First a disclaimer: today was the departmental summer party. I arrived at the party at 2:15pm and had to rush to catch a 6:25 train. That translates to half a chicken salad sandwich, a cup of pasta salad, two beers, five cigarettes, and seven frozen margaritas. The hour commute home flew by. I’m still buzzed as I write this.
I’m also pissed off. What New Jersey governor James McGreevey did today was despicable. So he’s gay. He’s apparently long questioned his sexual attraction — two marriages, two children, a male lover. It’s far from a unique story, and it’s certainly no reason to resign a job — even (or especially) if you are a governor. But it’s not only the fact that he is resigning that pisses me off, it’s what he said during his speech: “I engaged in an adult consensual affair with another man,” he said, adding that “it was wrong, it was foolish, it was inexcusable” and that it violated the bonds of his marriage. Yes, it violated the bonds of his marriage, but that happens at some point in the majority of all marriages, so that can’t be a requirement for effective public service. What is so infuriating to me is the “wrong, foolish, and inexcusable” part of his announcement.
This sort of tacit shame must stop. It’s destructive to individuals and destructive to society. This is why I am fundamentally torn over the practice of “outing” homosexuals. Yes, it’s personally invasive, but I’m firmly convinced if homosexuality were something one wouldn’t (or couldn’t) hide, the associated stigmas would rapidly deteriorate. And there would also be no question about drawing parallels with so-called “civil rights.” In my perfect world, movie stars and all-star athletes and pop celebrities and news anchors and community leaders would all be “out” if they were gay. And so would my closeted friends and acquaintances. Instead, we have cowardly soon-to-be-ex governors who feel it’s wrong and inexcusable for a same-sex attraction. McGreevey should be ashamed, but not because he’s gay — because he’s a spineless wuss.
Ying, sorry you didn’t get to enjoy the party a little longer, but from the description of what you had, I would say your priorities were in order.
I don’t think McGreevey resigned because he is gay. McGreevey said that in doing his job, it would have made “little difference” that he was gay.
“In fact, having the ability to truthfully set forth my identity might have enabled me to be more forthright in fulfilling and discharging my constitutional obligations,” he contended.
But he added, “Given the circumstances surrounding the affair and its likely impact upon my family and my ability to govern, I have decided the right course of action is to resign.”
As governor, McGreevey proudly discussed his Catholic faith but disagreed with church leaders over his support for abortion rights and same-sex partnerships. He pushed for the state’s domestic-partnership law, which went into effect this year.
The above is from the New York Post article at http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/26824.htm
I think the resignation came from the blackmail, threat of a lawsuit and probably some pressure from his own party. Heck, if it was the Republicans, he would have faught it tooth and nail.
I enjoyed your end of season pictures. Don’t let Jack see the one of the squirrel, it might end up in camp, under a pillow somewhere. Have a great day.
I’m sure by now you’re read about the “circumstances surrounding the affair” – in the announcement I thought he was quite clear that it wasn’t his gayness that causes him to resign, but the affair – and a breif interent serach revelaed it was with an unqualified guy put on state payroll. I think if he merely had an affair, then he’d have a chance to stay in office successfully, and I would want him to. The problem isnt the GAY issue, but the fact that he hired his lover to a taxpayer-paid SECURITY job that he was clearly unqualified for. Pretty serious stuff in my mind.
You know, if you read the comments from the gay and lesbian community locally in NJ, they’re just happy he’s a gay public figure testifying to the conflict he has felt. I wouldn’t go so far as to agree to out people, but I feel he cheapened the struggle and bravery of out people. How convenient to appear brave and garner sympathy by declaring his sexuality when he’s facing possible FBI investigations and additional resignations by more staffers.
I’m also frustrated. Yesterday he gave the best public speech of his career. And he’s out. So, perhaps, had he been honest with himself and the pretty tolerant populace of NJ, we may have been cheated out a a great governor. And he would have been less distracted and hired staffers that wouldn’t be so prone to scandal.
Nice poster child.
Ying – next time clearly define the posting as a “drunken posting” and no one will question it. Just a little blog advice.
I would have more respect if he would’ve said, “Yes, I did it. And I’m not ashamed of it.
Spineless wuss, indeed!
After a week, I still stand by my original statements. The vast majority of American idiots (my new favorite term thanks to Green Day) see headlines or read the lead paragraph in a news story or see a 30 second spot on the evening news, and all they absorb is this — governor announces he’s gay and then resigns.
Yes, the circumstances surrounding the affair and the alleged improprieties are serious. He very likely might have been forced out of office soon anyway. But coming out and resigning during the same speech was the easy way out of his predicaments, and he’d be incredibly naive not to realize most people would see it as gay = should resign.