The American Spectator : Weiner's Digital Disgrace

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Weiner's Digital Disgrace

By Robert Stacy McCain on 6.7.11 @ 6:09AM

It is richly shared by media who wanted to blame it all on Andrew Breitbart.

It started with a Tweet that was reported on a blog and, by the time it led to a Monday press conference in Manhattan, the story known as "WeinerGate" was the first full-blown cybersex scandal of the New Media era. And it was perhaps altogether fitting that disgraced Rep. Anthony Weiner had to wait to make his guilty admission while Andrew Breitbart gave an impromptu lecture to the reporters assembled in a ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel.

"Everything we've reported about this story has been true," said Breitbart, whose BigGovernment.com was first to tell how, late on the night of May 27, the Democratic congressman from New York's 9th District had used Twitter to send a 21-year-old college coed a message that included a photo of Weiner's underwear-clad crotch in a condition of obvious arousal. After ten days of denials from Weiner, ABC News was prepared to air new revelations and the congressman was at last ready to confess. Breitbart showed up at the Sheraton and was asked by reporters to speak, ascending the podium to declare: "Quite frankly, I'd like an apology from [Weiner] for being complicit in a blame-the-messenger strategy."

For more than a week, Weiner's liberal defenders tried to claim that Breitbart, a controversial and confrontational conservative media entrepreneur, had somehow orchestrated a smear of the Brooklyn Democrat. But as soon as the congressman admitted the ugly truth, many of those in the press who had been willing to accept his previous lies suddenly turned their attention to another question: How can Weiner survive this scandal? "I think he will stick this out," Maggie Haberman of Politico told Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC last night.

Before we examine the question of Weiner's political survival, however, let us pause a moment to ask: Why should Haberman or O'Donnell expect anyone to believe their predictions? Haven't they spent the past ten days being wrong, wrong, wrong, while Breitbart was right, right, right? Didn't MSNBC and Politico, along with most other media outlets, credulously repeat Weiner's claim that his Twitter account had been "hacked"? Did Haberman or O'Donnell protest when Joan Walsh of Salon accused Breitbart himself of being the hacker? And didn't Weiner, by attempting to stonewall his way through the scandal, enable those who smeared Breitbart? Indeed, wasn't Weiner betting on the media's liberal bias as his hole card in a high-stakes bluff?

As badly as Weiner was damaged by this scandal, the damage was perhaps nearly as bad for his apologists and defenders in what Breitbart calls "the Democrat media complex." Their credibility was among the chief casualties of the bruising battle that began late on a Friday night, when a public message appeared on Weiner's Twitter account (@RepWeiner), addressed to a student at a community college in Bellingham, Washington, who had previously joked that she was the congressman's "girlfriend." Potentially visible to the more than 40,000 people following his Twitter feed, the message included a link to the now-notorious crotch photo. A few minutes later, Weiner deleted the photo and claimed to be a victim of hackers. By then, however, the message and lewd photo had been seen and copied by several of Weiner's political adversaries, who sent a copy to Breitbart. Within a few hours, the editors of BigGovernment.com had posted a story headlined: "Weinergate: Congressman Claims 'Facebook Hacked' as Lewd Photo Hits Twitter." After that story became a sensation in the blogosphere, the congressman's spokesman issued a denial, and the intended recipient of his message also issued her own statement to the New York Daily News. After the three-day Memorial Day weekend, Weiner returned to the Capitol and melted down when CNN producer Ted Barrett demanded an answer to the question conservative bloggers had been asking for days: If he was the victim of hackers, why hadn't Weiner reported this illegal intrusion to law enforcement? Weiner provided no plausible answer to that question and, in a series of media interviews the next day, refused even to deny "with certitude" that he was the man in the underwear photo.

Weiner looked very guilty in those interviews, but his defenders at liberal blogs like the Daily Kos continued to spin theories of how Weiner's Twitter account could have been hacked, and continued to blame Breitbart for what they said was a manufactured controversy. While the New York tabloids had a field day with the story, the WeinerGate scandal made only one appearance on the front page of the Washington Post (at the bottom of the page) and by the end of the week, it seemed most major news organizations were ready to "move on," as Weiner had been urging. Unfortunately for the congressman and his media allies, Breitbart had other ideas. Monday morning, he began publishing photos that Weiner had e-mailed to a woman subsequently revealed to be 26-year-old single mother Meagan Broussard, who was also talking to ABC News. When Weiner announced his Monday afternoon press conference, many expected the seven-term Democrat to resign. He refused to do so, but his public confession was a doozy.

"Last Friday night, I tweeted a photograph of myself that I intended to send as a direct message as part of a joke to a woman in Seattle," said Weiner, whose wife is a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He occasionally choked back tears as he continued: "Once I realized I had posted it to Twitter, I panicked. I took it down and said that I had been hacked. I then continued with that story -- to stick to that story, which was a hugely regrettable mistake.… To be clear, the picture was of me, and I sent it.… In addition, over the past few years, I have engaged in several inappropriate conversations conducted over Twitter, Facebook, email and occasionally on the phone with women I had met online. I've exchanged messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women over the last three years."

Weiner's apologetic performance -- by one count, he "took responsibility" 21 times in the span of a half-hour -- was painful to watch, as he described the "online relationships" that had jeopardized his marriage and his political career. Two key aspects of his press-conference statements immediately raised further questions. First, he denied that he "used any government resources" in his activities with the women, although that was directly contradicted by Ms. Broussard's account that when she returned his call, she reached his congressional office. Secondly, Weiner was asked about reports that some of his tawdry online exchanges were with girls as young as 16. "At least to the best of my knowledge they were all adults… and they were engaging in these conversations consensually."

