McGreevey just came out as a gay man

[Don_G]

Breaking news McGreevey has just come out and he is admitting a affair with another man. He has a wife and two kids and he is resigning.

[Placebo]

1. THIS IS AMAZING.

I can't believe it! Did ANYONE see this coming???

*BLOWN AWAY* :wow:

[tilsammans]

12. I was told it's old news . . .

in Woodbridge, where he's from.

[Kool Kitty]

16. Really? This is the first I've heard of it.

[LynneSin]

38. I had a friend tell me this back when I was in NJ a month ago

She said she knew the boyfriend.

But what I don't get is why resign unless you just don't want to put your family through the trauma

[demwing]

179. I think he's resigning because of the affair

Not because of the orrientation.

At least he's waiting till the they can't call a special election to replace him.

[flaminbats]

180. perhaps it isn't professional to appoint one's lover to government posts

I highly doubt that the person best qualified for that position would be having sex with the governor :eyes:

[papau]

41. Replaced as Gov by Dem state Senate President Richard Codey

:-)

[otohara]

2. Wow - I Just Saw

OMG - first I've heard of his being gay rumor

[Don_G]

4. It's news to me

I wonder how his wife and kids are taking the news.

[Tarheelhombre]

3. Gay or Bi?

[Don_G]

7. Gay 100%

Except he does have a wife and two kids :shrug:.

[theHandpuppet]

35. Just because a person is gay...

...doesn't mean they're sterile or incapable of performing heterosexual sex, y'know.

[arwalden]

135. Some People Don't Get It...

it's all or nothing... one way or the other. --- You're definitely right on target HandPuppet.

For many people, they only have their OWN sexuality as a yardstick for comparing the sexuality and desires of others and they simply cannot relate to the possibility that someone might indeed be bisexual.

Not everyone... just some folks.

-- Allen

[MallRat]

59. Are we getting into percentages now?

Because yesterday, I was 88% hetero. But this morning, I saw this photo about a new European news program and their anchors:


Presenters on the television program 'The Naked News,' Lily Kwan (3L) and Sam Page (3R), pose for the cameras at the program's U.K. launch in London, August 11, 2004. The show, which features a female anchor who disrobes as she reads the news and was launched in the U.S. in 2001, is due to be broadcast beginning on August 16. (Stephen Hird/Reuters)

So today, I'm more like 93-94% hetero.

:shrug: :-)

-MR

[SidDithers]

67. Canadian news program...

C'mon, credit where credit is due :)

Sid

[Almost_there]

182. I like these percentages...

I'm feeling about 104% hetero after seeing this program...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I actually think that few people in NJ care about his orientation, there are a number of scandals surrounding him, nothing implicating him directly, but, contributions, dealings with prostitutes and setting people up, things like that from his primary campaign contributors and friends.

I hate to be jaded, but, his approval was somewhere around 32% and that was UP!! from 27% about a week or two ago. So, I think with the harrasment lawsuit, the scandals etc, the house was coming down. I honestly think he used the sexual orientation issue to deflect from the other issues he was facing. (Please don't flame me). He is a good guy and was apparantly a very good mayor, where most people had heard rumors about his sexuality and no one cared. So, why would a governor step down after having an affair? Anyone seen the stats on congress and the senate recently? There is something else here...

~Almost

[tilsammans]

8. Gay, he said

[Hawkeye-X]

10. My thoughts.. EXACTLY

:)

I'm happy he came out of the closet, but he didn't have to resign just because he's gay/bi/whatever.

[Don_G]

17. It must be hard

It must have been hard for him to come out of the closet with a wife and two kids.

[goodhue]

23. Resignation apparently prompted by lawsuit by male lover.

eom

[Tight_rope]

87. He probably was set up some Republican closet freak..or someone paid to!

[xultar]

69. I think it is the whole affair thing. I'm glad he's out. I hope he finds

happiness after things cool down.

[foreigncorrespondent]

139. Um why ask that?

I knew a 100% gay guy who was married to a woman and had two lovely daughters. You wanna know why he got married? He did it because it is what society expected of him.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. holy crap!...and i thought he was gonna say "he was being investigated for

giving contracts to mafia contractors"

[MallRat]

6. Ah, shit. There goes the news cycle, folks.

If McGreevey had just stepped down, it probably would've been buried in the nightly news, just like the Rowland resignation.

But coming out of the closet in a press conference? Thanks to the little (D) after his name, Karl Rove just got an early Christmas present: more gaybashing material to feed to the base.

Un. F'ing. Real.

-MR

[Don_G]

11. He is being sued for rape by another man

He couldn't just step down it would have hit all of the news media anyway.

[Seabiscuit]

77. If that's truly the case...

then this gay man who's accusing him of rape is probably a Republican fright-wing plant who seduced the Governor merely to turn around and falsely claim rape in a lawsuit and expose and destroy the Governor's career and family relations.

That's typical right wing tactics, folks. Nothing else about this makes any sense. Unless the Governor knew he was about to be exposed by this guy either through the press or a frivolous lawsuit, there would be no reason for him to step down at this time.

