Sex, Bias, and Weinergate
For several days, NewsBusters readers have been asking why we haven't commented on the growing controversy surrounding Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and an indecent picture sent from his Twitter account to a 21-year-old girl in Seattle, Washington.
As there seem to have been far more questions concerning this sensitive matter than answers, we have been observing the press reaction trying to assess how a media that is typically protective of Democrats handled the scandal.
Our conclusion at this time?
All things considered, the coverage has been surprisingly good.
The story first broke Saturday at various conservative blogs including Andrew Breitbart's Big Government as well as Gawker. The only mainstream coverage that day came in a short piece at Politico.
By Sunday, the Associated Press and UPI jumped on the story with the former publishing seven articles and the latter two. The only newspaper to cover the issue was the New York Post. Still nothing on national television although not everything gets transcribed on weekends.
Things really picked up Monday with coverage by New York's Daily News, the New York Times, the New York Post, the Washington Post, and the Washington Times. CNN did reports on the 5PM and 6PM installments of "The Situation Room" as well as "John King, USA."
As the long holiday weekend ended, and folks got back to work Tuesday, the reporting on this scandal rose even further. AP did 25 stories on its various state, local, and national wires. The New York papers continued with their coverage, and there were articles at the Chicago Tribune and the Orlando Sentinel.
For its part, CNN through 4PM had filed reports during ten different hourly segments Tuesday. As Fox News and MSNBC only transcribe their prime time programming, it's unknown what their respective coverage has been.
Add it up, and there's been in excess of 90 reports on a story with more questions than answers.
To be sure, many of these seemed to give Weiner the benefit of the doubt while ignoring key elements that further implicate him. However, in this kind of a situation, the best way for media to protect a politician they like is by reporting nothing at all.
It took the press nine months to pay attention to the John Edwards sex scandal after it was first revealed by the National Enquirer. By that time, the junior senator from Illinois had already been nominated by his Party.
Newsweek's Michael Isikoff had the Monica Lewinsky affair ready for publishing only to have folks at the top of the magazine decide not to. Maybe we never would have heard about what was going on in the Oval Office if someone at Newsweek hadn't leaked it to Matt Drudge.
But this kind of censorship surprisingly isn't just employed for Democrats.
Although the media's coverage of Congressman Mark Foley's (R-Fla.) sex scandal in 2006 was absolutely deplorable, what many forget is that it took ten months for his electronic messages to male pages to come to light after the first news outlets were made aware of them.
The St. Petersburg Times, the Miami Herald and Fox News all had copies of some of these messages in November 2005 and decided not to run the story. Harper's magazine got possession of them in May 2006 but also chose not to publish anything.
ABC's Brian Ross, the national media representative that finally broke the story in September 2006, sat on these communications for over a month because he was working on something else.
As such, despite numerous outlets having these email messages, it took ten months before the first report on this sex scandal.
By contrast, we're only four days into this one - assuming there even is a scandal - and there's already been at least 90 reports on the subject.
Does that mean they've all been good?
Hardly. We've certainly witnessed sides being taken.
But we've also seen Weiner get grilled by press representatives in the following report aired by CNN Tuesday:
Seem like softballs to you?
I particularly liked the question, "Could you tell us why you were following a 21-year-old college student [on Twitter]?" As Weiner only follows 198 people on this social networking site, and this was the girl the indecent picture was allegedly sent to, this seems particularly valid.
I'd also like someone to ask Weiner why he was also following a high school girl with a thing for married men as well as a porn star. Such was reported by Verum Serum whose work on this scandal has been exhaustive.
Gateway Pundit, who has also been on top of this story from day one, observed Monday that Weiner follows a lot of very young, very attractive women at Twitter. When they get around to it, members of the press should ask the Congressman why that's the case.
Those still not thrilled with the mainstream media's coverage on this matter should also review what Big Government has been reporting the past four days as well as Ace of Spaces and Mediaite. They're all to be commended for delving into aspects of this matter that the national press haven't.
But there's more to media bias than lack of detail. As previously stated, if the liberal press wanted to protect this Democrat, they would have done so far more effectively by just not divulging this suspicious tweet.
Every report now - even the ones that appear to be defending Weiner - keep the story going and force the Congressman to have to talk about this extremely sensitive subject.
As Ed Morrissey noted Tuesday in his first article on this issue:
I wanted to wait for a response from Weiner, and given the fact that this happened over a holiday weekend, I kept an open mind about the possibilities.
Weiner’s response seems odd under the circumstances. It might be that Weiner is still telling the truth and just believes this will blow over with the “hacking” explanation and a stonewall strategy from him, but if so, it’s not a safe bet that it will work. The mainstream press seems to be getting pretty curious about Weiner’s Twitter habits, and that may or may not go away with a lack of response from Weiner.
That seemed quite evident during the questioning aired by CNN, and leads one to believe that even a Democrat-loving media have more questions than answers. What this means is that any coverage of this issue by the national media has the potential of shedding more light on it.
We are therefore pleased to see the Weiner story get the quantity of reporting it deserves. There is something serious to be pursued here regardless of the origin of the mysterious picture sent to the Washington college student.
