The publication of New York Congressman Anthony Weiner’s sexually explicit online exchanges with several women has led senior commentators to suggest his anticipated campaign for mayor of New York City in 2013 has imploded -- leaving New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a long-time supporter of Irish causes, as the clear front runner for the Democratic mayoral nomination.
Although Weiner told a hastily arranged press conference on Monday that he would not resign his House seat, he is expected to spend the rest of this week encamped in his Brooklyn-Queens district weighing whether or not to run for an eighth term in 2012.
Weiner, who was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) memorably attended an ILIR rally in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx in December of 2006 where he had been a big hit with the hundreds of attendees. At the time Irish Voice reporter April Drew wrote:
“Accompanying Charles Schumer was Congressman Anthony Weiner. Living up to his reputation, Weiner added some drama and charisma to wow the crowd, by standing up steadfastly, removing his expensive suit jacket and swiftly and proudly putting on a Legalize the Irish.org t-shirt, the same garment worn by three quarters of the audience present.”
Weiner also attended an ILIR rally in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2006 where he gave his steadfast support to the campaign to legalize the undocumented Irish.
Commenting on the recent Weiner developments on Tuesday, ILIR Chairman Bart Murphy told the Irish Voice, “He said he isn’t going to resign, so if he stays I believe we will still have his support. He’s been consistent on that going back to our rallies for comprehensive reform in 2006.
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Anthony Weiner fooled many of us but Christine Quinn will likely be next Mayor of New York now
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“If he goes we will just have to see what happens. I am sorry for him and for his family. He’s proving he’s just another man with feet of clay.”
Reflecting on the obvious shift in dynamic in the race for mayor, Murphy said that both Quinn and Weiner candidates were committed to immigration reform.
“Both are strong supporters and we are glad to have them. I am sorry to see the fall of Congressman Weiner and I hope he sees his way through it,” Murphy said.
Weiner also won plaudits from the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, which awarded him with it's Robert Briscoe Award, named after the first Jewish mayor of Dublin.
The award honors Jewish New Yorkers who have helped support Irish American interests and immigration to the U.S., celebrating the close relationship between Jewish and Irish communities in New York.
“Immigrants built our great city and will build an even greater future,” Weiner told the audience on the night of the award in 2006.
“Irish Americans and Jewish Americans have a long and proud history of living and working together in this City. Today, we are joining together to overcome new challenges that affect Irish immigrants.”
Past Briscoe award recipients include Schumer, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former New York Governor General Eliot Spitzer, himself no stranger to public sex humiliation after being embroiled in a prostitution scandal that led him to resign as governor in 2007.
Weiner was also an early supporter of the Irish LGBT inclusive St. Patrick’s Day parade in Queens and scored a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign, based on his votes in Congress and his office’s commitment to a sexual orientation non-discrimination employment policy.
Questioned about Weiner’s troubles at a press conference on building inspections on Tuesday, Quinn said, “I feel badly for him and his family. They’re in my thoughts, and I hope that he and his family are able to resolve all of these matters as quickly as possible in a way that works for him and his family. That’s the most important thing.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.LainieMcEl | Jun 10, 2011, 07:22 PM EDT
Irish side? What Irish side? That headline is not only misrepresentive of the article but an affront to the Irish and those of us with Irish roots. Anthony Weiner has no Irish side. Only a STUPID side. Only a very stupid person would risk his career and marriage by texting naked pix of himself. Not to mention amoral. Is he so technologically educated and uninformed, that he doesn't know how vulnerable cyberspace is to gifted hacker, or less than enthusiastic recipient of his pix? Has he never heard the media frenzies that stupid tricks like this has caused to people. Maybe with his close relationship to the Clintons he thought he could get away with it. He certainly has followed the same protocal that our former president did when he was caught in a sexual escapade. First you lie and deny it...then you blame someone else...then you lie some more...then you refuse to resign as most guys caught with their pants down would...then your wife is convinced that her political career is most important, so stands by her disgraced husband. I don't know how..I'm really not that naive...but I am still amazed how at how some of our elected officials seem to think that once they are in office they can just forget the allegience they owe the people who put them there. They think they can do and get away with anything.
LeighOats | Jun 10, 2011, 05:39 PM EDT
I wonder whether dem Dem-voting progressives—the comedian Katie Halper (qv), the MSNBC host Cenk Uygur (qv) et al (Al as well? I dunno)—who are so willing to cut a bit of moral slack for the honorable member from New York would be so keen to do so if a _female_ politician had been indulging in a bit of—um—digital extramarital sexual congress. Cherchez la différence, especially in the USA. It's a boy thing.
paddyRanger | Jun 10, 2011, 01:49 PM EDT
This creep does not have an "Irish" side, he has no Irish connection what so ever, not even sure why you would try and connect him to anything Irish, he jumped on a few issues to get votes, that does not give him an Irish side
Whitepark | Jun 09, 2011, 10:52 PM EDT
Men like him work so hard to get where they are and have so called high IQs, so smart and yet so dumb, dont they realize with the media today they will be scrutinized in every move they make, their brains are definitly at the wrong end of their Anatomy, resign before you waste any more of our taxes.
mollycolleen | Jun 09, 2011, 10:49 PM EDT
This is a ridiculous article with a very misleading title! The Irish and Americans should throw this Weiner back onto the grill. This man would have claimed support for Idi Amin if he thought it would get him a vote! There is NO "Irish angle" with this sorry man and we should be glad of it.
