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wndysfrnd
08-12-2004, 03:58 PM
TRENTON, N.J. - In a stunning declaration, Gov. James E. McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday and acknowledged that he had an extramarital affair with another man. "My truth is that I am a gay American," he said.


"Shamefully, I engaged in adult consensual affairs with another man, which violates my bonds of matrimony," the married father of two said. "It was wrong, it was foolish, it was inexcusable."


The Democrat said his resignation would be effective Nov. 15. Senate President Richard J. Codey, a Democrat, will become acting governor and serve out the remainder of McGreevey's term, which ends in early 2006.


McGreevey, 47, refused to answer questions at a news conference where he was flanked by his wife and parents. He said that "it makes little difference that as governor I am gay," but added that staying in office and keeping the affair and his sexual orientation secret will leave the governor's office "vulnerable to rumors, false allegations and threats of disclosure."


"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," he said.


He did not elaborate on what the circumstances were.


The man involved in the affair, a former government employee, demanded "an exorbitant sum of money to make it go away," a high-ranking administration official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity. Cabinet members and administration officials learned of that threat Wednesday night, the source said.


Rumors had been circulating for several years that McGreevey was gay, reaching the level of open hints on New Jersey talk radio shows.


In an announcement that at times was introspective, McGreevey referred to the struggles he has experienced with his sexuality since childhood.


"Throughout my life, I have grappled with my own identity, who I am," he said. "As a young child, I often felt ambivalent about myself, in fact, confused."


McGreevey spokesman Micah Rasmussen declined to answer any questions about the future of McGreevey's marriage.


"My heart goes out to Jim McGreevey and his family during this difficult personal time," Codey said. "Jim McGreevey is a good person and good friend and today's events sadden me."


McGreevey rose from suburban mayor to state chief executive by his tenacious pursuit of party politics, maintaining a power base days after he narrowly lost to Republican Christie Whitman in 1997.


McGreevey never truly stopped that campaign until he won in November 2001, beating Republican Bret Schundler by 15 percentage points.


Despite inheriting a $5 billion budget deficit, he steadfastly refused to boost income taxes for most New Jerseyans. He instead raised taxes on millionaires, casinos and cigarettes.


But he has been dogged by several scandals involving fund-raising.


Among those caught up in recent scandals were his first chief of staff and former counsel; a top Democratic fund-raiser and former high school classmate; and real estate developer Charles Kushner, McGreevey's biggest campaign contributor, who was charged with trying to thwart a federal campaign-finance investigation by luring a grand jury witness — his own brother-in-law — into a compromising position with a prostitute and sending video and photos to the man's wife.


McGreevey is the second governor to announce his resignation in recent weeks, following the resignation in June of Connecticut GOP Gov. John Rowland amid corruption investigations and threats of impeachment.

Born in Jersey City, McGreevey graduated from Columbia University in 1978. He earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1981 and a master's degree in education from Harvard University a year later.

After briefly serving as a county prosecutor, McGreevey became a lobbyist for a pharmaceutical company, then a state government official. While in the Legislature, McGreevey voted for Gov. Jim Florio's $2.8 billion tax hike that prompted a voter rebellion against Democrats.

Willow
08-12-2004, 03:59 PM
Interesting.

tigerskiss1963
08-12-2004, 04:37 PM
why is going to wait untill nov to resign
he has a small child and a wife he just tosses them aside.
so sad

nanajoanie
08-12-2004, 04:40 PM
Gay is one thing. But married and betraying his wife and family, he could also betray the govt. He should never have married in the first place since he was grappling with his "identity". If you are gay, you are gay. So be it. But don't fake being "not gay" for society. If you are ashamed or embarrassed about your orientation - sorry. All you have to do is obstain. People obstain all the time. I think his biggest "sin" was being unfaithful to his wife and children. No forgiveness here....................................

Thank you for this post. I usually don't chime in on these gay type posts but for some reason this one got to me.

MamaFairal
08-12-2004, 04:41 PM
call me "too " openminded but other than his cheating on his wife i dont see the big deal.....

So what he's gay........ :)

That is not gonna affect his abilities to perform his job!

nanajoanie
08-12-2004, 04:52 PM
Mama, I don't care if he's gay or not. I just don't like his going behind his wife and family, trying to be something he is clearly not. This is not whim on his part I don't think since he had pondered it since he was quite young. I personally know a few gay folks. I don't care for their life choices but that is their business. But I believe in family and honesty. JMO.

YankeeMary
08-12-2004, 04:52 PM
I don't think being gay will affect his abilities to perform his job, but he does bring alot of doubt into his word. If he will lie about being gay what else might he lie about. He is a cheat, no matter that he cheated with a male but just that he cheated, something I could never forgive personally, but I think he did the honorable thing and resigned, I think a bit better of him now.

justme23
08-12-2004, 04:59 PM
call me "too " openminded but other than his cheating on his wife i dont see the big deal.....

So what he's gay........ :)

That is not gonna affect his abilities to perform his job!

I agree!

