Breibart, Fox, Limbaugh, et. al. WILL make a “scandal” out of anything remotely embarrassing to any Democrat. Failing that they will invent the “scandal” out of “whole-cloth”. Weiner should have known this & acted appropriately.
BTW, I feel better about my half of our Mitt bet after last night’s “debate”.
I didn’t think Bill Clinton should have resigned because he diddled around with Lewinsky, and maybe he should have known better, but it was a private matter that didn’t affect his ability to do his job. (Weiner has done less and he’s being crucified.) In the interest of consistency, if nothing else, I don’t think Weiner should resign, either.
In fact, just like with Clinton, I think the Dems should support Weiner and call out these slimebuckets like Breitbart, framing it as an invasion of privacy issue — by what right does Breitbart or the MSM judge someone’s private legal sexual life and where does it end? Would the average American want scum like Breitbart sniffing around their bedroom? (Besides, how did Breitbart get all of these pics legally? They were privately stored with a password.)
Instead of fighting back, the Dems go into their usual ‘don’t hit me’ crouch and surrender to the right. ACORN, Van Jones, Shirley Sherrod and now Weiner — it’s disgusting how quickly the Dems cave in to Breitbart and the right, and they will keep doing it as long as it works.
It’s true; I was initially angry at Weiner for being so stupid — hence the ‘What Was He Thinking’ post — but now I’ve had time to do some thinking myself. Weiner’s sending out pics may be goofy, but what Breitbart and the MSM are doing to him is nothing short of criminal. We have a Constitutional right to privacy in our papers and that includes members of Congress.
Ever since the Nixon Administration, the RW has complained loudly, early, and often about the “LIBERAL MEDIA”. They’ve attacked the Doonesbury comic; while ignoring the equally political but rightist Wizard of Id & Prickly City. They complain about alleged leftist bias in the coverage of climate change, vaccinations, & whatever else is the story of the day. The RW has gone so far as to create their own rightist media sources, including the Washington Times and Fox Broadcast.
So the MSM responds by trying to balance the coverage by reporting both sides of an issue. Even when one of those sides is patently absurd. But it happens.
I must preface my next with the admission that I have tried not to follow the Weiner story. It’s tawdry & depressing & not something I want to spend my time on.
So also now with Weiner. The original lies have taken it beyond the original story of the pictures. And is is highly amusing to see the Party of Vitter, Foley, & what’s-his-name from NY, attacking Weiner for his moral standing. Still, I thing Weiner ought to copy what’s-his-name & resign. The story will go away then.
So you’re right, Democrats & Weiner could & should have fought back harder. But they didn’t & it’s too late now to start.
Well, as of this afternoon, Weiner has resigned. Yet another progressive who stuck it to the right is gone and any future strong progressives in office will have to think long and hard (no pun intended) before taking on the right, knowing something either fabricated or unearthed will be used to smear them. As Willie Stark says in ‘All the King’s Men’: “From the stink of the diddie to the stench of the shroud, there’s ALWAYS something.” Since we’re all fallible humans who make mistakes, that’s true, and it’s doubly true of a sociopathic grifter like Breitbart. Isn’t it time someone took a look under his slimy rock and called him on the contents, and called out the MSM for not reporting on it?
No,
but see your “What was he Thinking?” post.
Breibart, Fox, Limbaugh, et. al. WILL make a “scandal” out of anything remotely embarrassing to any Democrat. Failing that they will invent the “scandal” out of “whole-cloth”. Weiner should have known this & acted appropriately.
BTW, I feel better about my half of our Mitt bet after last night’s “debate”.
Comment by db — June 14, 2011 @ 5:35 am
I didn’t think Bill Clinton should have resigned because he diddled around with Lewinsky, and maybe he should have known better, but it was a private matter that didn’t affect his ability to do his job. (Weiner has done less and he’s being crucified.) In the interest of consistency, if nothing else, I don’t think Weiner should resign, either.
In fact, just like with Clinton, I think the Dems should support Weiner and call out these slimebuckets like Breitbart, framing it as an invasion of privacy issue — by what right does Breitbart or the MSM judge someone’s private legal sexual life and where does it end? Would the average American want scum like Breitbart sniffing around their bedroom? (Besides, how did Breitbart get all of these pics legally? They were privately stored with a password.)
Instead of fighting back, the Dems go into their usual ‘don’t hit me’ crouch and surrender to the right. ACORN, Van Jones, Shirley Sherrod and now Weiner — it’s disgusting how quickly the Dems cave in to Breitbart and the right, and they will keep doing it as long as it works.
It’s true; I was initially angry at Weiner for being so stupid — hence the ‘What Was He Thinking’ post — but now I’ve had time to do some thinking myself. Weiner’s sending out pics may be goofy, but what Breitbart and the MSM are doing to him is nothing short of criminal. We have a Constitutional right to privacy in our papers and that includes members of Congress.
Comment by RS Janes — June 14, 2011 @ 6:33 pm
Ever since the Nixon Administration, the RW has complained loudly, early, and often about the “LIBERAL MEDIA”. They’ve attacked the Doonesbury comic; while ignoring the equally political but rightist Wizard of Id & Prickly City. They complain about alleged leftist bias in the coverage of climate change, vaccinations, & whatever else is the story of the day. The RW has gone so far as to create their own rightist media sources, including the Washington Times and Fox Broadcast.
So the MSM responds by trying to balance the coverage by reporting both sides of an issue. Even when one of those sides is patently absurd. But it happens.
I must preface my next with the admission that I have tried not to follow the Weiner story. It’s tawdry & depressing & not something I want to spend my time on.
So also now with Weiner. The original lies have taken it beyond the original story of the pictures. And is is highly amusing to see the Party of Vitter, Foley, & what’s-his-name from NY, attacking Weiner for his moral standing. Still, I thing Weiner ought to copy what’s-his-name & resign. The story will go away then.
So you’re right, Democrats & Weiner could & should have fought back harder. But they didn’t & it’s too late now to start.
Comment by db — June 16, 2011 @ 7:34 am
Well, as of this afternoon, Weiner has resigned. Yet another progressive who stuck it to the right is gone and any future strong progressives in office will have to think long and hard (no pun intended) before taking on the right, knowing something either fabricated or unearthed will be used to smear them. As Willie Stark says in ‘All the King’s Men’: “From the stink of the diddie to the stench of the shroud, there’s ALWAYS something.” Since we’re all fallible humans who make mistakes, that’s true, and it’s doubly true of a sociopathic grifter like Breitbart. Isn’t it time someone took a look under his slimy rock and called him on the contents, and called out the MSM for not reporting on it?
Comment by RS Janes — June 16, 2011 @ 5:04 pm