He obviously has been threatened, and didn't want to put his wife and children through all the media harassment if he remained in office.

KUDOS to the Gov. for the wording of his announcement and declaring he is a "gay American", and publicly apologizing to his wife for breaking his marriage vows and having an affair with a gay man. That takes guts, moral courage, and tons of integrity. Now he's truly the captain of his own ship, and the Repukes can go Cheney themselves.

[TexasBushwhacker]

159. If it was RAPE, then the guy should have pressed charges n/t

[AP]

14. There are enough closted Republicans to ensure Rove won't be able to make

too much about this.

[Don_G]

22. We have one in the whitehouse

What happened to the story about Bush being gay?

[cal04]

39. no joke, I just heard that and that the

guy was sent to another country. Is that true or just made up?

[Wabbajack]

88. Bush gay?

I never heard that.

[Don_G]

138. His boyfriend lives in TN

He is a politician but his name slips my mind. The story has been out for a long time the media doesn't want to pick it up because it would bring some of them out into the open.

[October]

158. Victor Ashe?

[mom cat]

134. He was a cheerleader, Ya know...or as AhhhNEEE would say

George the Girlllly Guy :shrug: GGG Sarcasm on medium. Hey I just remember that he lived in the Montrose?????

[Seabiscuit]

162. Every time I see that creepazoid RNC puke...

Bill Drier (sp?) on Bill Maher's show (the one who got clobbered by Maher, Moore, and the former Canadian PM so badly he ran off stage before the show was over) I am convinced he's been one of the worst kinds of closet gays ever - the kind that publicly bashes gays and opposes gay rights by, for example, speaking out in favor of that failed Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

I'm just another happily married straight family man in favor of gay rights and treating *all* men and women equally under the law. There's a gay couple living down the street from me, they've adopted two lovely children from Guatamala, and they're wonderful, intelligent, witty, and fun guys who love their very well adjusted childre very much. How on earth could such people pose *any* kind of threat to my way of life?????? They should have the right to marry here in California and acquire all state and federal legal and tax benefits they're entitled to, and have been wrongly deprived of.

What the fuck is wrong with the braindead morons who not only want to refuse this couple their rights, not only want to deny them adoption rights, not only feel somehow "threatened" by them, but also most surely don't want them living in *their* neighborhood.

This country has gone to the dogs.

[lancdem]

25. Fortunately, as Josh Marshall says, NJ isn't a swing state

That's the one saving grace in this. Hey, it also might knock the Swift Boat Liars off the news! :evilgrin:

[MallRat]

30. Thanks for finding the silver lining, lancdem.

:-) :eyes:

[MODemocrat]

114. Swiftboat liars - What a befitting name for them

But, about his resigning because he's gay, I thought there must have been more to the story. That's sad for his wife and children.

[Eurobabe]

40. yep, feeds right into the moral politics of Repubs.

this ought to chew up the airwaves for the next few days.

[Barret]

60. Bull shit

Maybe if this was the 1950's. What's rove going to say? "He's gay"? Oooohhhh oh no please don't rove we're shaking in our boots.

[WI_DEM]

9. I didn't know he was married

I assume his wife isn't there backing him up.

[Don_G]

13. His wife is right by his side

She must have known or she must have been blind.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. His parents were there, too

[VolcanoJen]

20. Brave, extremely brave... both of them.

This is amazing. I feel for his wife, but she's right next to him, and seems very supportive.

What a shocking announcement, though. I'm really blown away.

Is Governor GoodHair Perry next?

[Bogus W Potus]

29. What is this going to do to his children?

nt

[West Coast Democrat]

34. He's not the first gay parent to come out of the closet....

children can deal with these things better than adults sometimes.

[Bogus W Potus]

43. But here's what I don't understand

Call me naive, but how can someone sexually attracted to men marry a woman? I know it happens, I just don't understand it.


Also, he was incredibly wrong to cheat on his wife, regardless of the sex of the person that he cheated on her with.

[Window]

51. I believe this is McGreevey's 2nd marriage, too.

.

[Bogus W Potus]

54. Wow

I did not know that. This just gets weirder and weirder.

[Book Lover]

64. A few reasons

A) "Marrying someone will make me not gay anymore."

B) "Marrying someone will get my mother to shut up."

C) "Marrying someone will make me less of a freak in my social circles."

D) "Hey, I just figured it out! I don't like having sex with my wife not because the kids are everywhere and we're so damn tired all the time, but because I am gay!"

[October]

160. All these reasons seem so selfish

[Book Lover]

172. I'm sorry, I don't exactly

understand. Are you saying that getting married to someone of the opposite sex if you think you may be gay is selfish?

[October]

174. Huh?

I'm saying that those reasons listed were all based on "I, I, I" and did not consider the other person, who happens also to be a human being not just "someone" to marry.

[flaminbats]

177. don't forget me, my, and mine...

Love is a two-way street, anyone who doesn't get that will not be in a gay or straight relationship very long!

[Book Lover]

183. Well, I'm not saying it's right

just that that is what people have told me, and what I have read.

