Here's Why Weiner Should Stay

[demwing]

he should stay because he tweeted a pic of his penis to a woman.

I imagine that right now, you're probably saying "Well no shit Demwing, that (and the lies) are what got him in trouble in the first place."

Trouble?

Who is he in trouble with? Did he break a law? Did he violate his oath of office?

Oh, that's right, he solicited an adult for sex games - that's what he did. Big fucking deal. And while he was doing his frisky business, he never failed to do the people's business as well, and relentlessly kept up the public kicking of corporate ass.

Make no mistake. THAT'S what got Weiner into trouble. He's dangerous, and it has nothing to do with the monster in his pants.

In contrast, there are so many others are that are allowing themselves to be solicited by the Kochs, have fellated Goldman Sachs, and got rug burns on the knees and elbows for Exxon.

And while THOSE bozos pimp out their dignity, they never fail to do their master's business, and relentlessly kept up the corporate screwing of public ass. Worse yet, they lubed up with a bottle of snake oil labeled "Family Values."

That's what I call immoral. That's what I think needs to be run out of town on a rail...

If Rep. Weiner is in trouble with anyone, he's in trouble with his wife, and his constituents - so why can't everyone else just back the fuck off and let the injured parties deal with this in the way that they see fit?

This is only a problem for Weiner if HIS TEAM ACTS LIKE ITS A PROBLEM. If we come out in full support, this issue doesn't hurt us a bit...

Come on DU, Call Pelosi! - Tell her this WEINER ROAST IS OFF THE TABLE!

Contact Nancy Pelosi’s office at 202-225-0100

[cali]

1. time for Weiner to go. His stupidity, lack of judgment, impulsivity

inability to control himself even when he knew his behavior could lead to big trouble for him, and his lying are sufficient reason at this point.

[demwing]

2. Victimless Lies

no different than what Clinton did.

[cali]

8. Maybe so, but Clinton was President and wielded a lot more power

and the fate of Congressional dems was strongly tied to him. He was also well known and popular throughout the country. And Weiner lied to the dem leadership- people who have more power than he does. That's just reality.

[demwing]

10. So it's wrong to condemn Weiner, but politically expedient?

I get it...

[cali]

22. nah, I think it's fine to condemn Weiner. Please note my tag line.

[demwing]

26. Victimless lies - you agreed

No different than Clinton - you agreed

If you don't think it wrong to condemn Weiner, then you're not dealing straight

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

54. no, I pointed out the difference. duh.

[demwing]

74. Duh?

Duh!

:rofl:

[ClassWarrior]

4. So where are your "time for Vitter to go" posts?"

Prove to me that you're not just spewing hypocrisy.

NGU.

[pnwmom]

6. If the Rethugs want to keep creeps like Vitter, that's no surprise.

I would have thought people like Vitter wouldn't be the standard for US.

[ClassWarrior]

11. You're avoiding my question. Where's your outrage over Vitter?

Or do the Rape-Publicans get a pass from you?

NGU.

[pnwmom]

28. I laughed at Vitter. I wasn't expecting anything any better

from a Rethug in his state.

I don't expect a Dem to be pathetic.

[ClassWarrior]

29. Of course not. You give a pass to Rape-Publicans. Which is mighty telling.

Hold the Dems' feet to the fire for foolishness, but Rape-Publican crimes? Who cares!?

NGU.

[pnwmom]

32. Vitter's a Diaper guy, not a rape guy.

He's pathetic, not a rapist.

[ClassWarrior]

34. They all rape the public. And you admit you give them a pass.

NGU.

[pnwmom]

39. I don't give them a pass of any sort. I routinely vote against them all,

and contribute my time and money to defeating them. There's not much more I can do.

Weiner, on the other hand, is someone I used to support. Now I think he's dug his political grave. What a waste.

[ClassWarrior]

49. How do you "vote against them all," when, in your words...

...."they're not in my state and they're not in my party??" :crazy:

Please show me the threads in which you supported Rep. Wiener.

NGU.

[bluestate10]

70. I once felt Weiner was one of the brightest stars in the democratic party.

As soon as I found out more as the scandal ripened, I came out forcefully for him the resign. The latest revelations only harden my resolve to see Weiner resign. I would ask the same of my Congressman if he got netted in a sex or any other scandal.

