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May 19, 2008

To tell the truth

Posted: 02:24 PM ET

NEW YORK - I couldn’t decide today about whether to write about former New Jersey governor James McGreevey or polygamy. Both stories making big headlines. But they have something else in common. Both are cases about people living outside the mainstream, at great personal cost.

For the fundamentalist Mormons, plural marriage is God’s will. And as for Mr. McGreevey, he quote "looked deeply into…his soul to decide his unique truth in the world,” and his truth is that he is a gay American.

So what's our truth? What’s the truth behind our interest in Jim McGreevey, his wife, his sex life? Well, it is unusual for a governor to admit that he's gay. McGreevey was the first. In fact, it’s still out of the ordinary, in most parts of this country to be gay. And it’s downright strange to practice polygamy. All of which is ironic since this country was founded on freedom of religion and the right of individuals to live free from state interference.

Oh sure, like McGreevey, polygamy is premised on, both cases, allegations that somebody did something wrong. Laws were violated. But to tell the truth, the cases are really about society using the law to punish folks who are different.

–Jami Floyd, In Session anchor

Filed under: Uncategorized


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Benjamin Perez   May 19th, 2008 5:56 pm ET

I think she is hot and deserves every thing she is asking. It apprears he married her under false pretents not totally honest with her as to his homosexuality. I don't believe he turned after they married. Give her what she wants and don't disqualify her because she wrote a book or was on the "O" show. He screwed up and now he must pay.

M Hodges   May 20th, 2008 7:50 am ET

I do not see these two situations as punishing people who are "different", rather than holding accountable those who have brought hurt & pain on others. Many have suffered being forced to live in the polygamy cults. This so-called religion is dominated by men who demand total control over women & children. And, any homosexual person who marries under false pretenses is bringing immeasurable pain on their partner. I think in McGreevey's case he has done this twice. It's past time that all involved in these travesties are made accountable.

finicky12001   May 20th, 2008 10:02 am ET

I agree with you. Society uses the law quite often to punish others who belief differently. In my part of the country, the church runs things behind the scenes. If the church disapproves of a business, that business will not be allowed here. If it disapproves of a movie, that will not be shown here. The law applies to anyone as long as they are not members of the church. If they are, they get counseling if they are not, they get prison.

LOIS   May 24th, 2008 11:25 pm ET

Jami sometimes your thinking isn't too thorough. The pologamy case is about YOUNG girls, as young as 13 being 'married' off to old men in their 50's. The YOUNG girls are being groomed, according this "religion" to 'marry' these old codgers to get to heaven. This is wrong, even it is part of the "religion".

njohnson   June 24th, 2008 3:49 pm ET

Has anyone said she has gun material on the back of her hands was because she put her hands up to protect her face. And thats why the gun shot was so high on her head. Thank You Nancy ,Seattle

Judy Hoppe   June 25th, 2008 11:30 am ET

Didn't I hear on your program that Lillian probably lived for two to three minutes after being shot? If that is true, how could the guilty mother not do something more empathetic and drastic to end the child's pain, than just self inflict a shot to her own head to end her own life? Was the baby sleeping on top of Rachel when shot? That seems an odd gun angle for Rachel, doesn't it?

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