[October]

184. OK

I understand. I was just thinking about those reasons, and that's how it hit me.

Gay or straight...respect for one another is essential. An obvious statement perhaps, but often not put into practice.

[Terran]

181. I think you, like most straights..

...have no conception of how common this is. It just doesn't come out in the open all that much because people are generally adept at living double lives if they really want or need to. Men, especially, don't find it too hard to find sexual satisfaction on the sly with members of their own sex. I've known three men in my life who had either been married previously and had kids or who were 'secretly' attached to men who were still married.

[Barret]

66. Society

There have been cases like this all the way back to the english royalty. (who were expected to marry and reproduce) Some people are so warped by the rights mantra that they can't accept themselves, are in denial, and get involved with people they really would rather not be involved with. Then years later they accept themselves and get out of the relationship they never really wanted in the first place.

[TheDonkey]

145. Gay = Bad in our society

and few people want to be "bad".

[foreigncorrespondent]

146. Blame society for it.

Society expects you to marry someone of the opposite sex ad through that marriage have children. And the current gay marriage debate only proves that point. Repukes are constantly telling us we have marriage rights like everyone else. The only difference is, we have marriage rights for what society expects of us. We don't have the right to actually marry someone we love.

[Cronus Protagonist]

167. I've done that.... it's not as unusual as you think

And when you decide you don't love your wife any more and start looking for a new lover, that's when things begin to unravel.

If you find one of the same gender as you, the press is all over you, and if you find one who's the opposite gender, you can walk in the Macy's Parade with your head held high as your family watch you on TV - like Guilliani did.

SHOVE IT! - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - Hero Kerry AWOL Bush
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[GinaMaria]

28. True Story

I had two friends that married each other. I'd known him since HS and her since college. He was her first love. After a few years of marriage, he told her he was gay. That was 15 years ago. They still talk everyday.

She has remarried and he is in a serious relationship. They double date. They love and care and understand each other so well. They both accept the other person as they are. I'm not saying there weren't difficult times in this process, but not every wife will abandon a husband who discovers then admits to her and the family that he is gay.

Arianna Huffington is extremely loyal to her (ex?) husband.

[TahitiNut]

149. You have some nice friends, GinaMaria.

Why am I not surprised? :silly:

[smada]

15. Did this just come out of nowhere or what?

Did anyone have any clue he was going to come out of the closet?

I had to do a double take when I was watching the news. The anchor on CNN Headline News said he's resigning "because he's gay". I jerked my head to the screen to make sure I'd heard it right.

Completely surreal.

[Kool Kitty]

19. Sure surprised me.

And I live in Jersey.

[tilsammans]

31. If you live in Jersey . . .

Nothing should surprise you!
(Said with love for all New Jerseyans!)

:)

[goodhue]

24. Some DUers noted it about an hour ago . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x745814#745989

[Comicstripper]

95. Yeah, I read that, too

so the surprise was ruined for me...I was watching it, too.

[Hawkeye-X]

21. Freepers take on it.

Caution: it's horrific.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1190303/posts

[complain jane]

45. Ooooh,

wonder if that scum Corsi will be there...

[TheDonkey]

52. This is so depressing. Homophobic America ruins lives

so much for family values.

If politicians could be safe to be openly gay they would but they aren't (other than a lucky few).

[July]

150. Oooh, oooh, lemme guess!

'Cause I sure as hell won't be going over there.

"Just goes to show you Democrats have no values"?

"Our side can make hay with this"?

"Dems are scum, this just proves it"?



Am I close? Okay, I'm not too good at "horrific."

[West Coast Democrat]

26. The Yahoo Link

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20040812/ap_on_re_us/nj_governor

[Bogus W Potus]

27. I just can't understand this

It's unbelievable.

I feel for his children.

[Ripley]

36. What about his wife?

I think any man who lies so deeply about his true nature to someone he supposedly loved enough to commit to with marriage vows is a shithead.

Obviously he hid his sexuality for political purposes...put his career ahead of his family and integrity.

[Barret]

72. It's the bigots fault

they cause people to stay in the closet, and, thanks to the their shame inducing bull shit, cause those in the closet to get in heterosexual relationships. Sometimes so they can tell themselves they aren't gay, or make others believe that because they are either ashamed or afraid to let others (and even themselves) know.

Obviously your attitude indicates you don't have a clue the torment many GLBT have to endure.

[Ripley]

79. Ah, once again somone absolves him from any responsibility.

No one forced him to marry and have kids and become a Governor knowing full well he was leading a double life that would KILL anyone's career given enough time.

This is not about me and your erroneous assumption about my understanding of GLBT community.

He clearly played a straight guy to get votes and power. Pretty crappy behavior towards his family.

[Barret]

96. Uh huh

Whatever. If he did this for power (as you seem to magically know) then he wouldn't be resigning right now.

[Ripley]

105. Yep, no one runs for Governor for the powerful position it is...

He's resigning because the shit is about to hit the fan and he was going to be exposed, so commendably he headed it off by making his own announcement.

Just because he is gay and a Democrat doesn't mean I have to walk lockstep and defend him or admire him.

