OF COURSE he tried to cover it up.

[rucky]

I'd like to think I'd never do something that stupid in the first place, but if I did, I'm not really seeing the downside of trying to cover it up - especially when a scumbag like Breitbart was delivering the accusation.

Now people are saying that it wasn't what he did as much as the lying about it. Really? People lie to avoid embarrassment. The trick is to try not to get yourself in that position in the first place - either by not doing something you'd be embarrassed by, or by not being embarrassed by something you do.

What difference would it have made if Weiner just fessed up at Breitbart's initial accusation? Would the public had forgiven & forgotten this more quickly? Would his enemies have backed off?

He could've said, "Yes America, I sent sexy pictures, but it's really no big deal and none of your business." I kinda wish he did say that, but he'd be torn apart anyway. He could've expressed his shame and regret for all he hurt (blah blah), but then he'd be torn apart anyway.

So who wouldn't have tried to lie their way out of something they did to avoid that kind of bullshit scrutiny? Not that I'm a big advocate for lying, but in some cases - where the act is nobody's business - does the doer really owe an overly judgmental public the truth?

Screw that. I would've tried to lie about it, too, knowing what I'd be up against if the truth came out. Weiner was being stupid and he made the people that defended him look stupid, but I don't blame him for trying to cover up something that wasn't Breitbart's or anybody's business but his & his wife's in the first place.

Go ahead and admonish the act, but the stupidy of the action is not because of its "lewdness," but because of all the bullshit puritanical public scrutiny he risked bearing by doing it. I would love to not have to live by those social standards.

Go ahead and admonish the lie, but be sure you're not just doing that to cover for your own sense of embarrassment.

How about we agree to stop trying to please prudes, syphillis-ridden sleazebags, and truly dishonest people who feign outrage at every turn to make themselves feel superior?

[shellinaya]

1. Doesn't excuse anything

That he had the normal human emotion of trying to cover it up
is irrelevant.  He lied to his wife, his constituents, all of
the media, and us.  He lied to everyone. If a public official
does not have credibility and honesty on his side, he has
nothing. Bottom line, Weiner is a lying scumbag and I'm glad
he finally came clean, but like Ed Schultz says, he should
resign. If he stays in office, he'll be a daily reminder that
Democrats are lying immoral scum, just as much as Repugs are. 
 So yeah, Weiner sucks and it's not being a "prude"
to think he's a lying douchebag. He can't be trusted. 
Political career - OVER and OUT.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. +1

[rucky]

7. He didn't use the power of his office to cover it up

as far as we know - unlike Ensign & Sanford & John Edwards

So the issue is out of the realm of public interest and nobody's business but Weiner's and his wife's.

I know you feel you're on the right side of this, but there needs to be a clear line drawn between personal and public life - otherwise anybody can investigate & destroy anybody they want - even if they've done nothing illegal or even unethical as it relates to their profession.

This is more akin to the teacher who was fired for posting a vacation picture on her Facebbok of her holding up a margarita than it is the Ensign or Edwards scandals. You don't have to distort this as the crime of the century - plenty of other folks are being paid to do that for you.

[cherokeeprogressive]

34. There is absolutely a clear line between private and public life. I agree 1000%.

That line is drawn right outside the door to the building his congressional office is in. As soon as he steps foot in that building, everything he does becomes public.

Vacation picture? He wasn't on vacation holding a margarita. He was in his office, holding his dick. That analogy fails.

[hobbit709]

11. Name ONE politician that hasn't lied abot something.

That includes "Honest" Abe

If lying was a disqualifier there would be absolutely zero politicians.

[xoom]

2. so you are fine with him lying to you later the if he has to?

Are you fine with others lying to you to save embarrassment?

[lonestarnot]

5. embarrassment? WTF, what about budgets, dough and jobs?

[xoom]

6. If Rep Weiner cared about the major issues concerning our country

He would have came clean asap so we can get back to the real issues.

[phleshdef]

25. OMGZ HE TOOK SO MUCH TIME TO COME CLEAN! AN ENTIRE WEEK!

THATS ALMOST LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS OR SOMETHING!!!

[rucky]

8. If I'm sticking my nose into their business, snooping around,

and trying to dig up dirt, then yes.

[xoom]

13. do you think if he did something like this again he would come clean

Right away? Or would he lie for a week about it again?

[frylock]

21. okay. now how about for republicans?

will you apply the same standard to a president palin or pawlenty or whoever the fuck it is we're being threatened with this week to shut us the fuck up?

[phleshdef]

24. Unless there are legal issues, no one but your sig. other owes you the truth about their sex life.

I guess that statement could be amended somewhat to include any underage children you might have and perhaps a few other exceptions I'm not thinking of right off the bat.

But as a general rule, every adult should have the right to protect their privacy as long as what they are doing isn't some highly illegal, highly immoral thing involving pedophilia or some other nasty thing that harms innocent people. I have the right to lie to anyone but my wife about my sex life, given that I'm not being asked under oath. Your hear me? I have the RIGHT to lie about something like that. And in my opinion, so does my Congressman.

