Progressive Hypocrisy: Rachel Maddow on Anthony Weiner X-Rated Scandal

The headline at Breitbart: "FEMINISM OFFICIALLY DEAD: MADDOW CHARACTERIZES WEINER’S BEHAVIOR AS ‘BAD MANNERS’."

Maddow's comment about Congressman Weiner's "bad manners of Facebook" comes at the end of the discussion, but it's not the most egregious statement she made. Maddow, like other progressives down the line, standing up against calls for Weiner's resignation, argues that sending pictures of erect male organs around the web is just a matter of "more gossip than news":

This is not a matter of political hypocrisy. He never ran for office by saying, 'I Anthony Weiner have great sexual morality and other people have bad sexual morality and I'll legislate against them ...

She then goes off on making absurd comparisons to Republican David Vitter, and claims "no one in the Republican Party has called for him to resign ..." Actually, Republicans were the first to report the news of David Vitter's relationship with a prostitute, and conservatives denounced him. Indeed, in the Weiner case, Andrew Breitbart has repeatedly stated that this kind of behavior is unconscionable by Democrats and Republicans alike.

What we have here is a longstanding progressive double-standard. See Zombie, "Why the Hypocrisy Defense is political suicide for liberalism."

Read it all.

Moral relativism. Situational ethics. By any name, a bankruptcy of decency on the left.

RELATED: "Progressive Bloggers Are Anthony Weiner’s Biggest Defenders."

Jeff Jarvis: 'I Was Wrong About Anthony Weiner'

I called this guy "a bleedin' idiot" last week, so it's only fair to give credit where credit's due.

At Huffington Post, "My Weiner Confession: I Was Wrong":

I just want to get this on the record and off my (fully clothed) chest: I was wrong about Anthony Weiner.

I'd said nothing about the whole hoo-ha because I didn't think it was worth the attention. Then I got a call from Howard Kurtz' Reliable Sources to come on last Sunday and talk about it. My wife said, Why are you doing that? I said, I'll be on the right side. As always, she was right. On the show, I said that media were using this as an opportunity for sophomoric jokes and that the fuss over a penis was a symptom of American Puritanism. What's the worst that happened here? I asked: So what if he had a stupid picture on his phone and accidentally tweeted it, so long as he wasn't sexually harassing anyone? But that's not the worst that happened.

Weiner lied. That is the story. That's what haters said in email to me after the CNN segment. They were right.

There's more at the link above, but that's the gist of it. And that's quite a lot. It takes maturity and responsibility to admit when you're wrong, qualities that Charles Johnson clearly lacks. Folks are still waiting for the rest of the left's huge Weiner supporters to come clean. Progressives got beat up on this. Defending this behavior is itself indefensible.

Note: That's the rare link to Little Green Footballs. I don't usually do the delinking thing all that much. It's mostly Charles Johnson and RACIST REPSAC = CASPER. I link Lawyers, Guns and Murder all the time, or at least I had been, but I'm having some legal issues with one of the bloggers over there, so I've been holding back. It's not Dave Brockington, however. That dude's attacking critics of Anthony Weiner as "moral fascists," which is really too much. Goes with the territory at LGM, and I'll have more about it later. Let's just say that folks like that haven't a thread of the integrity of Jeff Jarvis.

Anthony Weiner Sexting Scandal Update

The Other McCain reports: "#WeinerGate: It Gets WORSE - UPDATE: Press Conference 4 p.m. ET UPDATE: ABC News Interviews Woman."

And at RadarOnline, "Weinergate Grows: Another Woman Provides Sex Messages From His Account." And Hollywood Life, "Anthony Weiner Sexting Scandal Continues As Another Woman Comes Forward!" (The post includes photos from Andrew Breitbart's Big Government!)

Added: At The Atlantic Wire, "Anthony Weiner: Resign or Not Resign?" And Nick Gillespie, "Probably About Time to Say Goodbye to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.)."

1:20 PM: I'm following on Twitter. Also, a Breitbart live feed.

Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin to Separate

I read this earlier today, at the New York Times, "Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin to Separate After His Latest Sexting Scandal."


Also at Memeorandum.

Carlos Danger's getting kicked to the curb.

And see Twitchy, "Bad omen? You bet! No wonder Anthony Weiner and Huma couldn’t make it work."

Previously Anthony Weiner blogging is here.

Calls for Anthony Weiner to Resign

At the clip, Andrew Breitbart expects Antony Weiner's resignation.

