Weiner admits he sent the Picture

[houser2112]

I have a sneaking suspicion both districts that'll be axed in New York's redistricting will come from upstate.

Almost certainly. NYS politics are dominated, it seems, by downstaters. Until Democrat Kathy Hochul won the 26th (my district, and usually staunchly Republican) last month, I would have guessed that it would be one of them.

[Stravo]

In the papers yesterday it has been leaked that the Democratic leadership started planning for a scenario where Weiner's district disappears when the story first broke. And it has been hinted that the scandal is merely an excuse for them as Weiner has not been popular with his party leadership for some time due to his abrasiveness. So it looks like even if he wanted to stay he's probably done.

[Edward Yee]

I have a sneaking suspicion both districts that'll be axed in New York's redistricting will come from upstate.

Almost certainly. NYS politics are dominated, it seems, by downstaters. Until Democrat Kathy Hochul won the 26th (my district, and usually staunchly Republican) last month, I would have guessed that it would be one of them.

I've actually suspected for quite some time that this is the real reason that NYS constantly goes Democrat in national senatorial and presidential general elections, just because of NYC and maybe Long Island.

[Alferd Packer]

Well, that 'just because' happens to contain eleven million people, and a good chunk of one of the most populous, urbanized metro areas in the world. Without that, New York state is Alabama North.

[Slacker]

Yeah, I mean, not for nothing a demographic map of New York state is so heavily skewed towards downstate it's not even slightly funny. Not for nothing, it's got ten districts 'upstate' and 19 'downstate' in the New York City suburban and urban area. As bad as the population skew is, economically it's even worse-downstate supports upstate to the tune of two billion dollars a year for god's sake. The redistricting SHOULD chop a couple of upstate districts.

[CaptainChewbacca]

He's Done

New York, NY – On Friday, Rep. Anthony Weiner admitted to exchanging at least five private Twitter messages with a teenage girl in Delaware.

The exchange took place this spring with the girl, 17, who began following Weiner on Twitter in April 2011 after hearing him speak while on a high school field trip to Washington, DC. She posted a message to her Twitter page saying how much she liked his speech and just two days later, Weiner began to follow her on the site.

“How hip am I talking to a future president,” he said to her in a private message.

She was so thrilled by his message, she posted on her public page, “talking to Rep Weiner from New York right now! is my life real?”

Risa Heller, a spokesperson for the Congressman said the messages exchanged between Weiner and the girl were not inappropriate.

“According to Congressman Weiner, his communications with this person were neither explicit nor indecent,” Heller said.

The girl's family spoke to the New York Times on the condition of anonymity, saying the messages were “harmless.” Nonetheless, they also expressed concern over the fact that Weiner had been in private contact with a high school-aged female.

More at the link.

So he's admitted to:

Sending sexual pictures to 6 women
Sending photos to a pornstar
Having private communications with an underage girl

None of these things are wrong, but they're definitely not gonna sit well with his base. And who knows what else will come out of the woodwork?

[blahface]

So he's admitted to:

Sending sexual pictures to 6 women
Sending photos to a pornstar
Having private communications with an underage girl

None of these things are wrong, but they're definitely not gonna sit well with his base. And who knows what else will come out of the woodwork?

I seriously doubt his base will give a shit. It isn't like his base is a bunch of cultural conservatives. Hell, David Vitter's base was cultural conservatives and they didn't give a shit about him cheating on his wife with whores.

The only reason this will cause him trouble is because a bunch of corporate democrats who see him as a thorn in their side will use it as an excuse to shit on him.

[Crossroads Inc.]

For those outside of the normal US beltwave... The crux of the situation her isn't so much Weiner, the problem is for everyone else.
When ever this happens, weather Repub or Dem, it gives the other side a chance to say:
"LOOK! look how horrible and immoral the OTHER side is, vote for us!!!"

I'd admit, by itself this really isn't that bad.. he sent some naked pics, he did some naughty texting, and then he lied about it. nothing illegal... Nothing "really" bad.
But as the longer he says, the more he gives the other side fuel for whitewashing all Dems with a "OPh noes Immoral sex depraved creepy people!" brush. It's stupid., its childish, but it's how American politics works right now.

[D.Turtle]

As long as he doesn't resign because of this it will blow over soon enough. It has with every other scandal out there.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I dunno, I think sending sexually suggestive pictures of yourself to women you've never met is pretty goddamn creepy, and I don't think I'd want a guy who does that representing me. One of the late-night hosts made a joke about it, saying it would almost have been better if he'd been having sex with a woman.

The story seems to be getting traction because we've never seen THIS sort of thing from a congressman.

[Crossroads Inc.]

