Guest
Writer
What's
the state bird of New Jersey?
Grist
for the humor mill
by Stephen
Holmes
y
home state of New Jersey has taken a lot of lumps over the years
from its smell to its citizens' peculiar accents.
We've taken it all in stride; some agree with the
stereotypes (those who've fled), while others of us would defend
this great state with our last breath. We've gotten used to being
ignored and ostracized. As a matter of fact, TV news and newspapers
of New York and Philadelphia constantly forget we even exist.
Then, with just five words, Gov. James McGreevey shoved
our state into the sights of a scandal-loving media.
When McGreevey stood with his wife and parents at his side and
said, "I am a gay American," the shock waves that reverberated
from Cape May in the south to Ringwood in the north, rippled out
to a waiting nation. For one moment, what was going on in the Garden
State was more interesting than Bush or Kerry's questionable ethics
during the Vietnam War and even more interesting than Paris
Hilton (but really, isn't everything more interesting than the heiress
of the Internet?).
Not only did New Jersey supply the country with yet more grist
for the humor mill, but it also supplied the nation with its first
openly gay governor. McGreevey freely admitted to having had an
adulterous homosexual affair. A politician who comes out of the
closet and is open about an adulterous affair? If he'd admitted
to smoking marijuana regularly, we could have had some sort of political
trifecta.
Regardless of what the rest of the country may think, Jerseyans
are bright people who figured out early that the governor came forward
because he was being blackmailed. In malls, bars and everywhere
else the Jersey hoi polloi congregated, support for the unpopular
governor (who had always remained just on the outskirts of scandal
during his administration) seemed unwavering.
There are many reasons why the people of the state want McGreevey
out of office but being gay doesn't appear to be one of them.
Within a few hours of his speech, news shows had begun reporting
that the governor's alleged lover was on the state payroll to the
tune of $110,000 a year.
The man in question, Golan Cipel, who hails neither from New Jersey
nor any other state in the union, was handed the job of homeland
security adviser despite having only rudimentary defense experience.
Given our post-9/11 sensibilities, this discovery was particularly
galling.
Cipel claims that: he never had an affair with the governor; he
is not gay; that McGreevey sexually harassed him and that he was
threatened with deportation. While not deported, the scandal has
caused Cipel to flee to his family home in Israel. He has yet to
file the harassment suit the governor speculated was forthcoming.
Smelling blood in the water, state Republicans (and quite a few
Democrats) called for McGreevey to resign immediately and force
a special election. That deadline has passed but legal actions are
still being filed.
So far, the governor is remaining true to his word of not giving
up his office until Nov. 15. Since New Jersey does not have a lieutenant
governor, State Senate President Richard J. Codey will become acting
governor once McGreevey steps down. He will serve out McGreevey's
term, which expires in January 2006.
Politics in New Jersey has always been like a turf war that leaves
its combatants emotionally bruised, financially scarred and morally
savaged along with the threat of jail time a street fight
without the class. The McGreevey story offers a new twist to tried
and true politics: a politician who is done in by a scandal of his
own creation and not by a political rival.
So, let the jokes begin yeah, the state bird is the swallow;
the terror alert in the Garden State has been raised to lavender.
Heard them all and it doesnt really faze us. New Jersey has
an openly gay governor and his sexuality is the least of our concerns.
Giving his piece on the side a high-paying job was deplorable, but
no more so than sinking billions of dollars (and countless lives)
into a dubious war.
Scandals are becoming the norm and the McGreevey affair should
serve as a lesson to politicians living in fear of negative press.
Sometimes constituents will offer surprise support, especially to
those who own up to their mistakes and face the consequences.
Sticking your head in the sand until it blows over? Fuhgedaboudit!
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