The Trust Committed To Me, by Mark Sanford


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BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

Our readers might wonder why Gov. Mark Sanford's book is here among the 2008 presidential books. That's because we predict that McCain will choose Sanford for Vice President. But first let's review the book.

This book is Sanford's story of his 3 terms as a South Carolina representative the the U.S. House. It was published in 2000, when Sanford was retiring from the House, and presumably was thinking ahead to running for Governor. Hence this book outlines Sanford's accomplishments in the House, and his political philosophy, in preparation for his first gubernatorial run in 2002.

The cover of this book, and its title, might make you think that it's all about Family Values or something about children. In fact, it's all about term limits, the issue around which Sanford defines his 3 terms in the U.S. House. The "trust" which was committed to Sanford in the title means "trust that Sanford would fulfill his campaign promise to limit himself to three terms in the House." Which he did, as he notes many, many times in this book. I guess the cover is just a nice photo of one of Sanford's sons on a nice South Carolina beach.

Sanford was elected to the U.S. House in the 1994 Republican takeover of the U.S. House based on newt Gingrich's "Contract With America." Sanford had not been involved with politics before -- he considers himself a "citizen-legislator" -- and he had no problem accepting the term-limit item of the Contract With America (many others in the same GOP freshman class DID have trouble with that item, including some who promised to exit and are still in the House!)

Because the Contract With America never did pass Congressional term limits, Sanford describes himself as a "self-limited" House member -- he voluntarily restricted himself to three terms. Sanford makes a compelling case that "self-limited" Congressmen really do vote differently than other Congressmen -- because they don't have to worry about getting re-elected, and don't plan to have a career in the House.

You can read the rest of the details in the excerpts below. One key aspect is that Sanford considers self-limited Congressmen to be immunized against pork-barrel spending (and to some degree, against corruption), because pork is mostly based on a desire to buy off one's re-election (and serious corruption is only possible when one has more ppwer and experience). That core value makes Sanford very compatible with McCain's core issues of reform. Even if the two men agreed on nothing else, that would be enough for a compatible ticket.

But Sanford brings four other key factors for McCain:

-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org, April 8, 2008

Click here for 16 full quotes from Mark Sanford in the book The Trust Committed To Me, by Mark Sanford. OR click on an issue category below for a subset.

Budget & Economy    Incumbents spend more tax funds the longer they're in office.    Deficit spending hurts private business & personal finances.    Federal deficit weakens dollar against foreign currencies.    No congressional pay raise until budget is balanced.    Highway bills are congressional bribery.

Corporations    Sugar subsidy is corporate welfare to a wealthy few.

Foreign Policy    1997: proposed freezing State Department budget at $6.3B.

Free Trade    Sugar and peanut subsides make no sense.

Government Reform    Cut his own staff and returned funds for staff pay annually.    Supported 6- year congressional term-limits.    Pledged never to take any PAC money.    1995 government shutdown was a good thing, not a crisis.    Require that congressional pay raises have open votes.    Term-limited Congressmen do behave differently.

Social Security    Off-budget accounting undermines trust in government.

Technology    Highways are Congress' responsibility, but don't break bank.

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• Mark Sanford