McGreevey Still Popular in New Jersey

Associated Press ^ | Friday, September 10, 2004

[presidio9]

Some people sought his autograph, others wanted a picture with him and just about all of them cheered loudly.

Gov. James E. McGreevey found supportive crowds when he emerged in the last week for his first public events since the announcement that he is gay and will resign.

McGreevey got a standing ovation Thursday from students at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new middle-school in West New York. Earlier in the week he drew repeated applause from factory workers during one stop and from research scientists and college employees the next day.

The support came despite the sex scandal that led to McGreevey's resignation and the announcements of federal investigations into several of his aides and campaign donors that preceded his decision to leave office.

"I think everybody supports him," said Magda Martinez, a West New York resident who stood on a curb outside the school with several friends hoping to see McGreevey on Thursday. "Everybody makes mistakes. I don't hold it against him. He's a good person."

While those who attended McGreevey's appearances this week represent a small sample of the views of the entire state, one expert said the response could indicate the governor effectively drew sympathy for himself in the way he made his resignation announcement.

"There is speculation that he hoped he'd get sympathy having been exposed for his personal life, which is different than just being a corrupt politician where you can't get sympathy," said Ted Goertzel, a professor of sociology at Rutgers University in Camden.

Goertzel said he thinks many New Jerseyans are willing to forgive McGreevey because of their Christian beliefs.

"He suffered, he's admitted his sins. Part of being a Christian culture is that people should be forgiven and redeemed," Goertzel said. "I see this as a morality play of that sort."

[NJ_gent]

"Are you denying that voters in NJ voted against Lincoln for president...twice?"

I said nothing of the sort - merely that much of the rest of the country didn't vote for him either.

"I come from MA. I'm not leaping to the defense of the Commonwealth everytime a Freeper flames Kerry."

No, but most people don't flame MA when Kerry says or does something stupid. Having lived in a very nice township for several years now, I do get a bit irritated at the fact that people who've never even been to this state, let alone lived here, take any chance they can to flame NJ. It's a toxic waste dump. It's a liberal wasteland. It's a gay state. It's this, or that, or the other untrue thing. This thread alone hits more at NJ than it does at McGreevey, and it's all over a BS AP article. It's just ridiculous.

"Geez. Take it easy, will yah?"

I'm not angry/upset, but I do occassionally respond to flames against NJ.

[andy58-in-nh]

They're right behind him - 100%.

[Pete'sWife]

SHHHHHHHHH!

Don't let on to the fact that there are some beautiful, bucolic, rural areas here!

Folks might get the idea to move here.

Let 'em think the WHOLE PLACE is a toxic sewer!

(wink)

[NJ_gent]

"Let 'em think the WHOLE PLACE is a toxic sewer!"

I drive past a corn field, two horse ranches, and a huge strawberry farm on my twenty-five minute ride to work in the morning. :-)

[RexBeach]

Hey, my family, on my father's side, is from New Jersey. I have been there many, many times over the past 50-odd years.

Geezeey, peezeey. You're taking this way too hard.

Smile. Have a good weekend.

[Theodore R.]

You're half right. NJ voted for McClellan, a PA native and future NJ governor, in 1864; in 1860, it split its electors between Stephen A. Douglas and Lincoln.

[RexBeach]

Thanks, TR! Bully!