Weiner takes leave – saga more about America than about him
Azi Paybarah photo
By GARY BAUMGARTEN
Anthony Weiner has one step out the door of the House.
Weiner’s spokeswoman says the embattled congressman has left the district to enter treatment to become a better person and a better husband. He’s taking a short leave of absence and will determine his political future later.
Once again, a sex scandal has brought a politician down.
Sometimes politicians survive scandals like Weiner’s. President Clinton was sullied, even impeached, but survived the Monica Lewinsky incident.
Sometimes they don’t. Gary Hart’s political career – and his presidential aspirations – sank after he taunted reporters, challenging them to catch him in his sexual indiscretions. Predictably, they accommodated him.
For some reason, a public figure’s perceived or real sexual deviancy trumps their other failings. An NFL quarterback can redeem himself after serving time for dog fighting. Another NFL player, a wide receiver, is attempting a comeback after his conviction for illegally carrying a gun in New York City.
For these transgressions, the nation is forgiving. But not for sexual impropriety. For that, we vilify.
A president can lie about why we go to war. Just so long as he isn’t cheating on his wife when he does it.
This is not to excuse Anthony Weiner. But, thus far, he’s not been charged with a crime. He escaped a close call when it came out he direct tweeted a 17-year-old Delaware girl. But the police quickly determined that no criminal activity took place.
Who knows? Before this is all over, we may learn that he did have sexual discourse with someone who is underage. If that happens, then his political career, even the fate of his marriage, may become secondary issues.
But one thing’s certain. This nation focuses on sexual conduct far more than it does on other ethical, legal and moral issues. It’s a question of what’s important to us as Americans. And as such, the Weiner saga may be more about us, than it is about him.
Short URL: http://reportergary.com/?p=13609
Posted by Gary
on Jun 11 2011. Filed under Breaking News, Opinion, Politics, Top stories, US.
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i knew this was comming by by wennier
Hi Gary,
Yes, I think America DOES focus on politicians personal discretions, because we expect people in power to have higher moral standards.
Whether Weiner survives politically or not, I think its prudent for him to seek help & try to salvage his marriage & future family.
Hopefully he can come out a better person (and loose his facebook addiction).
Leesah
17 yr old girl?? He is done…. He wont be back- he is done… OVER WITH!!!.
Too bad too, he was fun to watch.
Gary, I think this is a “too little too late” situation. My sympathies go out to his family, especially his wife.
good one scum less we live better i know he is not in Texas bout point is maybe the next one learn
The problems are increasing but no one is realy chasing the cause of such kind of crimes.It is realy surprising thing no one knows the reality that what is the real cause of such crimes.I blame the companies and those who are pro such drugs which makes the minds of people senceless and they cannot contol their own minds and when the drug make them s much out of contol that they can do anything.I give the example Viagra every doctor knows how it gives temptation.On the other hand such drugs make the blame game and innocent people are being blamed the one who has done a wrong act and ther other who is blamed as victim may be both have done nothing.I would request the government and lawyers to give right to the citizens of USA given arms and give them the right to self defence.But please stop the sexual medicine untill the doctor prescibes.
Treatment for what? He’s not an addict, he let the smaller of his 2 heads take control and is now paying the price.
Despite what he has done, if he held up his hands and took responsibility for his own actions I would give him more credit. As it is he is hiding behind modern Newspeak.
Well, that’s your opinion and you’re certainly entitled to it. I, for one, and there are millions others JUST like me, do not forgive Michael Vick for extreme animal abuse, which I feel speaks to the very core of his nature and character. I’m not thrilled with Bill Clinton either – and we all know the cost this country bore in lives and blood because his sexual proclivities and dalliance took precedence over matters of national security. It was pretty slick the way you sneaked in, “A president can lie about why we go to war. Just so long as he isn’t cheating on his wife when he does it.” I suppose you’re privy to knowledge the rest of the country isn’t.
But, as for Anthony Weiner and others that have been caught and embroiled in sex scandals, my personal opinion is that if their wedding vows are taken in a trivial manner, then it’s a darned good bet they don’t take their oath of office very seriously either. America focuses on these things because we send elected officials to our city councils, state capitols and Washington, D.C. on OUR nickel. Why is it so difficult to understand then when we demand at the very least they be held to the same standards we are in our work place? We don’t elect them so they can try to impress women on the internet.
It hasn’t been determined yet if Weiner has done anything illegal. I believe it is safe to say that he probably has violated all sorts of ethics codes. And I feel it can be said with certainty he is NOT fit to serve as a legislator because he has too many other things he obviously feels are more important than his congressional duties.
Oh, and one last thing – are we supposed to forgive and forget now because like everyone who recently got caught with their hand or OTHER appendage in the cookie jar, he’s getting therapy? Don’t hold your breath. When will the big announcement come out that he’s going into rehab because he has a sexual addiction? Sure a lot of that going around in Washington and Hollywood – must be a contagious addiction among those of privilege with an overblown sense of importance. Sexual addiction used to be called SCUM BAG.
Weiner is just the latest victim of the “scared stiff (no pun) democrat” syndrome. I am so sick of my party’s inability to stand up for itself. I started a new party THE DWB or Democrats with….er…..guts. We do not have any idea where we will have our convention yet. Both of us can’t get our calendars to agree.
good luck with that new party sylvia lol… u still take up for him after teenage girl.. im hearin there few more teenage girls he was texting.. good for u stand n for your party
@Sylvia, you’re seriously calling Weiner “a victim”? Really? REALLY? Well, now I understand just what it TAKES to be a Democrat and I’m damned glad I don’t have it!
