The American Spectator : Weiner All Wound Up

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Weiner All Wound Up

By Nicole Russell on 3.8.10 @ 6:07AM

The Brooklyn Democrat goes on a charm offensive.

Rep. Anthony Weiner says Republicans have chutzpah. Chutzpah is something the Brooklyn Democrat knows well.

While debating health insurance reform recently, Weiner stood up on the floor and ripped into Republicans, calling them "wholly owned subsidiaries of the insurance industry." After a few seconds, Rep. Dan Lungren, a Republican from California, asked that Weiner's words be "taken down," a rare request for the speaker to discipline a House member for using inappropriate language. Weiner left, then returned saying he would substitute his words. He actually sounded slightly remorseful. It was a ruse.

After he was given the nod for a second go-round, Weiner couldn't think of anything new to say but instead repeated his mantra. Lungren was not amused with this reiteration and asked that his remarks be taken down again. Weiner finished his rant with a conclusion about health insurance, competition and regulation that was confusing as it is comical.

The three-minute clip is circulating the Internet. Conservatives have been rolling their eyes -- National Review Online included the clip on its home page with the words: "Weiner Loses It." Liberals on the other hand are linking to it with pride. Daily Kos says it was "magnificent" and that Weiner's words should be their new mantra because it "makes a great sigline!"

Like any good politician (including Rep. Joe Wilson), Weiner has taken his latest media hit and milked it for all it's worth. He posted about the event on Huffington Post and included a link encouraging fans to make a monetary contribution -- even as little as $5. "I have never met a single Republican who is not a wholly owned subsidiary of the insurance industry. But as for me, I'm not owned by anyone. To prove it to the Republicans and special interest, I'm organizing 2,000 grassroots donors to stand up and show them that we won't back down, and they can't silence us."

As childish as this tirade might have sounded, Weiner's not as much a wiener as he may seem. He has represented New York's 9th district -- which includes parts of Brooklyn -- for ten years. As staunch liberal who favors the public option (with voluble zeal), he displays a sharp wit and quick tongue make him a colorful urban pol. In some ways, he's the Michele Bachmann of the Left, saying just enough to spark controversy, thereby resulting in appearances on cable news and talk radio but not enough to carry heavy weight by peers.

If every politician gets fifteen minutes of fame, Weiner, an expert in circulating among regular media spots, still has fourteen left. As intelligent as he is fervent, he's got a quick retort to any comment by a Republican he disagrees with and a seemingly well-constructed argument for or against any legislation he's passionate about.

This three-minute rant was no exception. It came as the House was debating a bill to repeal the insurance industry's exemption from antitrust laws. Though some Republicans, including House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), opposed it, the bill passed (Weiner voted for it). Towards the end of his speech, Weiner said he there are inequities in the way we distribute insurance.

The people who sit on this side…generally support the idea of standing up for the American people in their daily battles against high insurance. And the people…who sit on this side…simply won't permit that to happen and haven't…that's because we're going to have competition, we're going to make sure there are regulations and we're going to make sure people aren't gouged.

Weiner may speak with vehemence and act like a child (he threw the microphone down after Lungren asked that his words be taken down a second time) but passion doesn't make up for ignorance of the facts. His understanding of insurance and the free market is fundamentally flawed.
Competition and regulation go together like oil and water, but then again this is coming from a person who says he will not vote for a healthcare bill unless it includes the public option. To say that "every single Republican" he's every met is a "wholly owned subsidiary to the insurance company" is not only an exaggeration but an impossibility, not to mention one that lacks any rationale.

Fortunately, not every Democrat you're likely to meet is Anthony Weiner.

topics:
Anthony Weiner

About the Author

Nicole Russell writes from Northern Virginia.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (17) | Leave a comment

Richard Baker| 3.8.10 @ 7:21AM

Another Kool-Aid drinker he is. Does this one live anywhere in a world of reality? Mentally, this guy must be playing Candyland because he sure isn't playing with a full deck. He is truly a "Good" liberal, as if that's possible.

basur| 10.27.10 @ 9:14AM

Yes, nice article. Congratulations

scythe| 3.8.10 @ 8:06AM

The jerk lives up to his surname. He is probably one of the biggest reasons for term limits. He was quoted as saying he will PUNCH BACK EVEN HARDER to push through socialized medicine. Really? His constituents are something to be PUNCHED? He is an arrogant little wiener and should be punched out of his job.

