Depends on why you are Famous

Conventional wisdom has often said that it doesn’t matter why one is famous, only that one is famous. Sad to say, I believe that Rep Anthony Weiner(D, NY) would hasten to disagree. Until his lewd and salacious actions were made public, the majority of Americans would have been unable to identify him by name or picture. Now, he probably holds the title of our most well-known congressman.

But my interest is not so much with what he did but rather the reactions, both pro and con, that have ensued. Part of my reasoning is that I am not  very surprised with what he did. The internet has greatly facilitated these types  of behavior in and secondly, he is  not the first politician to be caught.in some type of compromising position.

On to  the reactions. Some are almost funny, some surprising (considering the sources) and some  are inconsistent. However, I have tried to avoid comments that are lewd or suggestive in. This mess has even  divided prominent Democrats with Reps Rangel and Clyburn offering support; Rangel even saying that after all he did not go out with little boys. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has urged him to resign, probably the first commonsense statement she has made since taking the job. And former speaker Pelosi  gravely concurred.

New York’s top elected Democrat Chuck Schumer is appalled and disappointed. Besides Weiner is taking over his spotlight. The Clintons are furious and probably for the best reasons of anyone other Weiner’s wife, the former Huma Abedin. You will remember that Bill officiated at their July 11, 2010 wedding. Besides Huma has worked for Hilary for  quite sometime and that the entire fiasco conjures up memories of Bill’s escapade(s). So far there has been no  public comment by the Clintons but one can only imagine what they are thinking.

And then we have the celebrity comments which for me fall under the class of what were they thinking and don’t they have people to forestall these  public comments. Television journalist Rachel Maddow said that Weiner exhibited “bad manners.” Barbara Walters said that the pictures she had seen were “flattering.” Joy Behar opined that the pictures were not the congressman, implying a frame, even after he confessed that they were. And that paragon of virtue Alec Baldwin said that works in a very highly stressful environment and was just letting off steam.

Finally, some comments that alone. They originate with MSNBC host, Chris( Tingles) Matthews. He has made frequent comments about Weiner that express his disgust, wonder at what he was thinking,etc. And then he proceeds to hold Mrs Weiner partly responsible. And finally ne bemoans the political consequences. If Weiner does not go away the Democrats will “never” again control of the House. And see if you recognize yourself in the last  statement.

” Because the people in the rural areas of this country who are Christian, conservative, culturally-you can say” backward” if you want-they don’t like this stuff.”

Thank goodness I didn’t hear  Bill Maher and Jane Lynch give a dramatic? comedic? reading of Weiner’s text messages. Wonder what Paul Harvey would have thought?

Related articles

• Anthony Weiner Adds to The List of Infamous Politicians (socyberty.com)

Having a busy summer?

I would wager that you are not having nearly as  busy ( or soon to be busy) summer season as our friends the Clinton family. How about officiating at a wedding ( Bill) , planning and organizing etc. the wedding of the year ( Bill, Hilary and Chelsea) buying a new mansion and of course Hilary’s day job of traveling hither and yon on various foreign affairs missions. Almost forgot, somehow in advance of all this Bill squeezed in  a trip to South Africa for some of the World Cup. Whew! Gotta be a tough life, being  a  Clinton and maintaining schedules like that.

Hard to know where to start. How about with the most confusing item listed above? For me, that would be the former President officiating at a wedding. The nuptials will be between New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, yes that is his name and an aide to Hilary, Huma Abedin. That “lavish ceremony” took place yesterday. As WCBS TV put it I guess Clinton was the officiator-in-chief. What qualified him  to perform the ceremony I have no clue.

The next actually scheduled big event is daughter Chelsea’s wedding on July 31 to investment banker Marc Mezvinsky in Rhinebeck, NY, some 100 miles from New York City.The Clintons must have gotten the Obama ok for this union because both the president and his wife have not spoken well of the profession of the  future Clinton  son-in-law. Bet the guest list for this soiree will be interesting.

And in an effort to help the depressed real estate market, the Clintons are closing in on the purchase of what can only be called a mansion  with some 7,000 square feet and a purchase price of a cool $11 million. So it’s good bye modest Chappaqua in northern Westchester County and hello Bedford Hills. Less than 10 miles away, it is still  a move up no matter how it is viewed. Besides, with neighbors like Richard Gere, Martha Stewart and Glenn Close, they will be  a perfect fit.

Sure hope  that Mr  Mezvinsky is aware of the truism that when you marry someone you marry their family as well.