Those answers are likely to come under intense scrutiny in coming days, as reporters follow up on the many allegations that -- until Weiner's confession Monday -- some of them had been willing to believe were part of a smear operation led by Breitbart. Weiner insisted he had done nothing illegal, but House Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi called for an ethics investigation, a call that was seconded by Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. These were the most ominous portents for Weiner, who is apt to face heavy pressure from Democrats to resign soon. While it is unlikely that any Republican could ever win in Weiner's district, it is even more unlikely that his fellow Democrats would want Weiner hanging around Congress while a full-blown investigation continues generating lurid headlines.

Those headlines will be amplified online by Breitbart, whose relentlessness in pushing the WeinerGate story did so much to ensure that the truth came out. Although he lives in Los Angeles, Breitbart explained his presence at the congressman's New York press conference by saying that he was in town to promote his new book Righteous Indignation. He had been scheduled for an interview that was canceled because of Weiner's press conference, so Breitbart walked five blocks to the Sheraton and unexpectedly found himself on stage answering questions.

It was just "happenstance," Breitbart told reporters. Or perhaps it was karma.

About the Author

Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (159) | Leave a comment

Alan Brooks| 6.7.11 @ 7:06AM

A real hacker wouldn't waste time placing a pix like that.
Weiner is a 'TARD.

Rockets Redglare| 6.7.11 @ 10:56AM

Same ond horniness, brand new box.

Men . . . and their dicks.

Petulia| 6.7.11 @ 11:07AM

Male sexuality is disgusting.

Every dick on viagra!

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 1:59PM

Not true Petulia. Sounds as if you have some issues though. I hope that you get well soon.

Paul| 6.7.11 @ 2:47PM

I agree, all men are pigs, but Weiners wife is hot!

Sincerely,

Hillary

SoCon| 6.7.11 @ 3:32PM

Ew!

Skippy| 6.7.11 @ 6:23PM

Wasn't she raised in Muslim countries?
What is it that they force on 95% of their women?
Female something mutilation?
Perhaps she just doesn't care what or who he does.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 1:59PM

And what would you prefer Rockets?

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 2:21PM

Rockets and Petulia don't swing your way, Larry; I think we both know what they prefer.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 3:23PM

Shrub scouts?

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 3:34PM

Carpet cadets?

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 3:40PM

Fuzz friends?

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 4:19PM

Better watch it, Petulia and Rockets are going to get you.

Alan Brooks| 6.7.11 @ 11:14AM

Oscar Mayer Weiner is finished, this is next:

"WASHINGTON – The conservative blogger who reported that a photo of a man's crotch had been sent from Rep. Anthony Weiner's Twitter account to a woman college student says he has an X-rated picture he'll publicize if the New York Democrat attempts reprisals against him.

Conservative activist Andrew Breitbart of the website BigGovernment.com tells NBC's "Today" show he considers the image "an insurance policy" against attacks from Weiner, who on Monday admitted the crotch photo was of him. The married Weiner also acknowledged he had engaged in inappropriate contact with six women over three years through social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and occasionally over the phone.

Breitbart told NBC Tuesday that if Weiner wants to open himself to further investigation, "there are a lot of women" who could come forward. Asked directly if he considered the purported unpublicized picture an insurance policy, Breitbart replied, "I don't like to think of it that way."

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:07PM

Weiner's team was digging up dirt on some of the young female recipients to get them to shut up about the scope and extent of his tawdry communications. How Clintonesque!

Breitbart's copy of Weiner's X-rated pic prevents shady reprisals from the Weiner team.

T H Huxley| 6.8.11 @ 11:16PM

I'd be interested in knowing what Diaper Dave Vitter has to say about all this.

Booger| 6.7.11 @ 8:38AM

From the desk of Once and Future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:

My Dear Fellow Democrats,

In light of the ongoing fiasco of recent days, allow me first and foremost to assure you that I have never been a fan of Weiner. Quite frankly, I have always found Weiner to be somewhat distasteful, and not at all to my liking. I have always been uncomfortable in the presence of Weiner, and following this latest incident I and several of my fellow Democratic Womyn Congresspersons believe we should look into establishing Weiner free zones where we womyn may be free from harassment and unsolicited head shots.

Despite my dislike for Weiner, I have been forced to speak with him, since he is still a member of my caucus. Since I have Weiner in my caucus, I must find a way to deal with him. Quite frankly I am concerned that left unchecked this out of control Weiner may prove contagious to our caucus and prove to be a hindrance to our progress. That being the case, I believe we may have to look into the possibility of cutting Weiner short, despite his pleas to be allowed to finish what he has started. I realize that it may seem premature to many, but I believe now is the best time for Weiner to withdraw from the scene, before he spills any more trouble for our caucus. I realize early withdrawal is not what many of you may hope for, but my fellow Progressive Womyn assure me that if you find yourself with a bad Weiner on your case, early withdrawal is often your best option.

That being said, I must also advise you that Weiner is being a bit of a hard case about the issue. He seems to have stiffened in his resolve to see it through to the finish, come what may. I believe we may need to see if some sort of protective barrier may be placed between Weiner and the rest of the Democratic caucus, as I am concerned about him affecting both ourselves and our aides. Quite frankly, I was sure this sort of thing would happen sooner or later when dealing with Weiner. I have never in my life had a good experience with any Weiner, nor do I expect to have one in the future.

I will happily accept any suggestions you may have during these hard times of ours. Please remember that this would be a good time for all of us to simply keep our mouths shut as much as possible.

Your Comrade in The Struggle,

Once and Future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

TennesseeVolunteer| 6.7.11 @ 9:01AM

Booger, erections have consequences!
(Sorry, I stole this line but it was too good to pass up!)

Con Chef (NB)| 6.7.11 @ 12:02PM

Awesome as usual, Booger. And, as usual, I will share this post with my Townhall compadres.

The Poster Formerly Known as NavyBrat

Occam's Tool| 6.9.11 @ 8:24PM

I think it's great that Weiner keeps his seat---hell, I want him as the Dems' VEEP nominee! It's always good when your opponent's a certified Dick!

