Unfortunately, Gov. Mark Sanford now joins a long line of politicians who have discovered the halls of power too often led past a bedroom.

If Sanford's dalliance with Maria Belen Chapur had merely been done behind his family's back instead of bringing into question his responsibilities as governor, then the fervor behind this whole episode would not have been as heated.

By leaving the country without at least leaving a plan of action in place in case of a state emergency or even a plan of succession should something happen to him, Sanford exhibited a bigger lapse of judgment than merely breaking his marital vows.

Infidelity for a private individual harms the spouse, obviously, as well as a circle of family and friends.

However, shirking his gubernatorial duties and leaving his staff - at best in limbo and at worst accomplices - in his deception, harms the smooth governance of the Palmetto State.

Furthermore, the damage to South Carolina's prestige as a fine place to come for industries, tourism and to live in general has been blackened. How long and to what extent the fallout from that may take months or years to assess.

Already South Carolina has become the butt of jokes for the late-night comedians like David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel.

This was not needed.

This is particularly true when South Carolina is trying to live down the unfair and too long-lived image as just another redneck region of the South.

Most South Carolinians probably want their state known for its tourism slogan, "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places," rather that the state where politicians out-source their love lives, as one one comedian has barbed about South Carolina.

Sanford has treated his home state unfairly.

After his affair with his Argentine paramour, Sanford resigned the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association.

This may not be enough to regain the deficit of credibility in which Sanford has sunk South Carolina.

Should Sanford resign the governorship?

It may take a bipartisan committee to decide that - to parse between what are politically motivated solutions versus ones based in policy.

However, such a move on Sanford's part would be a step in the right direction in regaining honor for South Carolina.

It may help Sanford to regain some of his lost respect and self-respect as well.

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