Political Hay
Past and Future Weiners
They’ll continue to appear in various forms and with differing fates.
The strange saga of Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) may be over, but it is only a matter of time before the next scandal breaks. Why? Because the nation’s capital has historically been full of Weiners.
Congress has become a hotbed for scandals, especially sexually charged ones. The end result for the politician involved is always unpredictable. Some are forced to resign like Weiner, while others weather the storm and are reelected repeatedly. What follows can be considered a random sampling.
Rep. Allan Howe (D-UT), for instance, was elected to the House in 1974 but lost his reelection bid in 1976 after being arrested for soliciting an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute. But Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has been in office for thirty years despite the fact that he fixed parking tickets for a male prostitute he hired in 1989. The prostitute also ran an escort service from Frank’s apartment, though the congressman claimed to be unaware.
Reps. Dan Crane (R-IL) and Gerry Studds (D-MA) were both reprimanded and censured by the House for engaging in sexual relations with their own personal underage pages. Crane’s was a female and Studds’ was a male; however, while Crane lost reelection in 1984, Studds was reelected to the House six more times.
In recent years, a number of Republicans have been pushed out of office under the cloud of scandal. Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA) was accused of physically abusing a woman with whom he had a five-year long extramarital affair during the 2006 campaign. Although he won the Republican primary, he eventually lost the general election in large part because of the scandal.
Rep. Ed Schrock (R-VA) was forced to abandon his bid for a third term in 2004 after a tape surfaced of him soliciting sex from a male prostitute. Ironically, he had been an outspoken foe of gay rights groups.
Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) was forced to resign in 2006 due to allegations he was sending sexually explicit messages and e-mails to his male pages. While he was chairman of the House Caucus of Missing and Exploited Children, he introduced legislation aimed at sexual predators.
Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) had one of the most bizarre stories, when in 2007 he was arrested for lewd conduct in the men’s restroom of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. His foot placement in the bathroom stall suggested he was soliciting sex from a male prostitute who was actually an undercover police officer. Despite calls to resign, he finished out his term and left office in early 2009.
Sex scandals don’t have to hurt your career, however. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) emerged none the worse for wear after his name was tied to a prostitution ring in 2007. He easily won re-election last year. In a much higher-profile case, Democratic New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign after being under investigation for his involvement in a swank prostitute ring. Nonetheless, his career has rebounded thanks to his CNN talk show, and now there’s even talk he might run again for high office. Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY) hasn’t been so fortunate. Earlier this year he was caught sending a shirtless picture to a transvestite on Craigslist, resigned the day it was published, and if not for the Weiner scandal would have probably never been talked about again.
Yet most Americans don’t seem to think the problem is with politicians in general. According to a poll recently conducted by the Pew Research Center, 55% of men and 59% of women believe elected officials involved in sex scandals get caught more often because they are under more scrutiny. Only 19% of those polled believe it is because the officials have lower moral standards than the average Americans.
Either way, it’s only a matter of time before the next scandal breaks.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (35) | Leave a comment
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The Bishop| 6.23.11 @ 6:23AM
The next unpin the batter's box: Alcee Hastings (D) od Florida. The hits just keep on coming. However, on a positive note, Elenor Holmes Norton remains chaste.
lydia | 6.23.11 @ 10:28AM
Congress, like most colleges, has become an adult playground, with power and perks. Unlike college however, they get to stay way beyond four years.
Washington needs a major shakeup to get it back to doing the business of the people, quickly and correctly, then get the hell out of town.
I am a 28 years old doctor, mature and beautiful.and now I am seeking a good man who can give me real love , so i got a username Andromeda2002 on--s'e'ek'c'ou'ga'r.c óm--.it is the first and best club for y'ounger women and old'er men, or older women and y'ounger men,to int'eract with each other. Maybe you wanna ch'eck 'it out or tell your friends!
Anthony| 6.23.11 @ 2:13PM
You talk'en to me????
lydia, there was a "cougar" sighting in CT recently, unfortunately, it was found dead by the side of the road.
I suggest you troll elsewhere for love. Anthony's Weiner might just be your sort of man.
Groad| 6.23.11 @ 11:45AM
Hastings is already an impeached and convicted former Federal Judge. Thsi will only enhance his credentials.
MOS was 71331| 6.23.11 @ 12:41PM
I agree with Groad. It's impossible for Hastings to sink any lower than he already is -- unless, of course, he murders someone.
Alan Brooks| 6.23.11 @ 8:41PM
Weinerism is the acme of cash for trash, obtaining titillation money merely for skiviing.
We should all be so lucky!
Paul| 6.23.11 @ 6:54AM
The American people get the reps that they deserve. This country is rushing toward bankruptcy and we continue to send people to Congress that are not serious. I look at it the same way with gas prices, you elect people that won't drill? Enjoy that $4 gas, you deserve it.
Appleby| 6.23.11 @ 7:18AM
Men who cant keep their pants zipped or their wee-wees under cover. ho hum.
