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 For Weiner, There Was No Escaping the ObviousPosted on Jun 16, 2011It’s an irony of the modern age that the most devastating kind of sex scandal, at least for politicians, doesn’t involve actual sex. As Rep. Anthony Weiner has learned. Weiner, who resigned Thursday, assured his own demise years ago when he began sending raunchy pictures and sex-talk messages to random women over the Internet. He would have been better off if he had arranged to meet those women for secret trysts—not that there’s any indication that the women had the slightest interest in meeting Weiner for such purposes. Let me clarify: I do not suggest that committing adultery would leave Weiner, or anyone, “better off” in any moral sense. I’ll get to that important dimension of the Weiner affair, but first I want to consider the practicalities as dispassionately as possible. For all his dazzling smarts, for all his New York savvy, Weiner was both ignorant and naive about the Internet. There are certain things about the cyberworld, and about human nature, that anyone tempted to make a hobby of “sexting” really ought to know. Advertisement Weiner’s downfall began three weeks ago when, via the networking site Twitter, he sent a photo of his underwear-clad crotch to a college student in Washington state with whom he had been Twitter-messaging, or “tweeting.” Weiner realized immediately that he had made a mistake—rather than send the photo through a private channel, he sent it through a public channel that would have made it accessible to any of Twitter’s 300 million users. I repeat: 300 million. Weiner quickly took down the offending photo but not before it was spotted and electronically captured by conservative activists who had been tracking his activity in cyberspace for some time. The congressman had briefly exposed his private business—I believe “junk” is the term of art—in a public space. Thus did the unraveling of a promising political career begin. Weiner also was apparently unaware that the Internet never forgets. Once you’ve sent a message or a photograph into cyberspace, you have to assume it will live forever. The recipient can keep a copy—as apparently happened with other women who shared similar beefcake shots that Weiner sent them, including at least one without the underwear. The offending missives also had to pass through various relays and switches en route—did any of them make copies?—and, in Weiner’s case, came to reside in vast banks of servers owned by Twitter and Facebook. Do you really want Mark Zuckerberg to have intimate pictures of your body parts? Really? And finally—remember, we’re still just talking practicalities—Weiner ignored the fact that a person known only as a “friend” on Facebook, or someone to “follow” on Twitter, is still basically a stranger. Yes, it’s possible to learn much about a person through a relationship conducted entirely in cyberspace—much, but not enough. Let me propose a general rule: If you exchange explicit Internet messages with a porn star, as Weiner allegedly did, you’re eventually going to be the subject of a news conference called by Gloria Allred. It’s pointless to critique Weiner’s handling, or mishandling, of the scandal. The outcome was clear from the beginning, and the only question was whether Weiner would resign immediately—as did former Rep. Chris Lee, when websites published a shirtless photo he sent to a woman he met on Craigslist—or spend a week or two in denial. Now the moral question: Other politicians—such as Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Bill Clinton, to name just two of many—survived in office after sex scandals in which there was, you know, actual touching. Weiner’s transgressions involved sexual fantasy, not sexual fact. Was what he did really so bad that he had to resign? Yes, it was. From all evidence, Weiner wasn’t led on or encouraged by these women. He imposed his erotic fantasies and photographs on them, almost as if he were a flasher in a raincoat. It was an intrusion, perhaps even a violation, and it was seriously, irredeemably creepy. The House will miss Anthony Weiner’s progressive voice. But he absolutely had to go. Eugene Robinson’s e-mail address is eugenerobinson(at)washpost.com.  Previous item: Michele Bachmann Makes Dubya Look Good Next item: Washington's Deeper Immorality New and Improved CommentsWe are launching a major overhaul of our comments section. In addition to more robust spam filtering and moderation, new features include the ability to rate other comments, sort how they are displayed and respond directly via e-mail or in a thread. Unfortunately, commenters will lose their existing Truthdig identities. It's a pain, we know, but on the plus side you will now be able to log in with a plethora of options, including Google, Twitter, Facebook and Disqus accounts. 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Say ‘Hi-Ho!’ as They Strip-Search You
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By David J. Cyr, June 24, 2011 at 4:50 pm Link to this comment
SmartMoney.com analysis of Weiner’s parachute
What Weiner Walks Away With:
http://www.smartmoney.com/retirement/planning/why-im-jealous-of-weiner-1308253690928/?cid=djem_sm_WeekontheStreet_h
“Weiner is getting the equivalent of a $1.2 million exit payment after serving just 12 years on the job. Now that’s worth tweeting about.”
Report thisBy Psychobabbler, June 20, 2011 at 7:19 pm Link to this comment
This article answers an important question I’ve had about all of this. I assumed initially that there was a mutual back and forth happening between everyone involved. It’s hard to get a truthful analysis about people with access to confident lawyers and who are being protected for political reasons.