[ClassWarrior]

72. Please show me the posts where you held Diapers Vitter to that same standard...

NGU.

[pnwmom]

77. Vitter didn't lie and there weren't any photos.

Thanks to Weiner's actions, this is likely to follow him around forever.

[ClassWarrior]

83. Naw, only multiple crimes. So give him a pass.

Now I get it.

:eyes:

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

84. ATTENTION DEMOCRATS: WHO HERE BELIEVES THAT DIAPERS VITTER "DIDN'T LIE?"

NGU.

[pnwmom]

75. If you want to find the early threads in here, be my guest.

I said repeatedly that I didn't care if he had had phone sex as long as he was telling the truth. But he wasn't.

Obviously, I can only vote against the Rethugs in my state.

[bluestate10]

69. She is not giving a pass to republicans.

Many sane people expect the worst from republicans, that is why those same people don't vote for republicans. This poster expects a high level of public service from democrats. Most of the time, democrats deliver to expectations. Weiner is a joke and will have zero clout in Congress.

[ClassWarrior]

71. I expect all elected officials to perform at a high standard. Don't you?

And if they don't, I say something - no matter what the party.

Why do you defend going easy on the Rape-Publicans? That's like saying that we shouldn't prosecute certain criminals because they're repeat offenders.

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

87. Don't you?

:shrug:

NGU.

[cali]

13. here you go.

Not that I owe you that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1264967

[ClassWarrior]

21. I mean from when it happened. If your words aren't hypocrisy, I'd expect plenty of posts...

...displaying the same level of outrage.

NGU.

[cali]

25. oooh, yes move the goal posts.

and I've hardly displayed outrage over Weiner's actions. Over his stupidity and idiot lying, yes. And of course I care more when it's one of our own. Did I call for Vitter to step down in 2007? Honestly I don't recall, but saying that it's hypocrisy if I didn't is simply a false equivalence. It wasn't until today that I came to the conclusion that Weiner should step down. At this point I think he's hurting liberal causes more than he can ever again help them. He'll never be an effective spokesman from within the Congress again. And legislatively, he's not terribly impressive. He's a reliable liberal vote- except on Israel- but beyond that?

[ClassWarrior]

27. Ahhh, so you give Rape-Publicans a pass? That explains a lot.

I don't think I've ever seen any concern from you for "hurting liberal causes." Usually your comments belittle them.

NGU.

[cali]

58. dog shit. and completely false.

let's go through my oft expressed political views, shall we? I've been steadfastly against the wars, against the Patriot Act, pro-single payer- and I've spent a fuck of a lot of time here explaining Vermont's new law. I'm for raising taxes on the wealthy. I've been critical of Obama on a variety of issues.

Clue: Making up dog shit is not a positive attribute, my dear friend. Got it?

I doubt you do or ever will.

Please see me tag line.

[ClassWarrior]

59. So what does this mean: "And of course I care more when it's one of our own?" Aren't your values...

...consistent? :shrug:

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

35. If "he'll never be an effective spokesman from within the Congress again.," and if...

..."legislatively, he's not terribly impressive," then what does it matter if he resigns or doesn't?

The only difference is if he resigns, we can be sure that "he'll never be an effective spokesman from within the Congress again." It sounds to me like you don't want to take a chance on him being able to be an effective spokesperson.

NGU.

[pnwmom]

40. It matters because if he resigns he could be replaced by another Democrat

who has a much better chance of being an effective spokesman.

He isn't the only progressive Democratic politician in New York. There are plenty who could do a better job at this point.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClassWarrior]

48. I didn't ask you. The poster made a specific point. I'd like to know his/her answer.

NGU.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pnwmom]

30. Vitter isn't representing us. He's not in my state and he's not in my party.

If I was in his state or his party I would have cared more. As it is, he's just one more pathetic Rethug.

OTOH, he didn't lie. When this all came out he just threw himself on the mercy of his party, and his voters.

Weiner, on the other hand, lied about what he'd done and even blamed his troubles on a right-wing conspiracy. He encouraged one of the women to help him lie. This is the real problem, not his phone sex with adults.

