Kevin McCullough, August12, 2004

Governor James McGreevey owes it to the tax-payers of New Jersey to resign today - NOT on November 15. McGreevey has consistently put the well being of New Jersey at risk. Thursday's pompous campaign-like stump speech was aimed more at homosexual activists practically begging for a job rather than a heartfelt act of redemption to reconcile him with the voters.

The immediate reaction of the New York Metro and Tri-State Media was one of pathetic measure. Nearly immediately the Governor was termed "brave", "heroic", "courageous", and "inspiring". Even as he exited the room where he had just delivered his agenda driven diatribe, where in the course of it he confessed to betraying the marriage vows he took before God to be faithful to his wife - he received thunderous applause.

McGreevey was undeserving of that applause on many levels.

To be faithful to one's wife is no easier for the heterosexual than the homosexual. Since I was a teen I have had consistent urges to bed many attractive women. I have not acted on these urges. Instead I have chosen to control my desires and force the desires within me to be subject to my principles.

But McGreevey's biggest issue is not his illicit, homosexual, adulterous, affair. The announcement of the affair and the flurry that comes with it is primarily designed to draw sympathy from the public and take the spotlight away from the growing issues related to McGreevey's mismanagement of the state he has been given stewardship of.

With a list of scandals that would fill pages let me just summarize by stating - there is more to his resignation than meets the eye.

Consider this. When McGreevey's assumed lover in the matter was hired as the state's security czar it came with cushy benefits. A six-figure salary, a room on the second floor of the statehouse, and a Governor who was constantly pressing Washington for more money were just some of the perks. Golan Cipel, the man at the center of this issue was named by McGreevey over the objections of state legislators and even voters concerns. In fact sources close to the Governor are now saying that he in fact greatly exaggerated the anti-terrorism credentials of the middle-eastern born Cipel.

Given that New Jersey was where one of the 9/11 planes originated from, given that the current threat warnings included a building that had been cased in New Jersey (The Prudential building), not to mention the number of ports New Jersey possesses - one would think McGreevey would have vetted his security czar closely.

According to a sexual harassment lawsuit to be filed shortly by Cipel, perhaps McGreevey did vet him - a little too closely.

Nonetheless Cipel served as security czar at the behest of McGreevey but was never able to win the confidence of the Feds in the Homeland Security department to even allow him clearances to take federal briefings on such matters. Of course New Jersey tax-payers were right to ask, "What are we paying him for then?"

When Cipel resigned a few months back citing "personal reasons" he went to work for Charles Kushner. Kushner is a major Democratic Party fund raiser his clients have also included Charles Schumer and John Kerry. Kushner is now indicted on corruption charges that Feds allege involved the Governor in a crooked land deal with a New Jersey farmer triggered by references to Machiavelli in private conversations.

Add to all of this the fact that McGreevey has now selectively manipulated the system so as to not allow New Jersey voters to elect a different Governor in this election cycle and you begin to sense the corrupt hands of state democrats in the mess as well. (If he were to resign at any time before November 15, elections could be held November 2 and begin a new term.)

Voters should not allow these "Torricelli-like" tactics to again be used to thwart the objective will of the New Jersey voter. The voters of New Jersey have a right to elect the man who represents them in the Senate, in Congress, and in the Governor's Mansion. If necessary New Jersey voters should march on the state capital everyday until McGreevey - whose approval rating before the announcement today was 37% - decides to leave.

Something stinks in Trenton, and it has little to do with the Governor's proclivity for male sexuality. He has left the state vulnerable, has trounced on the voter's concerns for safety in this age of terror, and is an embarrassment to the voters of New Jersey.

Resignation is expected. November 15th is unacceptable!

Kevin McCullough is heard daily in New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware on AM 570 WMCA and AM 970 WWDJ from 1-4pm.