SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey, Sept. 1, 2007
McGreevey's Ex: Sympathy For Craig's Wife
Sen. Larry Craig Scandal Reminds Ex-Wife Of N.J.'s Gay Former Governor Of Her Own Ordeal
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Photo
Dina Matos McGreevey, the ex-wife of the former New Jersey governor James McGreevey, holding copy of her book "Silent Partner, A Memoir of My Marriage," in May 1, 2007. (AP Photo)
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Photo Essay
Larry Craig
Idaho senator embroiled in scandal after arrest at Minneapolis airport comes to light.
Matos McGreevey once stood shellshocked next to her ex-husband, then-New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey, as he announced before TV cameras that he was "a gay American" and would resign.
"I was watching his wife the other day standing next to him, and I thought, 'Oh my gosh, that was me three years ago. Now here we go again,"' Matos McGreevey said in an interview at her home Friday evening. "She's a victim of the choices he's made."
James McGreevey, the nation's first openly gay governor, later said he stepped down rather than succumb to a $50 million blackmail threat from a male former lover.
When it was Suzanne Craig's turn to stand stoically beside her husband this week, 40-year-old Matos McGreevey said she felt her pain. Matos McGreevey said she stood by her man in 2004 because she still loved him and she felt she had done nothing wrong.
"For me, I decided I was going to stand by my husband's side. I was in shock, I had not had an opportunity to absorb what was happening," she said. "I had 48 hours, 72 hours to try to make sense of what he was telling me."
Asked if Suzanne Craig should follow her lead, Matos McGreevey said: "Only she can answer that question."
Republican officials said Friday that Craig would resign from the Senate on Saturday. The announcement comes amid a furor over Craig's arrest and guilty plea in a police sex sting in an airport men's room.
The 62-year-old grandfather denied he used foot and hand gestures to signal interest in a sexual encounter with an undercover officer, and said his guilty plea to a reduced charge was a mistake.
Matos McGreevey predicted tough times ahead for the Craigs, and offered this advice to the beleaguered political wife: "Do what's right for you and your family, not what's politically expedient or what your husband wants you to do. That's certainly something that I learned from my experience."
Matos McGreevey said that, in the midst of her personal turmoil, she called Hillary Rodham Clinton for advice. The former first lady also had been publicly humiliated by her philandering husband, though his indiscretions were with a female intern and did not involve gay sex.
"She said the best piece of advice I can give you is to get your own counsel and do what you think you need to do protect you and your daughter," Matos McGreevey recalled. "And don't let your husband's advisers make decisions for you."
These days, Matos McGreevey said she counsels others in similar situations who contact her by letter, e-mail, phone and in person, sometimes at unlikely places like the grocery store.
Although she did not ask to become a symbol for spouses weathering the gay infidelities of their mates, Matos McGreevey said helping others meant that "the pain I have gone through has not been in vain."
Jim McGreevey, 50, will begin full-time studies at General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in Manhattan, seminary spokesman Bruce Parker said Friday.
Matos McGreevey, who is now locked in a contentious divorce proceeding with her estranged husband, said the relationship was over once he came out. She said she was moving on, even dating, but has lasting issues trusting others.
"It's very painful to know that you've been betrayed by the person you love, the person you trust," she said. "And it's equally painful when you have the rest of the world, who doesn't know what you're feeling, what your relationship is like, criticizing you for taking certain actions."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Yeah, right, she won''t miss a single steak, and if she divorces the bottom feeding scum, the alimony will set her up for life, she is actually the winner in this.
Most people couldn''t ask for a sweeter deal, get away from a louse of a pimp, and get rich in the bargain.
And then there are the book and movie deals...
Did you feel any pressure from inside your family or friends to stay in the marriage? This "dogma" effects alot of people.
Cricketmk3, you might be surprised that people who urge others to stay in their marriages despite certain difficulties are only trying to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. In fact, one of the stipulations made by Jesus Himself about marriage was that adultery is grounds for divorce. And in the case of Mrs. McGreevey, that certainly was the case.
Marriage is becoming more difficult--not less--with the growth of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, living together, and the push for homosexual marriage these days. I am the luckiest man on earth with a beautiful wife of 37 years. Though we have our difficulties neither of us has any intention of leaving the other. God has joined us and we''re staying put.
You might check your facts about Jesus Christ before criticizing His followers. While we do our level best to follow Him, we are by no means perfect.
First off cricketmk3 did not make the comment about facing any "dogma" to stay in the marriage. Second Jesus was never mentioned nor inferred in the comment. Do you honestly believe that Jesus would want someone remaining in a relationship that is full of adultry regardless of the s e x ual preference?
You contradict yourself. You claim that those who pressure the victim of adultery to stay in their marriage are only follwing Christ''s teachings then you go on to say that Christ says that adultery is grounds for divorce.
The fact is that, faith aside, it''s an emotionally trying situation for anyone to go through and people have to work through their own feelings without the "help" or judgement of others.
You can''t sling arrows at an openly gay man... that''s bigotry...
hahahahahaha
had he been in the demonic-rat party where he belongs... they would make him their hero...
hahahahaha
Nice hyperbole.
