Anthony Weiner took his faltering campaign to Staten Island, to talk about the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy, but he can’t avoid questions about his “sexting.”
In this instance, he was confronted by a teacher, and she let him have it.
She asked the simple question, where do you have the moral authority to lead the city?
Weiner ducked the question.
Stick to the issues, he said.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Just watched the encounter on CNN…teacher Grunda was more focused and direct than any of the reporters. It is a sad commentary on what must be mental illness that this man, and others with his proclivities, who might have been exemplary legislators, get lost in their own inner world. They cannot be trusted to be truthful nor effective with so much unresolved damaging behavior.
Where are the powerful NY women? Why is there no woman in the Mayoral race?
Christine Quinn?
Christine Quinn rubber stamped Bloomberg’s third term. In my heart, I think that we can expect more of the same from her AND we all know there is nothing there that we need.
Suzanne, all of the polls show that the public is fed up with Bloomberg’s education policies. I have not heard anything from Quinn to suggest she would change any of his disastrous policies.
Christine Quinn is Bloomberg in a skirt.
Weiner was the Congressman where my school is located and he used to come speak at our graduations. He used to talk about the importance of public education and the great work of NYC school teachers. And yet, here he is now seeking the support and money of Charter Schools. What does this prove? It proves this is a man that not only does not have any type of private ethics, but also does not have any type of public ethics. He has only one goal: The personal need to be Mayor at any cost. I personally believe that he does not have any political philosophy. Weiner just wants to be Mayor and he is the type of person who would do the bidding for anyone who gets him to that office. He is a prime example of why our country is in such trouble!!!
That question should be asked of ANYONE who attempts to be in any kind of office!!!!
Kudos to Peg Grunda for asking the questions the fawning press should have been asking. Not once in the mainstream media have I heard that there were women who did not solicit the pictures. That was through an online blog.
I just love it when the TEACHER comes out in us!
Once we have taught for years and raised every bodies children, we know how to LEANin++++
Who is generally considered the best choice for public education in the race? I am told it’s Bill de Blasio but I don’t see the Weiner scandal getting him any press or votes. I doubt Quinn is a friend to anyone. And sadly, in the end I fear it will be her or whomever Bloomberg decides is his pick. Attached link was brought to my attention last night; not sure if it is true but something to consider.
http://www.lowgenius.net/post/2013/07/26/Ethical-Crisis-III-One-Bad-Apple.aspx#.UfMZRY2sh8E
Why is our press so willing to back off issues of values and morality? They are separate from religion, should not be considered “off limits”, and are included in “sticking to the issues”. If I can’t look at you and feel you are honest and trustworthy personally, then you don’t deserve my trust or my vote. If you can’t even demonstrate a pattern of honoring your own reputation and that of your wife (by association) and your child (by proximity), then you don’t have what it takes to represent and honor a constituency of strangers. AND if you are just downright weird and pervy you don’t deserve an arrogant swagger.
If your wife can’t trust you, why should the public?
Scary, scary, scary that this guy hasn’t been locked up or commited.
It’s not about moral authority. I don’t care what you do in your personal life. What Weiner did wasn’t criminal. I would want a mayor that will run the city in a progressive way and be a good manager. I’m not saying that Weiner is good for those two things anyway however.
This is not “sexting”. It’s indecent exposure (even if the law hasn’t caught up to the 21st century). If someone asks you to send a picture, it’ sexting. When it’s unsolicited, it should be a sex crime.
I’ve thought the same thing.
Absolutely it’s indecent exposure and a sex crime. If anyone should know this, it’s a lawmaker. Our current batch of lawmakers have been amiss in protecting us against sexual predators like him –and many politicians seem to think they are above the law themselves anyways.
Weiner chose to be a public person. He should not be able to get away with claiming that it’s personal when he uploaded illicit pictures of himself unsolicited to strangers on the Internet.
Those of us who have taught adolescents for many years have certainly heard many “creative” attempts to rationalize away various misdeeds.
When I heard Mr. Weiner’s latest explanation of his horrendous behavior I thought of those past student experiences. I
I don’t accept poor behavior from my students and I hope NY voters do not accept Mr. Weiner’s ridiculous excuses either.
Peg Grunda is the best!
readingexchange: apparently Peg Grunda didn’t get the memo informing her that teaching staff are doormats and should keep their mouths shut.
See what happens when you’re out of the loop?
🙂
Or maybe, just maybe, she refused to be silent because she remembered that Plato said “I shall assume that your silence gives consent.”
