"Congressman Weiner - Just One More in a Long Line of Perverts"
Sydney M. Williams
Mark Twain would have loved it. Not to see the Honorable Anthony Weiner in tears at what amounted to a confessional, but to know that little has changed in the stately, hallowed halls of Congress over the past one hundred years. Mr. Twain once remarked, “I don’t mind what Congress does. As long as they don’t do it in the streets and frighten the horses.” Presumably, had he been alive today, he might have added: “I don’t mind what they do on Twitter, as long as they don’t excite co-eds.”
Congress has long been home to thieves and perverts. It’s not just Congress; scandal has visited state houses and even the White House. (Wherever politicians gather, corruption is sure to follow.) And, amazingly, voters are famously tolerant of their wayward representatives, generally returning them to the scenes of their escapades. Mr. Weiner, thus far, has assured his constituents of his intent to keep his seat. In words Mr. Twain would have admired, Congressman Weiner said he had lied; he was dumb; he had exercised bad judgment; therefore he is obviously qualified to remain in the august halls of Congress.
What makes the Honorable Mr. Weiner seem such a jackass – the term he used a few days ago to describe CNN producer, Tom Barrett – is that his antics mimicked those of his disgraced former colleague, Republican Chris Lee. The dishonorable Mr. Lee had signed onto gawker.com earlier this year and sent a photo of his shirtless torso to a young lady, astonishingly describing himself as “classy.” Stupid, not classy, I would have thought. Once caught, he did have the good sense to resign almost immediately. Perhaps the salacious Mr. Weiner will follow suit?
In Mr. Weiner’s defense, by sitting in Congress, he was doing nothing more than following a well worn path of crime, sex scandals and plain old corruption. It is a practice that dates back more than two hundred years.
The Crédit Mobilier scandal of the 1860s touched many in Congress, as cash and stock was passed around the floor of Congress like donuts at morning coffee. Among those admitting accepting stock from Crédit Mobilier was Ohio Republican Congressman James Garfield. Not only did Mr. Garfield avoid censure, he got elected President in 1880. (Of course he was assassinated four months later.) The Watergate episode in 1973 reminded the country of one of Washington’s funniest lines, “I am not a crook.” The speaker, the late Richard Nixon, became the first President to resign from office.
Above all highways leading to the nation’s capital, there must be signs declaring: “Abandon Morality, All Ye Who Enter.” Washington serves as a School for Scandal for aspiring writers for the New York Post. There is so much material. Who can forget Senator Kennedy’s episode on (and off) the bridge at Chappaquiddick? Or Adam Clayton Powell dipping into congressional funds for personal travel? Or Newt Gingrich and his $4.5 million book contract? Or this past year, Charlie Rangel’s soliciting donations for personal consumption? The common thread among these paragons of virtue is that they were all reelected.
Not all sexual scandals involve heterosexuals. Republican Representative Mark Foley of Florida sent compromising e-mails to teenage congressional pages. Foley resigned. Republican Senator Larry Craig of Idaho had a bizarre encounter in an airport bathroom. Craig did not seek reelection.
Democrats, as Yahoo! News put it, “have not been immune to being caught inflagrante delicto.” Representative Mel Reynolds of Illinois was caught with a sixteen-year old campaign worker. His efforts landed him in jail. Barney Frank, incredibly, was keeping company with a male prostitute named Steve Gobie. The enterprising Mr. Gobie was using their mutual apartment as a brothel. The ever-discerning folks in Massachusetts have continued to reelect the ethically challenged Mr. Frank. They would be better off listening to P.J. O’Rourke who once said, “Don’t vote; it only encourages the bastards.”
Not to be left behind, Californian Republican Congresswoman, Mary Bono Mack was seen in a photograph with another woman “playfully” licking her breast. Ms. Mack (widow of Sonny Bono) is described as a “family values lawyer.” Of course, if she wants her breasts licked, who are the people to say she shouldn’t.
So Anthony Weiner finds himself amid an expanding swarm of smarmy politicians. He will not garner a footnote when the history of this period is written. Nevertheless, he represents a prototypical example of the excesses of our age – an era that dwells on self, with an arrogant, belittling attitude. The concept of service has evaporated. A sense of entitlement has arrived. The people of New York’s 9th District deserve better. Isn’t it time to consider term limits?
