Plus, News Just In: Congressman Mark Foley Resigns Amid Scandal
James
McGreevey continues to ride the publicity machine for his new book.
About to be named number three on the New York Times hardcover
nonfiction list, 'The Confession' is McGreevey's tell-all story about
his fall from grace as governor of New Jersey amid a scandal that
included his coming out of the closet, leaving his wife, and being
accused of all manner of improprieties.
I was neither
entertained nor informed by his appearance on 'The Daily
Show' last night. Jon Stewart went way too easy on him. As
blogger Truthdig points out,
about the most telling thing McGreevey said was that the closet taught him
skills that easily transferred to politics. McGreevey called it out as the
ability to create "perception." Other people might call it "lying."
McGreevey tried to lob a bit of humor out at the beginning
of 'The Daily Show' interview: "Why does the gay guy follow the masturbation
piece?" That and the banter with Stewart about McGreevey's "first poll" (hee,
hee, get it?) felt kind of awkward. McGreevey hasn't quite yet mastered gay
wit.
In an uncharacteristic moment of lame comedy, Jon
Stewart asked McGreevey this 'Seat of Heat' question: "Who will come out of the
closet first: Hillary Clinton or Condi Rice?"
That kind of
lazy homo-humor seems to be what most TV hosts are going for when it comes to
James McGreevey. David Letterman is certainly in that camp. McGreevey stood Letterman up last
night after promising to come on the show to read the 'Top 10 Book Chapter
Titles' for the governor's book, which went like this:
10. The Day I Got Caught Governing Myself
9. How to Pretend to Like Girls for 47 Years
8. From Schwarzenegger to Pataki: Governors I'd Like to Oil Up
7. Another Confession: I Can't Resist Entemann's Pound Cake
6. At First I Just Thought I Was Bipartisan
5. The New Jersey Budget Crisis: What Would Judy Garland Do?
4. A Look at the Governor's Balls
3. Politicians Who Left a Bad Taste in My Mouth
2. How to Push Through a Bill -- or a Steve, or a Larry
1. Why I Don't Like Bush
Gee, I wonder why McGreevey didn't show?
It's interesting to see the wide range of reaction to McGreevey and his book. I guess a lot of men relate to his story (I'm not one of them), as do women whose husbands left after coming out. Here's how the Washington Post reported on the turn-out at the author's D.C. book reading:
"And you think, Oh gawd. He's so slick, so self-promoting, so insincere .
Then you walk downstairs to the basement bookstore on Dupont Circle, and find about 80 people, most of them men, are waiting to meet Jim McGreevey, the 49-year-old former "gay governor" of New Jersey.
As it happens, McGreevey is not the only one here who knew he was gay but got married anyway." (Read More at: 'Jim McGreevey's Night Out With His New Constituents')
Perhaps there is something to learn from Jim McGreevey to the extent that his life story is a cautionary tale about the trap of the closet door. But what bothers me, and other people I've talked to, is that there's an awful lot about this man that makes him anything but hero material. Worth Repeating blogger-favorite 'Proceed at Your Own Risk' says it well:
"As McGreevey jockeys for a return to political life with the support of Oprah and some sectors of the gay community one can only be impressed by how this man who has a long history of abusing power for political and personal gain now may be applying those same skills to abusing the power of coming out--once again for political and personal gain.
As a gay man who spent many years in the closet, I can say with confidence that cheating on your hospitalized wife in her home with an employee is not a manifestation of the closet, it's the behavior of a corrupt and immoral human being, straight or gay."
And that's I guess what bugs me. I think McGreevey is just plain bad PR for the gays. It's one thing to come out late in life and realize you need to leave your family. It happens. It's another thing to be forced out because of a lover who threatens to blow your cover as a public figure who exploited his powers at every turn. McGreevey came out because he felt trapped, felt he had no choice. Might he otherwise still be blowing guys in hotel rooms while his security detail waits outside?
And he deserves the growing adoration and attention of the public why?
I shared my bad-PR concern with one smart public relations executive this morning as we chatted by cell phone about various topics. My friend reminded me that the gay community isn't the Bank of America, meaning, we're just people, we aren't a corporation who hires Ogilvy Public Relations to get us good press.
And my friend is right: Jim McGreevey is just a person, he's not representative of the gay community, and his misdeeds aren't mine.
