McGreevey and the gold-digging hustler

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:40am

Does anyone else feel that the more McGreevey's gold-digging hustler blabs (Now its "I'm really straight, and he kept TOUCHING me, eeew!") the MORE sympathy McGreevey will get?

And a friend of mind was only half-kidding when she said to me: "The fact that the gold-digger is an Israeli is NOT good for the Jews."

[Glebb]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:45am

Oy!

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:46am

MasterLcZ - The fact that he's Israeli will only mean something to someone who already has that stereotype in their head, I think. And while it may deflect some of the attention away from the sordid gay angle the press is harping on - they will then focus on the corruption of his governorship in general. I'm most upset as to how the Republicans can spin this right now.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:53am

I think both of them are horrible. McGreevey offers this guy a $110,000 job that he's not experienced to do. And the residents of New Jersey are supposed to feel good about that?

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:55am

There is SO MUCH about the whole story that can be exploited for people looking for something to exploit. It's all very unfortunate.

For me the problem begins with McGreevey's poor judgement involving Cipal, be it in choosing a lover or a homeland security advisor. The sexual preference angle isn't remotely the biggest concern here, although it's going to be used by the right, no doubt.

It's difficult to tell how much impact the "sympathy" angle will have...because I'm just not sure there aren't going to be some more nasty twists and turns that come to light.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 10:57am

I really thought this was the title of a long-forgotten Hardy Boys mystery.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 11:01am

DGrant, If the GOP wants to make an issue of McGreevey's homosexuality, then I think Barney Frank (or some Dem with balls) needs to publicly intimate if they don't lay off that aspect of his life (McGreevy's political sleaziness is fine fodder enough) that every high-ranking closeted GOP official (married or not) will be yanked out of THEIR little closets as well. Bring 'em on.

Updated On: 8/15/04 at 11:01 AM

Posted: 8/15/04 at 11:02am

The poor judgement demonstrated by someone elected to the highest office in the state is the core of the problem, in my opinion.

The sexual orientations of both parties is of little consequence as compared to the choices both parties made. The problem they each face is that their choices are now exposed.

This is another example of thinking with the wrong head, regardless of which direction the head leans.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:01pm

Everyone quick to put Mr.McG on a Sopranos float in next year's gay pride parade should read the full acount in the Times of the 20 days that lead to this ... "announcement." McGreevey strategized every step of the way, including consulting with gay advocacy groups (mistake, that--shame on the groups) as to how to word the statement. "...Gay American..." was concocted to give it a civil rights cause twist, and not to focus on liberation. This is insidideous, using true human rights issues many gay men literally fought for (how about some cries of "Remember Stonewall!") to cover up one's smarmy behavior. It's ever more apparent that the self-idenitification as gay -- I prefer the accuracy of that term in Ol Jim's case to "coming out," which is empowering and full of pride -- was a smokescren to camouflage the worst possible decision making by an elected official. This episode is shame based, and there's nothing in its roll out that helps the gay rights movement. Or Democrats. Or people of NJ.

On a lighter note, many of the details are worthy of Armistead Maupin novel. I loved reading that Mr. McGreevey's confidant is named "McQueeny." I kid you not, folks. It's right there in black and white--you could NOT make that up. And it's just too, too delicious to read the account of Mr. C,the "straight" object of gubinatorial desire, how Mr. McG "forcibly performed oral sex on him..." Oooooh, forcibly! Oh, Mary, get over it.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:05pm

He gives greedy, money hungry, ladder climbing jews like myself a bad name.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:17pm

Why couldn't Cipel just go back home (to Israel) if he was being tortured. Was that not an option for him?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:19pm

Duh. They don't have good Chinese and they don't air THE NANNY over there.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 12:23pm

Cipel can't go back to Israel because over there he can't make big money being an ex-lover ala Monica Lewinsky.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 2:20pm

In response to Golan's clain that McGreevey "forcibly went down on him" against his will, leave it to those wacky kids at Datalounge to think of the best response:

"I've never had a guy forcibly go down on me. Am I hanging with the wrong crowds?"

Posted: 8/15/04 at 2:41pm

It struck me as a bit offensive for the writer(s) from TNYT to write: "...Mr. McGreevey then broke the news to his mother and his father, a former Marine drill instructor...."

[Emphasis added]

Com'on.

What did/does McGreevey pere's former career have to do with fils sexuality?


It struck me as something along the lines of, "Tsk Tsk Tsk. The son's gay and his father a former Marine, too. How embarrassing for Dad."


Updated On: 8/15/04 at 02:41 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 2:48pm

Duh, José.

1) Marine drill instructor fathers are not particularly well known for their nurturing ways nor their tolerance to open homosexuality or sons who might be considered sissies primarily because...

2) ... of the culture of homosocial and sexual behavior that is well known in the United States Marine Corps. Not for nothing is it a well known fact that most Marines are big pushy bottoms.

That descriptive phrase that you found "offensive" (god only knows WHY?) actually may help illuminate the stage that was set for the man that McGreevey became.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 2:50pm

I heart Namo. :)

Marines ARE pushy bottoms!!

Posted: 8/15/04 at 2:58pm

I understood the point of the sentence, FN and JRB.

My read is that it was unnecessary and a bit, ah, old fashioned in its perspective.

But hey, my father was an MP.

Updated On: 8/15/04 at 02:58 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 3:00pm

Ya know, getting married because you feel it is the "right thing to do" in spite of the fact that you have to deny who it is you really are is also "old fashioned in its perspective." And I am sure this "old fashioned" mentality was a complete expectation on the part of the Marine drill instructor father.

[Jon]

Posted: 8/15/04 at 6:33pm

Wasn't "Mr. McQueen" the character in Urinetown who was Cladwell's assistant, and looked and sounded like Rudy Guiliani?

[Poppy]

Posted: 8/16/04 at 9:56am

Now the bastard is saying he is not gay and was continually harrassed by the Govenor. If that's the truth why didn't he take his ass out the State? There's the old sterotype again that too many people enjoy believing...gay men prey on little boys and straight men. Give me a break!!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 8/16/04 at 12:38pm

Straight Men? WHERE?

[Plum]

Posted: 8/16/04 at 12:43pm

Didn't the two of them meet in Israel? The man wasn't employed by McGreevey then, so it's not like McGreevey had power over him.

I'm not completely discounting this guy's version of events, but it really doesn't make sense to me. Nobody forced the guy to take that juicy political appointment, either.

Really, neither side looks too good in this.