None of that excuses Anthony Weiner's stupid actions and if people feel like they don't trust him now because of the whole thing, I can totally understand that. But people in general should get some reasonable breathing room when it comes to questions about what they and other consenting adults are doing behind closed doors.

[lonestarnot]

4. What there are other pics besides the ones on the TV box? All I saw were tidie whidies..

[PeaceNikki]

9. There are. And in Breitbart's possession.

And I am sure many others. He was doing this with half a dozen women for a few years. They're out there and they will be leaked. Watch.

[lonestarnot]

10. Woot.

Weenie wagger to the 9th degree. :rofl:

[Ganja Ninja]

12. Apparently there's at least one of an erect penis not cloaked in underwear.

Heard that on MSNBC last night.

[Scuba]

14. The first time he was asked if the pic was his, he should have said "yeah, why?"...

...it would have gotten 15 minutes of cov'g. End of story.

[WatsonT]

16. Why, you jealous?

That might of worked.

Or maybe offered to sign it.

[pipi_k]

18. Exactly!!! Take the wind out of peoples' sails

by telling the truth.

They never expect it. A couple of days later it's over.

AND...

Had Weiner told the truth from the beginning, I would be willing to bet that whatever other photos or information Breitbart had would never have seen the light of day.

[WatsonT]

15. As long as you're equally ok with republicans lying to cover up their dalliances

Personally I don't care what he does in his own time (assuming consent and age of majority).

Lying about it was an issue to me though. If he'd just said "none of your business", or "yeah now fuck off" that'd be one thing.

[rucky]

19. As long as they don't use the power of their position to do it.

unlike Ensign & Edwards.

I would loved it Weiner had handled it that way, but the end result would essentially be the same.

[B Calm]

23. Republicans always lie. It's their strongest asset!

[WatsonT]

31. And as proof of that we have Mr. Weiner lying?

Pointing out the failings of others in your own defense seems logical in kindergarten. But please, let's move beyond that.

[B Calm]

32. Mr Weiner lied about a private matter. Republicans lie about Death Panels,

Social Security, Wars, etc etc etc etc etc etc. . .

ONE HELL OF A DIFFERANCE between Weiner and Republicans!

[WatsonT]

33. Right, so that's exactly what I just described

"Your honor how dare you sentence me for car theft! Yes I did it, but think of all those people who do worse things, like murder. Alright then I'll be on my way".

[krabigirl]

29. I actually do not care about the sex lives of anyone really, dem or rep.

As long as they don't rape anyone.

[pipi_k]

17. Of course people lie....

but how many people accuse others of doing something sleazy or illegal to help make that lie more credible?

You mean to tell me that if Weiner had been a Republican or Teabagger, and he accused someone else of hacking his account, and people found out he had lied, it would all be OK? No. It would not be OK. Especially not here at DU.

It wouldn't just be the lie itself. It would also be the fact that he had accused someone else of hacking his account, which may or may not have been a crime depending on other circumstances.

Also...and this is what makes me rather disgusted...I'll bet Weiner thought that he would be able to lie with complete safety since it was Breitbart who broke the story. Weiner must have known that Breitbart is as well liked by Democrats as the Bubonic Plague. NOBODY would believe Breitbart. He figured he'd be able to dance around the bush a bit and in a few days it would all die down because Breitbart is such a liar.

Ironic thing is, Weiner put himself in the same mudhole with Breitbart.

[snagglepuss]

20. Why did he lie when he knew he used his real name and sent hundreds of

texts? Go ahead lie under these circumstances if you know that it comes down to a he said/she said situation but when there is a 3 year long paper trail with your name and photo then lieing is wildly irrational

[rucky]

27. Because he mistakenly thought the one underpants pic was all they had.

And he mistakenly trusted his special friends to be discreet.

Rational has very little to do with this whole scandal.

[snagglepuss]

28. None of those women are friends of his. They are strangers. He doesn't

know them from Adam. In fact anyone of those could have been Breitbart himself. Utterely ignorant to assume that people post their real pictures on line.

[KittyWampus]

22. Rucky, Weiner had a freaking WEEK to get his ducks in a row. That he wasted an entire week

and didn't comb through his phone/blackberry records to find out who he corresponded with and when and how is fucked up.

I am fine with defending him for a week. But that he couldn't step up yesterday and say "I didn't use work phone" or "I know all women were adults" is screwed up.

He had a week do get that done. Now we have to wait?

[rucky]

26. He did say those things yesterday

"didn't use his work phone... consenting adults, etc" But today it's coming out that maybe he did use his work phone, which would make it a lie on top of a lie. There is a point where stupid ceases to be a human trait and he quickly entering that realm.

[JI7]

30. i didn't even care about the lying if not for the "breitbart was right" crap

but i'm over the whole thing now. it's such a non issue. to resign over something so stupid was just be stupid .

it's an issue for his wife to deal with.