Anthony Weiner: The bad, the ugly and the poetic
New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner speaks during a news conference alongside his wife Huma Abedin on Tuesday. The former congressman says he’s not dropping out of the race in light of newly revealed explicit online correspondence.
Weinergate, we hardly knew ye -- and apparently, readers liked it that way.
With disgraced ex-congressman-turned-redemptive New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner facing yet another sexting scandal, every reader who has sent us a letter so far has made light of his latest embarrassment (though at Weiner’s expense) or told the Democratic politician to -- again -- go away.
Weiner’s political fortunes depend in large part (OK, probably mostly) on how forgiving voters are. Before this latest humiliation, polls suggested they had indeed moved on from his first scandal and were willing to give him another chance at a political career. Although our readers may not be New York voters, their opinions show that Weiner may have finally exhausted that trust.
POLITICAL SCANDALS: Sex, lies and lawsuits
Here is a selection of those letters.
Denny Freidenrich of Laguna Beach responds to Robin Abcarian’s piece on Weiner’s wife:
“Robin Abcarian’s perspective on Huma Abedin doesn’t say it, but I will: She is a battered wife.
“I don’t know what goes on behind their four walls, but here on the outside it’s pretty obvious: Weiner is a repeat offender whose actions are as offensive as an abusive husband or father.
“Abedin, and all New Yorkers, will be safer if he is in therapy and not a candidate for office.”
Pacific Palisades resident Gregory Alper waxes poetic:
“Anthony Weiner’s actions are nothing if not limerick worthy. Here’s my version:
Online ladies call me Carlos Danger
And with sexting I’m never a stranger.
My image is cleaner, now says Mr. Weiner
But a leopard is not a spot changer.
Charles P. Martin of Los Angeles wonders how many chances politicians like Weiner will get:
“How many times must the American people continue to watch bad behavior from our elected officials, while their mummified spouses stand by and stand up for these guys? The excuses they give are enough to ban them from political office for life.
“And yet, and yet -- they still run for office, with no humility, shame or embarrassment.”
Paul Silverman finishes us off with a knee-slapper:
“Apparently Weiner should be running for mayor of San Diego, not New York.”
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