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?

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

Meet Eric Holder

Our new Attorney General, Clintonista Eric Holder, has come out of the box on the attack.In a speech to employees of the Justice Department on Wednesday, he described the United States as “essentially a nation of cowards” on matters of race.He also said that we do not talk enough with each other about matters of race, that is, we as average Americans do not.He called for greater levels of comfort and tolerance in such conversations with each other. Justice Department employees were told they have a special responsibility to advance racial understanding. Well, that is quite  a sermon or whatever you might choose to call it. Assuming for the moment that he is somewhat accurate, try the following comment on for size.

Rep James Clyburn, Democrat, SC has said that opposition to the stimulus is an insult to him and a slap in the face of African-Americans. His spokesman, Hope Derrick, said he didn’t mean that those governors who had expressed opposition to the stimulus  were racially motivated. By the way, one of the guvs in question is Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal, the son of Indian immigrants.

So, we can we say about all this. Is there racism in this country still, sure. Will it always exist, probably in some degree or another. Should we work at its elimination?  Certainly, we should. However,  I take some issue with some of what Mr Holder said. For example, average Americans probably doesn’t include Washington insiders, which, of course, he is. Calling people as a group, as an entire nation; basically, cowards, doesn’t seem to me to  be an approach designed to improve the climate of discussion.

Perhaps, the most telling thing he said  may have sounded the most innocuous. He, the country’s top law enforcement official tells  Justice employees they have a special responsibility in this area. Well, who are the employees of the Justice Department? Among groups that come to mind are the FBI, ATF, U S Marshals, U S Attorneys and so on. Folks, these people and others among enforce laws. Surely he doesn’t mean that the government would deign to involve itself even more in people’s lives and relationships? Guess we will have to wait and see.