Should Governor Resign? Aiken County Answers

Aiken County, SC—He is the face of South Carolina…and now his face, and his state, are in the middle of a media frenzy.

The e-mails he allegedly exchanged, with a South American woman, now identified as Maria Belen Chapur…once very private conversations between the two, are now on very public display.

Diane Giddings, State Executive Committeewoman, Aiken County Republican Party: “I’m just sorry it has to be played out in the public venue, but when you’re a public official, unfortunately that’s what happens.“

Diane Giddings is the state executive committeewoman with the Aiken County Republican Party.
   
She says this news left them heartbroken.

Giddings: “We disappointed, and we’re saddened, of course the people who are hurt the most are the children, and the wife.“
 
But should he resign? Giddings says the Governor’s private life should be kept that way. She says, she has heard rumors about investigations looking into how Sanford paid for these trips.

Giddings: “I suppose it could be a political issue, but we’re not looking at it as a political issue. We’re looking at it as a personal issue between the Governor and his family.“
   
Closer to home, opinions are flying faster than internet chatter.

Hunter Skipper, Trenton, SC: “He probably needs to resign. That’s my opinion, he probably needs to resign.“

Jimmy Roberts, Thompson, GA: “Let’s say someone gets in trouble with the law, and he gets final judgment on that person? How’s he going to judge someone else, when he’s doing wrong himself.“
   
In a state known for religious values, the news, according to one local political science professor, will have quite the impact on the ‘Bible Belt’ state.
   
Dr. Robert Bosch, a political science professor from USC Aiken says: “That’s one of the saddest parts of this whole thing. It reinforces the negative stereotype of hypocritical, bible-thumping scoundrels. That’s the stereotype that many people have of the ‘Bible Belt’ in the South, and this does nothing but reinforce that, and that’s the sad part.“     

Judith Skipper, Trenton, SC: “I just cannot believe it, because he seemed to be so good, but this is not good.“
   
In one e-mail to Maria, the Governor tells her he looks to the bible for advice and counsel.
   
Giddings says she hopes the community will now do the same, and give the governor the forgiveness, she says he very much deserves.

Giddings: “We are all sinners. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, so therefore, we must be willing to forgive, if that is something that his family is willing to do, and we are able to do.“