Something to keep in mind -

[Tangerine LaBamba]

I'm first in line to mock Mark Sanford for what he's done, the relentless hypocrite, but it bears keeping in mind that this is what he threw away:

[MichiganVote]

1. I did marriage counseling for years...another guy chasing the wrong dream-again.

[seabeyond]

10. yes. n/t

[eleny]

2. Luckily school is out

Otherwise, those little guys could be treated like dog doo by their classmates.

[Captain Hilts]

7. If they're smart they'll change their names to mom's. nt

[saltpoint]

3. In that photo I count 5 victims and 1 fool.

Durable point, excellent post.

Thank you.

Recommended.

[BuyingThyme]

4. He's throwing away the photo op but gets to keep the kids.

Maybe even the wife; who knows.

[proud patriot]

5. a very handsome family

what a shame .

[Captain Hilts]

6. What a jerk. That poor family. I feel for them. nt

[saltpoint]

8. "Mommy, didn't daddy say he was going hiking?"

[seabeyond]

9. yes. thank you. n/t

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. In his press conference he repeatedly called them "those boys"

I thought it was so odd and he did it more than once. Not "our boys" or "my boys" but "those" boys.

His wife also said something about he wanted/needed to get away from the boys.

I just found it sad.

[arcadian]

12. Good looking kids.

They took in front of the trees with the Spanish Moss so people would know it's South Carolina.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. Reminded me of

"The Big Chill."

[EFerrari]

14. You never know. Maybe things will cool down and he'll have a moment of clarity.

[chollybocker]

15. Agreed, the children should be left out of this crazy mess.

But posting a photo of them won't help much, either.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. Won't hurt,

will it?

[chollybocker]

17. mmmm, I dunno...

I'm all for raking the Gov. over the coals, and the wife? I'm guessing she'll be on all the morning shows, but the kids have absolutely nothing to do with this and shouldn't be identified, as though in a line-up. My heart only bleeds for the children of parents.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

18. No, no, no ---

I didn't post that to put the kids in any kind of position, and no one here at DU is even going to be able to identify them without someone doing it deliberately.

I just wanted people to remember - while we go on about Sanford, in complete glee - that there are real human beings behind this shoddy drama.................

[chollybocker]

20. Totally agree with that sentiment.

After the past 2 days of frivolous speculation, the family photo you posted kinda struck me. And my reaction to it proved you nailed the point. :) It's a family. :(

[Stephanie]

19. I'm very sorry for the beautiful kids and the wife

But the father is still an ass.