[Barret]

130. Your accusations

Make absolutely no sense at all.

[Comicstripper]

102. Bullshit

He didn't know, or didn't accept. Most people don't question their sexuality. He felt genuine affection for his wife, and assumed it was a romantic attraction because he didn't know (as no one does until they experience it)what it's supposed to feel like. he began to question, had the affair, and realized the truth.
And he didn't resign b/c he was gay, but b/c he cheated on his wife and has pending littigation against him, reportedly for sexual assault. i noticed he said, "an adult affair with another man." i think he's telling the truth, mainly because i can't fathom a scenario whereby a United States Governor could rape a man to begin with, and then not even have it be a big deal RIGHT AWAY. the victim would clearly rush to the police and media, and he'd already be behind bars.
i applaud his courage.

ON EDIT: you contradicted yourself. first you say "he pretended to be straight for political purposes", and then in your next post say, "anyone would know (his "double life" would kill his political career". plus, there are plenty of non-married elected officials. he could've stayed a bachelor.

[Ripley]

109. You know if this guy was a repuke, a lot of you would be

crying RAPE. Yet because it is a Dem and an aide claims rape it can't be true. Some of you need to read the definition of rape. It doesn't matter if they had an affair, rape is rape.

And give me a break with this bullshit psycho babble. Are you his shrink?

[Comicstripper]

127. No I wouldn't

I'm not a Democrat. i don't defend Clinton, or any dem for that matter, when they fuck up. your assumption was understandable, but inaccurate. i am a liberal, i stand by those values, and the governor is innocent until proven guilty.
i stand by you, however, in decrying the hypocrisy on this board. it really is foolish and counter-productive. that being said, i'm a good reader of people ( and YES, i AM his shrink), and I usually can tell when someone's being sincere ( much like hannity, without the evil).

[xchrom]

141. are you his shrink?

get off your damn high horse -- you have no idea what happened -- and you are painting him as guilty.

[Barret]

132. I agree

I suspect the allegation is bull shit as it would have come out LONG before now. Seems like maybe the accuser might have been given some <cough> incentive to make an accusation by a certain party....

[Comicstripper]

137. c'mon...

the GOP is a very skilled political machine, but i doubt that
a) they'd find out about this relationship in the first place, then
b)pay the man to accuse rape rather than alert the media as to the governor's orientation

[Terran]

186. Bullshit

Obviously he hid his sexuality for political purposes...put his career ahead of his family and integrity.

You don't know that. You *might* be right, but this is a deeply personal and very complicated matter. Most men in this situation are in it because of the pressures that society puts on them. In his case, I understand that his wife was there by his side during the press conference. Doesn't sound like a woman scorned, now does it?

Don't be so f*cking quick to make judgements about people.

[Obamarama]

37. Why do you "feel" for his children?

I am hoping you meant you "feel for his children" because of the media circus, not because they have a gay father?

[Bogus W Potus]

42. That's exactly what i meant

Put yourself in their position for a second. They're going to grow up in this spotlight that the media has unwisely chosen to shine on their father and they;re going to be teased about it in school. It's sad that we live in such a homophobic society. Maybe if we were more tolerant McGreevey wouldn't have had to keep his sexual orientation a secret and he wouldn't have had to marry someone that he most likely wasn't even attracted to.

[Bluebear]

46. Bingo. The religious zealots want gays the "change"

And they leave wives and children in the wake when they realize it's not a choice. Very sad.

[Ripley]

50. That's a cop out if I ever heard one.

The poor man was forced to marry a woman, impregnate her and pretend to be the good hetero father and husband for how many years?

What is going on here, that everyone feels sympathy for this crap? I don't think he should resign just for coming out. But clearly the allegations of rape (whether it goes to trial or not) have ended his career. No one "outed" him. He did.

There are other out politicans. Barney Frank comes to mind. So why did this guy choose to LIE?

[Bogus W Potus]

53. You're missing the point entirely

I'm sure his wife is more hurt that he cheated on her than finding out that he is gay. I'm sure he did love her.

[fujiyama]

107. Exactly

I don't really have much sympathy for him, but I do for his wife and kids.

He should have known better. The issue isn't whether he's gay. I have no problem with that, but first of all he cheats on his wife, which is bad, but then he allegedly sexuallt harassed (and may have raped) another person. The media just loves scandalous stories like this.

He seemed to have not been honest with himself. I understand that it's difficult in society to be able to come out, and instead get married and have kids. That unfortunately happens often, but still a lie is a lie and in a position like his -- this hurts the party and his family.

We're just lucky NJ isn't really a swing state.

[Obamarama]

55. Okay, good....

Thought for a minute I was going to have to open up a can of gay whoop-ass on you!

[Bogus W Potus]

56. Whatever

Don't jump to conclusions.

Being gay does not excuse his adulterous behavior, however. He is very guilty of that and if I were his wife I would divorce him on that alone.

[Barret]

75. I just graduated high school

and I can tell you VERY few people will "tease" them about it. Maybe in early grade school. MAYBE. But not beyond that.