The details make a significant difference here, meaning to say that if I was to go show my family jewels to people (unrequested) I would probably end up on a sex offender list.
The fact that this man who made a living around positioning himself as a well rounded family man has wrecked his public and private life, is proof positive that the punishment is inherent in his acts.
I am not recommending piling punishment on top of what he is experiencing, but I do demand equality.
I’ll just be satisfied that a seemingly smart and reasonably generous man is swept aside to recalibrate himself at this point.
Report thisBy Wildeye, June 19, 2011 at 6:01 pm Link to this comment
@ardee
“But Weiner was his own worst enemy with his clumsy and stupid lies.”
Agreed so no difference in outcome once the story broke; Weiner was going to resign sooner or later.
My point was that the story didn’t break because anybody had made a complaint against Weiner but because Breitbart posted an incriminating photo he received from this guy who was cyber-stalking Weiner:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bizarre/dan-wolfe-anthony-weiner-weinergate-632095
Dig hard enough and long enough and everybody’s skeletons start singing eventually, especially on the internet. Breitbart, in particular, was not going to let a story that might actually be true for a change slip away without extracting every single morsel of legitimacy from it. Damn you, Anthony Weiner, for making Breitbart semi-relevant again!
Report thisBy ardee, June 19, 2011 at 4:08 pm Link to this comment
Wildeye, June 19 at 7:20 am
For clarification, did you mean that there would have been no difference in the outcome or that there would have been no repercussions?
This entire “scandal” was orchestrated by Andrew Breitbart, and almost solely by him. But Weiner was his own worst enemy with his clumsy and stupid lies.
Report thisBy Wildeye, June 19, 2011 at 6:20 am Link to this comment
@ ardee
“I cannot help but wonder what outcome would have ensued had Weiner stood up and noted that, yup I sent those pix, I did it on my own time, on my own device and it in no way conflicted with my duties as a Congressperson.”
Probably none at all. Weinergate was an orchestrated attempt by people actively looking to bring him down by whatever means available. Once the story was out there, it was never going to die. After all it hasn’t died yet.
Report thisBy Spooky-43, June 19, 2011 at 12:49 am Link to this comment
By the worm, June 17 at 7:49 am Link to this comment
“Enough with the Weiner stuff. It’s getting to be like Paris Hilton ....This is not appropriate for Truthdig ...
Let’s focus on something that matters.”
—————————————————————————————
Calm down worm. This is how society absorbs change in the 21st century. Somebody important does something initially seen as stupid or obscene but not previously encountered by the mainstream.
This is real news. We have to know how to absorb this new stuff. Is it a crime? Should he have resigned? Is it an indication that we all need to be shooting pics of our crotches out into cyberspace? Is this the new way to find a mate or sex partner?
I mean the questions are endless. This is a big event in terms of how society works and progresses. We need to know how to proceed. Leadership sets the pace, develops new standards, uncovers new methods.
This is real important news. It has implications for billions of individuals around the globe who are awaiting the verdict of the blogging world as to how we should absorb this new happening. There have already been trillions of reactions from every possible corner of the earth.
What the hell do you want to talk about worm? Bombing the shit out of Libya? We already know it is alright to bomb Arabs, we have been doing it for years under at least two administrations. That is not news.
Progressives need to talk about events that are progressive, and Wiener has delivered. We all now know something brand new, and that is the essence of progress, is it not?
Remember when Clark Gable said the word “damn” in Gone With The Wind? That was progress, something brand new. Now we can say the word “fuck” in a PG movie. That is real progress. We are getting there slowly but surely, and we must document and discuss fully every new event in our march to total liberty to do whatever we want.
We now know that it is o.k. to twit our genitals. We still don’t know if we have to resign after we do it, though. But at least we know we won’t go to jail for it. We need to continue the discussion for a few more months to fully understand and complete the process.
This is how society operates. The process has been speeded up thanks to the information age. It used to take years to accomplish the most insignificant change.
Report thisBy ardee, June 18, 2011 at 4:29 pm Link to this comment
I cannot help but wonder what outcome would have ensued had Weiner stood up and noted that, yup I sent those pix, I did it on my own time, on my own device and it in no way conflicted with my duties as a Congressperson.
Not that I condone his rather pathetic acts, but I simply do not care a bit about them. That he lied and weasled made his resignation necessary in my own opinion.
Oh, and Breitbart is slime trail leaving piece of vermin.
Report thisBy jrundin, June 17, 2011 at 6:00 pm Link to this comment
I really don’t care if Weiner sent a naked pictures of himself to Twitter followers.