LeighOats | Jun 09, 2011, 10:17 PM EDT
Says this story's heading: "Disgraced Anthony Wiener’s Irish side is revealed" Let's stop being silly sausages. Even if the honorable member's anglicised _pronunciation_ of his surname is the same as if the word were short for the German phrase "Wiener Wurst" (= Viennese sausage), let's mend the heading's attempt to mention his name. For some occult reason it's consistently correct in the story's body, "Weiner". Anyway #1: I wish I could have been the first to invoke in public the phrase "early withdrawal" about the consensus of advice being given to him, but I've come too late. Anyway #2: If I were in his shoes I would now change the pronunciation of my surname to the German way, "vye-ner". I'm surprised he didn't do that a long time ago.
seagreen | Jun 09, 2011, 10:14 AM EDT
You people could be successful making a Water Buffalo part Irish, because the ship on which it was being transported received fuel in Bantry Bay.
ardgehane | Jun 08, 2011, 09:31 PM EDT
The jokes almost seem to write themselves.
ardgehane | Jun 08, 2011, 09:23 PM EDT
The jokes almost seem to write themselves.
alimazimmer | Jun 08, 2011, 08:23 PM EDT
Congressman Weiner should resign. I just heard on the news that his wife(just married last July) is expecting a baby. Weiner has really created a sad state of affairs. He should never consider running for mayor of New York City-seek professional help--and resolve is family matters. I believe his future political aspirations are finished.
hollabackgurl | Jun 08, 2011, 07:28 PM EDT
Do you actually know what men are like? (And lots of women too?) This desire to pathologize behavior that isn't sick—that is, indeed, very common and human and completely and instantly understandable—is itself pathological. Weiner does not have a problem. He has a computer. The whole world has Weiner's problem: same old horniness, brand new box.
mamaginnty | Jun 08, 2011, 07:06 PM EDT
Just a scapegoat for a lot of the male population.
peterson | Jun 08, 2011, 07:05 PM EDT
Weiner really exposed himself for what he really is. Ooops ! Sorry 'bout that.
cillowen | Jun 08, 2011, 06:53 PM EDT
weiner demos his weiner and irish can't utter a discouraging word for fear of being painted.
maloney | Jun 08, 2011, 05:59 PM EDT
Look like anthony was not the weiner the world awaited.
BryanTim | Jun 08, 2011, 02:37 PM EDT
Congressman Weiner supports the Irish Immigration Reform's position of legalizing undocumented Irish immigrants only because it serves the their scheme to change the racial and cultural character (i.e. destroy) of what once was a gentile European dominated America. Google and read "Jewish Involvement In Shaping American Immigration Policy". This is the same reason there are now 40,000 Muslims in Ireland. I'm convinced that most European people are just plain stupid and they deserve the racial cleansing they are bringing down upon themselves. In the long term of about 100 years, racial diversity means the death of the white race
S.Connolly | Jun 08, 2011, 12:55 PM EDT
Don't you dare put this morally bankrupt sexual predator in the same sentence with Irish. The only reason he was a Irish suporter was for VOTES/GREED. He is in fact Zionist! Send him to Israel and shake his "stuff" over there.
Fran Connor | Jun 08, 2011, 11:53 AM EDT
Cahir, you forgot to mention what party he represents.
Porickseantuny | Jun 08, 2011, 11:20 AM EDT
Weiner supports the Irish. I've got a bridge for sale.
John5319 | Jun 08, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
Why is this writer re-writing history about what Weiner did in 2006 and 2007? Because the immorality of the elite political ruling class is seen as a "badge of courage" and does not apply to themselves, only to the mean, Party of NO WAY to redistribution, Republicans. A LIAR CANNOT BE TRUSTED ... with the responsibility of being honest with the public ... a TRUST that he has Constitutionally been given by the electorate he supposedly "represents".
CitizenWhy | Jun 08, 2011, 10:34 AM EDT
The Daily Beast sums up sex scandals among US politicians in a fair and balanced way, as follows: "After studying more than 60 scandals over the past 20 years involving all politicians or major candidates for city mayor and above—many involved crimes, others just allegations, but all wound up as tabloid fodder—some conclusions can be reached. ... Republicans have more scandals (35 to 28), but Democrats have bigger ones, based on our methodology (13 out of the top 20). ... Democrats tend to have more problems with harassment, staffers, and underage girls. ... Republicans tend to have more problems with prostitutes, hypocrisy, and underage boys.
CitizenWhy | Jun 08, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT
Note to politicians: Keep your private parts private. EVERYTHING you put on Facebook is available to anyone. There is no privacy.
CitizenWhy | Jun 08, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT
Pervs in the govt Democrats? What about Vetter (R-LA), the re-elected perv whom the media left off the hook? Obama is what he seems, a family man.