Marxfreesociety| 6.7.11 @ 10:34AM

Wrong -judgment and morals count as a public official!

canuckistani| 6.7.11 @ 11:42AM

To what point?

Vitter got re-elected. Judgment past.

Let the voters decide if they count.

Perhaps this case is more common in society at large and voters have calculated an ability to get the job done trumps morals.

It is like someone selecting a lawyer after being accused: do you want the "by the book" lawyer, or the one that will set you free by any means? Think about it.

I choose my reps on their platform and their ability to carry the water to Washington, not their apparent proclivities after hours.

He deserves censure for being stupid, that's all.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:14PM

Corrupt, rotten to the core tax cheat Charlie Rangel was re-elected, too, and Client Number 9 Spitzer scored a hotshot job at CNN!

Too bad, Canucki, the little pervert Weiner is already gone. His hilariously embarrassing sexual travails have served our purpose of exposing the deceit and moral depravity of Democrats everywhere.

Thanks, Weiner!!

Dan| 6.7.11 @ 12:39PM

Vitter's activities occurred decades ago. It was a DATED event, not ongoing, and no reports existed of him hitting on hookers thereafter.

Weiner's situation is different.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 2:22PM

I wouldn't have voted for Vitter a second time. He's a creep, too.

Steve A| 6.7.11 @ 12:53PM

canuckistani, I'm just so sure you would say the same thing if it was Paul Ryan. Save it.

Autoacct628| 6.7.11 @ 10:44AM

Engaging in such behaviour in secret opens the door to blackmail and extortion, which would violate the governing process. That is the reason he should resign. I am surprised I am the only one espousing this, the only real rationale for him to resign....

canuckistani| 6.7.11 @ 11:43AM

I am with you.

Pillow talk is a no-no.

Steve A| 6.7.11 @ 1:13PM

Auto, this is precisely the reason why Clinton should have gone. No question. This is the central issue. I have said it for years & listened to the crickets chirp.

Indy| 6.7.11 @ 2:21PM

I agree with you just haven't had the chance to post. What if the other women he corresponded with want to take advantage of the situation. Don't you think the tabloids would be willing to pay for pics? I agree with Breitbart to not publish the more explicit pic(s) but others won't be so kind, it's all about the $. Somenone might see this as a way to pay for college, who knows?

My concern is that shows what poor judgment Rep. AW has, he has access to important government information, do you think he is responsible with that? Does he have security clearance? If so, it should be revoked immediately. There are many questions which reporters don't ask.

If this happened to a military officer, what do you think would happen...immediate court martial most likely. If he gets away with this and stays in office, what message does this send to others, especially our youth...sadly, I think he will get away with it, after all Rep. Charlie Wrangle is still in office, he was easily re-elected. ..really sad when you think about it.

s bennett| 6.7.11 @ 10:52AM

I'll bet you were screaming for the republican to resign. If you can't see anything wrong with this you deserve the disastrous governance we are getting.

canuckistani| 6.7.11 @ 11:51AM

For me, I only scream for GOPers to STFU about values.
The system we have makes it IMPOSSIBLE for true pious men and women to gain higher office.
The slate on both sides is populated by narcissistic snakes that we follow in sycophantic procession to the ballot boxes.
It is our own faults that we get sensitized to dogwhistle rhetoric from righties pandering to our fears and emotions the way they do.

Palin, with her tours and thin-skinned reactions to criticism only underline the fact her own life is a trainwreck - yet we eat this stuff up.

We allow people like Romney flip-flop continually on important issues, thereby enabling him to stake any position he chooses depending on the wind conditions.

The economy is on the edge again and we are focused on nothingness. Shame.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:16PM

Shame? You're kidding me! It's Weiner's Wiener that has been providing comic relief for the masses.

Sorry, your attempt at distraction is laughably impotent. (See what I did there?). Haha

canuckistani| 6.7.11 @ 12:54PM

I sent my rep to washington to do a job. Full stop.

If he doesn't he's gone.

All this is noise.

Bruno| 6.7.11 @ 7:12PM

Like all the male lefty trolls that frequent the American Spectator site, Mr. canuckistani is a Weiner lover. The Democratic Party is and has always been the party of bad behavior. Mr. Weiner is repugnant and the canuckistani isn't far behind.

Billy| 6.8.11 @ 3:08PM

Blow job?

Occam's Tool| 6.9.11 @ 8:26PM

And, if in doing the job, he behaves in such a manner that allows him to be blackmailed while handling sensitive US secrets....I mean, at least Barney Frank's perversions aren't denied.

Redstateboy| 6.7.11 @ 3:40PM

100+ Comments and not one about the destruction of our Economy by... The One.

Everyday Weiner is discussed it staves off the coming decline of Hussein's approval numbers just a little bit longer.
Weiner tosses Hussein.... a Bone?

Steve A| 6.7.11 @ 12:56PM

Don't worry about the economy. Obama & Biden are focused on it like a laser........

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 2:24PM

That was in 2008 when they were campaigning throughout our 57 states.

skip| 6.7.11 @ 2:48PM

When is the last time the dithering idiot liar in chief said 'I will not rest until...'?

Redstateboy| 6.7.11 @ 3:41PM

oops! my baad Steve A

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 4:21PM

The Marxist in Chief and his minions' purposeful destruction of our economy and our country are never far from our minds.

Conservative Bob| 6.7.11 @ 11:27AM

Mr. White.

Do you have a problem with 10 days of lying? Do you actually have no problem with someone looking you in the face for 10 days proclaiming he is the victim in all of this?

If he is willing to lie with such passion and conviction about trivial things, what if anything can you believe of everything else that he has said?

The man has a seriously flawed character. His remorse was at getting caught. If the wave of additional information that proved he was lying all along had not come out yesterday, he would have been quite happy that his lies saved him.

