Governor Corzine's speech upon discharge from Cooper University Hospital was passionate -- not in a cheesy, opportunistic way, but rather in an authentic and unmistakably human way. His voice quaked with emotion as he apologized for setting a bad example for our State's youth and adults by not wearing a safety belt. He thanked his family and his supporters with a sincerity that is sorely missing in politics. He then asked our residents for forgiveness in a manner that would be difficult for even the most die-hard anti-Corzine person to dismiss. In that short five-minute speech, Governor Corzine revealed more of himself than our residents have seen during his first years in office. It revealed a Governor who has feelings and emotions and who is a genuine individual just like you and me.
Of course, the mainstream media, other than television stations that showed the full speech, said little if anything of his emotionalism, preferring instead to dwell on the fact that his vehicle drove above the speed limit upon leaving the hospital. The media had an opportunity to show our Governor as something more than a politician, as a human being who was endearing and deserving of praise. True to form, they focused on the negative and further exacerbated citizen cynicism of politics, public officials, and government.
Governor Corzine followed up his speech by paying a fine for not wearing a safety belt, even though he had yet to be cited. It was the right thing to do. It was a breath of fresh air to Jersey residents accustomed to our public officials’ skirting the law and failing to do the right thing time after time using dubious justifications. Political predecessors would have denied not wearing a seatbelt and when confronted with irrefutable evidence that they were not wearing their seatbelt, would have blamed the State Trooper for unbuckeling it upon impact. Then they would have taken the case to Court, hiring high-paid attorneys at taxpayer expense to fight the $46 fine. Unfortunately, that's what we've become accustomed to in New Jersey politics. The Governor showed us that a public official can do the right thing without being forced by a Court decision to do so.
Last week was a positive one for the Governor and as his health rebounds, we can only hope he retains the humanity he expressed during the past week and shows New Jersey residents that not all politicians are opportunistic automatons. Some actually are people who feel like we feel, who hurt like we hurt, and who are willing to live by the rule of law and when they violate that law, do what is correct and accept responsibility and all that it entails.
Michael M. Shapiro, founder of ShapTalk.com, is an attorney who resides in New Providence, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Chairman of the New Providence Democratic Party and as Editor of The Alternative Press Contact Mike at mike@shaptalk.com