Two mistakes...
One, going to that press conference. You should have slammed the door on the pervert back then - heck he could have brought home AIDS.
(Ditto Craig)
Two, Calling a cuckolded shrill shrew who only thinks of herself. At least you had the moxie to divorce "Jane" - this lil'' piece of work is still married to slick.
Three, marrying a Democrat. They always lack character, integrity, and guts.
Not only do they take from the public but they even abuse their own families through deceit and using them at their own linching.
Someone is still in heavy denial, and it sure ain''t the former governor.
Someone is still in heavy denial, and it sure ain''''t the former governor.
Posted by gmond at 01:23 PM : Sep 01, 2007
Take it from someone who knows - If you''re in a relationship with an accomplished enough LIAR it''s almost guaranteed there''s secrets in the wings. Male, female or even child can ALL be betrayed by those they trust.
My ex was pathological. He actually believed the lies he told everyone and ironically most everyone believed him until there were too many to keep track of.
I don''t think anyone, not me, his parents, his next wife or his kids know the full story of what he was up to.
I still get broadsided by people I don''t even know with some new horrifying detail years later.
She''s young, he finally was "honest". She''s in a better situation than many. She may have bought a story but I see no denial now.
Like all men they know how to use women for their best advantage.
He needs to put in JAIL for lying to everyone especially to his wife and that is a fact. He should loose his pension because he lied to all the people that paid him while he worked for the people.
I really do not care what he is or what he is not but all he had to do was tell the truth and that is it no he choose to LIE.
Let me tell you something if I were his wife I would pack a bag and get the H--- out of there now. Hire a truck and take the rest of things out of the house and make a new life for myself and the H--- with him and that is it.
MAY GOD BLESS HIS WIFE AND BOTH OF HIS CHILDREN THAT ARE NOW GOING THROUGH THE HARDEST PART OF THEIR LIVES BUT THEY ALWAYS SHOULD REMEMER THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH THEY NEED NO MATTER WHAT!!!
A gay man/woman couldn''t get elected President in a trillion years.
How long can you hide your true sexual nature?
Sooner or later, it will "come out."
"Sympathy" for the wife of a man that attempted to lure a big blonde BOY into a sexual assignation in a filthy airport bathroom ?
"Sympathy" for the wife of a Senator that used his powers and influence to deny the basic rights of citizenship to Gay and Lesbian Americans ?
"Sympathy" for this wife that shared in the bounty of the salary and benefits this piece of human excrement brought home because of his office ?
I''ll tell you what I wish for her -
That her grandchildren ALL turn out to be *** and Lesbians - no children to be born to bear the name of shame that Craig has engendered - that the branch of this rotten Republican family wilts and dies and becomes dust in their graves. That the Craig family name is wiped out totally.
Filthy Republican dogs.
Never said he was, but ongoing public humiliation due to a "sick", perverted and/or philandering spouse ISN''T just limited to "wives" of politicians.
There are plenty of other professions and social situations that can put a spouse in that same hurtful position.
The amount of media coverage may vary depending on their "need" for news or the level of public outrage but next week it''ll be Another Scandal and this story will be headed for obscurity (unless she cuts a book or movie deal).
I feel MORE sorry for the poor spouse that faces the same kind of discovery but won''t see the sort of compensation I''m sure a top politician''s spouse sees out of it - just the same humiliation, embarrassment and betrayal with normally little to nothing else to survive on.
There''s a term for your hateful disregard for Mrs. Craig. It''s called guilt by association and it''s prejudicial thinking and wrong. Nothing justifies prejudicial hatred.
Posted by gmond at 09:24 PM : Sep 01, 2007
????? Are you saying that polticians are incapable of lying??? GOOD JOKE HA HA
Or are you saying that liars are incapable of becoming politicians???? ROTFLMAO
No, let me see, Does that also include Preachers, lawyers, military, messiahs, ninjas... oh That''s rich - hilarious.
Don''t wish that on anyone.
From what I see she''s got enough problems.
Save your outrage for something more outrageous like all the innocent children that die in foolish, selfish wars due to the workings of LIARS addicted to perverted forms of power.
Here is an expose of the Detroux pedophile affair involving Euro-trash fascists, particularly those in Belgium and their American associates as well as ties to Craig Spence, satanist, US intelligence operative, Colonel ''Mikey'' Aquino and blackmail schemes aimed at political figures in Washington and elsewhere.
This connects right up with the Franklin Affair and the perverts who have been exposed over the last few years...from the boy toys for hire whose midnight White House tour made headlines under Bush41 to the male prostitute who spent overnighters at the White House under Bush43.
These people are debased, vile and contemptible and should be brought down.
http://www.pehi.eu/dutroux/Belgian_X_dossiers_of_the_Dutroux_affair.htm
Of course, the ABCCBSNBCPBSFOXCNN Network will tell you all about Senator "Wide Stance" but somehow the all-seeing eye is blind when it comes to addressing the murder, kidnapping, torture and prostitution of children by ''important'' circles of the ruling class, their occultists, their Pentagon and security aparatchiki...and the cover-ups by the their State''s ''justice'' departments.