'Longer than the Appalachian Trail': Rep. Mark Sanford calls off engagement in epic Facebook post

https://twitter.com/SalenaZitoTrib/status/510546816522133505

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) announced that he has broken off his engagement with Maria Belen Chapur in a very lengthy Facebook post issued Friday. Did we mention it was a lengthy announcement?

Wow, I think that Mark Sanford Facebook post is longer than the Appalachian Trail.

— Danielle Blake (@abradacabla) September 12, 2014

That Mark Sanford Facebook post? Comes in at 2,346 words.

— Cyra M (@cyram) September 12, 2014

#longreads RT @elisefoley: That Mark Sanford Facebook post is 2,348 words.

— Kate Nocera (@KateNocera) September 12, 2014

Shortly before posting 2,346 Facebook tirade against his ex-wife, Mark Sanford filed motion to put her under gag order, her atty tells me.

— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) September 12, 2014

Mark Sanford's press secretary (if he has one) must be going ballistic http://t.co/oNxLgqB7HY

— Shira T. Center (@shiracenter) September 12, 2014

I now know more of Mark Sanford's business than I know about my own.

— Tressie McMillan Cottom (@tressiemcphd) September 12, 2014

This type of thing is why I have a personal rule not to post on Facebook after 10:00 pm. Former South Carolina… http://t.co/iAc7Qu4dtA

— Michael J. Evans (@EvansMichaelJ) September 12, 2014

I'll give $5 to the person who can do the best Photoshop of me pulling Mark Sanford away from Facebook.

— Joel Sawyer (@joeldavidsawyer) September 12, 2014

Mark Sanford's epic Facebook post clocks in at 2,347 words. But why were we denied a press conference?! https://t.co/JZPy9Wq9y9

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylor) September 12, 2014

My question now though is how to respond given I am being summoned to the court room again on Monday. I have prayed on it, thought on it and asked the advice of friends.

Here is where I have settled:

I cannot do this anymore. In all life there comes a point wherein lines must be drawn in the way that we attempt to respond in ways that don’t invite more in the way of conflict and add more in the way of modeling Christ’s humility in giving in every instance. I’ll never get that mix right, none of us do, but I believe it’s what we are to pursue in all of our responses to the inevitable reality of conflict in our lives.

So here are a few thoughts that hit me:

One, in as much as you sign my paycheck and you have elected me to represent you in Washington, I think I owe you my thinking on this personal, but now public matter. More than at any time in my life, I believe I am subject to not just the laws of God, but the authority of my fellow man.

I feel sorry for Mark Sanford, for Jenny Sanford and for their sons. an awfully sad situation.

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) September 12, 2014

Mark Sanford has done a lot that’s hard to defend. None of it I’ve seen warrants keeping him from his children.

— Conor Friedersdorf (@conor64) September 12, 2014

https://twitter.com/bccover/status/510532346039504896

Mark Sanford broke up with his girlfriend & wrote a 2300-word Facebook rant. Definitely still electable – for jr. high student council.

— CC:Indecision (@indecision) September 12, 2014

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