The Big Question, June 26: Will Sanford hurt the GOP?

The Big Question for Friday, June 26:

“How badly does the Sanford sex scandal hurt the GOP?”

Read the last Big Question here.

See responses below from Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.), Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), and John Zogby.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) said:

“You’re asking a Democrat this? I think it sets my colleagues back a little bit because it cuts down on their list for 2012. And now they’re going to have to develop some other folks for 2012. My personal opinion is President Obama is doing so well and leading the country so well, it doesn’t matter who they develop. I think Obama is doing a great job. It’s more of a setback for Sanford than the GOP.”

Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) said:

“I think probably temporarily it will, but I think in the long run people know that people are human. And no matter if you are Democrat or Republican, people are capable of sining. But I think um all of us hated to see it as far as what impact it would make on his family. I think in the short term it may have an effect, but I don’t think people will hold an entire Republican party for what one or two people do.  I think if more of the Republicans change their philosophies on family values in general, than I think that would be more detrimental than if you just have somebody who’s a member of the party that maybe fails their marriage.”

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said:

“I don’t think its particular to the GOP, so you know.  Who knows from my state who Stanford is and cares? It’s a transitory story.  It’s one more politician involved in a scandal.  They don’t discriminate between Democrats, Independents, Republicans, whatever. I don’t think.”

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) said:

“It’s amazing what news stories [laughs]. Last week they were talking about Ensign. This week they’re talking about Sanford, and today they’re talking about Michael Jackson.  Um if he was actually in line to move up the latter, and you know closer to that time, it would hurt us. But he’s a lame duck governor.  He can’t run again.  It’s a couple weeks story. We’ll probably have a new scandal.”

Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said:

“I don’t think it makes very much difference in the next election cycle. These things never do. Scandals usually punish the individual. They don’t make too much difference of party because frankly, both parties have them on a pretty regular basis.”

David Boaz, Executive Vice President, The Cato Institute, said:

The Sanford affair by itself doesn’t hurt the GOP much. After the Foley, Craig, Vitter, and Ensign affairs, this one is just one more nail. Read the full response here.

John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby International and author, said:

“Republicans already have a huge problem with ‘do as we say, not as we do’. Deficits, pork, individual rights all have near-mortally wounded Republicans. Voters can forgive peccadilloes but not abandoning an executive position, lying, fooling his staff. He’s done. And he was the rising star, and the Republicans also are hurt by not having a good bench. Or maybe they can bring George Steinbrenner in – New York will take a tough-talking Mark Sanford to clear up our state legislative disaster, and we’ll send South Carolina Elliot Spitzer (and, of course, a third-round draft pick).”