U.S. congressman Weiner resigns in wake of sex photos scandal

Very sad. I think the Democrats have made it worse for themselves by pressuring Weiner. It shows they can be led by sinister people like Andrew Breitbart and others who threaten porn stars, probably the minions of Breitbart.

It would have been better for them to stay mum and shut the circus down. Instead, they got on their knees.

At least Weiner fought though! Nobody made anyone look weak like Chris Lee did the Republicans by quitting in one day over shirtless photos!

Well, it looks like the Great American State of Fear has won again. Congratulations sheep!

When it was disclosed that he was prepared to provide that porn actress with training on how to effectively lie to save a congressman's career it was over. How anyone can defend a weasel like that is beyond me. It should be noted though that Rush Limbaugh wanted Weiner to remain. He has his reasons. I guess they are the same as Iwitness's.

he was prepared to provide that porn actress with training on how to effectively lie to save a congressman's career it was over. How anyone can defend a weasel like that is beyond me.

Oh, I am sure you have never lied to protect your privacy! I am sure you never asked anyone to hide anything for you! Those of us who have a life have done so.

This was no one's business from the start. And still, no recipient of pictures has lodged a complaint. There is NOTHING official or public about this at all. It was a dirty smear campaign. To lie is just to fight fire with fire. And as long that is metaphorical its pure as driven snow.

I don't know why he resigned. If his constituents didn't want him anymore they could vote him out of office. Especially because all of this sounds like a private issue between him, his wife, and these women.

I don't know when people started to expect flawless morality from their politicians but to me it's rather stupid. It's not like we are talking about religious leaders or kindergarten teachers...

I can't believe Weiner resigned. I thought he knew how to stand firm.

I don't know why he resigned. If his constituents didn't want him anymore they could vote him out of office. Especially because all of this sounds like a private issue between him, his wife, and these women.

I don't know when people started to expect flawless morality from their politicians but to me it's rather stupid. It's not like we are talking about religious leaders or kindergarten teachers...

I think a poll revealed that those in his district wanted him out. But one thing to consider, if he were just a local NY politican, then it wouldn't matter. But even though he was elected from a particular district, he serves the nation as a whole. When he votes, he votes on laws that will not only affect his district but also the rest of the US. Like it or not, most people don't consider him to be trustworthy enough to hold his position. I know it is a double standard, but he gets the perks from being elected, so he has to be able to sacrifice some.

I don't expect flawless morality from him or any other person. I know we all make mistakes. But his were just too brazen and he felt as if he were untouchable, and that is what I see as the reason why most people wanted him to leave. If he is that careless, would you want him to be in charge of making laws?

Nah, Serrano. It's not the pictures that did him in. It was the lies. You can't bold face LIE about something like that. It's the digital age. We can trace you, the meta-tag has all the info., you're done. He should've just fessed up and it would've been immoral but he could've stayed in office.

It should be noted though that Rush Limbaugh wanted Weiner to remain. He has his reasons. I guess they are the same as Iwitness's.

Rush is a pretty smart guy. I suspect he had several reasons for thinking this. First, obviously, it hurts the Dems having him in there. Rather like the Republicans with Craig a few years ago. Another reason might be that, despite the mans obvious perversion, which he made apparent, you have to wonder whether what he did is any worse then certain others such as Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel.

Oh, I am sure you have never lied to protect your privacy! I am sure you never asked anyone to hide anything for you! Those of us who have a life have done so.

Sorry, but in a public official, this is completely unacceptable. Its hugely different when you, a private citizen lie to protect What he did wasn't all that big a deal, but when he started lying to the media, lying to everyone, thats when he was done.

I don't know why he resigned. If his constituents didn't want him anymore they could vote him out of office.

The Dems were talking about sanctioning him. Specifically removing him from all his committee assignments, basically, all he would be able to do, is show up and vote on issues. No negotiations, no committees, no nothing.

I can't believe Weiner resigned. I thought he knew how to stand firm.

This comment wins this thread.

Once Weiner was exposed, it was all downhill from there.

People thought Weiner was a standup guy, but proved otherwise.

His backdoor attempt to keep in on the down low failed, and now he's done, some believe, prematurely.

Finally!!! Weiner was a joke! He had such a big head! It was really time that he finally gave in and pulled out! Good riddance.

@netninja: Yup, lying did him in.

