NBC: Weiner Resignation Announcement 'Showed Much of His Strength as a Congressman'
During Thursday NBC News special coverage of New York Congressman Anthony Weiner announcing his resignation, congressional correspondent Kelly O'Donnell remarked to Nightly News anchor Brian Williams: "Anthony Weiner showed much of his strength as a Congressman in what he talked about just now in trying to talk about a message that was something other than this scandal." [Audio available here]
After Weiner finished speaking, Williams wondered: "Kelly, was there ever any salvaging this? It's been – it's been said that if he'd been candid at the beginning he could still have his seat in Congress." O'Donnell acknowledged how damaging the lying was, but then sympathetically observed: "The underlying nature of this type of scandal, which was so embarrassing, also made it very difficult for him to go forward because he has been mocked in a way that no one would ever wish on their enemy."
O'Donnell also lamented the fate of Weiner's congressional staff: "...his staffers will only have their jobs for another 60 days and they will also be out of work after that. Tough for everyone around here." Williams added: "Absolutely." He then declared the scandal over: "For the Democrats, though, they get to move on from this distraction."
Here is a transcript of the exchange:
2:26PM ET
(...)
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Let's go to Kelly O'Donnell who covers Congress for us as we look at videotape of Congressman – about to be former Congressman – Weiner and his wife, Huma. Kelly, was there ever any salvaging this? It's been – it's been said that if he'd been candid at the beginning he could still have his seat in Congress.
KELLY O'DONNELL: Well, he certainly lost the support of his colleagues and some of his most trusted mentors because he lied to them privately as he was lying to the public, to reporters, to his constituents. And that was certainly very damaging. The underlying nature of this type of scandal, which was so embarrassing, also made it very difficult for him to go forward because he has been mocked in a way that no one would ever wish on their enemy and that has made it really untenable for Democrats who have wanted to get back on message.
And Anthony Weiner showed much of his strength as a Congressman in what he talked about just now in trying to talk about a message that was something other than this scandal. And, Brian, just the sense of the craziness of all of this, we noted today tourists taking photos of the plaque of his name on the wall at his House office. And as you pointed out, his staffers will only have their jobs for another 60 days and they will also be out of work after that. Tough for everyone around here.
WILLIAMS: Absolutely. For the Democrats, though, they get to move on from this distraction. Kelly O'Donnell covers the Hill for us.
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Comments
Don't Know About Everyone Else
Submitted by paragrouper on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:36pm.
But I'm gonna miss the 'Congressional Member.'
He was a welcome distraction from the typical liberal crud we're fed every day.
Amazing
Submitted by HelenS on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:36pm.
Is nothing beneath contempt for these people? I guess if you're lower than pond-scum, looking up is the only direction you can look and everything, even the sick underbelly of a degenerate, is above you and thus admirable...?
Who knows. Maybe I'm trying to understand something that is totally without explanation.
Me - "The libs/dems of today are the Quislings of former years - the cowards who would vote a fraud into office in exchange for handouts from the devil."
No one would wish on their enemy??
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:40pm.
Are you kidding me, of course I would wish it on someone like him, especially given that he's one of the ones that pushed the Chairman's Health Care crap on us!
Bye bye pervert!
-Jon
Yes.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:35pm.
"mocked in a way that no one would ever wish on their enemy"
He should be treated with honor and respect just like the entire dumbocrap party treats Sarah Palin, her family, and especially her special needs kid.
Is that the sort of crap that "they" wouldn't wish on their worse enemy?
These people are beyond contempt, and just as in days of old, they should be put to the sword for being cowards and unworthy of the respect shown an honorable enemy.
Can You Say "Karma" Kelly???
Submitted by bigdaddy on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:43pm.
"The underlying nature of this type of scandal, which was so embarrassing, also made it very difficult for him to go forward because he has been mocked in a way that no one would ever wish on their enemy and that has made it really untenable for Democrats who have wanted to get back on message."
Read more: http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2011/06/16/nbc-weiner-resi...
Tony "Baloney" reaped what he sowed in spades...Buh Bye Mr. Mayor!
I was shocked he kept his cool as a New Yorker.
Submitted by E.S.Blofeld on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:41pm.
I was thinking he was going to whip it out and show the heckler his member! I don't remember any vicious heckling at any GOP speeches such as Vitter's or Ensign's or Craig's.
Ernst
"Isn't it pretty to think that way?"-EH
Seeing as how he is a Noo Yawka ...
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:37pm.
I'm surprised "hi member" didn't come out first and give the speech for him.
NYC needs to get over itself. It really isn't that great a place.
I'm glad this perv is gone.
Submitted by rbosque on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:47pm.
