If you're going to take shots at Republicans, could you pick something that's happened in the last decade, at least? Ed O.
That happened 7 years prior to the public knowing, and he had told his wife about it long before his name was released. If your point was to show how a real man should own up to a mistake prior to being forced to do it, then thanks, Mission Accomplished. Vitter had owned up to his errors long before the public knew about it, and he didn't go on TV and lie about it while allowing the "right-wing" to be blamed for his own perversion. PS - Watch less Rachel Maddow. It's embarrassing how Weiner played her during this debacle, and yet she still defends a guy who boldly lied into her face on national TV. What a fucking shill Maddow is.
I'm a bit confused...is anyone here saying that Weiner should resign b/c he tweeted bad pictures, or b/c he stood in front of every camera available, boldly lied about it for over a week, and only admitted to it after someone had undeniable proof?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/nyregion/pelosi-calls-on-weiner-to-resign.html?_r=2&hp The House Democratic leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, spoke to Mr. Weiner on the phone Saturday morning and, notably, released her statement calling for his resignation after he told her of his plan to get treatment and to take the leave. Mr. Weiner received a similar phone call from Representative Steve Israel of New York, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, urging him to resign.
did any prominent Republicans (well, I guess Pelosi is a prominent one) call for any republicans who were caught in a sex scandal, to resign? Publicly I mean.
I'm pretty sure they resign on their own right away. Like Bob Livingston (google him). What may be more interesting is what the Democrats knew and when.
It's embarrassing just how much of a "boys club" the government is. They know stuff and don't do anything about it until it benefits them to do something about it. But it's also embarrassing how people freak out over relatively stupid stuff. I don't care that he sends pictures of his wang to someone. That's not illegal.
I care that he lied about it. I care if he tried to get his staffers to cover it up. And I care if he can't fulfill his duties b/c he "needs to grow as a husband and man". I know it may not matter to most, but the trends of "there's no right and wrong, and no accountability for actions as long as it makes you feel good" make me sick. If he wants to tweet pictures of his dong, more power to him. Then he can either stand up in front of people and say "hell yeah, I tweet pictures of my dong! Who the hell cares? It doesn't affect my job!" and take whatever consequences come from that, whether it's "nothing" or "your constituents are voting you out next election". If someone wants to cheat on his wife with a dude, that's between you and your partners. But if your co-workers make you resign, then you have no one to blame but yourself. No one's perfect, and I'm certainly not. But there are standards of conduct that are required for any leadership position. And if you want the position, you have to fulfill them. We've talked about this over teachers at Christian schools and military officers making stupid videos and pastors leaving churches, but now that it's a member of Congress, who cares? Well, as someone whose promotions are reviewed by Congress, I do.
Congressional Ethics Reform: Hearings Before the Bipartisan Task Force on Ethics, U.S. House of Representatives, 101st Cong., 1st Sess. 113 (1989) House Document 103, 86th Congress, 1st Session - Passed by the Congress of the United States on July 11, 1958 Having a set of ethics that shall be adhered to is important for any public leadership position. If one doesn't want to abide by them, one doesn't have to. But you can't maintain your position without doing so. Where was the outcry for a Navy Captain getting fired for a series of videos in poor taste that a) he admitted to creating, b) were not meant for personal gain, and c) were not degrading to his performance or duty? Was it because he was just a guy who made a mistake in poor taste that no one cared about? I mean, he only is in charge of an aircraft carrier and 6000 people and billions in equipment, after serving with distinction for 20+ years. Or General McChrystal, who was forced to retire b/c he had the audacity to tell Rolling Stone that he thought Biden and Eikenberry were idiots? I still think government service is something special, and not for any immoral and unethical person lacking in basic integrity to abuse as they see fit. Good riddance. I still care.
The last one to resign was Chris Lee. He resigned a few hours after his shirtless Craigslist photos were made public. Keep making this a partisan issue, though. Weiner is the face of the Democratic Party as long as he clings to his office.
That would have been a terrific response. I have yet to see any politician respond in that manner to getting busted for sex, however. Well, any American politician, anyway. barfo
I'm not making it a partisan issue. But can you explain to us how you saying "Weiner is the face of the Democratic Party" isn't "making it a partisan issue"?
I guess this is where you and I differ (and I would bet, party aside, where L vs C's differ too). If this had been Joe the Plumber, I wouldn't care. If it had been you, I wouldn't care. it's not illegal to be a fucking moron. Let HIS people in HIS district decide if they want him out or not. If he did something illegal and lied about it, I would care. I just have far more important things to worry about than whether or not a politician does something stupid. I'd rather be against his policies than against his penis. If you do something illegal, that's one thing. Is it illegal to send pictures of your dick to someone? If he sent a picture of his dick to that underage girl, he should be thrown in jail. If he sent it to some college aged woman, or had cyber-sex with some (imho, stupid) women, he's just a fucking pervo.
I heard a Congressman (who served) float the idea of creating a "conduct unbecoming" kind of thing for US Congressmen.
yeah but then the liberal media will just exploit that by digging up dirt on all the evil republicans and force them all to resign
That's cool. If you're guilty of misdeeds, then you shouldn't have the honor of serving in the Congress. I couldn't care less about ideology.
You bring up the real problem for Weiner. Conduct not befitting a congressman. On the other hand, it is what I expect from a congressman.
