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IntrepidIsMe
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 Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:29 pm N.J. Governor Resigns After Admitting to Gay Affair |
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| CNN wrote: | New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay
McGreevey announces resignation after telling of affair
Thursday, August 12, 2004 Posted: 11:00 PM EDT (0300 GMT)
New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey
(CNN) -- Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday after revealing that he is gay and that he had an adulterous affair with a man.
With his wife standing by his side, McGreevey -- a father of two -- spoke in calm tones as he described his struggle with his sexuality, "a certain sense that separated me from others." It was something that he said began as a child.
"At a point in every person's life, one has to look deeply into the mirror of one's soul and decide one's unique truth in the world, not as we may want to see it or hope to see it, but as it is," McGreevey said.
"And so, my truth is that I am a gay American," the Democrat said.
Speaking at a packed news conference in the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey, McGreevey admitted to an affair with a man and asked for his family's forgiveness.
"It was wrong. It was foolish. It was inexcusable," he said.
And McGreevey said he was stepping down from the state's highest office.
"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," McGreevey said.
His resignation will take effect November 15, and State Senate President Richard Codey, a fellow Democrat, will serve the the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2006.
If McGreevey's resignation had taken effect before September 15, state law would have required a special gubernatorial election on November 2.
McGreevey said his affair and sexuality -- "if kept secret" -- would leave the governor's office "vulnerable to rumors, false allegations and threats of disclosure."
McGreevey did not identify the man with whom he had the affair.
One Democratic strategist close to McGreevey said his speech was "well delivered and, I think, well received. But given what's ahead for him, it's downhill from here."
Even as he acknowledged his sexuality, McGreevey spoke of the "suffering and anguish" he had brought to his family and friends, saying he would "almost rather have this moment pass.
"For this is an intensely personal decision and not one typically for the public domain," McGreevey said of his revelation. "Yet, it cannot and should not pass."
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat, said in a written statement that "my heart goes out to Gov. McGreevey and his family."
Democratic Chairwoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued a written statement with a similar sentiment.
"Our hearts and prayers are with Gov. McGreevey and his family during this time," Coleman said. "The Democratic Party of New Jersey will remain strong and united as it stands behind the ideals and values that it has always fought to protect."
Garden State Equality, a gay rights group, called McGreevey's coming-out speech "poignant" and said its members' thoughts were with the governor and his family.
"We all know how difficult it is to come out as openly gay, whether to family or other loved ones," Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein said. "No one could imagine what it's like to come out to 300 million people -- this is totally unprecedented."
Once considered a rising star in Democratic circles, McGreevey, 47, served in the state Legislature and as mayor of the town of Woodbridge, New Jersey, before winning the governorship.
McGreevey won the seat in 2001 by a wide margin over former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler and took office in January 2002.
His administration has been buffeted by some scandal.
A Quinnipiac University poll released August 4 showed McGreevey's approval among state voters fell sharply after two Democratic fund-raisers were indicted on federal charges in July -- one of them accused of lining up prostitutes to discredit a witness in a tax fraud investigation, the other accused of extortion.
McGreevey and his wife, Dina, have a 2-year-old daughter, and he has another daughter from a previous marriage.
McGreevey signed a bill in January that created same-sex domestic partnerships in New Jersey, but urged New Jersey officials to abide by current laws when the city of Asbury Park issued a marriage license to a same-sex couple in May.
In July, he condemned a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit marriage to heterosexual couples as "a divisive and drastic tactic."
Sheinkopf said the governor decided to resign after meeting with advisers and friends and even wrote his speech himself.
"It was the least scripted thing I've seen in 35 years in this business," Sheinkopf said. "What happens next is a transition that keeps things rolling forward, and keeps some of his initiatives in place." |
I don't think he needed to resign. All he had to do, in my opinion was to apologize to the people and his family, and thats it.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:41 pm |
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| Quote: | Aaron says:
tssss, he leaves because he had one affair and is gay, and yet clinton had 2, then lied about them
Aaron says:
sheesh
T-Storm says:
I know
T-Storm says:
it's like, apologize to your wife, and get back to work |
Huh, knew that sounded familiar, 
Honestly, if he was doing a good job, just work. Gotta feel so bad for his wife, though. Not to sound... homophobic, but God knows it's hard enough when your husband cheats on you w/ another woman, but with a man... that's got to be hard. She's going to feel so inadequate.
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IntrepidIsMe
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| Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:45 pm |
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Yeah, I'd have to say I have more respect for McGreevey than for Clinton. McGreevey is definitely the better man.
Well, at least she supports him and his decision, as she was there with him while he gave his little resignation speech thing.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:46 pm |
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Yeah, that takes a lot of guts. Perhaps she already knew? (I mean more than just before it broke).
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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IntrepidIsMe
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| Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:47 pm |
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Not sure, I hope so, though. Definitely better to have at least some time to prepare.
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Jeff Miller
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Joined: 22 Nov 2001
Posts: 23947
Location: Mental Ward for the Mentaly Unstable 6th floor, Saint John's 1615 Delaware Longview Washington 98632
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| Thu Aug 12, 2004 11:16 pm |
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I guess he thought that no one would understand and thats why he resigned.
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| ~Tony Montana wrote: | | You know what you need people like me people for you to snub your nose at and point at saying there is a bad man. Well guess what This bad man is leaving. Say goodnight to the BAD MAN! |
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
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| Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:47 am |
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This is horrible--and he has a wife and is a governor. I'm sure there's something else behind it--at least there should be blackmail. Next in line is supposed to be the President of the Senate, but the people should vote on the relacement governor on election day, as is in NJ law.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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