I'm glad this perv is gone. But now the media has nothing to distract people from Obama's economic catastrophe. I'm sure they'll come up with something really soon.
KELLY O'DONNELL: Well, he
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:48pm.
KELLY O'DONNELL: Well, he certainly lost the support of his colleagues and some of his most trusted mentors because he lied to them privately as he was lying to the public, to reporters, to his constituents.
Right, Kelly. They could have defended his actions, if only he hadn't lied about it!
The horrible thing is that, as I'm typing that, there's a little niggling voice in my head saying, you know, that just might be true!
Given his precipitous fall, there was likely more . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:08pm.
. . . on Weiner waiting to come out. I still don't rule out the possibility that the Weiner "package" photos were not of him, but of another guy.
There were two things working against Weiner that he could neither delay nor prevent.
(1) The House Ethics Committee, with its power to subpoena witnesses and documents, would probably uncover more misdeeds under oath, and make them public record.
(2) The New York state legislature was likely to carve up his district (and a GOP district upstate) to get their House representation down; New York loses two seats due to the 2010 census.
So, more Weiner-gate and no seat to fight for in 2012 left him with the obvious choice: Runaway, runaway. Quitting to stops the ethics investigation and possibly the destruction of his NYC district.
Now that Weiner has limped off into obscurity...
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:06pm.
...maybe things will get back to normal around here.
And I hate to break it to Kelly O, but Weiner's stint as a congress critter did little more than to help government destroy freedom and liberty in this country, as well as push us that much closer to the edge of the abyss.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
It's just too bad his constituents will send up another one just like him.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
People might have forgiven the act
Submitted by nonncom on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 4:54pm.
but you can never forgive the lie....Nixon did the same thing, though in his case, the lie was all he did wrong....Clinton set the stage for how to lie and get away with it...."I did not have sex with that woman"...LOL....."Uh, can you define sex".....I guess Monica on her knees with his pride in her mouth wasn't having sex......Democrat or Republican, it doesn't matter....they all think they're above it all....
Attention Matt Sheffield!!
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:00pm.
How's THAT for an answer to your question in your earlier article today?
Started already!
Let's just hope they get over it quickly.
A Tough Week
Submitted by Kareem Cheese on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:02pm.
Well, This has been a really tough week for our "impartial" Main Stream Media.
First, they failed to dig up any dirt on the Sarah Palin witch hunt, and now one of the liberal lions they have fawned over for the past few years has resigned in shame.
Good Riddance, Weiner Dog.
And thanks for doing your part to lower the bar a few notches further down...
"he has been mocked in a way
Submitted by Beukeboom on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:02pm.
"he has been mocked in a way that no one would ever wish on their enemy"?!?
Seriously?
Kelly O'Donnell apparently has major memory lapses if she has forgotten all the mockery of various conservatives (Palin, Christie, Bush (take yer pick), et al) by liberals including so called "reporters" and "journalists." And the viciousness of those mockeries were far greater than what Weiner faced and will face.
Give me a break, Kelly.
I'm Going to Throw Up
Submitted by Bill Brasky on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:04pm.
Look at the sympathy the clowns at NBC have for Weiner compared to their disdain for Sarah Palin. Wondering if "there is any salvaging this?" and concerned that "he has been mocked in a way that no one would ever wish on their enemy." Pass me the friggin' bucket. These hypocritical liberal a-holes at NBC "news" are absolutely amazing.
Well Motherbelt... I think Kelly wants some Weiner.....
Submitted by OldJarhead77 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:11pm.
she sure was sucking up to him........ Of course what else would you expect from the media lackeys that daily line up in front of the Obama Urinal of recycled Kool-Aide and take deep drinks...........
Wee Willie Winkie Weiner, what took ya so long?
Submitted by Less1leg on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:23pm.
The mindless crud coming out of the mouthpieces called liberal MSM is astounding. When the Weiner story broke the man was obviously was lying through his teeth, and the fool was stupid enough to hang in there knowing the full brunt of Weiner Gate was about to happen. But where was the liberal Press? Well, doing what they normally do support the scumbag ultra liberal. Once you are annointed in the progressive liberal world, no earthly body can move a liberal from a gravy train position. Even with breaking stories, and undeniable photos the Ultra Liberal MSM attacked the women sent these photos. Like I say, once you are a "chosen one" of the liberal society upper crust no photo, no story can unseat you. Look, President Clinton was caught with his nickers down, and the Press again soiled the Woman involved. Clinton got the kick in the pants from Hilliary in private quarters, but the MSM vilified the girl to save Bill Clinton's bacon.