If Weiner was the victim of someone trying to embarrass him, that raises critical issues about Twitter and its security procedures as well as whether or not U.S. government officials should be using it so extensively. If Weiner is the source and he's lying to cover up an embarrassing error that is worth knowing.
Americans don't like our governmental figures lying to us regardless of the nature of the thing they're lying about. Weiner's defensive and rather odd behavior of late is worth exploring.
Here's to hoping we are able to get a fuller understanding of the situation. Conservatives may not like the slant to all these reports, but at least this story is getting national exposure.
It took nine months for that to happen to a presidential candidate with a mistress, a love child, and a very popular wife who was dying of cancer.
*****Update: I previously expressed the hope that media would ask Weiner why he follows so many young, attractive women on Twitter. In the following highly contentious Q&A aired on CNN, somebody does.
Also of note, Weiner got so angered with questions being asked by CNN's Ted Barrett that the Congressman eventually called him a "jackass":
As you can see, the press are getting more and more frustrated by Weiner's evasions. That means this story has legs.
- Noel Sheppard's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
→ Grilled Weiner?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 10:59pm.
Good one, Noel.
Yeah Noel
Submitted by Boil It Down on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:30pm.
"National exposure" wasn't bad either.
Cool.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:21am.
If Noel wanted to do it up right, he could really cut loose!
I mean with a story of exposure involving a guy named Weiner using something called Twitter to show off his asset, how can you hold back?
I mean, this begs for a Headline contest.
headline
Submitted by Rackie on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:20am.
The Tattle of the Buldge
Nice, Rack.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:37pm.
"Weiner Shrinks during Press Onslaught"
Weiner Twitters Weiner - Claims Sack Hack Job"
"What's a Package of Weiner's Worth?"
"Hack on Crack Twitters Sack - Weiner left hanging"
"Weiner's Wife Finally Comments - 'It's No Big Thing'"
Although
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:03pm.
he's looking more like a boiled weiner to me.
That assessment
Submitted by Bob K on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:10am.
seems to be taking hold with the libs as well. LOL. A few moments ago I read a comment at DU in which the person wrote "I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this." The thread was regarding the CNN interview and his refusal to answer a very simple question. And their doubt was just one among many. In a very short time we may well be saying "Stick a fork in him.......he's done."
From what I can gather
Submitted by Lord-come-soon-... on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:50am.
It's more like one of those little cocktail wieners.
What's he doing on a social network
Submitted by bmac32 on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:12pm.
What is anyone whom holds office doing on any social network to begin with?
Because people are people and
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:42pm.
Because people are people and they do all sorts of stuff.
Pornstars Strippers High
Submitted by Van Halen on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:19pm.
Pornstars
Strippers
High school girls
Pictures of private parts
Girls tweeting that the Weiner is their 'boyfriend'
The Weiner's PR guy lies about the timeline of what happened
The Weiner erases all evidence when hacking the account of a Congressman would certainly be investigated as a Federal crime
The Weiner won't admit as to whether he sent the lewd photo or not
Leftwing media sites go into damage-control mode by ignoring story when you know if this were Todd Palin...
I wonder what the Weiner-wife thinks of all this?
Give it a rest. There is
Submitted by Captain Repus on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:22pm.
Give it a rest. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a married man flashing his wiener to some young girl who is thousands of miles away and young enough to be his daughter. It's not like he is teaching new toothbrushing techniques to the hired help in the oval office while on the phone with foreign heads of state. This guy is only responsible to about 650,000 nitwits who keep electing him.
hasn't denied it, has he?
Submitted by jon_torlin on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:31pm.
Despite all of this, he has yet to deny that it was his Weiner that bulging in in that underwear.
If he had claimed that it wasn't his appendage that is in that picture, I might have given him the benefit of the doubt. But HOT DOG! There it is!
In all seriousness though, isn't this an interesting timing?
He comes out in defense if Netanyahu regarding Israel and suddenly, he's in hot water?(I know, lame hot dog joke, but still.....)
Curious timing, no? While the jury is still out trying to cut the mustard on this(oops, another lame attempt!), the timing is way too close. I think he's being set up.
-Jon
Just Off the Top of my Head
Submitted by tcm14 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:34am.
Those reporters in the video clip kept cutting off Weiner! Not cool! He seems like he is trying to be a stand up guy. Maybe his staff could conduct a poll and then brief the public, just to show he's not trying to shaft them.
Weiner is not a stand up guy,
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 4:41am.
Weiner is not a stand up guy, he is 100% not kosher. A jerk through and through.
Kosher
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:43am.
That would explain why he married a muslim woman.
-Jon
Can a Weiner Wear a Beard?
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 2:26pm.
Because last I heard, his wife, Huma, was Hillary's BFF, IYKWIM, NNTAWWT.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Dan, you are the man....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:48am.
that's the best one I've read....not a stand up guy....LOL!
Wow,
Submitted by falcon on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:46am.
So many bad puns, I don't know where to start. :-)
“I will not stand by and watch this great country destroy itself under mediocre leadership, that drifts from one crisis to the next, eroding our national will and purpose.” – Ronald Reagan, July 17, 1980.
Yeah, some really bad puns...
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:43am.
...But its not like Lorena Bobbit was asking the questions....
- Grump
Thank you for not taking an unreasoning jump.
Submitted by Boil It Down on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:29pm.
