


ROAST GOV WITH A SIDE OF CHEESE



Gov. Mark Sanford was roasted Tuesday by legislators and friends to raise money for the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The event netted more than $15,000.

Those closest to Sanford offered their insight and observations on the governor’s first term. As Minority Leader James Smith, D-Richland, observed, for Sanford — who has sometimes clashed with legislators — the roast was “a lot like his day job.”

Here are some highlights:

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“Here’s to you Mr. Governor-Dude, you stroll through the most hallowed halls into the power budget meetings wielding a red ink pen like a Samurai swordsman.”

Jonathon Rush, WNOK radio host and the roast emcee

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“I never made it to Boy Scouts, I kept tripping up on the ‘Safe Driving’ merit badge. The governor had the same problem. He never could get the ‘How Government Works’ badge quite down.”

— Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer

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“I’m actually sitting in for Rep. (David) Wilkins, speaker of the House. He wanted me to tell you he’s very sorry he couldn’t be here. He had a very critical appointment trying to do the best he can to kill Mark Sanford’s agenda in the Legislature.”

— Rep. Rick Quinn, R-Richland

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“Just recently in my legislative district, the governor and myself and (four) other local officials had an opportunity to do one of those groundbreaking ceremonies...but there were five shovels.... The governor was standing there without a shovel. But he was quick — did not miss a beat — he said, ‘Don’t worry, I got it covered,’ and he reached in and pulled that silver spoon out of his mouth and started digging.”

— Rep. James Smith, D-Richland

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Tom Davis, Sanford’s co-chief of staff, offered this primer on Sanford-speak:

• When he says: “I would just simply say this...” He means: “Give me a second to find out where I am and what I’m supposed to be talking about.”

• When he says: “But that said, I would also say this...” He means: “I’m about to tell a room full of reporters something I’ve never told my staff.”

• When he says: “I’ve got a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of the state of South Carolina...” He means: “Your bill’s about to be vetoed.”

• When he says: “Can I borrow you for two seconds?...” He means: “The rest of your day is about to be ruined, and I’m about to task you a monumentally important and time-consuming task that will determine the fate of my entire administration.”

• When he says: “Wait two seconds...” He means: “Your question is really not important to me, and I may or may not ever get back to you on it.”

• When he says: “Thanks a lot, I’ve enjoyed this, to be continued...” He means: “I never want to have this conversation ever again.”

— Compiled by Jennifer Talhelm





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