[ClassWarrior]

31. So let him get away with it. I understand what you're trying to do.

And yes, by the way, he's supposed to be "representing us" as much as anyone in the Dem Party.

NGU.

[NorthCarolina]

57. Conservatives and right-of-center warriors on DU smell Liberal blood in the water.

It's that simple.

[ClassWarrior]

60. Bingo!

Thank you, Queen City Woodcraft!

:fistbump:

NGU.

[aquart]

46. Yes, you describe the risk-taking personality of most great political figures.

Ireland lost Parnell because they were prissy about sex.

[bluestate10]

67. My exact reasons why Weiner should resign.

Weiner hanging on is severely damaging the very causes that he and many progressives on DU claim to be their highest priorities. Weiner will be a wasted seat, nothing that he proposes or prominently backs will get a fair hearing. His district is better off if a fresh faced democrat, preferably a woman represent his district in Congress. Why a woman, well as yet not a single woman on the democratic side in Washington has been caught in any thing that comes remotely close to a sex scandal.

[demwing]

90. I'm sure his constituents appreciate your having chosen for them

how they should best be represented

[sabrina 1]

3. Great post, thank you.

His poll numbers are going UP! The American fortunately are not prudes like our politicians, both parties it seems.

Two Democratic Congressmen spoke up for him today. I think more will follow, the real Democrats in the party, not the Dinos who we must get rid of btw, they are the ones who need to go.

I will definitely call Pelosi tomorrow thanks for reminding me ~

[pnwmom]

5. No, that's not why he's in trouble. If he had come clean at his first press conference,

this would most likely all be over now. It's all the lies that caused the problem -- to the point where it's hard to believe anything he says, including his denials of sexting with a 17 year old.

[demwing]

9. For all I care, he could have fucked a chicken

Well, not really, but why is his sex life an issue, or his lies about his sex life? There are people in congress who are supposed to be holders of the public trust, but who work tirelessly to deny us our rights, profit from that crime, and then LIE about their buggery of the trust.

Why is sex a crime, and crime sexy?

[Tx4obama]

15. Teen Was Not Targeted By Weiner Or Family Would Have Pressed Charges (NYDailyNews)

UPDATE

Teen Was Not Targeted By Weiner Or Family Would Have Pressed Charges (NYDailyNews)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1273874


p.s. I'm disappointed that folks are 'believing' the bogus FoxNews story before hearing both sides and learning ALL THE FACTS!

[pnwmom]

33. I hope this is true. But the parents can't really know what texts

the daughter may have received on her phone, or what instant messages on her computer.

Depending on how the girl and Weiner communicated (and whether records were kept of the exchanges), we may or may not ever get to the bottom of this. I want to believe Weiner about this -- but he's made that awfully difficult, with all his other lies.

[demwing]

89. What say you now? /nt

[Tx4obama]

20. Update #2

Excerpt:

SNIP

The mother, whose name is being withheld, told The Post Wednesday that Weiner sent nothing obscene — and only sent two brief messages to her daughter about seeing him during an April school trip to the Capitol.

The teen, who idolized Weiner, was "disappointed" in him after his confession.

The mom said she pointedly questioned her daughter about whether Weiner sent her anything obscene, and the girl swore it was all G-rated.

"I guess because he knew she was in high school," the mom said, though she added it was weird Weiner would spend any time communicating directly with her daughter.

The mom did say her daughter wrote in one message, "I’m in love with you," but explained it away with, "She’s 17."

"None of us will be getting our 15 minutes of fame because of this nonsense," the mom said. "Representative Weiner never tweeted her anything inappropriate .¤.¤. That is the answer, honestly."

SNIP
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/weiner_messages_to_teenage_girl_Jt3NbDrlaUp0ZpmlgGMplI#ixzz1Owv3vdHY

[dkf]

7. I guess we should have elected John Edwards President too.

[demwing]

12. John Edwards may have broken the law

and didn't have the support of his constituents. Weiner hasn't broken any laws, and has a high level of support in his district.

[cali]

16. look, Weiner is done. He can't survive this despite his constituents

and he may also have violated the law- as well as House Rules. If he doesn't go now, he'll go next year when his district is eliminated. Right or wrong, that's reality.

