April 22, 2012

SOUTH CAROLINA GUARD VETERAN IN NEW AD: I COULD BE COURT MARTIALED IF I ACTED LIKE MARK SANFORD DID DURING ARGENTINA TRIP

Powerful new ad from VoteVets Action Fund to run this week on area broadcast and cable

CHARLESTON, SC VoteVets Action Fund, the national veterans organization with over 340,000 supporters, is launching powerful television ad today that calls into question how committed Mark Sanford is to the people of the 1st Congressional District, when as Commander in Chief of the South Carolina National Guard, he could not be reached during his infamous trip to Argentina to visit his mistress. The ad will run through the end of the week, at a cost of $30,000, and will appear on area broadcast and cable.

The ad features South Carolina resident and retired National Guard Colonel Barry Wingard. It can be viewed here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX392n4o1QM

In the ad, Wingard says, I was there when my country called even deploying to Afghanistan at age fifty-eight. Mark Sanford abandoned his post.

As headlines are shown regarding Sanfords Argentina trip, Wingard continues, No one not even law enforcement or the National Guard could reach him. What are we supposed to do when we cant get in touch with the leader? You cant just walk away. If I had abandoned my post, I could be court-martialed. It really hurt me, and I think it betrayed all of South Carolina and all of the citizens.

The ad end with text, reading, Mark Sanford betrayed our trust.

Indeed, multiple news sources at the time reported that Sanford was unreachable while in Argentina, with law enforcement and his own staff unable to contact him. Wingard isnt the first to charge a dereliction of duty, either.

In November 2009, according to The Post and Courier and The State newspapers, Republican State Rep. Greg Delleney said Sanford committed a dereliction of duty by evading the security detail assigned to protect him and abandoning his responsibilities, including as commander in chief of the South Carolina National Guard and the State Guard. The lieutenant governor was not aware of the governor's absence from the state of South Carolina and during his absence there was no established chain of command, Delleney said. [The Post and Courier, 11/25/09; The State, 11/25/09]

As Wingard says in the ad, had he acted the same way as Sanford, while in the National Guard, he would be subjected to investigation for violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 133, regarding Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer, and could have faced Court Martial.

Founded in 2006, and backed by over 340,000 supporters,the mission of VoteVets.org is to use public issue campaigns and direct outreach to lawmakers to ensure that troops abroad have what they need to complete their missions, and receive the care they deserve when they get home. VoteVets.org also recognizes veterans as a vital part of the fabric of our country and will work to protect veterans' interests in their day-to-day lives. VoteVets.org is committed to the destruction of terror networks around the world - with force when necessary - to protect America. While non-partisan, the group is the largest progressive organization of veterans in America. ###