Appleby| 6.23.11 @ 7:18AM
Men who cant keep their pants zipped or their wee-wees under cover. ho hum.
Melvin| 6.23.11 @ 8:20AM
Au contraire, it is not Men who cannot keep their penis's under wraps, but adolescent male politicians, who read too much National Geographic, "The girls or boys of Tahiti," in the Congressional or Senatorial bathrooms.
Fancy Pants| 6.24.11 @ 1:48AM
Real Men don't eat quiche.
Southern_Comment| 6.23.11 @ 12:01PM
Ok maybe this article only referenced men - but quite a few women out there are just as guilty as these slut minded representatives.
Appleby| 6.23.11 @ 3:09PM
The article referencing women is the Slut Walk article. Same response: ho hum. I was tired of the Sixties by 1968. I'm WAAAAAY tired of it by now.
buckeyeman| 6.23.11 @ 8:12AM
"The strange saga of Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) may be over..."
If only this were true. Somehow, I think "the Weiner" will pop up again.
Pecos Pete| 6.23.11 @ 8:58AM
Weiner will run for mayor of New York City. Probably will be elected.
And then there are the poor congresspeople who, after 20 years in Congress, retire as millionaires. Graft and sin live together.
Groad| 6.23.11 @ 11:47AM
Weiner will have to return to NY first, right now he is in reality a resident of DC and FL (where his mommy lives).
C Smith| 6.23.11 @ 9:47AM
During his Grand Jury testimony, regarding the Lewinsky affair, President Bill Clinton, attempting to reconcile the irreconcilable, reasoned: "… It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is.” However, as children of light, we must be gravely aware of the consequence of twisting Scripture as the “… unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16).
Not just in the political world but also in the religious world there are those who argue the meaning of words " unto their own destruction":
Calvinism 101:
The natural, ordinary, commonsense meaning of words is not sufficient for sustaining the doctrines of Calvinism. Words of key verses must be defined in partisan fashion or the doctrine crumbles. In the following verses (allegedly purporting the tenet of Limited Atonement), Calvinism defines the word ‘many’ to mean the elect only. However, in the immediate or even broader context of Scripture, Calvinism is taking an unjustified liberty:
Isaiah 53:12 “… and he bare the sin of many….”
Matthew 20:28: “… the Son of man came… to give his life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 26:28: “…For this is my blood… which is shed for many….”
Hebrews 9:28: “… Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many…”
By defining many to mean the elect only, Calvinism offers a classic example of eisegesis (forcing the text to fit a preconceived system of theology).
Calvinists state: “Christ died for the elect only.” However, this is NEVER stated in Scripture! The Word of God consistently states the contrary and, unlike the Calvinist rendition, states it EXPLICITLY: He died NOT for ours sins only, “but also for the sins of the whole world.”
And there are many other explicit verses:
Isaiah 53:6: “… and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
John 1:29: “… Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
1 Timothy 2:6: “Who gave himself a ransom for all....”
1 Timothy 4:10: “… we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all….”
Hebrews 2:9: “…that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”
1 John 4:14: “… the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
And if the words of the “disciple whom Jesus loved" are not literal, do words mean anything?
1 John 2:2: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Calvinism 101:
If the word is 'many,' then the meaning is few;
If the word is 'whosoever,' then it must mean only the elect;
If the word is 'world,' then it can’t mean everyone;
And if the word is 'all', then 'all' doesn't mean all at all!
During his Grand Jury testimony, regarding the Lewinsky affair, President Bill Clinton, attempting to reconcile the irreconcilable, reasoned: "… It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is.” However, as children of light, we must be gravely aware of the consequence of twisting Scripture as the “… unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16).
Calvin in his later years appeared to suffer that malady so common to Calvinists: doubts concerning salvation. And for good reason: Calvinism teaches a salvation not based on belief or confession or repentance or faith or calling on the Lord, but rather “the luck of the draw.” So how is one to know if he was one of the elect? Calvinist R. T. Kendall writes: “nearly all of the Puritan ‘divines’ went through great doubt and despair on their deathbeds as they realized their lives did not give perfect evidence that they were elect.” Works are a Calvinist’s only assurance of personal salvation. However, even that can be misleading:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will Iprofess unto them, I never knew you… (Matthew 7:21-23).
But whosoever believes that 'whosoever' means whosoever is at peace; perfect love casteth out fear.
John 3:15: “… whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Acts 10:43: “… whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Romans 10:13: “… whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Calvin in his later years appears to have relinquished his doctrine of Limited Atonement:
“And He said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many” (Mark 14:24).
Although Calvinists, in this verse, contrive t0 teaches us that 'many' refers to the elect, John Calvin in contrary commentary affirms:
… by the word 'many' he means not a part of the world only, BUT THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE… (John Calvin, Rev. William Pringle, English Translation, Harmony of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Vol. 3, emphasis added).
