Pennsylvania congresswoman becomes first Democrat in Congress to call on Weiner to resign

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A Pennsylvania congresswoman became the first Democratic House colleague to call for Rep. Anthony Weiner’s resignation on Wednesday, and the White House pointedly passed up a chance to defend him, ominous signs for a lawmaker struggling to survive a sex scandal in the age of social media.

“Having the respect of your constituents is fundamental for a member of Congress,” Rep. Allyson Schwartz said in a statement, venturing where other prominent Democratic officials have been unwilling to go.

“In light of Anthony Weiner’s offensive behavior online, he should resign.”

At the White House, press secretary Jay Carney said, “We have no comment” on the New York congressman, who has admitted to exchanging explicit photos and messages through Twitter, Facebook, email and occasionally on the phone with roughly six women in recent years.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/weiners-sex-scandal-casts-elected-officials-new-york-in-damaging-light-_-again/2011/06/08/AGx5bjLH_story.html

[Moe Joe]

It's not the sexual aspect

It's the voyeuristic aspect. Just seems weird.

[aquart]

12. THEN DON'T LOOK.

WHO is the voyeur? He was looking at himself. What are YOU looking at?

[Moe Joe]

13. I think you've missed my point

When the congressman was engaging in these online activities, he wasn't "with" these women. Detached, masturbatory communication has always struck me as odd. Perhaps Mr. Weiner should seek help.

[oNobodyo]

24. What is odd is this...

anyone on the internet of all places, deriding detachment or masturbatory communication...

the internet is 90% porn, 9% lolcats and 1% serious bizness

[Moe Joe]

26. Says the well-established DUer

:rofl:

[boppers]

32. Hey folks:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

"Do not draw negative attention to the fact that someone is new, has a low post count, or recently became a member of Democratic Underground. Do not insinuate that because someone is new, they are a troll or disruptor."

[Duer 157099]

30. Yeah, he shoulda gone to a prostitute instead

not that there's anything wrong with that.

Are you suggesting that exercising one's fantasy and imagination is worthy of seeking help? Many believe that is the very distinction between man and the rest of the animal kingdom, the ability to engage in fantasy. Maybe there should be a pill for that, too.

[still_one]

1. I won't defend weiner, in fact screw him for what he did to the party, However, schwartz should

worry about her own constituents not weiners

THAT issue is between him and HIS constiuents

What I feel doesn't mean sqwat unless you are in his district

[24601]

9. It's between only him and his constituents when out of district

campaign contributions are banned, not before.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

34. Show us a receipt or STFU.

Don't you have any problems in Florida to worry about?

[24601]

35. Prove his votes affect only his district or double STFU n/t

[still_one]

38. they can't vote, only his constituents can vote /nt

[24601]

10. It's between only him and his constituents when out of district

campaign contributions are banned, not before.

[DCBob]

2. and so it begins..

the end is near Anthony.. get it over with.

[neoralme]

16. I agree. His staying only gives the Republican an endless

amount of talking points, particularly now that at least one website, gawker.com, has released the real bad photo. Actually, I wonder if that is why this change of heart by a few Democrats in saying he should resign. I have seen the photo. You can tell what it is clearly even though the shot has been made out of focus. At this point, Weiner may well do better work for the Democratic Party away from it.

[DCBob]

18. The Rethugs have no credibility criticizing Weiner.. they have a boatload of assholes..

with much worse scandals and crimes in their records. Weiner should resign becasue its the right thing to do.

[izquierdista]

21. And they never, ever kick them out

Only when the perp walk is imminent do they get teary eyed and say "so soon? sad to see you go".

[24601]

36. So you can't think of any that went without criminal charges? DU

memories are then short or selective. Mark Foley and Christopher Lee.

The ethics standard doesn't require criminal charges but whether it brings the House into disrepute.

[neoralme]

22. I agree. Although, photographically speaking, I have never seen

anything as remotely devastating as this picture. Many scandals, both Democratic and Republican, were based on the narrative only. Not this one. Like I said: devastating. Gotta go WII. See ya.

[yoopertom]

3. How many posts is enough posts?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It is ok if a republican does it

[oNobodyo]

25. You mean like this?

Ohio Congressman Is Convicted in Sex Case, but Aide Says He'll Run for Re-election

Representative Donald E. Lukens, Republican of Ohio, was convicted today in a case in which prosecutors said he had sex with a 16-year-old girl.

Hours after the verdict, the senior Republican in Ohio's Congressional delegation called for Mr. Lukens's resignation. ''I think he should do the gentlemanly thing and resign,'' said the colleague, Representative Chalmers P. Wylie. But an aide to Mr. Lukens predicted that he would seek re-election next year.

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/27/us/ohio-congressman-convicted-sex-case-but-aide-says-he-ll-run-for-re-election.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Key word here CONVICTED

[alp227]

37. Apples and tomatoes. Lukens molested a child. Weiner's conduct was between ADULTS

Irrelevant evidence.

[valerief]

5. She's a New Democrat. Like Mary Landrieu.

The Senate New Democrat Coalition was founded in the spring of 2000 by Senators Evan Bayh (Indiana), Bob Graham (Florida), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Joe Lieberman (Connecticut), and Blanche Lincoln (Arkansas).

The New Democrat Coalition was founded in 1997 by Representatives Cal Dooley (California), Jim Moran (Virginia) and Timothy J. Roemer (Indiana) as a congressional affiliate of the avowedly centrist Democratic Leadership Council, whose members, including former President Bill Clinton, call themselves "New Democrats."

[enough]

6. Isn't she Chelsea Clinton's mother-in-law? I wonder if she thought Bill Clinton should resign? (nt)

[alp227]

7. Allyson Schwartz has no familial relations with the Clintons n/t

[Misskittycat]

8. No, that is Marjorie Margolies, formerly Mezvinsky, who lost her House seat

after one term, in the 1990's, for voting in favor of a major Clinton initiative.

[enough]

14. Thank you both for correcting me. Heat stroke here. (nt)

[aquart]

11. And I told her office exactly what I thought of her gutless officiousness.

[fascisthunter]

15. let me guess.... she's a "New Way"(republican) democrat

I'm sure the leadership will reward her ass kissing.

[alp227]

17. she is a New Dem, and here's her voting record

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=5239

She has voted to extend unemployment benefits twice in 2010, for the DC House Voting Rights Act of 2007, and for the DREAM Act.

However, she voted to renew the Bush tax cuts and to extend the PATRIOT Act.

[fascisthunter]

40. another republican mole in our party

[6000eliot]

19. Guess what? I'm NOT OFFENDED.

How about a nice cup of STFU?

[Fearless]

20. He didn't break any laws. And the story should end there.

[hay rick]

23. She voted to extend the Bush tax cuts ?

Now there's a real reason to resign in disgrace.

[Scottybeamer70]

27. "In light of" the fact that it is none of her business.........

SHE should resign.

[christx30]

28. Everyone is free

to voice their opinion about what is best for the country and their political party. No one should resign.

[and-justice-for-all]

29. He should not resign...nt

[Dawson Leery]

31. Typical of the cowards in the Democratic establishment.

[MaineDem]

39. Maine's Michaud said Weiner should resign, too.

I wish he hadn't commented.