Let me know when they sort this out and discover where this all started and who is to blame. Right now it is taking up to much of people's attention when vital issues are at stake. I never did like soap operas anyway.
Weiner's got bigger problems than a naughty image on the net. The country doesn't need such a ridiculous distraction at this critical time. -bidn-
BIT, if ya think it a waste
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:49pm.
BIT, if ya think it a waste then don't watch it. I personally thought 24/7 coverage for 2 weeks about a wedding was fluff and turned it off.
I respectfully disagree with
Submitted by Van Halen on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:24am.
I respectfully disagree with you, BID, this is HUGE. If the story can be kept on the Weiner, the Weiner might be forced to step down. Remember the plans of the Weiner. Congressman, then NYC Mayor, then much bigger things with much bigger control. Let's nip this in the bud while we can. After all, our guy had to leave because he sent a photo of himself without a shirt to someone and we just lost that district in NY because of it. By the way, where the he11 is the Republican Congress on the Weiner? Has anyone even heard from them in oh, four months?
Someone has to say it!
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:16pm.
Well, I wouldn't say this is HUGE......
OK, OK, I'm leaving now.......
I do agree VH
Submitted by Boil It Down on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:32pm.
If and when it comes to a point where Weiner is made to step down, that would be a great benefit to the nation in my opinion. I just think it's taking up a bit too much of the news cycle with too much pointless speculation. I didn't mean to quit paying attention at all. -bidn-
People...
Submitted by DemsRFascists on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:37pm.
Congressman Weiner's account was hacked, plain and simple.
On an otherwise unrelated note, according to then HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi, the CIA LIED TO CONGRESS.
Neither abuses require investigation, however.
That is all.
Weiner is definitely his
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 05/31/2011 - 11:47pm.
Weiner is definitely his name. In all of the interviews I have seen him do he is the most arrogant SOB around. And he lies like nobodies business. If there were a stereotype of a NY Democrat then it is Weiner.
That's why I think that this
Submitted by killa37 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:36am.
That's why I think that this twerp is Chuck U. Schuuuuumah's illegitimate bastard son from hell. He is like Schuuuuuuuuumah on steroids. And he looks a lot like Chuck also - and this is NOT a compliment!!! And I've seen him going off in Congress..........being a complete drama queen and self-absorbed idiot who is capable of making a lot of noise, but not much sense..............
I'm a pretty mellow guy, but these types of delusional dorks NEED a couple of off-the-cuff slaps now and then, JUST to get their attention off of themselves.
Tonight's Lawrence O'Donnell show.
Submitted by Texndoc on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:20am.
There was a sub host, don't know his name. His guest was a columnist from Huff Po. All was well as they were both bashing Breitbart, which was WHAT WAS PLANNED, but then she had the nerve to say "he really should say whether he sent it or not or whether the FBI is involved" and that left sub-host speechless and somewhat flustered. Uhmm......he should???!!!!!
Anyway, ultimately this will in the end just ruin his planned job change to New York City Mayor he had all lined up for 2013. I didn't even know that until I saw his "Mayor Weiner " webpage.
Careful, TxDoc
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:40am.
Be very careful! Lest like Hercules, you be tricked by Atlas into holding up the Earth.
Doubtless there are writers here at NB who'd gladly relinquish the duty of watching Lawrence O'Donnell for less stomach-turning pursuits.
Texndoc,
Submitted by Chris Norman on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:11am.
"I didn't even know that until I saw his "Mayor Weiner " webpage."
If he won, would that make him an Oscar Mayor Weiner? :)
I demand to be heard............. no bun intended....
Submitted by Tomorama on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:57am.
Can we just REVOKE Chris's posting privilidges RIGHT NOW?????
God that was awful Chris, plain (no ketchup) awful............................................................................................................................................
I relish you getting the boot............
Tomorama...
Submitted by Chris Norman on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 10:05am.
*lease forgive me, I mustard been out of my mind.... :)
It is not complicated at all.
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:19am.
Rep. Weiner is claiming someone else sent a tweet using his account (hacked).
All websites have logs of ip addresses that access accounts. Rep. Weiner was making tweets both before and after the tweet in question. It would show the ip address of his blackberry device. (which I believe he was using). The tweet in question would show a login from another ip address if his account was hacked as he says.
Otherwise, if all logins show his ip address from his device. Yeah, someone's nose is growing.
Vet
Submitted by Noel Sheppard on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:25am.
Vet,
Your comment about his nose is interesting for every time I saw him on TV today, it looked like it was getting bigger and bigger - and I'm not being facetious. ns
Nothing is ever "erased" these days
Submitted by Iron Zerg on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:40am.
That's exactly why he doesn't want to open any sort of investigation. It'll probably take a computer forensics team 5 minutes to located all the data Weiner thought he "erased" and track everything back to his own devices.
The reality is, in this day and age, nothing is erased from any electronic data source, especially something that exists in an online space, like Twitter or Facebook. I can 100% guarantee you there are digital records of every step Weiner took, every message he sent (both public and private), and every lewd photograph he's posted. Some 20-something in his office has probably let him in on this, and now he's trying to stall thing as long as possible, hoping it will blow over before someone does investigate.
