Weiner’s wiener and other pressing political crisis
Rep. Anthony Weiner – the pol whose name is embarrassingly close to the scandal he caused – is in trouble for taking a picture of his crotch (with underwear, thank goodness for small favors) and sending it to some woman. Since he’s a Democrat this tiny issue has been getting huge play in the press. I don’t remember this much reaction when Republicans are caught with a wide stance, or “hiking the Appalachian trail“.
Cujo359 says what we’re all thinking:
As I wrote to another New Yorker a few years ago, in vain as it happens, it’s not the crime, it’s the coverup, kapisch? Heck, this wasn’t even a crime, was it? Of course, our political class still haven’t learned the fundamental lesson of the Vietnam War, why would I expect that they’d learned the lesson of Watergate?
I’d like to add one other thing: if you aren’t posing as some super family-values guy, I just. don’t. care. about your (consenting, adult) bedroom antics. I’m more concerned if you’re in bed with Wall Street than with your campaign manager. Politicians who really focus on jobs, environment, consumer protection, etc. can go live their private lives. Just do your jobs, so we can have our jobs, OK? We are all of us human down here.
Now if you’re Newt Gingrich, and have written whole entire books about morality even though you’re on your third wife after cheating on the first two, and constantly prattle on FOX about the gay menace… Pbbfffht!
I’m inclined to think it’s because he’s a Democrat who has actually acted like a progressive. At least, that’s why there are calls for investigation by Pelosi, et. al. He’s one of the rare Democrats who have been critical of the leadership for not doing what we sent them there to do on health care, and managed to honk them off by putting 9/11 responders front and center.
If you look at whom these folks have launched ethics investigations against lately, you start to notice a pattern. Eric Massa and Maxine Waters both did little or nothing to merit investigations, yet both were threatened with them. Massa took a powder, and Waters has been less vocal lately. Both were a thorn in the “leadership”‘s side for a while. Yet they don’t ever seem to find anything unethical about most of the folks on the defense-related committees getting huge donations from the defense industry, banks bankrolling folks on the banking-related committees, etc. They didn’t even seem to be all that interested in investigating Sen. John Ensign.
Plus, at this point people who stood up for him earlier before these revelations must be wondering what else he’s lied about. Nothing like being undercut by the person you’re defending to make you look over your shoulder.
I think those things have as much to do with Weiner’s troubles as IOKIYAR syndrome.
Spot on, George! I’ve been telling folks what you’ve said on this subject. Naturally, I’ve claimed your opinions as my own thoughtful analysis. Thus, folks have been impressed with my views for once. Thanks for helping me change my reputation!
shared this on my Facebook status, and I agree with his wife
Clarence Page column in Chi Trib