The man is a low life scum bag, willing to send naked pictures to strangers, and more telling was willing to lie and have friends and supports lie on his behalf.

If you think this is acceptable behavior in a United States Congressman, what else are you willing to accept?

Ends Justify the means anyone.. Character matters! All these self-serving slime of any party should be driven from government in shame.
Honesty should be the minimum requirement for all elected officials.

Tattoo Artiste| 6.7.11 @ 11:44AM

It's a porno world. Get over it!

The USA is the world's greatest Pornocracy! Just a mouse-click away.

Enjoy!

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:21PM

You're right. We've become the nation of degeneracy; one nation under smut. An abortion here, another abortion there--pretty soon you've killed 50 million of the most innocent among you.

We've willfully sown the seeds and the whirlwind is coming. Really freakin' fast.

Tattoo Artiste| 6.7.11 @ 3:59PM

Conservaties Consume More PORN

According to a new Harvard Business School study, eight of the top ten states in terms of online porn consumption were ones where McCain won in the presidential election. Professor Benjamin Edelman analyzed anonymised credit cards receipts from a large online porn company. Based on their limited data, the largest consumer is Utah. Other interesting possible correlations emerged too that Edelman outlines in his paper, "Red Light States: Who Buys Online Adult Entertainment?" published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives. From New Scientist:

Church-goers bought less online porn on Sundays – a 1% increase in a postal code's religious attendance was associated with a 0.1% drop in subscriptions that day. However, expenditures on other days of the week brought them in line with the rest of the country, Edelman finds.

The study also shows that conservatives consume more extreme porn, such as S&M.

Read it and weep, conservative pervs.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 5:50PM

Twisted fool. The liberal perverts like you living in red states consumed the most porn.

Indy| 6.7.11 @ 5:27PM

I did, remember Rep. Chris Lee resigned before the news became public. He took responsibility for his actions, he did not create a story that his account was hacked and falsely accuse others. Wonder what the private firm he "hired" to do an investigation found out.

I have called Vitters office, Ensign, Rangles and others who should have resigned, did you?

I was one the phone first thing this morning to ask my rep and senators to ask AW to resign....why, because he clearly showed he lacks judgment to serve in Congress. He could easily be blackmailed not just by those in the US but others as well, wake up and think outside the box.

Redstateboy| 6.7.11 @ 3:45PM

personally... I'm proud to be a member of a political party that believes in morals. There's nothing more stark as a contrast to two NY Congressmen.. 1 a Republican who screwed up and he was Gone! 1 a Liber-ul Democrat.. He screwed up but hey! so what? He's a Liber-ul, so what does it matter.. it's a Party of No Personal Responsibility... Weiner can blather that he's sorry, blah, blah, blah... but Resigning would show that his words mean something - for once

Miss Double S I p p I| 6.7.11 @ 4:18PM

Is there anything more sickening than American Spectator fanatics swathed in the ragged cloak of moral indignation?

Southern| 6.7.11 @ 6:38PM

Yes, YOU!

The Bishop| 6.7.11 @ 6:17AM

The congressman is an apt candidate for an ethics high colonic.

Jarhead76| 6.7.11 @ 7:57AM

And the liberal press/media and academia helped him do it because that is the way they think and act...

Redstateboy| 6.7.11 @ 9:15AM

Breitbart calls "the Democrat media complex."
Breitbart was brilliant yesterday (I was off from work and just happened to turn on FOX at the pricise moment he was speaking) and my regret.. is AB didn't really, truly unload on the swine Media for refusing, for their own personal political preferrences; for Not doing their F'g! Jobs! Brian Williams and NBC didn't even pay much attention to this story but they certainly paid attention to Sarah Palin's mention of Paul Revere!! Nothing better than an Egg smeared Liber-ul Main Stream Media. Whatever credibilty the Lame Stream Media has is evaporating - just like our Democracy they were suppose to help insure.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:22PM

Breitbart is courageous.

canuckistani| 6.7.11 @ 11:57AM

The only thing unique about Clinton was he was the sitting president. What was very common was that his accusers were truly his "peers", with Newtie and Sanford at the front of the piety train.

McCain met Cindy in a bar, and he got the nom.
RR was and is the only divorced president in history. Twice-elected, deified.

Jennifer Flowers happened before the 1992 election, he was elected nonetheless. The "death of shame", as you put it, obviously occurred sometime before the Monica episode.

I am thinking sometime between "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" and "I am not a crook".

Clint| 6.7.11 @ 6:58AM

Weiner puts some mustard on his hot dog.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 2:34PM

Give me a break--Hillary got where she's at on her back. Palin's the REAL self-made woman and we all know how you dbags treat her.

Too bad POS Willy Clinton was porking 21 year old interns instead of taking custody of Bin Laden when Sudan begged him to. Bin Laden should have been neutralized during the 8 years of Clinton's watch.

You democrats are scum of the earth.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:24PM

Sure, I've got a gazillion Wild WillyWeiner jokes. Shall I share?

buckeyeman| 6.7.11 @ 7:05AM

Didn't Weiner already "stick it out"?

Jarhead76| 6.7.11 @ 8:02AM

When will the press tell him to resign for the sake of the country?

cuban pete| 6.7.11 @ 3:00PM

Bingo!
They care only about the next story....and getting to the free buffet before Al Sharpton.

WRTolkas| 6.7.11 @ 8:11AM

Dear Melvin,

I have read two excellent posts this morning: Mr. McCain's and yours.

Also, I have gleamed a new phrase: "the Democrat media complex."

Mr. Weiner is a much deserving recipient of the Teddy "Swimmer" Kennedy Medal of Courage, Valor, and Honesty.