Tornado Victim: "Obama Said 'We're Going To Help ' Thats a Lie'
Submitted by im41 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:34am.
Tornado Victim: "Obama Came Here And Said 'We're Going To Help Everybody.' That's A Lie"
http://conservativeblogscentral.blogspot.com/2011/05/tornado-victim-obam...
Obama not getting any love from the black community in tornado damaged areas. Or at least none from Shirley, living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama!
obamas' defeat will be sweet
Submitted by gAMEoVER on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:43am.
Never like to wish time away,but Obama is finished 2012.
Shirley is Starting to Realize the Awful Truth...
Submitted by Tenebrous on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 5:40pm.
...and the awful truth is this: not all blacks think like Obama, and thus, not all blacks deserve to be protected/helped/saved/etc. Or did she think Obama was going to do the job required of him as president? Come on. He's got a golf game to play.
Visions and Principles blog
Hmmmm, the left hand is
Submitted by dscott on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 2:32am.
Hmmmm, the left hand is flailing vigorously attracting attention, what is the right hand doing?
Prestidigitation.
For what reason is the MSM following the Weiner story? What's in it for Obama? What has he done? What hasn't he done? Lybia boots on the ground? Obama in violation of War Powers Resolution as grounds for impeachment? The US financial situation deteriorating? The Fed printing more money? The Fed stop printing money causing interest rates to rise? Obama lost the debt limit fight and now come the spending cuts? Afghanistan? The Muslim Brotherhood took Egypt? Iran now has the A-bomb? Honduras fallen to Communists?
Am I being too cynical here? A Conspiracy Theory? Given the shallowness of America's appetite for paying attention to scandal like a slow mo chase of OJ's white Ford Bronco over that of substantive issues I suspect something's a foot.
The Darjeeling express had a
Submitted by shannon76 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 4:19am.
The Darjeeling express had a sharp takedown of two JournoListers, Jeff Toobin and Christopher Hayes, saying the same things and blaming the whole story on Breitbart:
http://thedarjeelingexpress.wordpress.com/
Weiner's big mistake
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 6:30am.
is in trying to portray himself as "accessible" by coming out to talk to the press and then refusing to answer questions.
You're right, but he can't help himself
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:45am.
As we've seen with face-to-face interviews over the years, the arrogant Weiner thinks he can outwit any interviewer and get himself out of any jam by turning the questions around or detouring the line of questioning, as he did with his reference to a guy throwing a pie at a gathering of 45,000 people.
This time it's gotten the better of him. He couldn't resist the temptation to stay and tough it out, but the longer he dodged the question, the more guilty he looked.
As evidenced by his tweeting of a lewd photo to a 21 year old woman, Weiner appears to be a narcissist, and narcissists believe that (a) they are superior persons, (b) everybody envies them, and (c) everyone wants to bring them down.
That's Wiener.
Very well rehearsed
Submitted by Model850 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 4:03pm.
". . . his reference to a guy throwing a pie at a gathering of 45,000 people."
That whole analogy about "giving a speech etc., etc.," is so well rehearsed it's like multiple takes of a scene on a movie set. Listen to him as he recites his lines. Every time the pauses and inflections are almost identical.
To me an analogy that well rehearsed screams evidence of a guilty mind. I wonder if he had help writing the script?
It's a NY thang: "Wherever two cameras shall gather..."
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:51am.
Remember, he succeeded Shmucky Schumer.
If he robbed a 7-11 in disguise, Weiner would risk breaking his neck to dive in front of a camera to deny he was even in the area.
Motherbelt, exactly
Submitted by Texndoc on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:51am.
I think his "press conference" will go in any politician's handbook as one of the biggest blunders ever when trying to hide a scandal. You know, "obnoxious rude New York" may play in New York, but "obnoxious rude New York" doesn't play anywhere else in the country. I've gone from Conservative to Liberal website this morning - if he's not being mocked mercilessly on both, he's being pitied as dead in the water politically now from people who used to be on his side.
Jon Stewart covers for him (of course) by being an ex-college roommate and "Weiner isn't that big"??? Isn't that sort of.....how do you know?......did you measure or compare......what the..........?????
The dog ate my
Submitted by dr-go on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:51am.
homework. I promise to bring it in tomorrow (only after I've seen what everyone else wrote). Woe! Anthony is a pathetic little fellow whose caustic and sarcastic demeanors have finally overtaken him and the "press" is only too happy to oblige. "Some say" (you know, those intellectuals that the media go to for opinions), what goes around comes back to bite you.
Your minds are in the gutter
Submitted by paragrouper on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:41am.
All of you. It was his NOSE in the undies, for crying out loud! Don't tell me you've never seen a politician with his head up his fourth point of contact before.
No party id on the Today Show
Submitted by averageschmoe on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:10am.
The Today show did a lengthy report at 7:00 am this morning.
There was no politcal party identification anywhere.
I figure with their liberal audience by not reporting he is a Democrat, the sheep that watch the channel will just assume he is another Republican.
The best part of the story is
Submitted by celator on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:22am.
The best part of the story is that Weiner was married in a ceremony officiated by that paragon of marital fidelity--Bill Clinton! Can't make this stuff up.
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-07-11/local/27069600_1_wedding-spot...
Oh, the....
