Gov. James E. McGreevey (D), Lowers the Bar

Having been under investigation for a number of months for illegal campaign contribution schemes to move campaign money around the State, and now on top of that he is being accused of sexual harassment by another man, Gov. McGreevey resigns, in a few months.

My first reaction is, good decision, you have to step down. Even if it wasn't true, as we've heard many times before, 'it's the seriousness of the charge' that matters, and it must be investigated. So for personal and political reasons, he bails. He certainly is no Bill Clinton who stuck it out and, in his mind, prevailed.

What is becoming more troubling is the effect, once again, that the sleazy sexual behavior of a high ranking married politician with a family will have on our children. Hearken back to the previous administration. Since the Bill and Monica scandal, our grade schoolers think of sex to the point of believing that oral sex is not sex. And they all learned too much too soon about sex. And also, neither lying nor adultery will cause you to lose your job. It's all a personal matter.

That's where we've been. Now, at 4pm today, when schools are out, and kids on TV, we are exposed to this. It's just another debasing of good moral character. McGreevey apologized to everybody except the children of the country for being such a bad example of personal and public behavior. None of that.

I think the skunks that wish to air their dirty laundry on TV should hold off until late night hours, after prime time, when the youth audience is minimized. Gee, the thought of acting responsibly to difficult situations. There's a lesson being taught here that's not good, and an opportunity missed to teach a good one.

New Jersey sanctioned gay marriage a few months ago. Now the Governor tells the kids he's cheating on his family with another guy. With a sexual harassment trial to come, who knows what the kids will grow up thinking about what is acceptable and what is not?

© Copyright 2006 Ross Calloway. Last update: 8/30/2006; 1:04:05 AM.