Jim Newell | Gawker
Former New Jersey Assemblyman Pat Delany abruptly quit his job last month, citing “personal issues with my family that require my full and immediate attention.” Only now are we learning that that personal issue was his wife sending a “racially tinged” email to Olympic hero and current New Jersey state Senate candidate Carl Lewis. It could’ve been something worse, we guess? Maybe not.
Delany’s wife, Jennifer, was so irritated by the message of a Lewis email blast to supporters that she decided to send him this masterwork of regret-fiction. Via PolitickerNJ:
“Imagine, not having to pay NJ state income taxes…It must be nice. Imagine getting a court ruling overturned so your name could get put on the ballot. Imagine having dark skin and name recognition and the nerve to think that equalled (sic) knowing something about politics. Sure, knowing someone with fat purse strings is nice, but you have no knowledge.
“Remove my email. To think you STOLE my email and name from a complaint letter. I’m reporting you as SPAM.”
Pat Delany acknowledged in a statement today that it was this email that led him “leave public life”:
“I am deeply disappointed in my wife’s decision to send that email to Mr. Lewis’ campaign; it does not reflect my personal beliefs whatsoever,” said the former assemblyman from Lumberton. “In an attempt to repair the serious damage this has caused to our marriage, and to protect our kids from public humiliation, I decided to leave public life. On behalf of my family, we sincerely apologize to Mr. Lewis for any pain this caused him.”
The lesson for politicians here: Never get married.
[Image of Carl Lewis via AP]
The original version of the story appears here: http://gawker.com/5833326/jersey-assemblyman-quit-after-his-wife-sent-racist-email-to-carl-lewis
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