One of the things that truly disgusts me about people who scream about “Moral Absolutes” will often find every excuse as to why those same morals and ethics do not apply to them. Bush lied t get us into a costly war, and to pass legislation which are slowly eroding the freedoms we took for granted. Michael Bloomberg initially fought to have term limits for the mayor, then turns around and purchases an illegal third term.
While I make no excuses for Wiener’s poor behavior, I am finding the blatant hypocrisy from his political opponents to be far worse. The way we are acting as Americans is beyond despicable, It’s not even childish, it’s just plain sad.
How embarrassing– not so much for Weiner, but for an American public enthralled with details of his silly, not illegal, dalliance. Yet so many of his critics support an illegal war where our young soldiers die every day in the Middle East, and tolerate and boost the genocidal behavior of Israel in Palestine. The day will come when we will pay a heavy price not for trivial sexual behavior, but for our support of killing around the world. – George Beres
Well, I happen to agree with Gary here. I for one, dont personally care at all what politicians do with their free time, what they do with their personal time. Now, if he was in fact doing something illegal then, and only then, its a different story. What America should worry about is, how is this politician running the country, are they doing their job in accordance to what the people they represent want? Since when is sex a crime? How the hell do we know, maybe Weiner and his wife are swingers, may be Bill and Hillary walked on the wild side from time to time. IS that a crime? Is being a sexual being a crime? What if we found out his wife flirted with the same woman as he did, then what, what if she comes out and says, ” yeah, we have threesomes with women that he finds” It would be interesting to see the responses to that.
Never the less, flirtation, threesomes, or whatever you sexual life brings to you, doesn’t mean your a criminal.
It never surprises me when those on the left say these types of things. Weiner got caught misbehaving and trying to defend his actions with inanities about George Bush is really lame. In the name of ALL that’s holy, even IF George Bush did lie, what does that have to do with Anthony Weiner’s behavior – other than weak attempts to draw focus from his transgressions? Would two wrongs suddenly make a right? TOTALLY asinine.
And don, as for your arguments, they are without substance or merit. If Weiner and his wife were “swingers” as you’ve imagined – and that’s a pretty good stretch considering she didn’t “stand by her man” when admitted – and apologized – for lying and for hurting her. And why would anyone who believes they’ve done nothing wrong publicly request a leave of absence to go into therapy? Sex isn’t a crime and I don’t know that anyone is accusing him of criminal activity, but Weiner DID screw the pooch – and would probably liked to have gone for the entire kennel! If you don’t take your marriage vows seriously, that’s between you and your wife, but when it comes to someone who represents themselves as a person of integrity worthy of so much trust that people elect them to represent their best interests, then it behooves that person to take their promises seriously.
And since Dumok the artist want to take issue with Bush “lying” to get us into a costly war, I’ll take issue with Bill Clinton who was so busy getting his jollies in the Oval Office that bin Laden was able to plan and carry out the devastation of September 11, 2001. That is one VERY big reason why now more than ever, Americans expect politicians to be about the business they were sent to the nation’s capitol to do. They can play on the wild side, have threesomes or diddle and play Show & Tell with their wieners all they want when they go back to their home states and no one will care as long as it’s on their OWN time, not OURS!
@ Darrell and Adele. Let us put a magnifying glass to YOUR lives. I don’t know who Adele is and so she must examine her own actions. I do, however, know Darrell. Quite a bit AFTER he posted to this article, so I assume he read it, he was texting about the 17 year old girl in a chat room, continuing the allegation that Weiner’s contact with the young girl was illegal in manner. Darrell, you proved yourself a liar. What other misdemeaninors will we find out about you?
im not in office so really dont care
Adele,
I never said Weiner and his wife were swingers, I just said what if. What if GWB and his wife were swingers? Dont saddle me with YOUR stero type saying I am left, cuase I am not, nor am I right, but what I am, is for this country, and all the liberties that go with it, including the freedom of choice, and people choice to do what they hell they want. Everyone is so cuaght up in left or right stuff, you have forgotten what is real.
I totally agree with your last paragraph Gary, it says it all!
“But one thing’s certain. This nation focuses on sexual conduct far more than it does on other ethical, legal and moral issues. It’s a question of what’s important to us as Americans. And as such, the Weiner saga may be more about us, than it is about him.”
Rod PNN
Darrell –
How come you are not against Sen.Dave Vitter? He cheated on his wife with a prostitute and stayed in office and even was reelected.
Gov. Sanford, cheated on his wife – left the country for sex and told no one other than his Argentine mistress where he will be. He stayed in office until his term was over.
Sen. Ensign, sex with his top aides wife and then had his parents “give” them a $96K “gift”. He finally resigned after it was clear he was going to get thrown out of the Senate.
What do these 3 have in common – Republicans involved in sex scandals where actual sex was happened. How come Darrell you weren’t after these “gents” for there actions?
I think what Weiner did was reprehensible and juvenile for a public official but so far has not broken any laws. He shamed himself and the Congress. The only people hurt by this are his wife and himself. I personally think he should resign but if he decides to stay, that’s his choice.
Adele,
“Why is it so difficult to understand then when we demand at the very least they be held to the same standards we are in our work place?”
I don’t know where you work, but in no place I’ve ever worked has my sex life had any bearing on my perceived job performance.
“Bill Clinton … was so busy getting his jollies in the Oval Office that bin Laden was able to plan and carry out the devastation of September 11, 2001.”
You CAN’T be serious.