That’s between him and his followers. If they can’t take that sort of thing,
perhaps they should not use Twitter. I mean really. If someone sent me an
unwanted naked picture, I’d delete it and cease contact with the sender. That’s
all it takes for mature adults. Frankly, I would not send naked pictures of myself
to other people. But that’s an aesthetic choice. It has no deep connection with
my morality, immorality, or amorality.
What I do hate is that a media mob has driven out of office an elected official. If
his constituents don’t like Weiner, they could have voted him out of office. As
far as I can tell, they didn’t really care. Instead, there was a mob of finger
pointing media personalities, pretending to speak on behalf of the American
people, who drove him out of office.
I look at people like Chris Matthews, who, in his salacious coverage of this and
Report thisother matters, appears to have the sexual experience and maturity of a junior
high student, and I thing to myself, these demented Washington peopel aren’t
speaking for me. They’re living out their own weird sexual games. And I don’t
want them driving ELECTED officials out of office who have done nothing illegal.
By the worm, June 17, 2011 at 4:31 pm Link to this comment
Okay, so no one will stop with the weener stuff.
“American gullibility is at all time highs” and “lying” seem to be the two big
‘themes’.
Where were these folks when we Americans were conned into war in Iraq and lied
to about weapons of mass destruction?
“Guillability” and “lying” seem to be okay, when you’re on the Right & the Right
does it; or on the Left when the Left does it. And, the rest of the time, it’s OH OH
HOW SHAMEFUL!
Back to where I was before: Enough already.
Report thisBy mackTN, June 17, 2011 at 3:13 pm Link to this comment
What bothers me still about this incident is that the Democrats led the charge
against Weiner, provoked by Republicans. Why are Dems so quick to eat their
own? Because of Breitbart, Shirley Sherrod was asked to resign—no one even
asked for her explanation! No one even said “wait a minute! let’s hear her side of
the story.” Again, Breitbart has pushed another to the precipice, and,once again,
Dems have pushed their own off the cliff.
He lied, like most all his colleagues, I suspect. Okay, if lying is the new standard, I
Report thisexpect a whole lot of resignations in the coming days.
By teejay, June 17, 2011 at 2:10 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
How is it the George Bush and Wall Street executives escaped the obvious, impeachment
Report thisand fraud and perjury convictions?
By rollzone, June 17, 2011 at 6:58 am Link to this comment
hello. why give a pass to Congressional misconduct? why
Report thisreward poor political theater with a golden parachute?
American gullibility is at all time highs. the
Progressive movement is playing our government alike a
rusty bluegrass fiddle. does anyone believe this schmuck represented the “middle class”? the entire
operation was staged, America.
By the worm, June 17, 2011 at 6:49 am Link to this comment
Enough with the Weiner stuff.
It’s getting to be like Paris Hilton ....
This is not appropriate for Truthdig ...
Let’s focus on something that matters.
Report thisBy Wildeye, June 16, 2011 at 9:27 pm Link to this comment
Creepy = Senator “Diaper” Dave Vitter.
The difference between Vitter and Weiner is that Weiner left a trail of pictures that the media could and did and would use to keep this story going for as long as possible. What was inevitable was that Weiner would resign to end the endless “distraction” that the media perpetrated and would perpetuate just as Breitbart and his cohorts had hoped. I don’t condone the actions that got Weiner into trouble but, as mentioned, other politicians have weathered worse and survived. Like Dave Vitter.
Report thisBy TDoff, June 16, 2011 at 6:08 pm Link to this comment
Weiner should convert to catholicism. Those folks have little booths right in their churches where their perverts can go and wag their weenies. Of course, they have only the priests as an audience…but a very appreciative, enthusiastic audience.
Report thisBy Ed, June 16, 2011 at 3:53 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Who cares. We have much more important issues to deal with in this country. Weiner is an idiot. Good riddance.
Report thisBy Rumple, June 16, 2011 at 3:38 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
No, not a picture of a penis. Our society can’t handle that! War crimes, crimes against humanity, illegal wars, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people, fraudulent banksters, unregulated speculators stealing workers’ pensions, are all fine and dandy with America and the journalists.
But a picture of “the penis” will rot the family, destroy morale, and infect the nation with evilness.
Report thisBy mrfreeze, June 16, 2011 at 1:53 pm Link to this comment
I’m sadly disappointed that TD would be following this utterly vapid and unimportant “scandal.” Come on TD. I thought this site was about “truth-digging” not keeping up with the National Inquirer.
There are about 10 other more important things you all could be covering or commenting on right now. Weiner is nothing but a distraction from our real problems.
Would you please kick up the intellectual level a notch??? Please!!!!!
Report thisBy TDoff, June 16, 2011 at 1:18 pm Link to this comment
The question about Weiner is not a moral one. It’s a matter of the apparently unlimited control his ‘DUMB’ gene exerts.
Report this