Thought of the Day
“Congressman Weiner – Just One More in a Long Line of Perverts”
June 8, 2011Mark Twain would have loved it. Not to see the Honorable Anthony Weiner in tears at what amounted to a confessional, but to know that little has changed in the stately, hallowed halls of Congress over the past one hundred years. Mr. Twain once remarked, “I don’t mind what Congress does. As long as they don’t do it in the streets and frighten the horses.” Presumably, had he been alive today, he might have added: “I don’t mind what they do on Twitter, as long as they don’t excite co-eds.”
Congress has long been home to thieves and perverts. It’s not just Congress; scandal has visited state houses and even the White House. (Wherever politicians gather, corruption is sure to follow.) And, amazingly, voters are famously tolerant of their wayward representatives, generally returning them to the scenes of their escapades. Mr. Weiner, thus far, has assured his constituents of his intent to keep his seat. In words Mr. Twain would have admired, Congressman Weiner said he had lied; he was dumb; he had exercised bad judgment; therefore he is obviously qualified to remain in the august halls of Congress.
What makes the Honorable Mr. Weiner seem such a jackass – the term he used a few days ago to describe CNN producer, Tom Barrett – is that his antics mimicked those of his disgraced former colleague, Republican Chris Lee. The dishonorable Mr. Lee had signed onto gawker.com earlier this year and sent a photo of his shirtless torso to a young lady, astonishingly describing himself as “classy.” Stupid, not classy, I would have thought. Once caught, he did have the good sense to resign almost immediately. Perhaps the salacious Mr. Weiner will follow suit?
In Mr. Weiner’s defense, by sitting in Congress, he was doing nothing more than following a well worn path of crime, sex scandals and plain old corruption. It is a practice that dates back more than two hundred years.
The Crédit Mobilier scandal of the 1860s touched many in Congress, as cash and stock was passed around the floor of Congress like donuts at morning coffee. Among those admitting accepting stock from Crédit Mobilier was Ohio Republican Congressman James Garfield. Not only did Mr. Garfield avoid censure, he got elected President in 1880. (Of course he was assassinated four months later.) The Watergate episode in 1973 reminded the country of one of Washington’s funniest lines, “I am not a crook.” The speaker, the late Richard Nixon, became the first President to resign from office.
Above all highways leading to the nation’s capital, there must be signs declaring: “Abandon Morality, All Ye Who Enter.” Washington serves as a School for Scandal for aspiring writers for the New York Post. There is so much material. Who can forget Senator Kennedy’s episode on (and off) the bridge at Chappaquiddick? Or Adam Clayton Powell dipping into congressional funds for personal travel? Or Newt Gingrich and his $4.5 million book contract? Or this past year, Charlie Rangel’s soliciting donations for personal consumption? The common thread among these paragons of virtue is that they were all reelected.
Not all sexual scandals involve heterosexuals. Republican Representative Mark Foley of Florida sent compromising e-mails to teenage congressional pages. Foley resigned. Republican Senator Larry Craig of Idaho had a bizarre encounter in an airport bathroom. Craig did not seek reelection.
Democrats, as Yahoo! News put it, “have not been immune to being caught inflagrante delicto.” Representative Mel Reynolds of Illinois was caught with a sixteen-year old campaign worker. His efforts landed him in jail. Barney Frank, incredibly, was keeping company with a male prostitute named Steve Gobie. The enterprising Mr. Gobie was using their mutual apartment as a brothel. The ever-discerning folks in Massachusetts have continued to reelect the ethically challenged Mr. Frank. They would be better off listening to P.J. O’Rourke who once said, “Don’t vote; it only encourages the bastards.”
Not to be left behind, Californian Republican Congresswoman, Mary Bono Mack was seen in a photograph with another woman “playfully” licking her breast. Ms. Mack (widow of Sonny Bono) is described as a “family values lawyer.” Of course, if she wants her breasts licked, who are the people to say she shouldn’t.
So Anthony Weiner finds himself amid an expanding swarm of smarmy politicians. He will not garner a footnote when the history of this period is written. Nevertheless, he represents a prototypical example of the excesses of our age – an era that dwells on self, with an arrogant, belittling attitude. The concept of service has evaporated. A sense of entitlement has arrived. The people of New York’s 9th District deserve better. Isn’t it time to consider term limits?
Labels: TOTD
posted by Thought of the Day @ 5:08 AM
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