[Bogus W Potus]

82. I think you're generalizing too much

It really depends what area of the country you're in. Maybe they won't be teased about it some areas, but around here I guarantee you they would be teased and possibly beat up.

[Barret]

103. I think you might be a little out of touch

Anyone harassing them for this would be more likely to get "beat up" themselves.

[Bogus W Potus]

112. Really?

Ever hear of Matthew Shephard? How about Eddie Araujo? They were killed for being gay and for being transgendered, respectively. This country as a whole is not as tolerant of non-heterosexuals as you might think from living in a more liberal area.

[Barret]

143. I live in Texas in a solid red area

Liberal place huh?

There are people who will go out and kill someone because he is black. That doesn't mean they represent.

MOST people will NOT "tease" his kids. There a few openly gay people at my school, 2 of them good friends of mine. They were never bothered.

[Placebo]

91. I just graduated h/s too...

i agree

[Comicstripper]

119. Um...

I'm IN high school, and yes, they will be teased. homophobia is BY FAR the most prevalent and socially acceptable form of prejudice. i'm glad you live in an area where that's not an issue, it's a good step forward, but i live in maryland ( a heavily Democratic state), and even our kids calls bad things "gay" and teases anyone (regardless of sexual orientation) as "fags". that's why i say it's socially acceptable. christ, some of our biggest TV shows are based on this type of prejudice...

[Bogus W Potus]

151. Yeah

I really doubt this guy's story. Lol.

[Tarheelhombre]

32. Any credibility to the rape charge?

[Bluebear]

47. Most likely jilted or opportunistic imho.

[tilsammans]

33. So NJ has an openly gay governor . . .

Kewl!

[Dogmudgeon]

44. 900 Freeper posts in less than 30 minutes!

It's like someone poured crystal meth into their Ovaltine!

--bkl

[LynneSin]

85. more like into their koolaid

I can't stand to read that website only because it's so difficult to manuver through it and follow the threads!

[Fovea]

99. How would that be any different than usual?

n/t

[Medium Baby Jesus]

144. Are you referring to FR or DU?

Sometimes I can't believe some of the posts I read on here.

:mad:

[Dogmudgeon]

176. The mock-outrage factor is already high

All the posts of DUers who are shocked -- shocked, I tell you! -- that McGreevy may have cheated on his wife.

Rape, blackmail, shakedowns, espionage ... well, what's a little mayhem among friends, huh?

But he Cheated ... he broke the most sacred bond between a Man and his Wife. A bond forged by God alone, and rent asunder for some cheap and tawdry (gay) thrills.

Oh, Adam delved, and Steve did span, and no-one was the gentleman!

And his Children ... What About The Children? ... they will have to live out thier lives besmirched by their father's foul stain!

The Humanity!

The Horror!

--bkl
The Grand Guignol Theater

[flaminbats]

178. mocking the mockery of mock outrage?

How dare you sir!! :dunce:

[Terran]

187. Hilarious! Great post!

Thou mockest the mock mock mockerage, er, or something...!

[Bogus W Potus]

48. I don't care that he's gay, BUT

I would be just as mad had he cheated on his wife with another woman. His children won't be scarred because he's gay becuase there is NOTHING wrong with being gay. There is however, something INCREDIBLY wrong with cheating on your wife and doing that to your children. Does anyone else see this, because it seems that most people on here are focused on his homosexuality rather than the adulterous affair he engaged in.

[bain_sidhe]

98. What makes you so sure he was "cheating"?

How do you know that she didn't know about (and, obviously accept) his "significant other"? There are more reasons than sex for a couple to stay together if, after having built a life and a family, one finds out that he or she is gay. Not only is real affection possible, there are all kinds of benefits involved - especially for the children, in terms of health insurance and *god forbid* if something had happened to him, inheritance laws.

Granted, it's not the norm, and it would probably not be a permanent arrangement (just until the kids grow up, for example) - but it's not unheard of either.

[Bogus W Potus]

123. Um

No.

I think it's been pretty well determined that she didn't know about it, and that he was cheating on her.

[demon67]

136. Um

no, it is more likely that she was aware from the get go. Many here in NJ were not at all schocked by his outing -- it has been an open subject of discussion for, literally, years and certainly prior to his second marriage.

What was surprising was that he resigned and the fact that he resigned tells me that the allegations are serious. I suspect they extend beyond rape but also include conduct that reflect a misuse of the office (for example, keeping a lover in a fake job, granting government favors to avoid disclosure, etc.)

[sui generis]

49. unfortunately he is resigning

which is usually an automatic public indictment, whether deserved or not. I have nothing against "coming out" even if you're a governor, but it does bother me that he is resigning instead of staying the course.

I'll be interested to see how this story develops, and how the media treats it.

[tilsammans]

57. I think he's resigning . . .

because of some of the other issues surrounding him as well.

[ramapo]

58. We've haven't heard the scandal part yet

Rumor is there are lawsuits and other corruption charges awaiting McGreevey.

If it was just about being gay, this would be an incredibly brave act.