David W| 6.7.11 @ 8:40AM

Can you provide a description of what one must do to win the "Teddy 'Swimmer' Kennedy Medal of Courage, Valor, and Honesty"? I'm sure the requirements to win must combine pure honesty and integrity with 100% respect for women.

skip| 6.7.11 @ 2:53PM

Absolutely essential is the ability to at 3 AM, when a young woman of vitality is not drowning but suffocating, call up the hotel manager, and bitch about not being able to sleep because of loud partying by neighboring hotel guests.

cuban pete| 6.7.11 @ 3:03PM

Also wear a cervical collar to the press conference. That had to be Sorensen's idea.

bongobear| 6.7.11 @ 8:59AM

Terrific post, absolutely spot on.

Redstateboy| 6.7.11 @ 9:01AM

I watched the replay of Bret Baier's (I missed the first time) interview with Anthony Weiner and watching it, Knowing now that he was lying through his teeth in the interview is shocking because Weiner was lying with Gusto! Enthusiasm! Righteous indignation! Conviction and as Melvin states so well... who can believe him now? His Wife? Certainly not me.. his constituents? What's he going to say...? "Yes I lied but believe me now." Sorry Weiner.. it don't work dat way.. you blew whatever credibility you ever had... no resign you slimeball and focus on healing your marriage.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 4:26PM

And all the while, Weiner's team was pushing the Leftist liars in the media to blame it all on Breitbart while digging up dirt on the young women to make them shut up. Nice, huh?

Conservative View| 6.7.11 @ 7:53AM

I think the man has run out of friends. Having heard some of his comments to the press before all of this I can state with certitude, "It could not have happened to a nicer guy."

CLC| 6.7.11 @ 8:43AM

Schadenfreude!

Mimi| 6.7.11 @ 7:57AM

We have 100 in the Senate...535 in the House....They are our Leaders and lately rapidly losing our faith in them...The country is hurting out here....TIMES are BAD....GOVERNMENT has made some awful calls and caused a lot of grief.....AND......AND THIS IDIOT WON'T RESIGN???? The chump and LIAR thinks he can stay and DIRTY up the CHAMBER of the HOUSE? Those there AGREE with that???....The 634 better think twice!!

Jarhead76| 6.7.11 @ 8:03AM

It's 435 in the house. We do not need 100 more t u r d s...

Mimi| 6.7.11 @ 8:07AM

oops...Being PO'D messes up !

Con Chef (NB)| 6.7.11 @ 8:00AM

I always knew this guy was a "tool." Now he has con"firmed" it for me. His "flacid" defense of this incident last week was pathetic, at best. And now, Weiner is weeping. You know, they have medicine for conditions like that.

Jarhead76| 6.7.11 @ 8:04AM

All lies are pathetic... not just picturesque ones...

Con Chef (NB)| 6.7.11 @ 8:09AM

Too true, Devil Dog. Too true.

Jarhead76| 6.7.11 @ 8:00AM

Melvin:
So do Marines and cops. Once they lie just once, they cannot be trusted to have the right amount of ammo, water, food on the right hill when needed or to testify truthfully in court.
How can lawyers lie for their clients is beyond my ability to comprehend.
Semper Fi.

alice moore| 6.7.11 @ 8:01AM

While it is unlikely that any Republican could ever win in Weiner's district, it is even more unlikely that his fellow Democrats would want Weiner hanging around Congress while a full-blown investigation continues generating lurid headlines.

The first part of that statement may be the reason AW will be forced to resigned. The Democrats are in almost no danger of losing that district.

This Arnold Horshak has got to to go.

Jarhead76| 6.7.11 @ 8:06AM

Alice: Never say never... Who won Kennedy's "supposed" seat in MA?
NY is losing 2 seats before the next election because of the census. His will be one if he does not resign before then...
Cheer up!

Old Soldier| 6.7.11 @ 9:23AM

It's actually a fairly moderate district that has elected Republicans in the past. Totally up for grabs now if the NY Republicans nominate a decent candidate (always a big "If").

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:26PM

John Fund said that New York is losing two Congressional seats and Weiner's district could be a casualty.

Winterhawk| 6.7.11 @ 8:16AM

As with the majority of liberals, they believe they are able to go through life, doing whatever it is they want to, with no resposiblity or accoutibility. They've been that way for decades. I despise them and their holier than thow attitude.

Louis Jenkins| 6.7.11 @ 8:17AM

What a dope! He thought he'd never get caught but he did. There are still pundits on TV who say he will survive this predictament. He's toast. Wiener is in a pickle.

Anthony| 6.7.11 @ 8:22AM

Yep, this entire sordid episode tells us all we need to know about the elite, corrupt left, as if we didn't know already.
Anthony's Weiner is a classic arrogant, nasty, elitist leftist. He is the epitomy of what the D party has devolved into.
Blame and lie to your heart's content because the corrupt LSM will cover for a fellow leftist. The Washington elite has way too many of these types telling us how to run our lives. Oh, they might not post on face book, but they're just as corrupt in their private world, that they manage to keep secret from us.
Weiner should resign immediately; he won't, of course, because he's a pampered lefty. The Rs are too timid to make hay on this POS, who has for years held us conservatives in contempt.
Breitbart should sue this little bastard for defamation, as Weiner and his minions immediately went after Breitbart in order to deflect. Classic lefties in action. No class, no decency, and no shame. The ends justify the means.
This is what unchecked leftism has led to, with Weiner, his followers, and the LSM. Corrupt and vile to the core!!
James Carvil has finally discovered that civil unrest is in the air, thanks to decades of elite, anti-American leftism forced upon us.
James , my boy, you've no idea!!!

John Navratil| 6.7.11 @ 8:34AM

Anthony,

You nailed the description of Weiner. It's not schadenfreude, it's pure freude to see such a man skewered.

James Carville... isn't he the guy who, two years ago, was saying that the Republicans had forty years in the desert ahead of them?

skip| 6.7.11 @ 2:55PM

Ironic Carville looks more like a talking penis than even Weiner.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 3:36PM

Why Mary why?