Still, I can't shake this icky feeling that McGreevey is McCreeping toward a hero's welcome as the new spokesman for the gays. What in the heck for? Because he's a politician? No thanks. And double no-thanks for all the times he hides behind God as he rattles off his "sins," quickly followed by devotionals about his finding grace and staying true to Christ, etc., etc., etc.
I hope the bulb in his follow-spot burns out soon. Let's give him five to ten years as an everyday-gay and see if he really can contribute something worthwhile to our community. It's possible.
Meanwhile, and for the record, Jim McGreevey doesn't speak for me.
THIS JUST IN:
Will
Rep. Mark Foley use McGreevey's PR firm to set-up appearances on Oprah, Leno and
'The View'? He resigned today amid allegations of an inappropriate gay obsession with a 16-year-old
page on Capitol Hill.
"Maf54: What ya wearing?
Teen: tshirt and shorts
Maf54: Love to slip them off of you."
I can't wait for the
book.
5 comments:
"As a gay man who spent many years in the closet, I can say with confidence that cheating on your hospitalized wife in her home with an employee is not a manifestation of the closet, it's the behavior of a corrupt and immoral human being, straight or gay."
Damn it must be nice to be so friggin' sanctimonious. As a matter of fact, McGreevey doesn't speak for far too many gay men. True, he had to wait to be busted for his terrible behaviour. I saw the Oprah interview, and, he came across less smug then most gay men ever manage. He admitted that his behavior was wrong. Very wrong. He tried to explain it but not justify it. He'll learn in time to act like a real gay man. Make fun of everyone with less money, looks, status, or dick size, and do it with arch distate. A real gay man never admits to be less than fabulous.
being a victim of the reps escapades, i can only say that his recent behavior which disgraced all of his supporters, including the doctor, family and friends will not be soon forgotten. we will ultimately look into our hearts to forgive him, knowing he has hid a heavy burden and used his position to take advantage of those who trusted and cared for him the most for self gratification. its the "stupid factor" happening all over again that is dateline material, but since im a person of faith, i choose not judge him nor seek vengence only feel sorrow for him and the world as it has become, be aware.
As a community, we absolutely HATE it when someone won't come out, and we're not much more welcoming to those who do.
None of us are perfect. Individually, we've all made mistakes; as a community, we're chock full of imperfect people. I think that at heart, Jim McGreevey is doing his best -- he's not Oscar Wilde, but he does write eloquently of the pain and surreality of the closet, and the need for everyone to be able to integrate their sexuality (whatever it may be) with their lives.
I think he's getting more heat from his fellow gays than just about anyone else these days -- and we wonder why more closeted celebrities don't want to come out?
well he has already said his mea culpae umpteen times, why not give him the benefit of doubt. Surely one does not expect him to enter a monastery.....or would that even be enuf to silence his critics?
As gay person who was abused as child I have never repeated what was done to me in fact I don't date or even have sex because truthfully I don't like the shallowness and bs I see in the scene. I am not interested in sleeping with kids, or anyone for sake of sex, drunk, drugged or sober.
I think all of the excuses Mark Foley's attorney said were nothing but excuses.
Him coming out just reaffirms to the bigots out there we all are perverted, pedophiles.
I was listening to news and I could hear one of people interviewed blaming that no one wanted to come forward because they were afraid of being called anti-Gay. I could hear the hateful tone in his voice it made me sick.
Most Pedophiles regardless of what gender they sleep with usually identify as Hetrosexual, unless you're one of those NAMBLA guys.
Sadly people assume if you belong to certain orientation i.e Gay you're oversexed and unethical in your sexual behavior.
As Gay male this probably one of reasons why I have chosen celibant lifestyle.
It sickens me that their are also other Gay men out there pushing the ideal that its okay to have sex with whatever in order to be Gay type of sterotype.
Just look at AOL GLBT boards its full of 14 years posting sex ads.
It continues there because um someone see's us as Perverts and its okay to promote certain post there.
You're probably going to delete this post because I am not Gay enough I bet too
Hmm wonder why? Internalyzed homophobic sterotypes maybe?
At least Mark Foley thing shows and proves a theory of mine about some of those people who seek out of postions of power and authority, that Republican's aren't always good candiates for telling other people how they should behave when they got major board's in their own eyes.
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