And Calvin's "LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, April 25, 1564" affirms that the Sovereign Redeemer’s blood was shed for the entire human race:
… that I suppliantly beg of Him, that He may be pleased so to wash and purify me in the blood which my Sovereign Redeemer has shed for THE SINS OF THE HUMAN RACE… (John Calvin, as cited in: Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, Volume VIII: Modern Christianity, The Swiss Reformation; emphasis added).
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS| 6.23.11 @ 11:57AM
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
Whatever the definition of 'is', it 'is' true this verse indicates those not believing in God's one and only Son 'will' perish, and indicates those who perish 'will' not experience eternal life.
'Is' this not what 'Calvinism' 'is'?
Handy| 6.24.11 @ 4:18AM
To Smith and Captain:
Go get a pulpit, fer Chrissake. Jaysus.
Anthony| 6.23.11 @ 10:02AM
Maybe if we chained these bastards to their desks, with the parliamentarian patrolling the chamber, with a switch in hand, to apply to any member not reading in earnest these damn bills that they pass fast and furious, these fools would not have so much time on their hands for sexual escapades.
Oh yeah, they might also discontinue the practice of passing these 2,000 page incomprehensible bills, if allowed only two bathroom breaks every 4 hours.
Congress, like most colleges, has become an adult playground, with power and perks. Unlike college however, they get to stay way beyond four years.
Washington needs a major shakeup to get it back to doing the business of the people, quickly and correctly, then get the hell out of town.
Four years and out would be a great start.
MOS was 71331| 6.23.11 @ 12:46PM
I'm not sure that's a good idea. A few of the house and senate members who favor discipline might welcome such a parliamentarian.
Anthony| 6.23.11 @ 2:08PM
Hmmm, good point. You're right, this could lead to Congress adding to the bureaucracy by hiring the official Congressional dominatrix, complete with a pension and healthcare.
Oldefarte| 6.23.11 @ 10:22AM
These cases all boil down to one common thread, and that is these morons are elected from usually a rural/non-urban environment and are sent to the hotbed political climate of DC. Occassionally their wives, families etc are left back home, and always there are no managers, bosses, supervisors etc to oversee/curtail their activities. It's a case of HOW YA GONNA KEEP EM DOWN ON THE FARM, AFTER THEY'VE SEEN PAREE syndrome. The reason, be it these morons spewing their harmones all over the DC landscape or the others creating insane, budget-busting legislation, is that we taxpayers do not adequately hold these idiots accountable to us. We pay their salaries and fund this government. We are their bosses, their employers, and we don't do an adequate job of monitoring, reprimanding, defeating/re-electing opponents, etc when/where necessary [and allow this excrement to go on and on and on]!!!!!!!!!
Handy| 6.24.11 @ 4:24AM
Spelling, sentences and paragraphs, OldeFogey.
Joe D.| 6.23.11 @ 10:33AM
How we get rid of this is we set the bar back up higher where is was and kick out the bums like Rangel, Vitter and Maxine Waters, etc. Someone who has all that power and is in the top 1% earners in this country should be expected to be better than the rest of the people in NYC and LA, SF and Chicago. This does not include there perks and retirement. To those who much is given, much should be expected.
Petronius| 6.23.11 @ 11:03AM
Come back Wilbur Mills. All is forgiven. Are the contributors to this blog and publication the only ones beside some of us who post here not taken with Jerry Springeritis? Little Tony just wanted attention. And given how aberrant one has to behave to get noticed, the only downside is having what one does reflect unfavorably upon their associates who have real clout. So get a clue Mr. Socially inept Freshman on the Hill. Mind your P's and Q's on line. The party leadership will tell you when they are not amused.
PCP Smoker| 6.23.11 @ 12:33PM
Was Weiner over 7 inches? He kept going on and on about his "hard rock monster". I was wondering if the "monster" lives to its reputation.
Anthony| 6.23.11 @ 2:19PM
PCP, stay tuned, lydia "the cougar" physician will inform us in due time.
RCV| 6.23.11 @ 6:53PM
We're very fortunate that our last two Presidents have at least both been good fathers and husbands.
weddingdresses | 6.24.11 @ 2:05AM
PCP, stay tuned, lydia "the cougar" physician will inform us in due time.
banshee| 6.24.11 @ 2:05AM
Someone recently remarked we need more women in Washington and there would be less hanky panky. Probably true. Barbara Mikulski, Olympia Snow and Patty Pancake Face, the one who ran in tennis shoes.... can be counted on not to be stud-hunting.
Our local radio station in SF, however, had a talk show host years ago, who said Barbara Boxer, when she represent Marin Co. in Sacramento, was known as The Woman in the Wall - - a reference to a false wall leading to a secluded inner space (spooky, huh?) big enough to make a little whoopee.
Their saving grace? Women have a USE BY date, just like your box of Wheaties.
Conversely, no matter how un-studly (read Weiner and Mark Souder) there is always an accomodating woman.
POST America| 6.24.11 @ 9:10AM
---WHERE are the men?
Porn paralyzed, sports sotted, wampum gorged
---and helpless.
AS the RED China TREASON op finishes off ---that's where the men are.
WE'RE FINISHED
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