The Personal and the Political

Just back from a couple of days in New York on business. While there, I noted that the news that was most consuming people’s minds tended to be about one of four endlessly-discussed subjects: The Scott Peterson trial (who cares?), the election (on which I’ve promised no mention on this blog until September), the Republican National Convention (mostly about how inconvenienced they would all be because of it), and the weather (hurricanes in Florida = badness).

Then the Governor of New Jersey, Jim McGreevey, resigned – he claimed – because he is gay and had an extramarital affair. And that became front-headline news.

I watched a bit of the media circus with increasing distaste.

I must confess, I had hardly even heard of McGreevey before. So my initial reaction when I watched him was admiration for his willingness to take responsibility, and disgust that his stated reasons for stepping down should – in 2004 – force anyone out of politics.

Then I started seeing the reports about the alleged real reasons McGreevey resigned: He’s facing a sexual-harassment lawsuit from a former security advisor (an Israeli, of all things), and allegations of widespread corruption in his office.

I’m disgusted that personal lives continue to be fair game for political attack.

I’d like to see it stopped. After all, knowing a man had an affair means I’d be wary of dating him, not of electing him. And knowing or learning he’s gay wouldn’t affect my political opinion of him at all.

But by giving these personal, irrelevant excuses for a resignation clearly motivated by indiscretions that are relevant to office, McGreevey essentially told the public that it’s okay to make sexual orientation or marital fidelity into political issues.

We should be working to firm that line, not to blur it. After all, this is 2004, not 1904. The number of gay men and women who have achieved success in public life tells us that it’s time for this to stop being an issue. The Clinton years showed us that most voters will even forgive someone for having an affair, assuming – correctly – that this is a matter between spouses, not fodder for public consumption.

The fact that gay groups are supporting McGreevey simply compounds the absurdity. If I were them, I’d have nothing but contempt for a man who is essentially telling voters that it’s okay to resign in shame for being gay, while trying to use the issue to cover up real problems.

That’s the kind of abuse that happens when the personal and the political become one and the same. And that’s what makes this story so sad.

Update: Wonkette on the subject (via Damian Penny):

McGreevey’s speech was stunning, inspiring and perhaps even profound. . . It’s too bad he’s so corrupt.

Well put.