Not to mention the "creep" factor. He is a national rep and has to act in accordance with the office - albeit the office is flawed like anywhere. I'm pretty sure more was going to come out about this guy and the Dems just wanted him out to stop the bleeding. They did the right thing as a party. This wasn't going to go away and The Republicans were - of course - more than happy to let Wiener stick around and infect the Dems further.

I think a poll revealed that those in his district wanted him out. But one thing to consider, if he were just a local NY politican, then it wouldn't matter. But even though he was elected from a particular district, he serves the nation as a whole. When he votes, he votes on laws that will not only affect his district but also the rest of the US.

Alphaape, it doesn't work that way. Even though his voting affects the nation as a whole he still represents his district and his district alone, and he answers to his constituents only. That's why Jesse Helms, or Ted Kennedy, or any other politician that is not liked by most of the nation rightfully stays (or stayed) in power even though he or she is disliked by most of the country.

If it matters what someone in Nevada thinks about a congressman in Vermont then there's no point to districts at all!

Weiner now to begin a career as a porn star. God Bless America!

Weiner shrinks from telling whole story

Weiner pulls out and a nation sighs in relief

Weiner stranglehold on nation's news reaches climax

Weiner calls it quits says publicity is hurting performance

Weiner’s Constituents Polled: Stay In, They Say

Limbaugh: Weiner controversy hard to swallow

and finally.. Nation now turns its attention to Boehner

The only thing he should have quit about if he really did have an X picture out there on the web. That stuff can be faked though by a Photoshop Professional. I am one. It is easy to do. Of course experts can tell if a picture has been changed, but the general public cannot.

He should not have lie anyway, but sometimes a lie saves face.

A picture of the dude in his underwear is no different than what we seen done by advertises in the fashion industry. At least he is a grown man, and not a little kid that they try to make look like an adult. That is gross.

Good, now we can get back to yelling at each other over other more or less important stuff. Though I will mourn the passing of the Weiner jokes, fortunatly they will be survived by Boehner jokes but it's just not the same.

It said " only grew more pronounced a few days later when an X-rated photo surfaced on a website". Hmmm I wonder if the evidence will stand up in court.

The worst part about this whole scenario is: it was a sex scandal - and he didn't even get some!

It's almost not worth lying about, haha.

I think the funniest part of all this is their names. Weiner, Boehner...can it get any funnier?

Weiner has really hurt his party. How do we Democrats counter the humiliating conclusion to this sordid affair? A freakin porn star has shamed an elected representative into resigning.

The article says "sex photos". How are they sex photos? There was no sex! By God, I think he might have been left alone more if there had been real sex photos! America is a bizarre place when it comes to these matters. Its times like these I am glad I left!

And imagine if he jsut intentionally fed false information to Congress like Gingrich. He would get a censure and go on, no sweat! But no no. Weiner lied to hide his own private matters! Unforgiveable!

So anyway, now the Dems have a knew name. Its SAB. That stands for Slaves of Andrew Breitbart. They have given him his inch, and I promise he will take a mile. So whose next? What new sin will be discovered? Perhaps a picture of a Senator mowing his lawn in shorts will be discovered, and you can almost make out his bulge right there...PERVERT! TOSS HIM OUT!

I think a poll revealed that those in his district wanted him out.

I don't think so. All polls I saw showed a clear and easy majority wanted him to stay.

"Weiner has really hurt his party. How do we Democrats counter the humiliating conclusion to this sordid affair?"

Heh, you're not even fooling yourself with that registered democrat baloney Old Friend.

Until Americans, like the Brit tabloids - stop obsessing about other people's private lives then I guess these sort of scandals will prevail.

Oh, and Mr Weiner has to be up there in the top 100 "I screwed my entire career through stupidity on the net" chart.

Sad to see a firm and erect Liberal who never was shy about showing his stiff support for progressive ideals to any and all that he could find.be such a let down. The high promises of Liberal nirvana if he could just show the naked truth of his style of governance, the high ideals and the promise of an "Oh God, Oh God" to those who who believed he is so much right in his political views. To see him go so flaccid in this resignation speech, to see him not live up to what he promised. It just makes sad all over.

I

"He led the charge for a government-run health care system"

This is what I cannot forgive Weiner for.

All Weiner's resignation shows is the hypocrisy of Republicans:

Republican Sen. Vitter. Admitted to using prostitutes. Didn't quit and the Republican leadership had no problem with that He's still in the Senate.

Republican Rep. Boehner: Handed out checks from tobacco companies to representatives on house floor DURING a roll-count vote on legislation affection the tobacco industry. Didn't resign; Repub. leadership didn't care and now he's the Speaker of the House!

