More Democrats Urge Weiner to Resign; Watchdog (CREW) Sees Double Standard

[cal04]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/democrats-urge-anthony-weiner-resign-ethics-watchdog-sees/story?id=13794819

A growing number of Democrats are joining several high-profile Republicans in calling for Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York to resign following his admission of risqué online exchanges and lying about them.

(snip)
But some observers say the message to Weiner is hypocritical and politically motivated, given both public opinion polling showing that a majority of New Yorkers think Weiner should stay and the fact that Weiner has not been accused of breaking the law or convicted of violating any House rules.

"This is a massive overreaction and I don't understand it," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Sloan pointed to the recent ethics case of another New York congressman, Charles Rangel, as an example of the double standard being pushed by some Democrats for Weiner.

[ProSense]

1. Sloan is misremembering Rangel's situation

There were many calls for his resignation:

Democrats call on Rangel to resign

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Friday called ethics charges against Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel "very troubling" and said he hopes the longtime lawmaker can end his career with dignity. Several House Democrats went further, flat-out urging the New York congressman to resign.

<...>

Resignation calls
Either conditionally or outright, Democrats calling for Rangel's resignation included Rep. Walter Minnick of Idaho, Betty Sutton of Ohio, John Yarmuth of Kentucky, Zack Space of Ohio, Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona and Mary Jo Kilroy of Ohio.

<...>

This is not making a case for Weiner's resignation, but don't rewrite history to defend him.

[Arkana]

2. Democrat, Republican, whatever--Weiner should tell them to get fucked.

Why, why, WHY do we ask our leaders to live on this mythical "higher" moral plane than us mere mortals? Why do we have this picture of the idealized politician and why do we feel like our leaders should all embody it?

They are human, like us. They have faults, like us. They do things they shouldn't, like us. And to expect otherwise is just ASKING to be deceived.

All this Puritanical, holier-than-thou, "DISGRAAAAAACEFUL" crap is complete bilge, and I'd think that Democrats would want to protect a man who's been such an outspoken advocate on domestic issues. But what do they do instead? They cower in a corner and say to the Republican media and the Republicans in DC "Please, don't hurt us! We'll kill our own and eat them, whatever you want! Just don't hurt us!"

Democrats are fast becoming that kid in elementary school who would eat ketchup off the cafeteria floor because the cool kids said they'd let him hang out with them if he did it.

[brooklynite]

4. "Higher" moral plane?

How about living on the -same- moral plane. And I'm not talking about the sex; I'm talking about the public lying.

[Arkana]

5. Oh no, he lied about dick pics.

End of the fucking world. Pack it up, folks, we're all going on a one-horse open sleigh straight to fiery Hell.

Yeah, he lied. That's generally what a politician does when asked a sex question. Was he under oath? No. Did he break any laws? No. Is he a bad husband? Yes, and he's gonna have to square that with his wife.

But it isn't our place to judge him and his leadership is being cowardly by turning on him. Ultimately his district will decide his fate, and if they think he's still good enough to represent them...

[NYCGirl]

10. The lying is not the problem for me. The problem is his

unbelievable STUPIDITY!

[TicketyBoo]

17. Exactly.

I am more disappointed that he would put himself in such a predicament than I am disgusted by the naughty phone/texts and pix.

I thought he had more smarts than this. I loved him as the attack dog he was. He should have continued to use his testosterone against the Republicans and forgot about the crapola.

Whether he stays or goes, the punch he used to have is gone and he has turned into a sniveling, shriveled wimp who apologizes to Breitbart. He's really done for, in the House or not. I'm trying to figure a way out for him, and not coming up with much.

[brooklynite]

12. I make a distinction between...

standard political obfuscation ("it's not a tax, it's a user fee"), and saying "no" when the answer is "yes".

Add to that, I make a distinction between the kind of lying -I- might accept, and the kind of lying that an average (non blogger, non-activist) voter might look askance at, putting a seat at risk when we're trying to win back the House.

[elocs]

15. No, he lied, specifically lied to America. He pissed away a potentially great career.

Welcome to the real world. Whether you like it or not, this is the way it is.

[FighttheFuture]

19. Only if you let yourself believe that. I'd still support him.

[FighttheFuture]

18. It's not just pols, most people lie when caught with their dick in their hand!

Human nature and sexuality.

What is disgusting here is all the preening prigs and hypocritical prudes lecturing and moralizing on this, while totally ignoring the sleazier and truly damaging legalized bribery in DC politics and utter corruption of our political system as out country, and futures are sold down the river. That's what it truly disgusting.

[fascisthunter]

7. you don't care that much about lying do you?

have you been paying attention since Obama got into office?

Admit it... he does not represent your political point of view.

[Autumn]

9. Can I just say

:thumbsup:

[FighttheFuture]

20. It depends oupon the lie. There's a world of difference between

stealing a candy bar and stealing a country, about lying about sexting and lying about the economy, Gitmo, FISA, etc.

As people get older and/or wiser, many (not all and nada for Republicans/LIEbertarians) grow from simple binary on/off organisms into more functional human beings and can understand these differences and not throw the baby out with the bath water. They can THINK!

[aquart]

11. Public lying? About Social Security? Medicare? WAR?

Aren't you even a little humiliated to be distracted by the real substantive liars to something trivial that will have no effect on your life or your family?

Playing Doggie go fetch! with Republicans is demeaning.

[Autumn]

3. Could be he pissed off the wrong people

like a bunch of crappy blue dogs.

[fascisthunter]

8. ding, ding, ding!!!

[meow mix]

6. gene robinson and ed rendell just hung him out... on the tweety show

discussion on the level of his toastedness. maxi-browned

[aquart]

13. Yeah. Robinson really disappointed me yesterday.

Very sad.

[krabigirl]

14. So many Democrats love to just suck up to authoritarian Repubs.

The Republicans would never do this to one of their own..heck, the Republicans that do much worse end up running for President!

[fascisthunter]

16. that's because they really aren't one of his own

there is a power struggle within the democratic party to shift towards corporate whoredom over populism. The DLC even admitted such years ago.