Jenny Sanford Didn't Stand by Her Man, But ...

Jenny Sanford, the soon to be ex-wife of South Carolina governor, Mark Sanford chose not to stand by her man when he announced to the world in a news conference that he had been unfaithful to her. In the course of their 20 year marriage though, she sure let him walk over, according to details in her newly published book "Staying True".

In "Staying True" the domineering Governor Mark Sanford was described as being very controlling and had the ability to persuade his wife on numerous occasions to see and do things exactly as he thought fit. On one specific incident described in the book, which is totally mind boggling to me, Governor Sanford persuaded Jenny Sanford to allow him to go to New York to meet with his mistress so he could supposedly end the affair he was having with her. Obviously the affair wasn't ended at that time, as we came to find out by his much publicized Argentina trip he took to see her again.

It's hard to believe that Jenny Sanford, an intelligent highly educated woman, graduating from Georgetown University in 1984 and having had a career as an investment banker before marrying Mark Sanford in 1989, let herself be so controlled by this individual.

When Jenny Sanford was in the hospital having the couples second child, Mark Sanford announced to his wife he was going to run for congress. Although not that much in favor of his decision to enter the world of politics Jenny Sanford substantially funded and help him manage his campaigns. In 1994 he won his run for the United States House of Representatives as well as his gubernatorial campaign in 2002. Jenny Sanford, wife and mother of 4 sons always seemed to stand by her man whatever he decided to do. In my opinion there's nothing really wrong with that if you're considered an equal partner in the marriage. Jenny Sanford didn't seem to have that role.

In "Staying True", Jenny Sanford's description of her husband was that he was somewhat of a cheapskate, and able to convince her of almost anything. On one occasion he purchased a diamond necklace for her and then returned it because he didn't think it was worth the money he had paid for it.

I have seen Jenny Sanford on a couple television interviews she's had to promote her book "Staying True". On ABC's 20/20 with Barbara Walters, her first public interview she did in the promotion of her book, Jenny Sanford seemed somewhat bitter, and rightfully so, over this whole situation with her husband Mark Sanford. A couple days later she had another interview on CNN on The Joy Behar Show. In that interview I saw a Jenny Sanford that almost condoned some of the actions of her soon to be ex- husband that she described in her book. She ended that interview by implying that her marriage probably would not have ended if it hadn't been for the highly publicized affair he had. The embarrassment of the whole thing was what seemed to be "the straw that finally broke the camel's back". Other then that, she seem to imply she still a lot of feelings for him despite all of his shortcomings.

Stand By Her Man is what Jenny Sanford did for 20 years of her marriage to Governor Mark Sanford. In the end though, she said in her book "Staying True" she no longer could do that . She filed for divorce in Dec. 2009 and was quoted as saying that she probably would never a date a politician again. I can't say I blame her.

Sources: ABC's 20/20
CNN's Joy Behar Show
personal opinion