It still took a lot of guts but McGreevey really screwed up to get himself into the position where he was forced to "out" himself.

[goodhue]

61. Golan Cipel

Presumably Cipel lawsuit outs their relationship . . .

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/US/mcgreevey_04...

Even as he made the announcement, a lawsuit is being filed this afternoon by the former adviser, Golan Cipel, in Mercer County, N.J., Court, three sources told ABC News.

* * *

Cipel is a poetry-writing former Israeli Defense Force soldier who, despite being a foreign national, was appointed by McGreevey to the homeland security post and subsequently was forced to resign the $100,000-a-year position.

[goodhue]

100. Cipel resignation

http://www.thnt.com/thnt/story/0,21282,602598,00.html

McGreevey adviser Golan Cipel resigns

Published in the Home News Tribune 8/15/02
By BOB INGLE
GANNETT STATE BUREAU

TRENTON -- Golan Cipel, the controversial and highly paid adviser to Gov. James E. McGreevey, has resigned for personal reasons, the Governor's Office said yesterday.

* * *

Cipel, 33, an Israeli citizen, was originally hired as McGreevey's lead security adviser in February. He resigned in March after questions about his background, but was kept on the government payroll at $110,000 a year.

The administration declined to give a formal job description or allow Cipel to be interviewed by the media.

McGreevey has said he met Cipel on a trip to Israel in 2000 and decided to bring him to the United States. Cipel was first hired by the Democratic State Committee, which also paid his $1,100 registration fee with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

* * *

http://www.thnt.com/thnt/story/0,21282,602598,00.html

[TahitiNut]

153. "poetry-writing"?? Well, that's sure relevant!

:eyes:

[goodhue]

166. yes, that is my favorite fact

I guess its best for governors not to spurn poetry-writing lovers.

[Yupster]

163. If that's true, then

he put his lover on the state payroll which ain't too cool either.

[Nashyra]

73. I'd like to think he is resigning as to not put his family

and his supporters under any more pressure than is tolerable. I think he has guts, no telling what his and his wife's agreement was. Will be interesting to see what the "lawsuit" is about? It maybe a moot point, it could be the guy was threatening him with it and he just cut his feet out from under him. McGreevy sounds like a brave man, one with alot of courage. Cares for the continunity of his state as opposed to fighting for his political life. As a voter I would have more respect for him and have him run as an openly gay man with political experience next time around.

[Barret]

108. RUMOR

Keyword here - Rumor. I'm sure the repubs got wind of this and trying to put as much bull shit out as possible.

I'll wait before these rumors get cited somewhere other than FAUX news and its right wing pals before I take them seriously.

[Bogus W Potus]

63. He should resign because of his affair

We'll hold the seat anyway, NJ is a solid Democratic state. The Senate President is also a Democrat, and he can take over for McGreevey in November.

[goodhue]

68. His resignation is effective Nov 15

Replacement will serve until fall 2005.

[Bogus W Potus]

71. Sounds good to me

nt

[Barret]

83. Your posts lead me to believe

you have a certain agenda...

[Bogus W Potus]

89. Oh really

What would that agenda be? :eyes: You've been here 5 days and you've already pegged me?

[Barret]

113. You seem to want him gone

the moment you discover he is gay, and already seem to have convicted him of the right wing RUMORS being floated. You also just admitted to wanting clinton out for the same BS reason the repubs did. That speaks volumes right there...

[Bogus W Potus]

117. You've been here 5 days.

Don't you think you're pushing it a little bit? What you're doing is against the rules.

[Obamarama]

122. Barrett may have only been here five days, but....

At least he/she has a profile. I sort of have to agree with Barrett. Sounds like you have an axe to grind. What is it?

[Bogus W Potus]

125. I have no axe to grind

I simply believe that adultery is wrong and immoral.

[Medium Baby Jesus]

124. Coming from someone

with a hidden profile thats pretty funny. Why don't you try alerting a see what happens.

[Bogus W Potus]

128. already did

nt

[Medium Baby Jesus]

131. good luck with that

Where is MoPaul when you need him.

[Bogus W Potus]

152. he can't do anything

lol

[Bluebear]

74. So you think Clinton should have resigned, yes?

[Bogus W Potus]

78. I actually did, to tell the truth

Just as I think Bush should resign.

Having President Gore in 1998 wouldn't have been so bad. We could have had a better chance at preventing the 2000 theft with him in there, too. Incumbency is powerful.

[Bluebear]

81. I'm unclear about your moral compass here...

You decry adultery and then immediately consider the political ramifications.

[Bogus W Potus]

84. I was just saying that we wouldn't lose the seat

My morals trump my politics. Don't yours? They should.

[Bluebear]

90. Whatever, as you say

:)

[Bogus W Potus]

94. Whatever then

nt

[Medium Baby Jesus]

101. Your morals don't trump MY politics.

[Bogus W Potus]

111. and what is that supposed to mean

you don't think it's immoral for someone to cheat on their wife? if not then your morals need serious work.

[Medium Baby Jesus]

115. It means exactly what it says.

People like you tried to railroad Clinton out of office. Fortunately, my politics trumped your morals.