And see New York Times, "Weiner Faces Calls to Resign and Tries to Make Amends" (via Memeorandum):

[VIDEO TAKEN DOWN]

Representative Anthony D. Weiner of New York, reeling from revelations of salacious online behavior that threaten his political career, moved rapidly on Tuesday to make amends as Republicans called for his resignation and leading members of his own Democratic Party distanced themselves from him.

Mr. Weiner spent much of the past 24 hours apologizing over and over to stunned Congressional colleagues and Democratic leaders angry at him for misleading them and the public. Even neighboring House Democrats seemed shaken, with many of them worrying that worse disclosures may still surface.

During a tense telephone call with Mr. Weiner, during which he apologized, Representative Nydia M. Velázquez of Brooklyn scolded him, as she recalled: “How can you explain that somebody can be so smart but so stupid?”

Asked if Mr. Weiner should resign, she replied, “The most important thing in this business is credibility.”

Signs of a redrawn political reality quickly emerged for Mr. Weiner, once considered a top contender to become mayor of New York. His campaign donors said they were especially shocked and furious because a week ago the congressman attributed his online travails to a “vast right-wing conspiracy,” a contributor who spoke with him said.

“Everything is going to be fine,” Mr. Weiner said, according to the contributor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the uncertainty surrounding the congressman’s future.

But Mr. Weiner’s problems have only intensified as new and more embarrassing details of his online relationships emerged. After adamantly proclaiming for a week that he had been the victim of a hacker, Mr. Weiner admitted during a tearful news conference on Monday that he had sent suggestive photographs and messages to at least six women and had repeatedly lied to cover up his actions.

RTWT. Bill and Hillary Clinton are said to be deeply upset by this (wonders never cease, I know). I'm personally surprised he's held out this long. I expected his resignation at the time of the press conference.

Lying Liar Anthony Weiner’s Underage Girl Problem

At Michelle's:

Touchy, touchy. Despite Team Anthony Weiner’s best efforts at political rehabilitation, there’s just no way to shore up his sorest scandal spot. As the New York Post reported this week, Weiner had a bit of a snit fit when a local Democratic official boldly slammed his sexting habits with underage girls.

Chris Owens, the Dems’ state committee member in northwest Brooklyn, called out the skeezy ex-congressman at a mayoral candidate forum. “I am outraged and disgusted by you,” Owens told Weiner. “Both by what you did and by the fact that you have the arrogance to run for mayor. I want to understand how you explain to us how you used a public facility to tweet offensive material to … minors you did not know, you then lied about it … and now you come back.” The hubristic horn-dog bared his teeth, got “snippy” and responded by snarling defensively that he’s “going to win this election and I’m going to govern this city really well.”

Don’t get ahead of yourself there, Tweety Boy. If more rank-and-file Democrats join Owens in focusing like a laser on Weiner’s underage-girl problem instead of soft-pedaling his “past issues” as “consensual” “online dalliances,” Icky-rus will fall again.

Continue reading.

And at the People's Cube, "Support Your Weiner In His Hour of Need!"

Anthony Weiner Sexting Underage Girl?

Well, the exact content of the tweets is unknown, but authorities are investigating, "Delaware Police Looking Into Weiner Tweets to a Minor." It's pretty outrageous, but we won't hear a word from Democrats and progressives. See, "Feckless feminists wimp out on Weinergate; Plus: Weiner’s lingering underage girl problem; Updated: 17-year-old gets cop visit; Pelosi doesn’t seem to care."

Also, at Big Government, "Police Investigating Alleged Online Communications Between Weiner and Underage Girl." (At Memeorandum.)

Added: Weiner confirms the reports: "Anthony Weiner admits contact with girl, 17."

Humiliating Tiny Stub of a Male Organ

Ouch.

From Ann Coulter, at Human Events:

Only a full and complete investigation will show that he had absolutely nothing to do with that humiliating photo of the tiny stub of a male organ sent to a 21-year-old coed from his Twitter address last Friday night.

And not kidding:

The reason the congressman is so eager to forgive the hacker is that there is no hacker. He cannot have an investigation for the simple reason that it will show that he posted the photograph himself.

In a panic when he saw he had hit the wrong button and sent a private tweet of his pecker to his entire Twitter following, Weiner blurted out the hacker defense, quickly typing: "FB hacked. Is my blender gonna attack me next?"

Unfortunately, there was no lawyer in the room to tell him: "Don't say that! They'll have to investigate!"

On Sunday, his staff followed up with a press release, saying: "Anthony's accounts were obviously hacked."

So he can't now claim he didn't say it.

