This McGreevey story is REALLY amazing, but so complex

The McGreevey story is huge -- and extremely complex. I came home last night to a TiVo full of it. It was the top story on NewsNight, it was the topic for the full half hour of Nightline. Even John Stewart led off his program with it, and his news is always a day behind. The problem is that there are really two stories here, a human one of a courageous man coming out publicly, and a political one about a leader who made a couple of bad decisions.

The human level story is a remarkable one on its own. Right before a nation's eyes, a 47-year-old married man, father of two, stood up and said, "I am a gay American." As McGreevey began his speech with "Throughout my life I have grappled with my own identity, who I am", I could only think, where is he going with this? He couldn't possibly be going where I think he's going. (I had heard the rumors many times before.) I sat in my office and I watched it live over the Internet. For the next couple of minutes, I was completely taken with the moment. It was one of those rare events in politics when you actually don't have any idea what's about to happen next. Everything in politics has become so scripted, so forced. I sat with awe at what was happening, and then I let out a very audible gasp when he finally said it.

To be honest, even with the scandal/s (more on that later), he didn't have to come out. He didn't have to stand up and declare his sexuality. He simply could have resigned and let people wonder. He didn't, and for that he is a courageous human. He opted, with his wife at his side and parents behind him, to tell everyone that he was gay. It was one of the most joyful moments I've ever had. Truth was finally being spoken aloud and people were listening.

But then came the resignation, and the beauty of his declaration began to fade. And it became political. The political story is of scandal status that, gay or straight, would have brought a politician down. It will likely play out that he met his lover in Israel, brought him to the States, and installed him as New Jersey's top anti-terrorism coordinator. Up to here, the story is probably bad enough to have him resign on its own. But, being New Jersey, the story gets a little better. The FBI wouldn't give his lover clearance, his being an Israeli citizen and all, and questions were raised about his actual qualifications for the job. Instead of firing him, McGreevey brings him over into the Governor's office as an "aide" at $110,000 a year. Gay or straight, at least poor taste and probably against any number of anti-patronage laws. The media is now reporting that his lover threatened to expose his sexuality if he didn't come up with $5 million. (This part enrages me so much, but I don't want to focus too much on that here.) Rather than pay, he came out. Oh and then said he wouldn't leave office until Nov. 15th so the state doesn't have to hold a special election and his successor, a fellow Democrat, would hold the seat until the regular 2005 election. McGreevey was political all the way through.

And that's where it becomes an issue for the gay community. If the media covers this "McGreevey Gay, Resigns" we have a problem. His being gay is not why he is resigning.