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by OdlerRobert Jeanlouie

Sep. 14, 2004

What was this summer?s funniest news item? Some would vote for Arnold, who, at the RNC, called those who are pessimistic about the state of our economy ?economic girlie men?. If you add the accent, the attitude, and the gesturing, the Terminator?s quip is way up there in the 2004 time capsule.

One can argue that Arnold who has a job as the governor of the largest state in the Union, and makes $15 million a movie, has no idea of how many college graduates out there would be happy to land a $10-an hour job they can?t find. But how do you put that in the head of a man married to Maria Kennedy Shriver? This is the Republican?s dilemma: They don?t get it...

But, as I say, Arnold was only the runner up. And, the winner is Jim McGreevey, governor of the great state of New Jersey, who on August 12, under the threat of a lawsuit by a former lover declares in a press conference: ?Shamefully, I engaged in a consensual affair with another man? My truth is that I am a gay American.?

That sentence, the whole situation, had a long life around the water cooler. Everyone had an opinion, and I was surprised to learn that half of the people who talked about it, ?kind of knew? he was gay. I wonder how his wife, at his side, managed not to have any idea of what was going on?

By the way, that woman was misled, cheated on, by someone who has known his orientation for years. Why did she feel obligated to stand by him? Shouldn?t she be calling her divorce lawyer? This case is not Clinton?s ?I have never had sex with that woman.? This is ?I am gay, I have no interest of having sex with you, but I married you anyway?? Is Mrs. McGreevey a fool? Contrary to Hillary?s relationship, hers will never work. The guy is gay!

The most puzzling part of his coming out speech is his self-introduction as a gay American. Why was the word American in this sentence? It sounded like being gay is a patriotic thing to do.

When he said it, I saw the stripes and the stars. I tried variations on the same theme, such as: I am a gay Indonesian (who cares?), I am a gay Iraqi (what? a gay terrorist?), I am a gay Mexican (madre de Dios!).

McGreevey, gay by birth right, should be proud of it, like others are proud of their minority status (Muslims, blacks, etc). But, should being American add glamour to cheating on your wife? Is being an American allows one to knowingly bring a child into an imbroglio that would defy Shakespeare and Moliere alike?

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(OdlerRobert Jeanlouie, Tuesday, September 14, 2004)