Get it?

[Bogus W Potus]

118. Nope

What he did was immoral. Face facts. It doesn't matter what his political party was. And you can't change my mind on that.

[Medium Baby Jesus]

97. No he should not..

An affair is not a good enough reason to resign political office. Bill Clinton stayed in office and I supported him! Your moral agenda is showing.

[joycep]

126. IMHO

If all the politicians resigned who had affairs, there would not be enough people in office left to run the country, state, or local government.

[Placebo]

62. Do Closeted Media Types Get Off On Reporting This?

Some of them just seem too happy saying things like "he said he had an affair...WITH A MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN.......he is out, he is gay, we will give u the DEEP HARD news, up ahead"

repressed homogayness anyone?

:)

[Bogus W Potus]

65. Especially on FOX

John Gibson? Definitely.

Shepherd Smith? You bet.

[xultar]

70. Shepherd Smith is one step from going straight up Rue Paul n/t

[MyUncle]

86. This guy is a real pathological liar. I agree with your earlier posts.

He is obviously total 100% bad news. The sooner he goes the better.

[Medium Baby Jesus]

106. Bullshit.

He said he has led a life of confusion and I take him at his word. Unfortunately, we live in a society where being gay is considered bad.

[Don_G]

147. When will Tweety come out of the closet?

It might bring Bush out if Tweety would come out.

[Placebo]

168. Seriously, do u hear tweety right now?

He's practically salivating and drooling all over this story and talk of all these "private secret lives" and "homosexual rape".

[sampsonblk]

76. I Respect His Statement

I don't know all the details, but his statement was pretty compelling.

[Tight_rope]

80. Was he set up...Is that why he decided to come out of the closet?

[Barret]

93. Wouldn't be surprised

if GOP blackmail was involved.

[goodhue]

104. McGreevey met Cipel in Israel in 2000 and brought him to US.

More to do with spurned lover than right wing conspiracy methinks.
But who knows what Cipel's motivations are at this point.

[complain jane]

154. Maybe Cipel

is a spurned lover who thought McGreevey wouldn't call his bluff in an election year if he blackmailed him. That stinks.

On edit: Just as I went to look up the story on McGreevey on MSNBC after a friend called to tell me about it, the headline was the California marriage-voiding story. This day sucks.

I HATE THESE REPUBLICAN PIGS!

[thebigidea]

92. I don't see why he's resigning, Christ, this is New Jersey! Not Alabama

Boy just yesterday I got into a conversation about McGreevey... I wonder, does this mean they'll stop fixing the DMV? I almost fell out of my chair when he did those commercials promising to fix the DMV.

Say it ain't so, McGreevey!

EDIT: ah, ok. Rumors of rape, blackmail, and fucked up security clearances. Yeah, that'll do it. Well, I guess the FOX set will be pleased.

[malatesta1137]

110. who is his lover?

Matt Drudge?

[dolstein]

121. His "lover" is the guy who's suing McGreevey for harrassment

NT

[goodhue]

129. apparently

Golan Cipel WAS his lover and his employee whom he brought from Israel in 2000. Now Cipel is plaintiff and McGreevey defendant.

[Bluebear]

116. MSNBC reporter : "People for years ACCUSED him of BEING THAT WAY"

Brian Thompson reporting from New Jersey

[dolstein]

120. I'm glad he did the right thing and resigned

I don't have a problem with him being gay. I don't even have a problem with him trying to pass himself off as straight. But I do have a problem with him carrying on an adulterous affair. He had to have known what a HUGE risk he was taking -- indeed, given the fact that it was a homosexual affair, it was a much bigger risk than the one Governor Patton of Kentucky took with his affair -- and that affair effectively destroyed Patton's political career. And this all assumes that McGreevey was telling the truth when he said the affair was consensual. Apparently, the person he had the affair with has a very different view of things. Either way, it shows that McGreevey was playing with political dynamite.

I'm just received that McGreevey had the decency to resign immediately and spare the people of New Jersey at least some of the political fallout. I only wish Bill Clinton had done the same.

[Freddie Stubbs]

173. He is not resigning immediately

His resignation is effective November 15.

[apsuman]

133. I can not believe that someone in Democratic party didn't tell him...

I can not believe that someone in Democratic party didn't tell him if he was going to resign, to just do it *NOW*. By the state constitution the Senate president becomes govenor and a new election will be held on 02 NOV 2004. By making his resignation effective 15 NOV he probably helps keep the Governor's seat in Democratic hands in 2006 but at the cost of making him fodder for the rest of the presidentail campaing.

What I am trying to say is this: apparently a former aide is going to accuse the governor of harrassment/assualt/rape (it seems no two organization are reporting the same thing here) and since he is going to make those claims in the immediate future the Dems get bad press for the ENTIRE time leading up to the 2004 election.

[Barret]

157. So in other words

"By making his resignation effective 15 NOV he probably helps keep the Governor's seat in Democratic hands in 2006 "

he took one for the team.

[October]

164. Took one for the team?

Confused here.