Submitted by sherlock1 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:35am.
Oh, the Huma-weenie!!
Awwww.
Submitted by c5then on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:38am.
Leave Mr. Weiner alone... He is a victim. His account was hacked and the hacker, after spending all the time and effort to hack the account of an elected federal official (a felony) sent exactly one picture to one girl out in Seatle. That is perfectly reasonable. Happens all the time. There have been many cases of federal officials and elected representatives having their on-line accounts hacked and having one picture sent to one individual. Yeah...that's the ticket.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
LOL - Weinergate!
Submitted by Galvanic on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:48am.
This petulant putz is now embroiled in a scandal of his own making. It may be schadenfreude, but I enjoy watching this guy squirm.
I am at a loss here. I would
Submitted by Mazzi on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:10am.
I am at a loss here. I would love to have some reason to complain about (another) hypocritical libtard, but what exactly is the story here? I saw the picture that was purportedly sent to this girl, and while distasteful, it wasn't really lewd. I have seen more graphic bulges in underwear ads.
OK- I also understand that he seems to have a thing for young-ish hot women. But that's not really our concern, is it? I mean, if he is not using his publicly funded office to have trysts with these women, and they are of-age, why do we care? His WIFE might care (if he has one), but that should be between them. This feels like tabloid coverage, and frankly if we expect politicians to be flawless, perfect people with no skeletons, we will get more Obamas (with NO history).
The only part that I care about is the lying. There are two acceptable, ethical ways to answer reporter questions in a case like this: tell the truth, or refuse to discuss it. If Weiner is lying, then we should care - so in this case, the damage is done. But really, why do we care? We KNOW he is a liberal, and a politician, so he is automatically not going to score high up in the ethics area.
There are enough legitimate concerns that we should be focusing on right now. Whether that pic was Weiner's weiner or not is not one of them. Just my own (and very humble) opinion.
Mazzi - tell your story to all the Republicans forced to resign.
Submitted by acaiguana on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:27am.
Over less obscene photos and e-mails sent to inappropriate recipients.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
I know. I say the exact same
Submitted by Mazzi on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 2:58pm.
I know. I say the exact same thing about them - and Tiger Woods too. I just don't understand how we have become such a voyeuristic society.
~Ethics
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 3:07pm.
The fact is, if you have no problem being unfaithful to your wife you'll have no problem being unfaithful to your public duty. A scumbag is a scumbag whether he's at home or in the office. Character matters.
Precisely!
Submitted by Unsane on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 5:56pm.
This is EXACTLY why adultery is punishable under the UCMJ in the military.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
~And then there's the matter
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 6:24pm.
of opening yourself up to blackmail.
Point taken, and it's a valid
Submitted by Mazzi on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 6:40pm.
Point taken, and it's a valid one. But think about who we are dealing with here. Our politicians do not just somehow "end up" in their positions of power. Most of them get there because they are willing to lie, steal and cheat to get there. The acquisition of power is so important to these self-centered narcissists that it overrides all ethics and morals. I guess what I am saying is that it goes with the territory. If we can't find a way to stop rewarding the kinds of people who will do anything to grab power, then we will continue to get these scumballs in office. It's a real catch-22.
~But if they don't go down for this
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 6:50pm.
what will they ever go down for?
Say what?
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:00pm.
I doubt Weiner will go down :-)
Once the trap snaps shut
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:53pm.
Weiner will go down,,,,,,,, well unless he see's a photo of Joyless Bahar first?
lol
Submitted by vatvoo on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:20am.
that dude comes off as being WAY too full of himself.
www.privacy-web.no.tc
"WAY too full of himself"
Submitted by Texndoc on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:35am.
Perfectly put. And why it is so wonderful. A narcissist who's turned himself instantly into punch-line when he thought he was so ......... "important".
It was so nice to see the Weiner get slammed by the Alphabet
Submitted by acaiguana on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:24am.
I have zero use for CNN after it slimed our military but in this instance, it actually pretended to do its job.
Weiner of the 'chattering classes' fame is now himself sounding like a chip monk chattering his way out of a trap.
Heh heh heh heh heh
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Minor quibble [pun intended]
Submitted by Beukeboom on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:33am.
Noel, one minor quibble with your first paragraph..."21-year-old girl"...at 21 years of age, isn't "girl" a bit of a misnomer? I think at 21 years of age, "woman" would be more appropriate.
As I said...minor quibble.
Anyway, I have a little theory on why the MSM is paying more attention that usual on this considering the "[D]" behind Weiner's name.
If memory serves me correctly, Weiner has a history of treating reporters with open contempt and sometimes severe condescension. So to paraphrase: hell hath no fury like a reporter scorned.
It remains to be seen
Submitted by bkeyser on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:38am.
if the media coverage is sincere. The media typically has a short attention span, and clearly, that's what Weiner is counting on. He'll refuse to even stand for an interview now (after yesterday's CNN debacle) and just assume the Democrat-friendly media will bore on this and move on to something else, just as he's been suggesting.
What needs to be looked at is the comparison of coverage relative to Christopher Lee.
From Kyle Drennen: "While NBC, ABC, and CBS all pushed the scandal involving New York Republican Congressman Christopher Lee into a second day of coverage,..."