After hiring a lawyer, Weiner quickly backpedaled from the "hacker" claim and began insisting, in another press release: "This was a prank. We are loath to treat it as more."
If it was a prank, then why did he hire a lawyer?

Weiner isn't a celebrity: He's a CONGRESSMAN. Whoever can hack into his Twitter account may be able to hack into other congressmen's accounts -- or into Weiner's briefing files from, say, the Department of Defense.

(Indeed, unless the alleged hacker is arrested, who knows how many Anthony Weiner penis shots could start circulating on Twitter?)

But when one of Weiner's colleagues, Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., requested a congressional investigation into cybersecurity based on Weiner's self-proclaimed computer attack on his Twitter account, Weiner denounced and insulted Stearns.

The best Weiner can do now is try to take his utterly humiliating penis photo out of the realm of criminal law by eliding "hacked" into "pranked." Legally, it's not clear what the difference is.

Huma Abedin, Wife of Congressman Anthony Weiner, Puts on Brave Face Amid Scandal

I feel bad for her. She's beautiful, and apparently a deeply trusted aid to Hillary Clinton. See London's Daily Mail, "As Weinergate goes on, Congressman's wife puts on a brave face and goes back to work with Hillary Clinton":

Amid the controversy and the scandal, as poised and unfaltering as ever, Anthony Weiner's wife returned to work.

Huma Abedin - who has only been married to the Congressman since July last year - put on a brave face and went to work as one of Hilary Clinton's most trusted aides.
The 34-year-old, who is the Secretary of State's right-hand woman, is said to have been carrying out her job as if nothing happened ...

RTWT (lots of photos.)

PREVIOUSLY: "Anthony Weiner's Political Obituary.

Added: At New York Post, "Weiner's unflappable wife finally gets flapped."

Kashmir Hill: The Perfect Media Storm That Is 'Weinergate'

She writes the "Private Parts" column at Forbes. And she's good:

Unless you unplugged during Memorial Day weekend, and never managed to plug back in, you’ve heard of ‘Weinergate.’ Back story for those that have been in the hospital with firework injuries: a conservative blog reported over the weekend that New York representative Anthony Weiner tweeted a photo of the Congressional member’s member at a young woman in Washington. No actual nudity was involved, though an outline of the littlest member of Congress is visible in the photo of gray boxer briefs and a man’s thighs.

The story has been the perfect storm for news coverage, involving social media, political scandal, and fun word play given Rep. Weiner’s last name.

Weiner has called it a prank, saying initially that his Twitter account must have been hacked. Lots of media are reporting on the story but with little evidence to go on. The photo was taken down right away from Rep. Weiner’s Yfrog account, saved and noticed only by a Twitter user with a conservative bias with the handle PatriotUSA76. Topsy.com indicates the original tweet was retweeted just 16 times, which seems odd since Weiner has tens of thousands of followers on Twitter.

Weiner himself originally joked about the incident, but now, Day 5 into Weinergate, is making clear that he’s sick of answering questions about it. The scandal would have stamina regardless, but unfortunately for Weiner, this happened at a terrible time — during a holiday weekend, when there’s little other news. Weiner’s attempts to move on seem to just be making it worse.

You can say that again.

More at the link.

Also at U.S. News, "PR Pros Say Weiner Is Bungling the Twitter Sex Scandal."

Fox News is reporting that Congressman Weiner will speak to the media shortly. I asked previously if Weiner would resign? I don't think so, but he may come clean and let the chips fall where they may. We'll see.

Anthony Weiner's Financial Disclosures

At National Journal, "Weiner OK Financially but Needs to Work":

If the Internet sex scandal that has already damaged Rep. Anthony Weiner’s political career ends up costing him his $174,000-a-year job, the New York Democrat would have a bit of a financial cushion.

Congressional lawmakers' financial-disclosure forms for 2010 were released on Wednesday, and Weiner's lists investments in a range of companies--including Hewlett-Packard, Corning, 3M, Dow Chemical, and Sony--that are worth as much as $117,000.

And he would clearly be better off if the scandal doesn’t also cost him his wife, Huma Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The filings show that Weiner, 46, has an investment portfolio worth $16,017 to $117,000. His financial activity for 2010 involved buying into and unloading a number of companies, including the purchase of an interest worth $1,001 to $15,000 in Live Nation, the live-entertainment and e-commerce company.

Anthony Weiner Car Registration Expired in New York?

And what's more strange is that Weiner drives a 20 year-old Nissan Pathfinder? Dude's a Member of Congress, for crying out loud.

