A question for those calling for Weiner's resignation

[markpkessinger]

Given that so many members of Congress have been involved in far more serious sex scandals and have nevertheless continued in office, in many cases with nothing more than a reprimand or censure by the House, why are we so willing to hang Anthony Weiner out to dry over a scandal that is relatively minor in comparison? Remember Barney Frank's scandal, or Gerry Studds', not to mention David Vitter or even Bill Clinton? Mind you, I'm not defending what Weiner did, but I cannot understand why this scandal is being treated as so much more serious than many of the others. In some of the other scandals, the offending member of Congress was voted out of office in the next election, but in some, the offenders went on to win re-election. Yes, he lied about it -- an all too human response when faced with having humiliating and embarrassing information about oneself about to be exposed for all to see. But so far as I know, there have been no allegations of illegal conduct. Personally, I think it's kind of perverse the way the American public believes itself entitled to full disclosure of every lurid detail merely because we've gotten wind of a salacious scandal.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Because many of those people who want him to resign...

Considered him a progressive hero, speaking truth to power. If he can't be their ideal hero, they don't want him.

It is much simpler if he is a paragon of virtue.

Humans are not simple.

Or, as thy used to say in the navy "One Oh shit wipes out a thousand attaboys."

[JVS]

3. Really, the people I've seen call for him to resign seem to tend moderate.

I think they see this as a good attempt to consolidate the moderates' position.

[DJ13]

6. Exactly

:banghead:

[Autumn]

11. I think you are right

that seems to be clear.

[uncle ray]

16. moderates who think they are progressives.n/t.

[frylock]

22. you can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a self-described liberal

[Ozymanithrax]

23. I'm a liberal, not a progressive.

I think he should be required to resign only if he violated laws or ethics rules. But there are a lot of people around her who liked the way he talked who are upset that he is not a paragon of virtue with the Wisdom of Soloman.

[Ozymanithrax]

24. I see peple angry that he is not the virtuous progressive they thought.

Are they moderate? I think they are just pissed off. I don't see it as a moderate plot.

[asjr]

2. The media wants to make up our

minds for us. That is why it is at the top of everything today.

[shimmergal]

13. Yeah. That's exactly what the media

wanted in Bill Clinton's case, too.

Fortunately he hung in there and redeemed himself by doing his job. I hope Anthony Wiener can do the same.

[asjr]

14. I hope he can hang on also. He is

one of the first politicos to bring Clarence Thomas' lies to the forefront.

[WinkyDink]

4. I'm not in the least calling for it, but I am predicting it.

[seabeyond]

5. i dont want him to resign. i am pissed that he muted his voice. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

8. what do you mean, muted his voice? nt

[seabeyond]

12. in his speeches he was able to spout the high road, loudly. he lost that ability with this

he is going to have to sit meekly and not be forefront. for a while anyway

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Yes, we need all the strong voices we can get. Unfortunately,

with all the new stuff coming out this morning - I bet he'll be gone very soon.

Good side - it's a safe seat and maybe we'll get someone just as good.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. think we are all guilty of hypocrisy to some degree. I thought

Clinton was a great president - so I accepted what he did because I didn't want him not to be president anymore.

This one may be different because we are now in they uber-electronic age with every detail becoming available. It's
like a puzzle or a car wreck you can't turn your eyes away from. Human frailty to be interested despite the
fact that you know there are so many more important things to discuss and think about.

But, we can call for Weiner's resignation all day long....it is his decision and his constituent's. And for Vitter and Frank they overlooked it all. We will probably keep the seat either way.

Unfortunately more is unfolding about his character and how he spent his time in office which could play out in a major way. http://tmz.com and and http://radaronline.com.

[Solomon]

9. Well, let's wait and see what else dribbles out of the closet

shall we. Many here have already gotten burned defending the guy without knowing their asses from their elbows. Won't help to keep digging a hole if more crap comes out.

[moondust]

17. +1. See where the story is in 2-3 weeks.

It's an oversized story because he's made himself into a lightning rod as well as it being hard to imagine that anybody--especially a U.S. Congressperson--actually believed six women and the Internet would forever keep his secrets. :eyes:

The real issue is what he needs to do between now and the next election, at which time if he is on the ballot the voters can decide.

In 2-3 weeks if the media frenzy has died down and his wife has not demanded that he step down to save face/marriage/embarrassment/whatever, he'll probably be able to slide through until election time (barring any trouble with an ethics investigation).

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Barney Frank was found to have fixed some parking tickets for

a man he employed and housed. The committee that investigated him, lead by Larry Craig, found no evidence that Barney knew about his employee's activities. Frank was never even accused of any personal sexual scandal, there was no sex involved on Barney's part, and he took instant action as he found out about the issues in his home, which was prior to Larry Craig's wide stance witch hunt. You claim this Frank story is worse? Although Frank did nothing? He knew people who were taking advantage of him. How awful.
At the time, Craig and that lot figured Barney to be easy pickings because he is gay. That did not prove to be the case. The Craig investigation was in 89. Frank had evicted the creep in 87. The creep tried to sell the story to TV and thus, Craig got wind of it. Barney axed the creep the day his landlord informed him of the creep's behavior.
There is no similarity at all between those two cases. And I don't think Anthony should resign either. What he did was lie about unimportant shit he had done. Barney did no shit,and also did not lie about the shit that was in his home. Barney did not resign.

[A Simple Game]

18. I'm old enough to remember when people had a sense of shame.

Back in the day, people that did things similar to this would not even want to show their face in public for quite a while.

But what really makes me mad is that he lent an air of legitimacy to that slime bag Breitbart.

[Left coast liberal]

19. I agree. This too shall pass.

[B2G]

20. It's not the scandal

It's the lie.

And it wasn't just a lie. It was an indignant screed lecturing us on even possibly *entertaining* the idea that it wasn't a hoax. He looked into the camera and lied like no one I've ever seen lie before.

It made me ill.

[backscatter712]

21. A reprimand or a yoinking of a committee seat is appropriate.

Demanding instant resignation is way out of proportion.

[Philippine expat]

25. Anyone who lied about their scandal should have resigned n/t

[Trajan]

26. This is really simple ...

He shamed his family ..... He shamed his supporters ....

I expect shameless behavior from people like Weiner ....

I am one of the NASTIEST MF'ers on this planet (:evilgrin:), but never have I exhibited that lawful and ultranasty behavior to my family or my friends or my employer or my fellow employees ...

It doesnt really matter if it was legal .... It showed extremely poor judgement, and now would demand his original supporters to either embrace him AND his behavior, or not ... Just like Clinton's boorish behavior - It unfairly placed the onus on his supporters to continue their support in the face of outrage for supposedly 'private' behavior ...

Sure ... If he was the best option on the ballot, I would still vote for him, but come on ! .... I dont have to know every detail, I know enough - This idiot failed us all ...

And to insist that 'only' moderates wish him to take the proverbial hike, is a strawman .... It has nothing to do with politics, except that the Democrats are now weaker with such a shameless congressperson in their ranks ....

Surely NYC can find another smart Liberal ....

[FarLeftFist]

27. Because the MSM is RIDICULOUS.

It's become a parody of itself.