Mark Sanford Mistress Photo Eludes Web

Scores of people all over the nation are no doubt typing Mark Sanford mistress photo into their favorite search engine today and it should not come as a surprise. Ever since South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted to having an extramarital affair with a woman who lives in Argentina, people have been captivated by the bizarre circumstances surrounding the story and anxious to get a glimpse of Mark Sanford's mistress.

It all started a few days ago when South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford seemed to mysteriously vanish into thin air. When Sanford finally surfaced, he said that he had been hiking along the Appalachian trail in an effort to calm his mind and gain some much-needed perspective.

But that turned out to be an egregious lie.

Instead, what Mark Sanford did was fly to Argentina to carry on with his mistress. He held a press conference on Wednesday and admitted to the affair. His eyes brimming with tears, Mark Sanford said that he and his wife have been having marital difficulties for some time and that she and his family were aware of the affair.

Many politicians have cheated on their wives and acted recklessly, but Mark Sanford's actions arguably take the cake. There has been talk that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford might be a viable GOP candidate for president in 2012. But now, of course, that will most definitely not be happening. In fact, due to his outrageously irresponsible and selfish actions, Governor Mark Sanford has resigned as head of the Republican Governors Association.

Indeed, it comes as no great surprise that fingers all over the country are furiously typing "Mark Sanford mistress photo" into search engines. You can't blame people for wanting to get a glimpse of the woman who inspired such lunacy.

The Mark Sanford scandal comes on the heels of another controversy with some distinct parallels. I am talking, of course, about Senator John Ensign of Nevada. Ensign admitted to having an extramarital affair with a former campaign aide - Cindy Hampton.

Like Mark Sanford, Senator Ensign convened a press conference and apologized for his actions.

And like fellow Republican Mark Sanford, Senator John Ensign was considering a run for the White House in 2012. But John Ensign's dreams of one day being president - like Governor Mark Sanford's - have also come to an end.

When will politicians learn that they cannot get away with cheating on their wives?

Sources:

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford: "I've Been Unfaithful to my Wife, ABC News

Cindy Hampton Rumored to be Senator John Ensign's Former Mistress, Hartley Engel, Associated Content, June 17, 2009