Publius| 6.8.11 @ 3:01PM

Well, one is circumcised and one isn't.

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 6.7.11 @ 9:12PM

I don't bother with silly RCV being ripped to a shred by Anthony for all RCV's character flaws on Anthony not bothering to leave even one silly shred of RCV for poor old Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus to tatter matters.

LMajito| 6.7.11 @ 8:52AM

well just like i saw it about a week ago (with the exception that the missus was not there)...what would cretins like this one, weiner, think that a pencil sized manhood will lit passion on a much younger woman on the other side of the country?

but i really not disgusted at this punk. i'm disgusted as the people who keep on sending these characters to dc or state capitals...i mean rangel, frank, pelosi, feinstein (not to mention disgraced governors) the whole lot...

you can bet your bottom dollar that unless his forced to leave (by the dnc or congress dem leadership), coming next election he'll be re-elected...

as a society, as long as we keep these clowns ruling over us, don't nag, complain or throw hissy fits...

Mimi| 6.7.11 @ 9:11AM

You are so right Lmajito.....If the Congress keeps this guy....If the media look away they only SHOW their OWN MORAL WEAKNESS and CORRUPTION !!!

Denver Todd| 6.7.11 @ 8:55AM

I think I smell a sex addict.

Kris Lepine| 6.7.11 @ 9:09AM

Anthony Weiner is a pervert and like Bill Clinton, his piggish behavior affects this country and especially it's young people, who are already messed up.

No one, and especially his wife, can believe one word that comes out of his mouth. What a skilled liar he is as we saw until yesterday. It's obvious he's had a lot of practice.

Plus, he was an attack dog for the Dems for honorable people like Michele Bachmann. I looked on line and found what Weiner's been up to the last few years. He's not worthy to wipe Bachmann's nose, the creep. He deserves to be ousted and right now. Anything Nancy Pelosi does will be a joke. How many years did it take to "investigate" Charlie Rangel.........3 years or more? And of course that lying cheater is still in office and collecting all his "perks". Ugh!!

Mike D.| 6.7.11 @ 11:48AM

This guy is the definition of a creep!

W| 6.7.11 @ 9:31AM

Weiner should not resign. He is the face of the liberal/lefty democrats. Smug,arrogant, self righteous, dishonest. Always claiming to be working for the "people" yet have all this time for sexting, emailing, twitting.
Better to keep him in office to remind everyone of Clinton, Spitzer, McGreevy, Bawny frank, Dodd, Kennedy, the list goes on.

Stan Redmond| 6.7.11 @ 9:40AM

I see I'm in the minority here. But I do expect Weiner to win re-election and will become a heroic figure of the democrat party. "Wiener overcome his troubled pass to become key playe in democrat policies" blah blah blah.

Look at the lineup. Endless Kennedy's, Bill J. Clinton, and the Kind himself FDR.

OBAMA his'elf, a cocaine sniffing pothead with terrorist buddies, was down in New Orleans campaigning for William Jefferson who was caught with a freezer full of bribery money.

Weiner will be around a long long time. All that remains is for the media to get back in line and rebuild his career.

Ole Sarge| 6.7.11 @ 9:40AM

Once again the scandal IS NOT THE INCIDENT (that was just juvenile) the scandal once again is in the LIES to "cover-up" the incident.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 9:56AM

Andrew Breitbart is a great American and does great work.

Weeny boy on the other hand, is just that- a boy, a very immature boy. He's prone to temper tantrums as anyone who has ever seen him on the floor or heard him interviewed can attest to. He's an immature boy in that he gets off sending pictures of his pecker to women he doesn't know while being married and not fulfilling his commitment to that marriage.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 9:58AM

I was sure that Weeny was going to blame all of this on anti-Semitism by the vast right wing conspiracy. I was surpried.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 12:26PM

Breitbart is Jewish.

Steve A| 6.7.11 @ 10:00AM

I have sincerely disliked this guy Weiner from day 1. I disagree with everything he says. Not only is he wrong, but he is obviously an idiot to boot.

I do also actually find myself feeling sorry for this guy though. I mean, come on. It's over. His career is over, his marriage is over. He has no "friends" or defenders left. I would not be shocked if this guy took a swan dive off the Brooklyn.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 10:57AM

Steve, you forget that he has the magic (D) after his name. Because of this, he and his ilk are invulnerable to everything.

Don't be surprised to see his poll numbers go up.

Remember what it is that has voted for him.

squalis| 6.7.11 @ 10:02AM

I wish Emily Litella was still with us.

Mimi| 6.7.11 @ 10:08AM

For God's sake this has got to be the last straw ! If this man's (?) colleagues con't to support this embarrassment, they are not aware of the CLIMATE out here...They better address this and SOON both Democrats and Republicans alike or they will lose respect forever of those they SERVE!!! The FOLKS are OUTRAGED this time!!!

Melvin| 6.7.11 @ 10:13AM

I don't know why this just popped into my head but it did.
For the longest time, we were told that the Obama Care Legislation was just to overwhelming for any mortal Congressman to read and understand.
Kind of looks like Mr. Weiner had all kinds of time on his hands, instead of reading legislation.
Pretty rich isn't it. No time to read important legislation, but all the time in the world to send pictures of himself.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 11:46AM

Yes. And seveal month ago when Weeny boy was on Sean Hannity's show he refused to take a pledge to not vote for any legislation that he'd not completely read. I guess that he has more important things to do.

skedaddle| 6.7.11 @ 12:48PM

Reading is sooo boring but pictures are exciting!

irish19| 6.7.11 @ 11:50PM

I'm not sure it was only time he had on his hands.

rendite| 6.7.11 @ 10:18AM

The biggest scandal (an ongoing one) is how a guy like A. Wiener can be an elected representative from a high profile district in the U.S. Seven terms.

