It's all about the money

Former Gov. James E. McGreevey may have thought he snookered some people back in August 2004. But McGreevey's "I am a gay American" speech was a shameful sleight-of-hand maneuver designed to try and deflect attention from the real problems.

The long-hidden sexual orientation of the former governor was never, ever the issue. The real, unforgivable move on his part was to compromise the security of every resident in this state by appointing what he later said was his then-secret paramour, Golan Cipel, to head New Jersey's homeland security department. That came less than a year after the horrific terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

McGreevey revealed his sexuality only because Cipel had threatened to file a sexual harassment suit, not because he suddenly felt a pressing need to let the world know that he is gay. Cipel, an Israeli citizen with absolutely no credentials to hold the position McGreevey appointed him to, has vociferously denied having a sexual relationship with him. He never followed through on the sexual harassment suit.

Some of the excerpts from McGreevey's book "The Confession" are painful to read. Imagine how Dina Matos McGreevey, his estranged second wife, must feel to know that he trumpeted their marital problems for all the world to see in a book that millions will probably read. What could possibly be gained from calling their marriage "a contrivance," or that they led an apparently loveless, lonely life at Drumthwacket, with little contact with each other? Or that while she was in the hospital recovering from the Cesarean-section birth of their daughter, he was out supposedly sowing a few wild oats? Do his two young daughters have to know this?

If he wrote the book as a catharsis to deal with the double life he led for so long, he did so at the expense of his wives, daughters and his family. The McGreevey family has declined to comment on "The Confession."

McGreevey told The Associated Press recently that it "was necessary in his recovery to be totally honest ..." in writing the book. Too bad he was never as honest with New Jersey voters.

Chances are, he will make a pile of money on his book. And that's probably what this was all about from the beginning. He doesn't deserve to. He owes the residents of this state an apology. Let's hope his new 15 minutes of fame don't last one second longer.