This latest episode involving Andrew Breitbart being interviewed by shock-jocks Opie and Anthony is taking things a little too far. First of all, what is Breitbart doing going on that show to begin with over this matter? What the Hell is he doing passing whatever photo he has to these two characters to pass around the room and have their security camera try to copy? This is the same pair who once broadcast from a church while a couple were having sex in a pew. I'll admit that I have also been a bit sophomoric with this story, but I think Breitbart chose the wrong venue here, and he shouldn't be so outraged that he got "burned".
Furthermore, I hope that Breitbart is not trying to hold that picture to try and pressure Weiner to resign from Congress. Yes, he was unfairly charged with hacking while Weiner let that charge play out as he denied the truth. That was despicable on Weiner's part. Yet, I find Breitbart's rushing from one interviewer to another a bit unseemly.
This story is starting to look like one with no heroes. I would hope that Weiner will wise up (for once in his life) and stop the bleeding by resigning. Thus, he may retain the last shred of dignity he has.
One reason I keep coming back here, is that Gary seems to have a sense of honor. I often find his judgement misplaced or incomplete, but once again, he has shown not only a sense of honor, but a sense of proportion, and a capacity for self-criticism.
ReplyDeleteAs for Weiner, he has, at the least, shown poor taste and poor judgement, and perhaps has impaired his ability to do the job he was elected to do. On the other hand, taking ribald pictures with a cell phone is neither here nor there to his position on legislation. Que sera sera.
Siarlys,
ReplyDeleteShould there be any standards of behavior for our elected officials-or does it just come down to what they accomplish legislatively?
Our elected officials should, in an ideal world, be role models. OF course I do understand that this is a ridiculous notion. Politicians are thought to be scumbags for a reason. Really though I suppose they are not any different than anyone else. If the car salesman down the street turned out to be a "cyber sexer"it is not "news" to anyone but the small circle of people who are personally affected. When these politicians (and others in the public eye) act foolishly there is a good deal of interest and coverage. It may be that we see our darker selves in their behavior and therefore we are quick to vilify that same behavior which we know full well that we could be capable of.
ReplyDeleteHowever most of us do not have the same problem that Anthony does. The unfortunate last name of Weiner.
Sorry couldn't resist.
Standards of behavior... well, a public official should first of all not break one of the laws they are responsible for passing. They of all people should have the courage to REPEAL the law, for all of us, if they really think the action proscribed is acceptable. Breitbart has hardly made a case that Weiner broke a law, just that he made a fool of himself.
ReplyDeleteElliott Spitzer broke a law, and did so while he was attorney general as well governor. Larry Craig is more a hypocrite than anything else, being of the rapidly anti-gay wing of his party. I don't put you in that category: since you object to hanging gay men in Iran, I presume you accept that they have a right to the peace and quiet enjoyment of their own homes, businesses, etc. in the USA. But soliciting in a men's room IS a crime.
Sometimes you make yourself ineffective by making a fool of yourself. If you are no longer effective, you should resign. It is not clear whether Weiner had made it impossible to function as an effective representative for his constituents.
In the case of Clinton, he deserved to be disbarred, as he was, but the USA was better off with him in office, where he remained effective, rather than throwing him out. Hillary was entitled to hit him over the head with a cast iron frying pan.
There is an old story that Gen. Patton, visiting a hospital in France, slapped a soldier being treated for shell shock, and called him a coward. Some news reporters wanted him fired. The Wehrmacht couldn't believe the U.S. would even consider firing one of their most able generals in war time over such a matter. He may have deserved to be fired, but sometimes you do what you have to do to win. Sometimes that applies in politics, too.
Siarlys,
ReplyDeleteI have made it a point to mention Craig and Vitter. I don't care whether or not Craig is gay. It still seems to me that you think as long as Weiner is effective and has not broken any laws he should not resign. If he stays, this will be on him every time he opens his mouth in Congress. His credibility and judgement can be trusted by no one. He is and will always be a joke.
That is something Weiner must consider. If he finds he is utterly ineffective on the floor, perhaps he will resign. If his constituents reject him, perhaps he at least will not run again.
ReplyDeleteBut Gary... when did you acquire such a deep concern for the effectiveness of the quasi-liberal wing of the Democratic Party in getting their agenda across on the floor of congress? Does that REALLY matter to you?
Were I a Republican, maybe I would be hoping he stays so as to have an election issue. I would rather see a government I can respect.
ReplyDelete