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Other Columns by Paul M. Weyrich
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New Jersey's Political Drama
By Paul M. Weyrich
October 16, 2004
Residents of New Jersey must think they are living out a real time episode of the Sopranos. Their governor, James E. McGreevey, has announced his intention to resign after the November elections, claiming that he had to do so because he is a "gay American", whatever that is. Perhaps, from now on I ought to introduce myself as a "straight American". In any case, there was absolutely no reason that he had to resign because he is a homosexual. Americans are, perhaps unfortunately, very tolerant when it comes to such things. And he didn't need to resign even though he was involved with another gay man while being married to his second wife. As we learned during the whole Clinton affair, Americans view extramarital "sexual relations" as a matter between the public official and his wife. Had Hillary walked out on Bill, he might have been in a lot greater political trouble. But because she stuck with him, most Americas said "well, if she is still willing to keep him, who are we to judge?" So while the disclosure of the affair would no doubt have further sunk the Governor's already record low approval ratings (38% in the latest survey), it was not a reason for him to resign.
Moreover, the fact that the Governor was, in effect, being blackmailed by a former employee who apparently threatened to file a sexual harassment suit against the Governor if he wasn't paid $5 million, was also not a reason for a resignation now that the Governor has gone public. The alleged blackmail is out in the open and there will likely be no sexual harassment suit.
So why did the Governor really resign? We may never really know (or is that one of those thousands of things which will be known to us at the time of the final judgment?), but there are a couple of likely reasons.
First, the Governor has been in a great deal of trouble over the dealings he has had with some of his major contributors. There are, according to New York and New Jersey media, even mob connections with some of them. See what I mean about the Sopranos?
While, thus far, the Governor himself has not been charged with any wrongdoing, the spotlight was getting awfully close. It could well be that he knew what was coming and determined to get out before the authorities moved in.
Then there is the matter of his hiring Golan Cipel, an Israeli poet who worked briefly for the governor as a homeland security adviser despite having no security experience. Now if this fellow is, as New York media is alleging, his homosexual lover then there is a question of misuse of state funds. You cannot just hire someone for a key position because you happen to be having an affair with him or her. If the affair was carried out on state property, it could be a criminal offense. McGreevey may have just felt that if he got out, that whole question would be dropped. (It may not be, however).
One thing the Governor did do really smacked of good old-fashioned New Jersey politics. If he resigned either immediately or effective in the next couple of weeks, there would have to be an election for Governor in November, along with the presidential election. That would give the voters of New Jersey a voice in who their next Governor would be. But by doing the honorable thing and resigning now, he would have given the Republicans, most especially former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler, a real shot at winning. And in the process, that might have put the state in play for the presidential contest. God forbid. Without New Jersey, the Democrats, who seem on a path to victory, might lose. No, as a faithful Democrat to the end, the Governor will resign November 15th and thus the President of the State Senate, Richard Codey, another Democrat, will become Governor. New Jersey has no Lt. Governor. That gives the new Governor a year to settle in and then to run as the incumbent in 2005 (New Jersey has off-year elections). Or if he doesn't look strong enough perhaps Senator Corzine will come back and run. Corzine would really be tough to beat. Not only does he have a positive rating with the voters (despite being one of the most liberal members of the U.S. Senate), but he has a boatload of money to finance his own campaign.
Either way, the Democrats are determined to hang on to the Governor's office and with this little convenient dodge Governor McGreevey has apparently saved the post for them.
After all the alleged corruption which has gone on during the Governor's term, after his broken promises regarding taxes, and now after the disclosure of an affair for which the Governor was being blackmailed (at least according to New York's NBC affiliate and the tabloids), the voters deserve a say in who will be in the governor's office. Since a lot is at stake for him too, George W. Bush ought to march into New Jersey and demand that the Governor resign. He should demand that the voters have their voice heard this November.
It might just create enough momentum in the next few weeks before it would be too late. In any case, the Governor could be forced out and forced out now. After all, it was he who put the State at risk. It is his associates who have continued to contribute to New Jersey's reputation as perhaps the most corrupt State in the nation. In view of these circumstances, by what right does he dictate who his successor will be? The Governor has brass; we'll say that much for him. Most people in his shoes would turn tail and virtually disappear.
There appears to be much more to this story than meets the eye. The only thing missing so far is a murder or two. Regardless, if the beleaguered Republicans have any backbone left, the least they can do is to demand the Governor's immediate resignation and an election by November. Is there any wonder that politics has such a terrible reputation? The Governor shouldn't make things worse by remaining in office through November 15th.
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Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.
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