Not That There's Anything Wrong With That
[Again, deep, deep apologies for the entirely inadequate title at the top of this post. Those responsible have been sacked.]
Jim McGreevey resigned as Governor of NJ today to head off the disclosure, in a sexual harrassment lawsuit, that he's been having an affair with a man. He admitted he's gay, admitted the affair, apologized, etc.
It will be interesting to see how the gay angle plays out. There will be a lot said of his lifelong personal dilemna, but will it distract from this? Try some history. McGreevey met the guy several years ago on a trip to Israel, arranged his immigration to the US, and got him a job through Charles Kushner who today is under indictment for soliciting blackmail of a witness against himself in a federal prosecution. Upon being elected Governor, McGreevey appointed his lover to be the State's chief anti-terror advisor, but the guy had to leave the job because he couldn't get a national security clearance from the Fed's as he wasn't a citizen. And there was always the question of his qualifications for the job in the first place. So he then got jobs from other bigtime McGreevey supporters but left them or was fired for not showing up for work. Let me try it this way -- McGreevey was involved in a long-term affair with a male bimbo -- a Mimbo -- and he covered up for it, spent the State's tax money on it, even gave the guy an incredibly important job he wasn't qualified to hold. And now we find out about it because the Mimbo got pissed off that McGreevey wasn't what -- forking over the cash? Finding him another job? Wouldn't divorce his wife?
So I ask you, take all of the male pronouns and references regarding the boyfriend out of the last paragraph -- change them to the female. Is it any better? Would he have still not resigned? No -- there's no difference in this sense. Oh, if you want to make something of the gay angle well then have at it -- but he'd still be gone for all too many good reasons even if it had been a woman.
McGreevey's hand must have been forced for him to make the announcement now. If he leaves office after Septemeber 15 a Democratic Senator will be Acting Governor until a new election is held in 2005. If he leaves office before then, a special election will be held in November to fill the remaining year in his term. But McGreevey is on the spit now, and the coals are hot. What's the basis for thinking that he can, will, or should stay office for another three months, or even three weeks?