Bram| 3.8.10 @ 8:08AM

Wow, double-edged stupidity.

1. I bet if members of Congress were ranked by campaign donations from insurance companies, Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman would be at the top and other Democrats would dominate the top ten.

2. American insurance companies are the most highly regulated industry in the world. Fifty-one different regulatory environments to comply with. Of course they are monopolies - you have erected too many barriers to entry. The solution of course is more barriers!

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.8.10 @ 8:50AM

Bram,
You nailed it.

1. Step One, institute across the board HSAs. (Tax free set asides for life.)
2. Step Two, make all health policies "individuals' with the same tax breaks that companies get.
3. Step Three, Build deductibles over time mirroring cash in HSA.
4. Step four, build a safety net for unfortunates and the elderly.
5. Step five...TRY to find a small group of dis-interested parties to administer the steps...ahhh, there lies the rub.
Thoughts?

Yosemeti Sam| 3.8.10 @ 8:53AM

Weiner and Rham - Rham and Weiner.

" Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o’ nights;
Yond’ Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous."

Julius Caesar (1599) act 1, sc. 2, l. 191
William Shakespeare 1564-1616

Copyleft| 3.8.10 @ 10:57AM

It's good to see that SOMEONE hasn't fallen back under the brainwashing message that "Our corporate overlords are all-wise and should be served with a smile."

Geez, how hard is it to notice that the insurance industry is the ENEMY in our healthcare debate?

Copyleft| 3.8.10 @ 11:36AM

It takes a real talent to be dumb and a hypocrite at the same time.
As proof, just look at me and my insane, inane, azinine posts. I come here everyday and do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.
In the Right Wing, that would be called insanity---in Lib World we call it just another day and "normal".

Ken (Old Texican)| 3.8.10 @ 12:26PM

Copy mommie,
Thanks for dropping by.
We needed a good laugh.

loulou| 3.8.10 @ 1:30PM

Who is Copy mommie's employer?
Is it ACORN, SEIU, or a lefty congressman? Is he trolling on our dime?

martin j smith| 3.8.10 @ 12:04PM

Calling out the Left on their lies is absolutely necessary and its how to play the game. So Bravo to Dan Lungren. This has to happen more often.

loulou| 3.8.10 @ 1:31PM

Speaking of lies, Weiner has a beard. An Arab woman who was on Hillary's staff. I forger her name.

Doctor Right| 3.8.10 @ 1:58PM

Tossing red-meat to the hard-left in the form of unsubstantiated, worn-out cliche's about Republicans should not qualify as cleverness.

Why TASOnline would choose to label it as such is a mystery.

Weiner is a hard-left pol in a safe district. Wow...What guts he has...

James Fitzpatrick| 3.8.10 @ 3:50PM

I have never met a liberal who is not wholly owned by a union.

WilliamInWien| 3.8.10 @ 7:18PM

Weinerwald! He is simply an understudy to TV Chuck, thinks and acts like him and probably thinks he can "out Schumer" Schumer! Interesting is the impression that the likes of Weiner can have on the overall population, such as, "another New Yorker!" Recall Bella Abzug? Guess that is why I left NYC at age 18.

Harry Flashman| 3.9.10 @ 3:51AM

loulou:
You are correct that Anthony Weiner has a beard. But it's a reciprocal arrangement. The bachelor Congressman has for going on two years now been very publicly dating Huma Abedin, a top aide (and much more) to Hillary Clinton. Hillary discovered the beautiful Miss Abedin when she was an intern (plant?) in Bill's White House, and had her assigned to the staff of the First Lady. That wasn't just to keep Bill's hands off her, and regardless, even if Bill has paid her "attention," it wouldn't have produced any results. Use a search engine to find out more about Miss Abedin and her curious background. Saudi intelligence service, perhaps?

Retty| 4.9.10 @ 4:24AM

American insurance companies are the most highly regulated industry in the world. Fifty-one different regulatory environments to comply with. Of course they are monopolies - you have erected too many barriers to entry. The solution of course is more barriers! olympus stylus 1050sw black digital camera