Mark Sanford sought the spotlight — member of Congress, governor of South Carolina, possible presidential material.

And there he was in the light Wednesday, except more like a muskrat about to meet a Uniroyal.

His private affairs — or his affair — had been made public, in part because of great work by The State of Columbia, S.C. This was precipitated when Sanford went missing for five days, not something any citizen should expect of his or her governor without the most compelling reasons.

Sanford has set himself up for a lifetime of explaining.

He sought the spotlight. He got it. It’s called public office. If you seek to serve, be ready to explain your mistakes, public and private.