From Scott Whitlock: "All three evening newscasts on Wednesday and the morning shows on Thursday identified disgraced former Congressman Chris Lee as a Republican."
By the way- (and I said I wouldn't link this, but shameless is my middle name) I have it on good authority that the actual picture could not have been Anthony Weiner. He apparently let it all hang out at a closed fundraiser last year. Some say they heard him exclaim, "It puts the lotion on it's skin!" before leaving the podium and exposing more than just his agenda for Congress. (NSFW)
I don't blame Weiner. He is a jerk and he was born that way.
Submitted by jawebster1 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:52am.
I blame the people who actually voted for him and put him in office and thereby imposed him on the rest of us. (The same for Barney Frank, Pelosi, Al Franken, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Henry Waxman and so on...)
Weiner clearly expected to get the typical hospitable
Submitted by Lipton on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:37am.
press that is available exclusively for Democrats. He clearly got caught off guard.
Weiner is a safe target
Submitted by Hoosier Conservative on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 9:47am.
He attacks Obama for not being far left enough, was one of the first to complain about Obamacare right after it passed. Not to mention he is just a goofy guy who is naturally easy to portray as a joke. Sometimes the media takes these guys - like they did with Alan Grayson - and throw him under the bus to protect the Democrat party.
I wouldn't be surprised if Team Obama "casually mentioned" to certain editors that no one cares about Weiner.
big mouth-caught with his pants down
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:02am.
with the inter-net being used to send porn-FBI might want to have a chat with old big mouth.
those elected officials caught in this situation-lying must resign. we have been told this by liberals whenever a conservative is caught.
his wife must really be happy-
FREAK
About Political 'Distractions'
Submitted by Gazinya on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:04am.
I read here where people are wanting more about what is 'important' and not wasting time on these 'distractions'. Well, I believe, that the word 'distraction' has become a tool to distract. Remember when The Obama called his history, grades, family, name, past associations, current associations, income, worldview(oh wait, that was never asked) past achivements, current achivements, where the $100 million from the Anneburg Foundation for schools went, were all 'distractions'. And it seemed the media readily accepted that these things were distractions and quit talking about them.
To define a policy of 'hope and change' was a distraction. Mr 'Hot Dog' says he has more important things to discuss beside whether he is a stalker of young or underaged girls. This is a 'distraction' from the important job of 'doing the peoples work'. It is time, past time, for this nation to look hard at the 'distractions' that have waylayed our culture, economy, national spirit and exceptionalism.
Boil this dog.
Endearing
Submitted by xraynova on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:13am.
Weiner calling the interviewer a "jackass" was clearly a term of endearment, identifying the leftwing extremist "journalist" as a democrat.
A Different View
Submitted by Gat New York on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:17am.
The timing of this is interesting.
Weiner was a strong proponent of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and equally strong opponent of Barack Obama for that nomination in 2008. Weiner even married an aid to Hillary Clinton. Given his history, Obama has very thin skin and a very long memory.
Also, the day after Obama gave that deplorable Middle East speech three New York democrats came out and distanced themselves from that speech: Eliot Engle, Steven Israel and Anthony Weiner. Weiner went before the cameras and was very upset with how Obama set up Netanyahu.
For all of his left wing policy views, Weiner has always been a very strong advocate for Israel and ones that are not consistent with Obama.
Maybe it is a stretch but given what we have seen from Barack Obama and his Chicago mafia I would not be surprised if Weiner was set up in order to force him to resign his seat. Even with a special election there is no chance of a Republican winning Weiner's seat.
That could also be why we have seen this covered as quickly and effectively by the mainstream media.
Obama political assasination and dirty tricks
Submitted by Gat New York on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:57pm.
To add to what I posted, My theory about Weiner is supported by past actions of Obama.
During the U.S. Senate primary for the Democratic nomination Barack Obama was significantly trailing Blair Hull when in the weeks leading up to the primary election the media suddenly released Hull's divorce records which only alleged that he abused his former wife. There was no time for Hull to recover and Obama quickly filled the vacuum to win the nomination.
LIghtening struck twice, when Obama was facing a popular figure in Republican Jack Ryan who had been divorced from actress Jeri Ryan. Their divorce records were sealed the protect the interests of their young child. Certain pro-Obama media sources went to L.A. and sued to have the records released. A liberal judge went along with it. What was revealed permanently damaged Ryan and he was forced to withdraw from the race.
Before Ryan's departure from the race, Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., (now Obama Transportation Secretary) who had publicly called on Ryan to step down, went farther, saying: "I don't think there's any support."
Two opponents favored to beat Obama – two suddenly released divorce documents – and Obama wins both elections. Coincidence? Add to that the charges if Bill Clinton racism during the Presidential primary campaign and other acts and you have a pattern of dirty tricks and political assassination by Obama and his Chicago mafia.
That is why I think there could be more to the Weiner twitter issue than what is on the surface.
~
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:19pm.
That is why I think there could be more to the Weiner twitter issue than what is on the surface.
The jokes write themselves, here.
GAT, if you are correct about
Submitted by dscott on Thu, 06/02/2011 - 2:04am.