At New York Daily News, "Rep. Anthony Weiner's car is registered in New York but way out of date."

And The Other McCain is plugging away: "‘Is He the New Tiger Woods?’," and "‘You Can’t Lawyer the Media’." And the investigation continues, at The Daily, "WEINER'S TALE UNRAVELING." (Also at Memeorandum.)

And see Mark Steyn, "Weiner helping junk the country."

Anthony #Weiner Flips the Bird After Leaving Election Night Defeat Headquarters

On Twitter:

A blurry image of #Weiner saying goodbye with his middle finger as he drives off from HQ tonight. cc: @BuzzFeedAndrew pic.twitter.com/8fKnA5yLLz
— Kate Rose (@KateRoseMe) September 11, 2013

And at Twitchy, "Parting shot: Anthony Weiner flips the bird to journos as he drives away from election loss [pics]," and "Sydney Leathers, new implants campaign outside Weiner HQ (against Weiner) [Update]." (She crashed the party as well.)

Olivia Nuzzi 'Slutbag'

Well, she sure nailed it with that morning tweet.

Nuzzi published a "tell all" piece, it turns out. And boy, Anthony Weiner's ommunications director completely lost it.

Well, today will certainly be interesting. pic.twitter.com/OvwU0bNjDL
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) July 30, 2013

At Twitchy, "All class: Weiner aide lashes out at ‘slutbag’ former intern."

Here it is at New York Daily News, "Anthony Weiner intern reveals why she, fellows joined New York mayoral campaign" (at Memeorandum).

And Nuzzi had this at NSFWCORP, "Source: Weiner's Campaign Manager Quit Afer Being Lied To (And He's Not The Only Departure)."

TPM broke the story on the communications director, although I prefer not to link those progressive scumbags. They're as disgusting as a bunch of Weiner social-media cock shots.

Sydney Leathers, Obama Democrat and Weiner Mistress, Shoots Porn Film for Hardcore Vivid Entertainment

Boy, that didn't take very long.

And, well, she says Weiner didn't take very long to, eh, you know what, so I guess it's fitting.

At London's Daily Mail, "Just when he thought it couldn't get any more humiliating. . . Anthony Weiner' sexting partner brings out her own X-rated movie":

Anthony Weiner's sexting partner has stripped down for the public as she filmed a video for a major porn distributor.

Sydney Leathers poses provocatively in a five-minute clip of the video, and talks about her virtual relationship with the disgraced congressman.

'He would always compliment me on my breasts and my butt and my feet, and he would always tell me I was the perfect height to wear heels,' the 23-year-old said.

Also at TMZ, "WEINER'S SEXTING PARTNER STRIPS NAKED -- In Hardcore Porn [PHOTOS]."

Hey, Democrats creating jobs!

Wonders never cease!

Added: The Other McCain links, "Will Sydney Leathers Porn Video Be Entitled, ‘Not Enough Latex on Earth’?" Thanks!

Where's NOW and Planned Parenthood? Anthony Weiner Stands for Women?

I meant to post this earlier. I promised I'd have more on my dislike of Anthony Weiner, which goes beyond his epic personal moral failures. His policy advocacy is way, way to the left. His fall is thus a major defeat for Democrat party progressivism, and I'm glad.

Here's the embattled congressman speaking at the New York Planned Parenthood's Rally to Protect Women's Health in February.

I don't see statements from NOW or Planned Parenthood, but if they comment I'll update.

Meanwhile, see Jenn Taylor at FrontPage Magazine, "Anthony Weiner's Feminist Rhetoric Meets Reality."

Gold! It's Never Too Late to Secure Your Future With ... Gold!

I often see this commerical multiple times a day during the business week. And now here comes NYT with a background report. I guess it's not just G. Gordon Liddy types either, "Uncertainty Restores Glitter to an Old Refuge, Gold":

It is the resurgent passion of the doomsday crowd, a bet that everything will go wrong. No matter what has you worried, they say, the answer is gold.

Inflation, deflation, government borrowing or the plunging euro — you name it — the specter of these concerns has set off a dash to gold, driving the precious metal to new highs and illustrating how fears of economic turmoil have moved from the fringe to the mainstream.

And gold bugs, often dismissed as crackpots who hoard gold bars in the basement, are finally having their day.

“I just think you’re in a world where a lot of chickens are coming home to roost,” said John Hathaway, manager of the Tocqueville Gold fund. “Gold is an escape hatch.”