But just like Clinton, anyone who has an affair should be impeached... I still think the proper answer to any of this is 'it's none of your business who I'm boinking! my wife and I will deal w/ it.'

lassss
08-12-2004, 05:38 PM
call me "too " openminded but other than his cheating on his wife i dont see the big deal.....

So what he's gay........ :)

That is not gonna affect his abilities to perform his job!

I agree..he came clean, admitted what he did..that's more than I can say for alot of public figures...What he did in his private life is no one biz

ang in NC
08-12-2004, 06:43 PM
I feel for his wife.

okie
08-12-2004, 07:07 PM
I seen this on the news tonight.I don't care if he's gay but he should
have thought about that before he got married and had kids. I feel for his wife and kids.I think that was his wife standing beside him.If it was her, there is no way i would be standing by a man who cheated on me.I would be at
my lawyer's office making sure i screwed him out of everything i could.

Jolie Rouge
05-07-2007, 08:48 PM
McGreevey to enter Episcopal seminary

NEWARK, N.J. - The nation's first openly gay governor has become an Episcopalian and been accepted into a seminary, according to a published report. Former Gov. James E. McGreevey, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, was officially received into the Episcopal religion on Sunday at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York, said the Rev. Kevin Bean, vicar at the church.

McGreevey has entered the church's "discernment" phase, which usually precedes seminary work, Bean told The Star-Ledger of Newark in a report posted Wednesday on its Web site. It's unclear whether McGreevey hopes to become a priest. He did not return several messages left Wednesday by The Associated Press.

McGreevey, 49, shocked the nation in August 2004 by proclaiming himself "a gay American" who had an extramarital affair with a male aide, and said he would resign that November. The aide denies having an affair and claims he was sexually harassed by the former governor.

McGreevey has been accepted to study at the General Theological Seminary in New York, the oldest in the Episcopal Church, school spokesman Bruce Parker said Wednesday. Parker did not know whether the former governor wants to become a priest. "Mr. McGreevey has been admitted to the master of divinity program and he will be starting in the fall," Parker said. "Where Mr. McGreevey goes with this is up to him. We have a lot of people studying here who are not interested in ordination at all."

Growing up in Middlesex County, McGreevey was an altar boy and attended Catholic schools. While in office, he continued to practice the religion, but differed from church teachings in several areas, including his support of abortion rights.

Religion has become an issue in his contentious divorce proceedings. His estranged wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, has demanded that their 5-year-old daughter not be allowed to receive communion in the Episcopal Church because she is being raised a Roman Catholic.

The issue of gay clergy has exposed divides in the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church in the United States. Anglican leaders this year demanded the U.S. denomination step back from its support of gays or risk losing its full membership in the Anglican fellowship.

___

On the Net: General Theological Seminary: http://www.gts.edu

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070502/ap_on_re_us/gay_governor_seminary;_ylt=AuwCLzsr0f1tBHqZJzikUqe s0NUE


( Kinda creepy .... )

pepperpot
05-07-2007, 08:50 PM
He needs a shrink...:rolleyes:

http://dcfud.smorgasblog.com/userimages/fruitcake.jpg

Recognize that?.....:rolleyes:

tnfuhs
05-08-2007, 04:55 AM
I'm staying out of this, I dont care for politics. They Lie!!!

buglebe
05-08-2007, 08:24 AM
If every adulterer had to quit his/her job, there would be no one left to keep the country running, or ditch diggers to dig. If anyone thinks their husband is above cheating, think again. No I am not saying all cheat, just don't be too positive it won't happen.

freeby4me
05-08-2007, 08:43 AM
If every adulterer had to quit his/her job, there would be no one left to keep the country running, or ditch diggers to dig. If anyone thinks their husband is above cheating, think again. No I am not saying all cheat, just don't be too positive it won't happen.

I gotta agree. So what if he cheated on his wife with another man. That is something him and his wife have to get through/over. I dont see how that would affect his ability to do his job. It seems we put our elected officials on a pedastal and are shocked when they fall and make an ass out of themselves. Unless they're doing something ILLEGAL (not morally irresponsible) I could care less.

pepperpot
05-08-2007, 08:50 AM
It's not just that he:
1)cheated on his wife
2)married her not revealing his 'true' identity
3)is gay
4)publicly humiliated his wife
5)drags her through court (very publicly) for custody of their child
6)writes a 'tell all' book further humiliating his 'family'
7)......now he wants to be clergy????

all in a short period of time.....

He's nuttier than a fruitcake, unstable, selfish and mean to his 'family'. I've lost respect for him.

MistyWolf
05-08-2007, 09:04 AM
Pepperpot you list he "is gay" like it's a bad thing! .. So what if he's gay. That fact should be looked past .. a lof of people are gay but aren't aware of it or don't want to admit and get married thinking they won't be gay anymore.

pepperpot
05-08-2007, 09:19 AM
Pepperpot you list he "is gay" like it's a bad thing! .. So what if he's gay. That fact should be looked past .. a lof of people are gay but aren't aware of it or don't want to admit and get married thinking they won't be gay anymore.