GAT, if you are correct about this possible angle, what we have here then is Obama literally threatening members of the Democrat Party if they publicly oppose his policies. The only strategy for saving Obama at this point for re-election is for the Dems to vote as a block in the Senate to prevent any GOP initiatives. ALL Dems are now on notice that any straying from the official agenda is at their personal peril. This smacks of Rahm Emanual strong arming members to do as they are told. Yeap, I do believe what we are seeing here is PARTY DISCIPLINE. The fact that the far left Weiner is being beat up by the MSM (who are shilling for Obama and working for his re-election) shows the extent Obama and the liberals are willing to go to advance their agenda. At this point, they don't need to pass any more liberal initiatives, they need only to stonewall the country into total financial chaos to bring about Obama's TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.
Republicans make
Submitted by wiwf on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:21am.
Republicans make Weiner-"Wiener" jokes, Democrats make Boehner-"Boner" jokes. Cute.
I agree
Submitted by desert3030 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:02am.
He should turn this over to the Capital Police, FBI and any/all governmental agency that should be involved in this "unjust act" to taint a fine representative from the state of New York. We know he has only the best of intentions of the American public front on center....at all times
Surely the fact that he has and odd and unusal number of young woman he twitters has nothing to do with anything. Who ever said he was Barney Frank? Additionally the fact that he can't give a two letter anwser (no) too many of the questions should have no bearing on the situation.
He married Hillary's gal pal, so maybe it is that right wing out to get him? 5 will get 10, he slipped playing with the weiner and got caught, as they all do sooner or later. Now let's see how honorable he is?
It's not all bad news, Weiner-following chicks:
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:07am.
Since we now know Weiner is afflicted with the dreaded 90° right angle, left-leaning wood, the good news is that you may have relations with him while merely standing next to him.
In Weinergate it's not about breaking the story. No Foley
Submitted by Dee Bunk on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:20am.
I completely disagree that the coverage has been fair and this is not comparable to the Foley Paige scandal. It is comparable to the toe tap incident because in that case and in Weinergate, the story was out.
Sitting on a story before it's broke is completely different than sitting on it or skewing it once it's out. From what I've seen, CNN and Fox have been fair the rest of the networks and NPR haven't. Mediaite has been surprisingly fair but only after being called out for first trashing Andrew Breitbart and ignoring facts.
Besides CNN and Fox, most others have bent over backwards to give Wiener the benefit of the doubt despite the fact that he hasn't called for an investigation and the many suspicious things about his activity. Some have outright distorted the facts saying that he caught the photo right away because he had just been tweeting minutes before when it was actually hours.
If this story were about an Evan Bayh type Democrat, then I could see giving him the benefit of the doubt IF an investigation was underway. But Anthony Weiner is a flame- throwing far left liberal AND there is no investigation into the alleged hacker.
Weiner is much more of a flame-thrower than Newt Gingrich and yet he's never taken to task by the liberal media as Gingrich is. If this were Donald Trump's or Gingrich's twitter account, they'd be having a field day.
I don't like Anthony Weiner even a little bit
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:26am.
If someone were to produce a book of illustrated term definitions, his picture would be right next to the term crass communist a-hole from Hell.
However, sending slightly racy pics of himself to an adult female is hardly illegal, and far too much is being made of this, as it is distracting many from focussing on what Obama is currently doing to this republic, which is dismantling the private sector and turning those of us not part of the ruling elite class into a bunch of serfs.
As I see it, this is between Weiner, his wife, and his constituents.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Good points, BUT...
Submitted by Unsane on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 2:23pm.
I would fully agree if Republicans weren't hounded out of office for less. For me, this story exposes just how biased the media is.
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Late to the dance. By the
Submitted by Ruths husband Ben on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:33am.
Late to the dance. By the time I heard this story all the good Wiener puns and ridicule had already been posted either here or on another site. I am totally bummed.
By the way, what ever happened to Captionfest? Wouldn't the photo in question have made a great one?
Weiner
Submitted by jessieH on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:44am.
There needs to be an investigation.
Weinergate....weinergate....weinergate...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:50am.
It just never gets old, does it?
weinergate, weinergate, weinergate......
Another case of...
Submitted by StarAZ on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 11:59am.
NAME AS DESTINY? Pretty funny if so.
Sponsored by Oscar Meyer.
Submitted by Beukeboom on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:31pm.
Sponsored by Oscar Meyer.
Dem Congressman goes over Viagra Falls
Submitted by Rackie on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 10:56pm.
All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't make up this shit.
~Money quote
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:07pm.
"I'm going to have to ask you to follow some rules here" --Dem Congressman to press
Some people have all the luck
Submitted by zachlind on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:19pm.
As I read Noel’s post I couldn’t help but feel for media people in general who struggle daily with their headlines in the effort to make them descriptive enough to convey to the reader what the story is about. Some people have all the luck. Keep up the good work Noel.
Trolls are cool. I heart Democrats!
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:35pm.
Who wants to check my junk?
Oh my heavens, I was just hacked.
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:37pm.
Oh well. Time to move on. Don't want to be distracted. Hey, there might be a heckler or suntin or someone throwing a pie.
Nothing to see here. Don't want to notify the admins or nuttin'.
Don't wanna get distracted.
Rilly. I am over it. Don't wanna be distracted.
Submitted by The Vet on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 12:49pm.
