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A Governor's Romance
A Governor's Romance (song)
Dan Rottenberg
First Bill Clinton was pilloried (and even subsequently impeached) for having sex with Paula Jones, a state employee, when he was governor of Arkansas.
Then New Jersey's Governor Jim McGreevey was forced to resign after admitting to an extramarital homosexual affair with a state employee.
Then New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign for patronizing a $4,000-a-night prostitute in Washington, D.C.
Then Nevada's Governor Jim Gibbons was divorced by his wife, who accused him of having extramarital affairs with a former Playboy model as well as another woman with whom he exchanged 860 text messages last year.
Then South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford lost his marriage and his reputation for a weeklong fling with his Argentine soulmate very far south of the border.
Journalists and commentators have responded to these gubernatorial philanderings like the insensitive jackals they are. When Sanford went to great lengths to describe to reporters the depth of his feeling for his Argentine tootsie, he was ridiculed for his trouble.
Clearly, here is a sociological phenomenon beyond the grasp of reporters and editorial writers. This is a job for the arts.
Music and lyrics can convey empathy where mere press conferences have failed. But where is the Verdi or Bellini who will do justice to these tragic heroes?
Surely one will step forward soon enough. In the meantime, I humbly offer my services to the Philandering Governors of America. Sing the following lyrics to the tune of A Teenager's Romance, the 1957 Ricky Nelson rock 'n roll hit. (If you've forgotten the tune, click here.)
A Governor's Romance
(Tune: A Teenager's Romance)
A governor's romance
Is full of sad scenes.
A governor's romance
Is just like a teen's.
Your heart can be broken—
It's very intense—
The only real difference
Is the public expense.
They think we're not human;
We can't ever date.
We've got to stay faithful
To one boring mate.
But if you say you love me,
We'll still have affairs.
We'll just have to have them
In old Buenos Aires.♦
To read a response, click here.
Then New Jersey's Governor Jim McGreevey was forced to resign after admitting to an extramarital homosexual affair with a state employee.
Then New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign for patronizing a $4,000-a-night prostitute in Washington, D.C.
Then Nevada's Governor Jim Gibbons was divorced by his wife, who accused him of having extramarital affairs with a former Playboy model as well as another woman with whom he exchanged 860 text messages last year.
Then South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford lost his marriage and his reputation for a weeklong fling with his Argentine soulmate very far south of the border.
Journalists and commentators have responded to these gubernatorial philanderings like the insensitive jackals they are. When Sanford went to great lengths to describe to reporters the depth of his feeling for his Argentine tootsie, he was ridiculed for his trouble.
Clearly, here is a sociological phenomenon beyond the grasp of reporters and editorial writers. This is a job for the arts.
Music and lyrics can convey empathy where mere press conferences have failed. But where is the Verdi or Bellini who will do justice to these tragic heroes?
Surely one will step forward soon enough. In the meantime, I humbly offer my services to the Philandering Governors of America. Sing the following lyrics to the tune of A Teenager's Romance, the 1957 Ricky Nelson rock 'n roll hit. (If you've forgotten the tune, click here.)
A Governor's Romance
(Tune: A Teenager's Romance)
A governor's romance
Is full of sad scenes.
A governor's romance
Is just like a teen's.
Your heart can be broken—
It's very intense—
The only real difference
Is the public expense.
They think we're not human;
We can't ever date.
We've got to stay faithful
To one boring mate.
But if you say you love me,
We'll still have affairs.
We'll just have to have them
In old Buenos Aires.♦
To read a response, click here.
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