Being 'gay' is not a bad thing, it wasn't meant that way. (and I personally don't feel that way). You are who you are. It's a 'non-issue' that he has made an issue.

I think he knew he was gay, married for his political career advancement and emerged from the 'closet' just before he was 'outed' for his cheating behavior. Now, his new 'campaign' is to be a 'gay clergy'?? He seems very conniving to me, I don't trust him.

I'm looking at the whole picture, he's pretty arrogant.

ahippiechic
05-08-2007, 09:24 AM
Your sex life, (be it with a male, female, or both) shouldn't affect your ability to do your job. But if it does, go ahead and resign.

As for this guy, I think he definately has issues he needs to resolve.

MistyWolf
05-08-2007, 09:25 AM
I personally could care less .. I don't live in Jersey. Just glad you aren't pointing out his being gay as a bad thing.

Jolie Rouge
05-08-2007, 02:15 PM
As I recall, didn't he have his lover on the State payroll for a six figure job at an empty office ? Some other payolla involved ? It was a bit a brillant spin to "come out" just before being exposed as a crook - then everything is about him "being gay" rather then being a thief.

janelle
05-09-2007, 12:31 AM
I think he is using the gay issue for sympathy. If it isn't sick being gay then he should have none of our sympathy. He is a cheater like any other person who cheated on his spouse. He shouldn't get cut any slack cause he cheated with a man instead of a woman.

Jolie Rouge
02-15-2008, 09:26 PM
Former NJ gov's split from wife drags on
By ANGELA DELLI SANTI, Associated Press Writer
Fri Feb 15, 6:10 PM ET

TRENTON, N.J. - They've bickered over whether she knew he was gay, whose tell-all book would sell better, whether a poster of a nude man hanging over his new lover's bed had to come down before she'd allow their 6-year-old to visit.

Divorce has been exceptionally bitter for former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey and his wife, Dina Matos McGreevey. Unless they can resolve the custody and money issues that have arisen since their acrimonious parting, the state's estranged former first couple is heading for a May trial.

The pair split three months after he came out on live television, saying he had a gay affair with an ex-staffer and that he would resign. On Friday, they were in court for the umpteenth round in their drawn-out divorce proceeding, this time to fight about McGreevey's desire to hire outside experts to perform evaluations that could bolster his demand for shared custody.

Celebrity divorce lawyer Raoul Felder, whose list of clients includes exes of Mike Tyson and Liz Taylor, doubts that the former governor and his wife will follow the script of the 95 percent of divorcing spouses who settle their cases before trial.

"She is a betrayed spouse, but worse," said Felder, who is not involved in the McGreevey case. "He turned away from her for a member of his own sex; it was even more insulting because she was made a public fool. She feels as if she was used and this is payback time."

The McGreeveys were married in October 2000 and split in November 2004, when they left the governor's mansion in Princeton and began living apart. As of February, they've been separated with the intention of divorcing for three years and three months — nearly as long as the marriage.

After the breakup, he wrote a tell-all book, then went on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and acknowledged having a gay tryst while his wife was in the hospital giving birth to their daughter, Jacqueline. She followed with a tell-all book of her own, and they argued over whose would sell more copies.

On custody, their lawyers — he's on his third, she's kept the same one throughout — have squabbled over all sorts of issues. Matos McGreevey has complained about artwork in her husband's home, demanding that one nude photograph be removed, and arguing that Jacqueline should not be allowed to sleep in her father's bed.

McGreevey, who is studying to be an Episcopal priest, wants to keep his daughter for overnight visits on a school night and wants to take her to Episcopal services when she's with him.

The couple once rushed to court days before McGreevey was set to throw Jacqueline a birthday bash because his wife argued it wasn't his weekend for visitation. McGreevey has his daughter every other weekend and one night during the week. The child spends the rest of her time with her mother.

"Mr. McGreevey is extremely hopeful that in Jacqueline's best interest her mother will relent in her so far obstinate refusal to consent to true joint custody of this child, which would allow Jacqueline to have the benefits of a deep and bonded relationship with both of her parents," said Stephen P. Haller, McGreevey's lawyer.

McGreevey's request to hire experts was denied by a judge Friday. The McGreeveys already retain a parenting coordinator to help mitigate their squabbles, and a counselor for their daughter, a kindergartner. They also have a temporary parenting plan in place, governing such issues as who gets the girl on holidays, which both parties signed after hours of negotiations.

Their bickering also involves money: Matos McGreevey claims he isn't living up to his earning potential as a licensed attorney. She also insists his live-in boyfriend, Mark O'Donnell, should have to disclose his finances and business dealings.

Matos McGreevey lives in a modest home in Springfield. She is an executive with Columbus Hospital, but likely will lose her job in the spring when the hospital is slated to close. Matos McGreevey and her lawyer, John Post, did not return messages seeking comment.

Like other divorces, it's also been expensive: McGreevey said his legal expenses have topped $400,000 so far and that they easily could double before the divorce is final.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080215/ap_on_re_us/gay_governor_divorce;_ylt=ArGux5cgY6_pDlJnvSOT.opH 2ocA