It is like, say I was giving a speech and I see this guy at the back of the room and I start to think to myself, what if he was a heckler or hidin' a pie to throw at me. And I am lookin' and giving my speech and I am watchin' him and I see him, he starts to open his mouth so I just up and drop trou. And the guy finally opens his mouth and says, "Say dude? You sportin' a woody?"
See. See my analogy? Beats lying in front of cameras.
I am over it. I was hacked. Wrongfully wronged. It's done. I am so over it dude. Why aren't you people?
I kept waiting for him to say
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:09pm.
I misspoke,,,,
I hear some stripper was backing him up, suggesting he never tried anything unappropriated with her?
You think thats good business?
I almost crashed when I heard that,
~Yeah, that's it
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:38pm.
When you get caught sending a picture of your married stuff to a 21 year old you want a stripper to jump in there and vouch for your character.
Excuse me, "porn star". She's a porn star.
ROFL
Cue shawn
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:37pm.
But but but porn stars and strippers are just as wonderful as your mother! How dare you imply they sell their bodies for money!
Ugh.
~No, they're better
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:43pm.
Because a good Christian considers a whore to be better than herself. According to the Gospel of Shawn.
LOL
Oh, I thought he
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:46pm.
Was saying, a good whore was better.
I better go find another thread?
Gag lines:
Submitted by Slyrr on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:00pm.
Everyone put your gag media headlines here:
'Everyone laughs at Congressman's Wiener.'
'GOP demands Wiener withdrawl.'
'Experts determine Weiner too small to positively identify.'
'Wiener's removal from government is painful.'
Can we call it a tallywacker?
Submitted by bkeyser on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:07pm.
Can we call it a tallywacker?
Yo Tony....
Submitted by bigdaddy on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:54pm.
..what brand of skivies do you prefer? I'm thinking "Fruit of the Loon" or "Fruit of the Goon"...
Nothing will change
Submitted by Caringwhiteguy on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 1:57pm.
Assuming Congressman Weiner is eventually forced out of office, his district will just replace him with another whose politics are virtually the same. I say leave him alone. He's good for the entertainment value. The Congressional vote total will not change one bit if someone replaces Weiner. However, it might be fun to see if he can be "Foleyized" to some extent.
Weiner begins to crack: "Yeah, that might be my woodie."
Submitted by SickofLibs on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 2:06pm.
LOL
~Here it comes....
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 2:46pm.
"It was late, I was tired, I'd had too many non-fat vanilla chai soy lattes, I had a new phone with a 12 megapixel camera and a macro setting and I thought, "Why not?.
I think it's time for your own show now
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 6:58pm.
Someone should be paying for that wit,
: ]
~Things got kinda hazy after that
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:17pm.
Guys were wandering in and out, pictures were taken, numbers exchanged, and when I woke up I was under my desk wearing nothing but a smile and a Post-It on my forehead that said, "Weiner is a Sucker".
Touché, Barney.
~You've all heard of "butt-dialing", right?
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:22pm.
Well, I, Anthony Weiner, am the very first "butt-Tweeter". Or perhaps it could be called, "Weiner-Tweeter". I always wanted to have something named after me.
I heard he was twitering
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:51pm.
With his wiener, he thought it was easier then using his pinky
Hey, I meant Oscar Mayer
~Some people
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:53pm.
carry a toothpick to press those tiny little buttons with. Some people don't NEED NO STINKIN' TOOTHPICK.
Weiner
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:43pm.
was waiting for the reviews to come out before he admitted it was him in the photos.
~I already had a female liberal on FB
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:52pm.
indignantly tell me that he is NOT "a little prick".
I said, "I guess it depends on what you're used to".
If the best his defenders can do is act impressed about size, you know they know he's finished.
Our Bru, always makin' friends,
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 8:29pm.
or putting liberals in their place.
You had me rollling with that one.
The fact that Weiner pointedly won't answer direct questions...
Submitted by PrairieSky on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 3:06pm.
about this, and hasn't (and apparently won't) ask for any kind of official investigation of what he himself says is a case of hacking, which is against the law, tells me that he is the one who sent the picture in question (and that in all likelihood the photo is of him), and that he seems to make a habit of following a number of young, college-age women on Twitter. Interesting...very interesting indeed.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction...It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them (our children) to do the same." ~President Ronald Reagan
*****HEADLINES*****
Submitted by Joe W. on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 3:16pm.
"WEINER HACKED!!!!------LORENA BOBBITT QUESTIONED!!!"
I'm not surprised Horshack's
Submitted by Lgbpop on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 3:37pm.
I'm not surprised Horshack's weiner points left, it's rather appropriate. (Or is that Weiner's horshack?)
OMG, the possibilities for puns on this make my head swell.
I look forward to seeing
Submitted by Captain Repus on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 5:01pm.
I look forward to seeing weiner chew off his own leg (or other part) in a desperate attempt to escape this trap he has blindly stepped into. Couldn't have happened to a more worthy person.
He has become the butt of jokes
Submitted by Vonu on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 5:40pm.
Oh, the irony.
Mark is all over this
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 06/01/2011 - 7:43pm.
If the FBI questions him, and he is found to lie, he is in a bind. Mark also ask, how many of us, know that not our wiener, why doesnt Wiener