As long as he doesn't resign because of this it will blow over soon enough. It has with every other scandal out there.

That...Is a very very bad Idea.

I would LOVE for it to "blow over" but that is hard to do these days. Once it is out there, it is out there.
Don't get me wrong, I want him to stay, he is the most badass congressmen in office right now. I Think what he did was stupid, but he shouldn't go for it.
But saying it will "blow over" is a bit naive.

[Darth Fanboy]

I dunno, I think sending sexually suggestive pictures of yourself to women you've never met is pretty goddamn creepy, and I don't think I'd want a guy who does that representing me. One of the late-night hosts made a joke about it, saying it would almost have been better if he'd been having sex with a woman.

The story seems to be getting traction because we've never seen THIS sort of thing from a congressman.

What about the guy sending pictures over Craigslist not long ago?

[Dread Not]

I dunno, I think sending sexually suggestive pictures of yourself to women you've never met is pretty goddamn creepy, and I don't think I'd want a guy who does that representing me. One of the late-night hosts made a joke about it, saying it would almost have been better if he'd been having sex with a woman.

The story seems to be getting traction because we've never seen THIS sort of thing from a congressman.

What about the guy sending pictures over Craigslist not long ago?

Chris Lee. There was also Mark Foley. Both of them resigned, though IIRC Lee wasn't a family values Republican so he didn't have to IMO.

[CaptainChewbacca]

My distinction is those guys sent pictures AND had sex. Just sending pictures for years without follow-through seems like something a sad teenager would do.

[Phantasee]

Keith Olbermann suggested that Weiner should resign, run again in the special election, and if he wins the special election, well that decides it. His constituents would rather have him over anyone else in Congress representing them, crotch shots and all.

And if not, well. Democracy yay?

[D.Turtle]

That...Is a very very bad Idea.

I would LOVE for it to "blow over" but that is hard to do these days. Once it is out there, it is out there.
Don't get me wrong, I want him to stay, he is the most badass congressmen in office right now. I Think what he did was stupid, but he shouldn't go for it.
But saying it will "blow over" is a bit naive.

Senator Ensign.

Fact is, if you don't stupidly resign right away, a lot of scandals blow over. You might be a pariah for a few days/weeks/months, but after that it is pretty much ignored.

[ArmorPierce]

More at the link.

So he's admitted to:

Sending sexual pictures to 6 women
Sending photos to a pornstar
Having private communications with an underage girl

None of these things are wrong, but they're definitely not gonna sit well with his base. And who knows what else will come out of the woodwork?

I don't get what's the issue. THe messages were not explicit or sexual in the slightest.

[Elfdart]

Bill Maher (as Anthony Weiner) and Jane Lynch (as Lisa Weiss, one of the women Weiner sent the pics to) read the sexting transcripts verbatim and it's fucking hilarious! Need I point out that this is NSFW?

The last quote by Lynch (Weiss) should be a bumper-sticker for the Dems in 2012:

You get your ass to work and save my country from these cocksucking Republicans!

[Simon_Jester]

That...Is a very very bad Idea.

I would LOVE for it to "blow over" but that is hard to do these days. Once it is out there, it is out there. Don't get me wrong, I want him to stay, he is the most badass congressmen in office right now. I Think what he did was stupid, but he shouldn't go for it. But saying it will "blow over" is a bit naive.

Senator Ensign.

Fact is, if you don't stupidly resign right away, a lot of scandals blow over. You might be a pariah for a few days/weeks/months, but after that it is pretty much ignored.

It really depends on context. A politician who's got good contacts among his fellow leaders, a strong electoral following, and who can think fast on his feet can survive a scandal.

A politician who lacks those things- say, because his abrasive personality alienates his peers, or because his district is hotly contested- may not be able to survive the same scandal.

[Edward Yee]

I also get the impression that he didn't pass the "think fast on his feet" test either...

[Slacker]

Polls conducted in his district are currently showing something like 56-49% support for Weiner, which, considering it's 'only' a D+6 district, pretty much trends where you'd expect. Like some of us have said-it's New York, nobody gives a shit. Honestly, I didn't really care when Spitzer got caught with the hookers, as long as he wasn't using taxpayer dollars to do 'em.

[Dalton]

The PR machine's a-rollin'. Weiner is asking for a leave of absence for treatment, even as more pictures surface.

[Slacker]

Of course-he's not a complete idiot. He needs to get out of the news cycle and disappear for a month or two to let everything die down. He knows full well that his district is safe and probably not going to be redistricted, so if he goes away for awhile and people stop talking about his, uh, weiner, then he'll be fine. Unless he actually did something illegal, which I don't think he did-he had bad judgement and apparently a bit of an ego, he wasn't a flaming idiot.