[demwing]

19. Then let reality play out

If his district dies, so be it. But it's the choice of that district - while it survives - whether Weiner stays. Not your choice, not Pelosi's

[ClassWarrior]

23. Wishful thinking.

NGU.

[cali]

53. reality based thinking. duh.

[demwing]

73. Putting "duh" on your subject line

doesn't affect me at all...

:rofl:

[dkf]

18. They really stretched the law to get him.

I actually don't think the Govt's prosecution is going to fly. But I am damned glad he is not President

[aquart]

44. And he might have been an excellent one.

Even though his family hated his guts.

THE ONE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER. You keep confusing the trivial with the vital.

[akbacchus_BC]

14. Are you kidding me? He needs to go! The more we accept this shit, the more it will become prevalent!

He has got to go and chalk that up to the Dems without any fucking backbone. The rethugs go toilet and when Dems make a mistake, the Dems calling for ethics, fuck that. When vitter resign then I will back the Dems!

[demwing]

17. OMG people will be fucking in the streets!

Can't have that.

Where's the outrage over real crime?

[aquart]

42. That's right. The more we accept this targeted assassination

The more of our people will be picked off and eliminated from competition.

Also, you seem frighteningly confused as to who you want to go, and who is yelling about "ethics."

Get a good night's sleep. Come back tomorrow.

[aquart]

43. That's right. The more we accept this targeted assassination

The more of our people will be picked off and eliminated from competition.

Also, you seem frighteningly confused as to who you want to go, and who is yelling about "ethics."

Get a good night's sleep. Come back tomorrow.

[demwing]

24. Come on DU, Call Pelosi!

Tell her this WEINER ROAST IS OFF THE TABLE!

Contact Nancy Pelosi’s office at 202-225-0100

[Mojeoux]

36. If Weiner goes, then Vitter goes too. If the debate is about sexual decency

I mean really!

:kick:

[GoCubsGo]

79. Vitter needs to go first.

Unlike Weiner, his actions were illegal, AND he was an incessant moralizer up to the day he got caught. Until he's gone, I don't want to hear another word about Weiner resigning.

[GoCubsGo]

80. And, Coburn, too.

He helped cover up Ensign's affair, and through illegal means. Out with him, and then you can worry about Anthony Weiner.

[napoleon_in_rags]

37. hehe. The "monster in his pants"

I like that.

The bottom line is that not one of these sex scandals, Repub or Dem, has EVER affected me. What effects me and about 250 million other people is the policies these guys create. Clinton's lack of deficit had a positive effect on future generations, Bush's debt had a negative effect, and the tangled web of policies they both created effects us all, positive and negative. That's the POWER of the presidency, that's the POWER of congress. When we face up to that power, and the role we play in appointing it, we can see these people shaking penises around to sway our vote for the distractions they are. I say lets make a mockery of this whole thing...It was dumb, but it wasn't a dumb that effects me. We reject the fundamental idea that Wiener's penis is as important as the debt, the wars, climate change or any of it, by supporting him. It isn't about the man any more, he has become a symbol.

[demwing]

66. Amen to that

We can play at being moralistic, or we can really act ethically.

[napoleon_in_rags]

85. Man, I was just thinking about that dichotomy.

The difference between playing the part of the "good man" and actually doing good deeds. I realize that worst things I've done have been done with the belief I was a good man... And because I had that belief I lost the internal censor that vetos bad actions, I forgot that I could be an asshole. And its when I'm aware of my own moral shortcomings that try to be better, and in so doing really act ethically.

I'll bet you 99 to 1 this is what gets to all these politicians: Part of their job is always highlighting their good deeds, and they are surrounded by staff pointing out these deeds...So they are super at risk of getting the poisonous thought that they are good people, they lose the censor in their head that says otherwise, and they fly blind. That also explains why it keeps happening: Whenever it happens to one, the next one in line hears about it and says "What a jerk. Sure am glad I'm a GOOD man!"

The issue is that we all have the capacity for good or evil, smart or stupid, etc. IT looks like Pelosi is putting the hammer down on Wiener so I bet he's done, but there is so much risk if people say "well, we got rid of that bad man" and don't look in the mirror.

[B Calm]

47. All he did was flirt, hardly a crime. It amazes me how many here on DU

are falling for this republican bullshit!