A. Wiener did not just blow a fuse and publicly meltdown. He has been this kind of character for a long time already.

The real scandal is how dumb the electorate is, how corrupt our system is.

Bill| 6.7.11 @ 11:08AM

Since when is the alleged consensual nature of his exposure of a highly distasteful photograph of his crotch a defense?

Some things are not OK to do in public, whether they're done consensually or not, don't you think? One of them is photographing yourself in your underwear in a state of erection and then sending the photo to someone else, whether they're OK with getting it or not.

Joseph| 6.7.11 @ 11:49AM

Come on! The right-wing Republicans have stretched out this Weiner-thing to impossible lengths for partisan advantage. They've blown this Weiner-thing way out of proportion!

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 11:53AM

You're wrong. The Republicans have said hardly a word. There was no need to when Weeny boy was hanging himself quite nicely.

SonOfSam| 6.7.11 @ 2:25PM

Joe, Larry: c'mon! Enough with the puns already!

Then again, if you must...please don't let me stop you!

Curly| 6.7.11 @ 2:52PM

Whose on foist?
Hey Aaaabooooot!

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 3:21PM

LOL. Actually, the comment about hanging wasn't meant as a pun and I didn't realize what I'd typed until just now. Thanks for pointing it out Sam. You're the one who's given me a good laugh this afternoon.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 4:27PM

You're not so bad yourself! ;)

beebop| 6.7.11 @ 8:58PM

I suppose that the dissemenation of inaccurate information and lies by Weiner himself is also insignificant to you? Lies mean nothing I guess.

Seek| 6.7.11 @ 11:51AM

Weiner should be reprimanded by his Hosue colleagues, but the recriminations shouldn't go any further. Republicans many times over have done the same sorts of things. Sex and power go hand in hand -- always have and always will.

Con Chef (NB)| 6.7.11 @ 3:25PM

Other than Vitter, those Repubs left office when the scandal broke. For Dems, this type of shat is a badge of honor. Just ask Paula Jones & Monica Lewinski. Hell, Teddy K. KILLED a woman, & he was "The Lion of the Senate."

tonypal| 6.7.11 @ 4:07PM

Really? There's a republican who sent out pictures of his erect penis to young women, then denied his actions while his defenders blamed the one man who was telling the truth throughout, then refused to resign? I'm unaware of who that republican is, but I'm sure you'll fill us in.

Now let me ask you a question. For liberals, exactly what must a democrat elected official do that is bad enough for liberals to call for the elected official's resignation, apart from voting to curtail abortion "rights" or to cut taxes on high earners?

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 4:28PM

You can't reason with an empty vessel. Liberals have no heart, conscience or soul.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 12:04PM

After the pressure builds and Weeny boy resigns from Congress, he'll have a great future at the SEC where they apparently do nothing all day but view porn on your and my dime. He should fit in great there.

melanerpes| 6.7.11 @ 12:44PM

Nemesis is acting through Breitbart. He should say a little prayer to her.

LarryK| 6.7.11 @ 12:58PM

Anthony Weiner
2012 for
U. S. Congress
"The Total Package"

Intelligent Design| 6.7.11 @ 1:35PM

It demonstrates that he's a fool. But then, he was elected by fools.

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 2:35PM

So was the Big Bad OBamster.

Michael L. Hauschild| 6.7.11 @ 1:36PM

What did Charlie Chan say to his number one son when he was defeated in the Mayoral contest of China Town? Erections have consequences.

wolflen| 6.7.11 @ 1:45PM

if someone were to compile a list of all the politicians (both parties of course) that have violated ethics and judicial laws--lets say starting with FDR--it would be quite lengthy..and very sad..the list of our problems as a nation were and are to be solved by these people..many placed high hopes on them and supported them in many ways demanding they do their best to correct our nations problems..now it seems to be little surprise that a politician is suspected of doing something illegal..minor or major..and little is done to many outside of a wrist slap...

cant pay the bills...raise the debt limit..

any wonder...

Con Chef (NB)| 6.7.11 @ 3:21PM

Lest we forget, fellow conservatives, that Teddy K. KILLED a woman, for G*d's sake! Given THAT template, Weenie may become the next "Lion of the Senate." And these libs claim to have the best interests of women at heart. BWAHAHAHAHA! The only "interest" these fools have in women is how many they can bang or "sext" without getting caught. And, in the height of irony (or hypocrisy) Weenie's the putz who championed tougher laws on on internet stalking! The SNL writers couldn't come up with shat this good in even the most in depth, bong-fuelled writing sessions.

Con Chef (NB)| 6.7.11 @ 3:29PM

Why does Weenie wear a necktie? To keep his foreskin from suffocating him.

Teaghan| 6.7.11 @ 3:38PM

It's all about the power and the power is an aphrodisiac. Add that to no morals and what do you have? Slick Willie and Anthony Weiner.

Larry| 6.7.11 @ 3:41PM

Two such aptly named s*um bags.

fancy free| 6.7.11 @ 5:40PM

Are any of you familiar with Weiner's 2007 bill to PROTECT minors on the internet.? It was called "KIDS" -KEEPING INTERNET DEVOID OF SEXUAL PREDATORS. At the time, Weiner was quoted as saying , "Sadly the internet is the venue of choice for predators." He should know.

Weiner says he has never met of these women. Therefore, he has no idea whether they are "consenting adults" or not.

Weiner is photographed by himself sitting in his office chair in his Congressional office. Who owns the chair? Who owns the floor his feet are restisng on? Who owns the walls that prevent passersby from watching Weiner, "prepping" himself for his photo shoot session?

He has used Government property in the pursuit of his activity.

I wonder what kind of advice Huma's mentor, Hillary, is giving her? Hillary had more invested in Bill at at the time of his Monica discovery.

How bankable would you consider Weiner's future?

NoLib| 6.7.11 @ 5:45PM

Weiner's a liability to the democrats--it's just a matter of time before he's gone.

