N.J. governor resigns, admits gay affair
Posted: Aug 12th 2004, 5:35 pm
New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay
McGreevey announces resignation after telling of affair
Thursday, August 12, 2004 Posted: 5:27 PM EDT (2127 GMT)
(CNN) -- Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday as he revealed that he is gay and that he carried on an adulterous affair with a man.
With his wife standing quietly by his side, McGreevey 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 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, a Democrat, said.
"And so, my truth is that I am a gay American," McGreevey said.
Speaking at a packed press conference in the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey, McGreevey admitted to an 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.
He said his resignation would be effective November 15.
"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."
McGreevey, a first-term Democrat, took office in January 2002. His term wasn't due to expire until January 2006.
Senate President Richard Codey, another Democrat, will replace McGreevey as the state's chief executive; the state has no lieutenant governor's office.
Once considered a rising star in Democratic circles, McGreevey, 47, served in the state Legislature and as mayor of the town of Woodbridge before winning the governorship.
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.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/ ... index.html
Thoughts?
McGreevey announces resignation after telling of affair
Thursday, August 12, 2004 Posted: 5:27 PM EDT (2127 GMT)
(CNN) -- Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday as he revealed that he is gay and that he carried on an adulterous affair with a man.
With his wife standing quietly by his side, McGreevey 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 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, a Democrat, said.
"And so, my truth is that I am a gay American," McGreevey said.
Speaking at a packed press conference in the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey, McGreevey admitted to an 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.
He said his resignation would be effective November 15.
"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."
McGreevey, a first-term Democrat, took office in January 2002. His term wasn't due to expire until January 2006.
Senate President Richard Codey, another Democrat, will replace McGreevey as the state's chief executive; the state has no lieutenant governor's office.
Once considered a rising star in Democratic circles, McGreevey, 47, served in the state Legislature and as mayor of the town of Woodbridge before winning the governorship.
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.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/ ... index.html
Thoughts?