This morning we and Americans for Tax Reform hosted an
American Spectator Newsmaker Breakfast with South
Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a leading fiscal conservative and
oft-mentioned 2012 possibility. Sanford delivered a wide-ranging,
reflective talk on everything from the Republican Party's
identity crisis to his difficulties finding a Wendy's at which to
dine in Alexandria. But Sanford focused heavily on South
Carolina's budget and his reasons for rejecting the federal
stimulus funds.
Sanford gave the example of a family that won the lottery and
used the money to pay down debts, settle bills, and shore up
their overall financial position. He said we would look at such a
family as a financially prudent and responsible, so why should we
not expect similar behavior from our elected officials? Instead,
he argued, the stimulus is being used to provide a temporary
infusion of funds that will permanently increase spending and
indebtedness.
Sanford stopped short of saying that the stimulus should be seen
as a litmus test for Republicans -- prompting what Dave Weigel
calls his
Mel Brooks moment -- but praised the House Republicans for
their unified opposition to the spending bill. Sanford said
Republicans should be true to their oaths of office and stand for
the things they say they are going to stand for when it comes to
controlling government spending.
On the economic front, Sanford warned that inflation would become
a major challenge to the country as a result of the monetary and
fiscal policy being pursued in Washington to deal with the
recession. Sanford repeatedly compared the government's borrowing
and inflating tactics to a "banana republic." He urged
conservatives to become more informed on the issue so as to
better explain the consequences of inflation to the American
public.
Candid about his occasionally contentious relationship with the
state legislature, Sanford talked about his successes -- the
pigs at the
state house -- and failures. He allowed there were things he'd do
differently but said that there was often value in taking on
losing causes. Probably not the message a party hungry for wins
wants to hear, but perhaps a necessary one as the GOP tries to
find its way out of the wildnerness.