PCP Smoker| 6.7.11 @ 9:16PM

Thank you God. Thank you Lord, for making this miserable, arrogant, socialist bastard taste every bit of shit he deserves. I hope he seriously considers the use of the gun, you know, he has.

Lesson to all of you women named Huma or anyone considering masturbating with A.Weiner on line, when Bill Clinton officiates your wedding vows, you will have trouble.

David C| 6.7.11 @ 11:18PM

"It was just "happenstance," Breitbart told reporters. Or perhaps it was karma."

It was indeed karma. And what sweet karma.

Brian| 6.8.11 @ 1:15AM

I don't get it. Repub and Dem law makers support/ march in X-rated gay pride parades where naked men dance and fornicate openly with little notice. Yet everyone is worked up over Weiner?

Southern| 6.8.11 @ 2:35AM

Sadly, we have met hypocrisy and it is us.

AH Handbags | 6.8.11 @ 1:28AM

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Mark Jeffery Koch| 6.8.11 @ 10:48AM

After reading many comments readers posted since the Weiner episode first became public it is extremely depressing that apparently so many Americans feel we should have zero standards in our elected officials and believe the Congressman's conduct is a personal matter and no one elses business. This is what the late great Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan called the dumming down of morality and this says a great deal about the lack of accountability we expect in our public officials.

Married or not an elected official should not be tweeting photo's of a sexual nature to women nor should he be engaging in telephone sex with several women or doing so via the Internet. This is conduct unbecoming a person that sits in Congress and Congressman Weiner, if he was more concerned about doing the right thing rather than his obsession with staying in power, should immediately resign. What he proven to everyone is that his main concern is not his constituents, but himself.

There are 310 million people living in America and only 535 men and women get the honor of serving their country as a Congressman or Senator. This is not a right but a privilege and an honor to serve their fellow citizens and we have every right to expect the people we elect to uphold standards of decency and morality. When we as Americans look the other way and do not care when our representatives violate their oath of office by engaging in inappropriate behaviour we dumb down our expectations and get to the point that as long as the representative is supposedly doing their job we do not care what kind of behaviour they engage in while in office and that is wrong.

We, as citizens, have every right and expectation that the people we elect to serve us do not embarass us and do not engage in activities that embarass the Congress and embarass their constituents. What Mr. Weiner did may be legal but if he wants to engage in this kind of behaviour he may be free to do so, but let him do so after he resigns from Congress. We have a right to expect and demand better from our public officials.

Billy| 6.8.11 @ 3:11PM

Defining deviancy down.

Billy| 6.8.11 @ 3:13PM

Those who don't want to hold Weiner accountable are liberal trolls. Liberals don't have any values to start with--you should know that.

Ramage| 6.10.11 @ 2:22AM

Mr. Koch, actually most Americans don't at all agree with this behavior or anything close to it. And that extends to tens of thousands of leaders and managers in the public domain.

You overall statement is good, but I am troubled when you write "What Mr. Weiner did may be legal...." What? "May be?" No, it clearly is illegal. Misappropriation of government property and assets. Probably missapppropritaion and undue influence on staff in the coverup actions of the last 11 days. I am sure he is guilty of numerous violations that would land mid level government officials with loss of job, fines, a criminal record, and jail time.

When can a government employee use his government Blackberry, laptop, and/or desktop to 'sext,' sex-flirt/voice conversation, arrange for sexual encounters (even if they ultimately did not occur), send pornographic data/material or view pornographic material?

And can one do this at 2:45 p.m. on a Tuesday from one's D.C. congressional office just 30 minutes prior to a House committee meeting?

No can do.

Keep demanding the very highest of standards. ALL our public officials owe us that -- ALWAYS. But know the law also.

Maryland Lady| 6.8.11 @ 1:52PM

Karma is a bitch.

fancy free| 6.8.11 @ 4:46PM

Well, the defecation has really hit the oscillation, now. Andrew Breitbart thought he could trust the two sleaziest lowlife on radio with the possible exception of Howard Stern.. How could he have known one of them might snap a picture of it?

Within a few hours, the world can see what heretofore only Weiner's mother, his moile (if that is how you spell it) and his many online friends have been privy (you will pardon the expression) to.

A little Viagra is a dangerous thing

Mark Jeffery Koch| 6.8.11 @ 5:27PM

The liberals are in overdrive today defending Weiner and claiming his behaviour is no one elses business. When a liberal behaves this way they think it's okay. When Clinton, Kennedy, and now Weiner act improperly it's their private business but when a Republican behaves this way they should resign. It's improper for ANY public figure no matter what political party they are a member of to be sending women around the country photo's of their private parts and engaging in phone sex with them. He did not do this solely from his house but did it in the House of Representatives. It IS conduct unbecoming a member of Congress and it does not have to be illegal to be highly improper.

Let Anthony Weiner resign from public office and send photo's of his penis to whomever he wants and let him then engage in all the phone sex he wants but as long as he is a member of Congress his conduct is NOT acceptable, no matter how much he shares your liberal politics. We have a right to expect and demand better behaviour from all our public figures no matter what political party they are a member of.

milanov| 6.8.11 @ 9:46PM

When Al Hamilton had his thing with Maria Reynolds and wrote a 95 page confession, Mrs Hamilton eventually forgave him (at least in public). George Washington sent the Hamilton's a wine cooler for four bottles to show his friendship. Maybe the gift was a subtle hint for Al to cool his bottle. Ironically the cooler was a gift to GW from Gouvernor Morris whose peg leg and worship of Venus was legendary.

MattZ| 6.9.11 @ 3:29PM

"Indeed, wasn't Weiner betting on the media's liberal bias as his hole card in a high-stakes bluff?"

I think Weiner was betting on the fact that Breitbart is a known liar and forgery artist; guess he was right in this case, though. He's still a liar for everything else!