[Charlie Brown]

140. Oh, the Repugs will love this...

"Democrats are all adulterous perverts!!" They'll claim being gay made this man abuse his marriage vows and corrupt his children. I think the man is something of a hero and should be respected for asking his family's forgiveness (for the affair). Too bad he'll be endlessly smeared by people who don't care about forgiveness or love (two of Jesus'pivotal teachings).

[NJmaverick]

142. One thought I find amusing

The only thing I find amusing about this, is some where Brent what's his face (his republican opponent in the last election) is cursing up a storm. Imagine the comments go some thing like this:


I spent how many 10s of thousands of dollars for those idiots to dig up dirt on McGreevy and they missed that he was gay?!?!?? What the F*UCK did they do with my money?!?!??! How the F*CK do you miss something like the man is married and gay and having an affair with another man?!??!?!? I could have been Governer!!!

[xchrom]

148. re: adulterous affairs and moralists

i'm a little stunned by some of the stuff i read here -- it's like being suddenly lifted to a revivalist tent meeting.
first of not one person here is more moral than another -- including the now resigned governor.
none of you know what personal journey the governor has been on to make him to decide to have extramarital affairs or to cross the street for that matter.
and -- especially in the case of a personal decision it's none of your damn business.
so before you decide to cast stones, aspersions and judgments get a grip on your all too human ass and take a long look in the mirror.

[LisaL]

155. Hmm?

None of our business?
The guy has to resign his job over it, I would say that's pretty much makes it our business.

[tedzbear]

175. Those who are so ready to throw the first stone better watch out...

...in case they end up having an affair themselves some day. In my experience it's the judgmental ones who have the most skeletons lurking in their closets.

So knock it off you hypocritical moralists!

:kick:

[rocktivity]

156. Technically, he DIDN'T come out

He was FORCED out due to allegations of sexual misconduct of a homosexual nature--the alternative was being expolsed. Had he announced that he'd decided to stop living a lie and get a divorce, well, THAT'S coming out, and I would protest his resigning. But Rosa Parks, he ain't.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Uzybone]

161. Its too bad

but at least he doesnt have to lie anymore. Thats one weight lifted off his shoulders.

[tedzbear]

165. McGreevey is a doll!

Whoever he was, I don't blame him for having an affair with him. Poor wife though. She didn't look too happy in the pix. I imagine they will divorce (or do the Bill and Hillary thing).


:bounce:

[flaminbats]

169. this slug has hurt his family, gay rights, and the party...

so great...he resigned. The bastard should have never run in the first place! A married man appointing his gay lover as New Jersey's head of Homeland Security, but this couldn't be considered a conflict of interest?

Democrats need to come out and say that this idiot does not represent our party, our priorities, or family values. Kerry needs to say this jerk wasn't gay or bisexual, just the worst kind of self-indulgent slime! :grr:

[Bluebear]

170. Kerry doesn't 'need' to weigh in on every event

Just my opinion. Nothing he says will satisfy the Talabama anyhow.

[flaminbats]

171. maybe not..

we'll leave that to the RNC.

[Doosh]

189. I agree

[brentspeak]

185. Good grief, I can just see this on the cover of next week's "Time"

"Newsweek", and every other weekly.

This kind of sleazy distraction is exactly what Bush lives for. Forget Bush's latest flip-flops, the Najaf/Stalingrad, the Bush $400 budget deficit -- let's all hear about the gay (Democrat) politician!

[Neshanic]

188. My two gay cents

I have always been a proponent of outing people who are in the public eye, on that practice of the "do as I say, not as I do" principle.

All his excuses, all his posturing, all his "I am a gay American" crap is just that. CRAP. Someone should of tapped on his shoulder while he was pontificating with his wife at his side and whispered in his ear..." you are not running for anything anymore, just so you know."

The cake and eat it too crowd of gay men, be they republican, democrat, or the actor/closet case scumbag on "ET Tonight". They all have their story, they all have their excuses, and rationizations of what they do, until they get CAUGHT.

This is the fact. You can fence sit on if you are gay or not till the cows come home. You can vote and believe one thing and do the other till you are on your deathbed; read Cohn here. The differenec is how many thing you as a closeted man can screw up for others on that personal selfish journey. Selfish? Yes, because the gay elf did not fly into his bedroom and suddenly he's gay. He had his own personal journey like will all did to come to the realization that we are gay. He chose to walk the line, so he got married, had kids, and kiddies, if you think he was not having second thoughts on the SECOND marriage then I got a bridge to sell ya.

He was a politician first, a gay man second who got caught in the proverbial guy nookie jar. It was his decision to do the things that made it almost impossible for someone not to out him. Who does he have to blame? Himself, for the hubris of thinking he would not get called out, selfishness for dragging a wife and children through this, and the ultimate sin,especiall for being gay. that being a bore.

He should of been outed long ago, and anyone thinks that there was not enough out there to do it, belive me there was.

He has managed to make a Jerry Springer" moment, that will be used by our pals the Reublicans, that will serve them on so many levels it is mind boggling.

[Moderator]

190. Due to thread length, please continue discussion here, thanks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x746911