Since last weekend, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) has been denying that a lewd photo sent from his Twitter account came from him. Not just a simple, unequivocal, “I did not send that photo,” but a days-long dance with the press where he has tried not so much to deny it as to over-explain how it could have happened and change the subject. Failing to get a direct answer to a direct question, the media have refused to let him off the hook.
Today he gave an interview to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, and while he did, finally, directly deny sending the picture, he moved to another topic without even taking a breath. When shown the photo in question, he did not deny it was of him. Instead, he went into an odd little explanation of how photos can be doctored, etc. Hmm. He should be able to state absolutely that the photo is not of him because neither he nor anyone in his presence had ever taken such a picture.
I’m really disappointed. Until now, I’d rather liked Weiner, prickly though he is sometimes. But he has handled this issue so badly that I now doubt his innocence.
Strangely enough, I did a search to remind myself of Rep. Weiner’s name so that I could make a joke on another blog and ran across two other politicians – one Canadian and one British – that have had almost the exact same thing happen to them. I don’t know if this is just another example of rampant perversion amongst the elite or some kind of global hacker conspiracy, but there does seem to be more to the story…
Well, as I said, I’ve always liked him. But his response to this just seems … evasive. As angry and outspoken as I’ve seen him be in the House, I’d have expected more indignation — even outrage — if he were completely innocent. But then, who knows what reaction to expect from someone who has never confronted such an accusation.
To be believed, I think you have to be able to lie better than a 4 year old. Weiner failed that test in my opinion.
Postscript: Today on his CNN segment, Jack Cafferty asked, “Can Rep. Anthony Weiner survive Weinergate? My rather ordinary response was one of the ones he read on the air:
“Susan in Denver:
Nope. If he had flatly denied it several days ago and then shut up, he might have had a chance. But the more he talked, the worse he looked, and I now believe he’s toast.”