Anthony Weiner, who sexted pictures of his penis a couple of years ago, has boldly, bravely, declared that he could be the best possible new mayor of NYC. In case you forgot the headlines, the Anthony Weiner sexting scandal, often dubbed "Weinergate," began in May 2011, around the time that his pregnant wife, Huma Abedin, was also in the news, as Hillary Clinton's personal assistant.
Democratic congressman Weiner tweeted a shot of himself with an erection to a girl, and accidentally tweeted it to all 45,000 of his followers. After calling it a lie, trying unsuccessfully to explain it away with various lies, Weiner resigned from Congress in June 2011.
Today he's 48. He's been in therapy. He and his wife have Jordan now, a 13-month-old toddler.
Wife Huma Abedin recently told New York Time's interviewer, Jonathan Van Meter, "It took a lot of work, both mentally and in the way we engage with each other, for me to get to a place where I said: 'O.K., I'm in. I'm staying in this marriage.' Here was a man I respected, I loved, was the father of this child inside of me, and he was asking me for a second chance. And I'm not going to say that was an easy or fast decision that I made. It's been almost two years now. I did spend a lot of time saying and thinking, 'I don't understand.' And it took a long time to be able to sit on a couch next to Anthony and say, 'O.K., I understand and I forgive.' It was the right choice for me. I didn't make it lightly."
In the published New York Times Magazine article, announcing Weiner's plans to run for Mayor, Van Meter said, "How Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin stayed together through Weinergate is like most negotiations between couples, deeply complicated and in some ways unknowable. He has done a lot of work, on himself and his marriage, and he and Abedin, in the words of brother Jason Weiner, "Have been able to survive, maybe even thrive."Anthony Weiner told Van Meter, "The scandal's shadow still lingers."
What do the polls say? Weiner is working with David Binder (Obama's longtime pollster), who reports that early polls are hopeful -- more than 40% say they would vote for Weiner, depending on what he promises to do as mayor. Financial reports show that Weiner has already spent about $100,000 on running for mayor -- he has $4.3 million left in the campaign fund he started months before the scandal.
Hey, it's great that he's back in the world. It's wonderful that Anthony and Huma's marriage is surviving, but gee...
This guy was way, way off his rocker. What he did wasn't just a simple mistake. He was shockingly off base. I won't lay words like "mentally ill" on it, but when someone attempts to commit suicide -- takes pills, slits a wrist -- (whatever brought on what Weiner did -- sexual need, deeply depressed state of mind) -- the person made a decision and did the deed.
No matter how many sessions Weiner's had with therapists since 2011, what he did doesn't disappear.
NYC needs an exceptionally strong, clear-headed person who can detach himself from what he FEELS, and make decisions based on information that he has about an issue. The mayor has to be a solidly stable grownup, who knows this is a right thing, and this is wrong thing, because it will affect millions of people.
I certainly couldn't support Weiner or vote for him.
What about you?
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9 comments:
No, Em, I wouldn't vote for him, as he has already shown us what power does to him. IMO, power is a very strong corruptive force, and difficult to defend ourselves from.
If you read between the lines in the recent NY Times Magazine article, he's running because he wants to keep his feet in politics and he has leftover campaign money that he has to use up soon or lose. I think he's just priming himself for a run for Congress.
I totally agree with you Em! The man has a sex addiction, which could easily resurface at any time.
I am a former New Yorker, but my heart is still there. I would not feel secure with Anthony Weiner as my mayor either.
His actions certainly didn't show a lot of good decision making or technical skills. But look at Bill Clinton. Tiger Woods.
Fact: men like sex. Some men like it more than is good for them.
I think you should assume that most people are making asses of themselves every time they have the chance, and if you are looking at a plumber, look at his plumbing skills. If you are looking at a politician, what are his political accomplishments?
Unless of course the job can put a person with sexual judgement problems in close contact with their temptation. ie Doctor, Dentist, Teacher, Priest, etc.
You have posed a very good question, Em. It's always a pleasure to think through your challenges. : )
Oh, no way I would vote for him. A man who would do what he did has some major problems. Add on the fact that he has a GORGEOUS wife and still did that? Please. Morally reprehensible, offensive, egotistical, needy... doesn't sound like someone who should be running the greatest city on earth, in my opinion. And I like Bloomberg. :)
Sometimes people forget that they are animals and get all indignant concerning the fact as they gaze into the terrible crystal and become aware of that evident reality through the actions of others they've never met. In other words: Yeah, I might if I was able. I thought we were a forgiving lot; maybe not? People are complicated creatures; multifaceted messed up little monsters at times and then they change into something that seems quite alright. I know of a man who's lived in a hole in the ground since I was a kid in the sixties. I'd vote for him before this guy but this guy might actually be alright too?
I saw the offending photo at the time and, at least he was wearing underwear over his, erm, display. But I agree with you, Emily. What he did wasn't a "simple mistake". It speaks to a much deeper psychosis. If he had owned up to it at the time, I might've had some respect for him but he lied about it, claimed innocence etc. until there was incontrovertible evidence. Even my own children know that if they do wrong, being caught out in a lie about it is far worse than the actual mis-deed. I wouldn't trust him to be in public office, at all.
That's crazy. Therapy can't fix that kind of loose screws. Trusting him to run NYC is a joke.
I wanted to write a response here that was funny. I refrained. However, I will say that what Mr. Weiner does on his own time is his business. As a public figure he does have a responsibility to maintain a certain level of morality and good behavior. Higher than say you or I. I also think his behavior was made public by him, therefore, he made it our business. As a political figure, he should have been smarter. I know that everything I put in a text, on the Internet, in a chat room, no matter how brief, may be used against me. I try to remember that despite my insane need to speak my mind. Weiner should give up the political arena and focus on a different are of his life. My vote, if I had one, would not go to him.
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