The sad part in all of this, Women's Groups. These social activist morons running all these liberal women's rights stuff all attack the women in these sorid stories, and run to the degenerate backstabbing people like Bill Clinton and the Weiner.
So what are these Women's Groups then? They certainly don't represent women.
How long.....
Submitted by Forbus on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:43pm.
before the MSM, and the dunderheads on "The View", start the campaign for Lady Weiner for Congress?
Show strength?
Submitted by KC Beach on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 5:56pm.
Strength?!?!? Is that what the kids are calling it nowdays? If he would have just showed strength as a Congressman, instead of his package, he would still be in Congress.
The tone from the MSM on this all along...
Submitted by krendler on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:11pm.
...has been very subdued and somber. Oh, so "unfortunate", etc, etc
Compare what we're witnessing with Wiener to the viciousness and outright glee exhibited when the target has an R by their name.
Another new CNN program?
Submitted by RocktheJungle on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:17pm.
Weiner - Schnitzel, Weiner - Spritzer, Weiner -Spitzer, so many choices...lol.
I am living in an alternative
Submitted by felizagain on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 6:27pm.
I am living in an alternative universe. I have to be. Why else would this type of comment strike me as complete lunacy. Yes, Palin, Bush, Cheney, Bachman, Romney, Steele, Cain, all hit w/ugly, rude, mean, nasty, comments, attacks, onslaughts and the same press corps cheered it on....see, freedom of speech at its best! Weiner is the only person who created this situation. The man was a verbal pitbull in Congress. He loved to assault others w/words and antics and posture. He enjoyed the video of him being the #1 go to guy for a real tough guy debate, down and dirty. He liked it. So sadly, the man is now facing the same stuff. Were the people who shouted out rude things right? No. They were not. Probably Howard Stern set ups for all we know. But, let's not give Weiner a prize for being honorable and brave....he got caught. He couldn't lie anymore. So, he's out. That's on him. He's a Democrat, so we'll see him on CNN alongside Spitzer soon.
CNN?
Submitted by retrocon on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:08pm.
Actually, i think he can make more money in another industry... porn.
Think about it:
1) he doesn't have to change his name
2) he has a photo portfolio, and
3) he has insider contacts there already
Why make pennies at CNN?
probably not
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 10:39pm.
The insider contact is just that one girl and she's being referred to as "retired porn star." Considering the infamy that Weiner's gotten from this, I doubt she's gonna want anything to do with him let alone him get into it. Not to mention she hired Gloria Allred(big surpise there) for defense.
-Jon
edit: Oh hell, I just saw a headline where Larry Flynt offered him a job. No word on response or what the job is. I definitely didn't expect that. Not surprised though.
Terry Cloth Dearth
Submitted by DoktorFranken on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:43pm.
There are simply not enough towels to wipe off the mouths of these two ''journOlists'' and surely a lack of adequate knee-pads.
These are Media Whores of the worst kind.
Our Congress doesn't need the Weiners of the world
Submitted by Kenyon Schraeder on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:51pm.
This has gone from shocking to pathetic to now absurdly funny. For the media to waste this much capital on anguishing over the fall of a pervert is nothing short of astounding. Yet, the very same talking heads will castigate, vilify, chase down and ridicule basically good people who have not come remotely close to, let alone crossed, the line that separates propriety from debauchery but whose opinions on politics, economics or education they don't share. Talk about a completely broken moral compass within MSM.
Kelly
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 7:57pm.
You sound to me like you're upset because Weiner didn't text you.
It's clear that both of them
Submitted by fatboy on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 8:20pm.
It's clear that both of them wish they were on the receiving end of Anthony's Weiner.
O'Donnell: "....Weiner showed
Submitted by GregE on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 9:14pm.
O'Donnell: "....Weiner showed much of his strength....."
A little too much.
O'Donnell you are a
Submitted by Semus on Fri, 06/17/2011 - 7:34am.
O'Donnell you are a disgusting liar but you're not alone.
How effective was he?
Submitted by Michael30 on Sat, 06/18/2011 - 1:14am.
They mention that his staff is now unemployed and scurrying for work.
Though, if Congressman Weiner was so effective, wouldn't his now available team be in high demand if they were so essential?
What I mean, is that if the manager of the Yankees disbanded the team, wouldn't A. Rod and all the others be up for grabs?
This leads me to wonder if he and his team were truly talented in public affairs, or simply bomb throwers.If his work was so important and courageous, wouldn't his staff be a welcome addition to any other democrat pursuing a similar agenda of helping the helpless?
Oh, and I know I used the words "Yankee," "staff," and "A. Rod," all in a thread about the now former congressman, but damn, it's hard to say anything about this without it seeming dirty (and I just used "hard.")
-Mike