Transcript of Barbour on “Face the Nation”
Should he also resign as the governor of South Carolina?
BARBOUR: I don’t think so, but that’s up to the people of South Carolina. But no, I don’t think so.
SCHIEFFER: This seems to go beyond just the fact that, you know, he became involved in this relationship. He was basically missing in action for five days. He’s the governor of Mississippi (sic). He wasn’t there — of South Carolina. He was not there. People didn’t know where he was.
I can remember one time several years ago, Governor Barbour, when you were supposed to be on “Face the Nation” and you canceled at the last minute, you said, I’m very sorry, there’s a hurricane coming and I’ve got to make sure we’re all set and prepared to do that. Isn’t this more than just a sex scandal here? I mean, this is dereliction of duty, isn’t it?
BARBOUR: You know, Bob, I don’t know all the details. But I’ve been in politics a long time. I’ve made it my policy, I just don’t talk about people’s personal problems. I don’t think it’s appropriate, I don’t think it’s polite, and I don’t think it achieves any purpose. The people of South Carolina will decide that. For us at the Republican Governors Association, we’re just going to keep focused on what we were doing to start with. And I don’t believe what happens in South Carolina will change one vote in the governor’s race in New Jersey. And of course that’s what we’re focused on now, is the New Jersey and the Virginia governors races this November.
SCHIEFFER: But what about the Republican Party in general? Your chances in 2012? This is the party that’s called itself the party of family values and so on and so forth. You’re going through a series of scandals now. This is not the first. Just like in the past, Democrats –we have seen Democrats involved in things like this.
What does this do to the image of the party and how you try to project yourself and present yourself as a party, Governor?
CQ Politics
6/28/9
Magnolia Tribune