The most visible new gold enthusiasts range from the Fox News commentator Glenn Beck on the right to the financier George Soros on the left, with even some sober-minded Wall Street types developing a case of gold fever. While their language may differ, they share a fundamental view that the age-old refuge of gold is relevant again, especially as other assets like stocks and national currencies show signs of weakness.

Now, individual investors are following their example around the world. The United States Mint is running short of gold coins, and the South African mint increased Krugerrand production by 50 percent late last month, to its highest level in 25 years, on brisk European demand.

The debt crisis in Europe and the ensuing drop in the value of the euro are the most recent catalysts for gold’s spike last week to $1,254 an ounce, a record before adjusting for inflation, but the deeper concern is that even in the United States, government borrowing is unsustainable and the day of reckoning is at hand. Sales of American Eagle one-ounce gold coins tripled in May from the month before.

If governments print more money to pay off their debts, the logic goes, inflation will destroy the value of the dollar, the euro and other paper currencies — thus enhancing the value of gold. What is more, with tax increases unlikely and with Europe on the brink, the unthinkable — a sovereign debt default or the collapse of the credit system — has suddenly become thinkable.

RTWT.

The piece discusses Goldline, which advertises on Glenn Beck's show. That was too much for Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner, it turns out, "Rep. Anthony Weiner targets Glenn Beck and Goldline International."

Also, "GLENN BECK HITS BACK AT REP. ANTHONY WEINER OVER GOLD SCAM CLAIM."

NYPD Opens Special Victims Investigation Into Anthony Weiner Sexting Allegations

Man, this dude needs to be institutionalized.

It's just not funny any more, seriously.

At London's Daily Mail, "EXCLUSIVE: NYPD Special Victims Unit launches investigation into Anthony Weiner after DailyMail.com reveals he had an on-line sexting relationship with 15-year-old girl" (via Memeorandum).

Breaking: Anthony Weiner carried on an online sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl - https://t.co/vgFlmMMXZP

— Alana Goodman (@alanagoodman) September 21, 2016

Anthony Weiner's Angry Exchange With CNN's Dana Bash

At the Other McCain, "#WeinerGate OMFG! @RepWeiner Gives Worst Press Conference EVAH! (Video)."

I'm going with CNN's clip, "Weiner says he's done talking about Twitpic":

And Doug Ross has the transcript: "Kudos to CNN's Dana Bash: Absolutely Shreds Anthony's Weiner Over His Refusal to State Whether He Tweeted the Weiner (Transcript)."

Indignity Lingers for Women of Anthony Weiner Scandal

This pervert could be elected mayor of New York City, the loser.

Anyway, FWIW, at the New York Times, "For Women in Weiner Scandal, Indignity Lingers":

Customers taunt Lisa Weiss. “Talk dirty to me,” they joke. “We know you like it.” Colleagues refuse to speak with her. Strangers mock her in nasty online messages.

“Clearly she’s got mental issues,” declared the latest.

Anthony D. Weiner’s improbable campaign for mayor of New York City is a wager that voters have made peace with his lewd online behavior, a subject he has largely left behind as he roils the race with his aggressive debating style and his attention-getting policy proposals.

But for the women who were on the other end of Mr. Weiner’s sexually explicit conversations and photographs, his candidacy is an unwanted reminder of a scandal that has upended their lives in ways big and small, cutting short careers, disrupting educations and damaging reputations.

“I cannot tell you the devastation,” said Ms. Weiss, a 42-year-old blackjack dealer in Nevada who exchanged dozens of explicit messages with Mr. Weiner, then a congressman, in 2010 and 2011.

Ms. Weiss, a die-hard Democrat who once volunteered for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign and was inspired by “Fahrenheit 9/11,” a film critique of the Bush administration, said she had reached out to Mr. Weiner after watching him joust with Republican rivals on cable news. They traded admiring messages on Facebook that, at his prompting, became intimate and raunchy, she said.

When their correspondence eventually became public, she said in an interview, conservative-minded colleagues sought to have her fired. The press lined up outside of her house and showed up at her casino, causing her to miss work for weeks. One night, she turned on the television to find the HBO host Bill Maher and the actress Jane Lynch performing a dramatic reading of the bawdy messages. Ms. Weiss, an avowed Maher fan, said she sat in her living room crying. While coping with the onslaught, she drank heavy amounts of alcohol, a habit that persists.

“I obsess about it,” she said, “every day.”

She agreed to it. That's the puzzle for me. Why did women exchange vulgar Twitter messages with the dude, who was not only a Member of Congress but also a married man? The thrill of it all, I guess.

More at that top link.