Republican Sen. McCain: Deeply involved in the Keating 5 corruption scandal. Barely escaped prosecution and got off with a 'slap on the wrist.' Later ran for President.

Republican Rep. Vito Fossella. Arrested for DUI, admitted having a child out of wedlock as a result of an adulterous affair, misused campaign funds and various ethics violations. Didn't resign. Rep. leadership didn't care.

Republican Sen. Ensign: Being prosecuted for inappropriately paying nearly $100,000 to his former mistress and her husband and for violation of Federal law by helping her husband set up a lobbying business. Stayed in the Senate for three years with the approval of Rep. leadership while this was being investigated. Didn't resign until charged. Oh, and the Rep. leadership didn't have much to say about it.

Republican Sen. Santorum also involved in Ensign scandal. Alleged to have tipped Ensign off before scandal broke. Now he's running for president. Rep. leadership? Not a peep.

There's more but you get the idea.

Moondog,

Agreed, this is so much about Republicans and their scandals. Just a silly thought, what is your opinion about Weiner? Misunderstood Congressman? He was Looking for a free pass through the airport without a TSA patdown?

This scandal has been so hard on all members of Congress. They must be glad to put it behind them.

"Agreed, this is so much about Republicans and their scandals. "

Ridiculous I agree. Weiner was attempting top attract members of the opposite sex.

I'm in favor of keeping things private, but in this case a line was crossed. It's hard to imagine anyone taking him seriously when we all saw the pictures. Lying or cheating on your wife or doing whatever can be left to the imagination, but you can't sit there and tell me that you'd listen to him speak or go into a meeting with him without thinking about the pictures. Once that line is crossed he's lost his ability to effectively govern.

What purpose is Weiner, who is 46 years old contacting a 17 years old teenage girl? If you had a teenage daughter being contacted by older man and a pervert that's 30 years older, would you consider as normal friendship? Good thing they found out before anything happened.

@sailwind,

Obviously, his behavior was distasteful but it was not illegal. The worst thing, legally and ethically, that he's accused of is making personal calls on the office phone. Anyone who has never done that, please come to the front of the room to receive your halo.

@sfjp330,

Please try to read beyond the headlines. He did not "contact" a 17 year old girl. She wrote to him first and he responded in a professional and proper manner as any representative would and should. What would have been wrong is if he ignored her message. That would have given her a bad impression of civic participation.

What is wrong, however, is how the media, cheered on by the Republicans, have drug her into this scandal. Sure, her name has not been mentioned but the media did show her home on TV so you can be quite sure that everyone in her neighborhood and soon her school will "know" quite incorrectly (as you apparently do) that she was involved in a "sex scandal" with a guy named "Weiner." Her reputation is trashed and that is Weiner's fault only indirectly. The direct causation is the media and Republicans.

MoondogJun. 18, 2011 - 06:32AM JST. He did not "contact" a 17 year old girl. . She wrote to him first and he responded in a professional and proper manner as any representative would and should. What would have been wrong is if he ignored her message. That would have given her a bad impression of civic participation.

There is a doubt here. Where are your facts? With a long history of Weiner's behavior, how do you know he responded in a professional and proper manner? Only from what you read? Have you read the complete transcript between Weiner and the 17 years old? Or the girl maybe does not want to get involve deeper and her family attorney advise her against speaking out?

Breitbart won again. Folks need to move on.

@sfjp330 wrote:

Where are your facts? With a long history of Weiner's behavior, how do you know he responded in a professional and proper manner? Only from what you read? Have you read the complete transcript between Weiner and the 17 years old? Or the girl maybe does not want to get involve deeper and her family attorney advise her against speaking out?

Where are your facts? My comments are based on news reports. Yours are based on imagination and supposition of what might have happened.

According to the police, the girl contacted him after her school class attended a speech of his on a field trip. You can be sure that if there was anything lurid in the exchange, the police would have taken him into custody for questioning at the minimum regardless of the parent's wishes because it would be their duty to protect society from future incidents.

In fact, all of the women with whom he had lurid exchanges and to whom he sent photos were adults, all were willing participants in the exchanges and none have complained of anything except media invasion of their privacy.

MoondogJun. 18, 2011 - 04:29PM JST. My comments are based on news reports. Yours are based on imagination and supposition of what might have happened.

My point is why did Weiner resigned hastily when he said he was going to stay? There might it been other evidence that was presented and if he didn't resign, the facts could've surfaced which would've maybe be a legal problem that could destroy him.