Let’s all say it together, children:  “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

It’s a simple enough lesson, really.  More than likely, most American children probably hear the phrase by a fairly early age.  Probably even earlier in the current economic times.

Apparently, no one mentioned that to South Carolina’s governor, Mark Sanford.

Sanford has been refusing to accept federal bailout money because of his qualms over the responsibility of the bailout.  He doesn’t agree with the policy, thinks it’s detrimental to the financial health of his state, the nation, etc.  It took a South Carolina Supreme Court ruling to convince him that he might be acting a wee bit stubborn.

This isn’t the time or the place in American history to be making political statements by refusing money.  The Obama administration isn’t selling child pornography, or running guns to vigilante countries, or distributing drugs on playgrounds, or any other heinous act that would require a stand against a helping hand.  And I can’t imagine anyone in South Carolina is doing so well that they can refuse $700 million to help their state*.  The fact of the matter is that South Carolina has two Senators and a handful of Representatives in Washington that cast their votes to represent the opinions of their hometown Carolinians, and Sanford needs to respect that and do his own job.  Want to be fiscally responsible?  How about not wasting your state Supreme Court’s time with trivial nonsense like this.

California sure wouldn’t turn down the cash.

*This line corrected.  It originally read “$7 billion.”