[Zax2me]

51. BULLSHIT

[canetoad]

50. Bullshit

You need grown ups in charge of a country.

[proud2BlibKansan]

52. Every time he gets up to speak on the floor,

America will be reminded of this scandal.

Breitbart will continue to release pictures, and yes, he'll lie about a lot of them. But that won't matter. The American public now knows Weiner is a pervert. Doesn't matter if you think it's okay.

[demwing]

62. Just like every time Clinton steps out in public, people wave a blue dress..

Oh wait, that doesn't happen, does it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

65. I see you don't spend much time on other blogs

You bet they do it.

[tabasco]

55. Democrats need to force Weiner out.

Democrats must have standards.

Let the pukes wallow in their swill.

The Democratic Party must have standards higher than this immature douchebag Weiner.

[demwing]

63. Here's the standards we need to have

Sex is as American as cherry pie.

People masturbate, people look at porn, people talk "dirty" and people flirt.

What's UN-American is corporate cock sucking, especially when combined with prudish self-righteousness and the destruction of our democratic republic.

If you want to talk about ethics, lets start there...

[tabasco]

86. Maybe, sometime in the 99th millenium,

people in utopia won't give a damn about marriage vows and sex scandals.

But I live in the reality in which people do.

[demwing]

88. You accept that reality?

I want something better, and you don't get what you want by accepting what you're given.

[tabasco]

91. Yes, I accept reality.

It's where things happen -- not out in lala land.

The reality is that Weiner has shown extremely bad judgment and is an embarrassment to the Democratic Party.

[demwing]

93. Thats not "reality" that's "opinion"

and though you may be convinced that your opinion IS rality, your adamancy doesn't make it so -- and neither does flippantly insulting those who have other opinions.

Here's my opinion - Weiner fell into an ethical dillema. The puritanical mindset of an overly vocal subset of American society has so demonized sexuality that he was afraid to admit what he had done (even though he had broken no laws). And so, in his attempt to hide what he should never have had to hide, Weiner lied. The lie is now, after the fact, being used to justify the original puritanical scorn that he received.

You think Democrats are embarrassed? I say Americans should be embarrassed - that we still act as if we live in a Monthy Python skit, and that the way to test if a persona is a witch is to throw them in the lake. If they sink and drown, they are innocent. If they float and survive, they must be guilty, and therefore should be burned.

[Warrior Dash]

56. If nothing else, it will be entertaining....

[WillyT]

61. HUGE K & R !!! - Nicely Done !!!

:yourock:

:kick:

[demwing]

64. I saw the light

I was down on Weiner at first, then really thought about who it was that wanted this guy to go down, and why. Then it seemed reaally clear what was the ethical thing to do, not the superficially moralistic.

Thanks :)

Call Pelosi! - Tell her this WEINER ROAST IS OFF THE TABLE!

Contact Nancy Pelosi’s office at 202-225-0100

[sabrina 1]

68. Will do so on monday. And I think we should be calling

Repubs who've called for him to quit also, and tell them 'when Vitter and Craig quit' so they know each time they open their hypocritical mouths about Weiner, we will keep bringing up their own sex scandals, which they would like to keep quiet before the next election. In fact we should promise them that :-)

[krabigirl]

76. He should stay, if not, I want to see what is in the closets of every single pearl clutcher.

[robcon]

78. He should resign - and now.

We should have higher standards for Congress concerning lies and false accusations.

[demwing]

81. Who did he accuse?

While Weiner played with his shlong, dozens of other Congressional Reps are working tirelessly to change the US from a constitutional, democratic republic, to a corporatocracy.

They are fucking us right and left, and getting paid for it.

We need to learn the difference between moralistic and ethical.

[demwing]

82. And before you say "two wrongs don't make a right" let me say "not all wrongs are equally wrong"

We are not absolutists.

[Tx4obama]

92. We've already lost Alan Grayson, if we lose Weiner then the DEMS are screwed.

WE MUST do everything that we can do to keep Weiner and get Grayson back into the Congress!

[seabeyond]

94. gingrich broke no laws and his career ruined by divorce talk in hospital.

he may act like it doesnt matter, but it does.

i see no one defending the man