🙂
Regarding Mr. Weiner:
Barry Blitz is brilliant . . . .
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/07/cover-story-john-cuneo-weiner-carlos-danger.html
To John Oliver and his fellow comedians, Weiner is the gift that keeps giving, he’s pure gold, the mother lode of ridicule, snark, derisive laughter, endless jokes and one liners. I used to admire this guy when he was in Congress because he was a fighter and would not back down to the GOP bullying. I used to support John Edwards before he revealed himself as a despicable and corrupt sleaze ball. Weiner can’t possibly win, he should bow out and become a permanent private citizen. Both men are a huge disappointment, to put it mildly and should give up any idea of public office, ever.
I agree with everything you have written. I felt the same same about JE and despicable is the perfect adjective. I voted for Bill Clinton and admire what he has done since he left the presidency but he dishonored the office of the president (the oval one too) and I will never stop thinking of him as a liar and a fool.
Joe,
I felt the same way about Weiner as you . . .
The fact that he’s “the gift that keeps on giving” is part of the problem and it could end up in his favor. He’s getting endless coverage over this, and I guess in our depraved state of politics, just like advertising, any coverage is good coverage. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people vote for him because of, rather than despite, this whole thing.
Anthony Weiner has disappointed many of us in this campaign. But there is much good to say about him. Alone among the many candidates he has recognized the importance of the city’s parochial school, and clearly articulates plans to save them. He has clearly listened to his mom, a long time NYC teacher about the need to maintain order and have a system thar backs up teachers, not undermines them. He is unlikely to win, and that is too bad. I’d rather have him than Benedict Quinn any day! Only other decent candidate is
Bill Thompson.
Andrew,
Bill Thompson? Really? The guy who is backed by corporate reformer Merill Tisch?
And the UFT!
If he listened to his school teacher mom, why is he trying to destroy public education?
Really, there is nothing good about this guy. He’s just another neoliberal who will follow the same path as Obama, Rahm, Duncan, etc. Especially Rahm with his bullying and swearing.
Agree.
I find some of the responses from males about Weiner to be rather disturbing. For the men who don’t see a major problem with what Weiner did, try to imagine what it would be like for you to be violated sexually, such as in a prison situation, where a guy is showing off his junk and coming on to you sexually and you were given no choice in the matter. Would you overlook that as easily as you are discounting what many women feel about this situation with Weiner?
And would you overlook your wives’ behavior if they were participating in the same proclivities? Forgiveness anyone?
Great point, Librarian!
On another note, there is some question as to whether Weiner’s wife underwent female genital mutilation (FGM), because her mother is against FGM being a criminal offense. If this is the case, it might help to explain his wife’s high tolerance for his transgressions, since FGM can result in sex being very painful and/or lack of sexual feelings.
Enough already. Whether you approve of these actions, there is very little to suggest that this is akin to rape or FGM or anything other than stupid, basically consensual flirting usually practiced between willing participants. Every day I get unsolicited emails offering all sorts of stuff. I delete them. Weiner is basically a good guy who did a dumb thing. I’d rather live in a city where he ran the schools than one where Bloomberg or his lapdog Quinn or the members of the lunatic fringe (Liu, DeBlasio, Carrion, etc.) continue policies we all know are bad. THe ONLY choices in THIS particular election for those concerned with education are Weiner and Thompson.
Andy Wolf, when your wife was a principal, what would she have done if she found that a member of her staff was sending photos of his genitals to other staff. Would she have brushed it off and said, “Just delete it.” I don’t think so. She would have fired the perpetrator on the spot. Or at least brought him up on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior.
Enough with you and your belittling of woman’s issues! Neither Weiner nor you make any attempt to understand why so many women find such unsolicited actions offensive and thoroughly reprehensible. Thank goodness he has probably lost the female vote due to his improprieties. He should never be the leader of a school system.
The real belittling of women is the idea that they need to be protected from idiots and their compulsions. Learn to press the delete button. It is an equal opportunity solution that is guaranteed to protect you from all unwanted email.
Andy,
Surely you don’t think it is okay for a man who wants to be mayor to exposé his genitals on the Internet? Do you? Isn’t that indecent exposure? Would it be okay if he is elected and continues to send our photos of his private parts? I am baffled that anyone thinks this behavior is personal, private, and irrelevant to his capacity to lead. It is a distraction, don’t you think?
Diane-
I’m not excusing Anthony’s incredibly stupid behavior. But I do object to trying to make this an assault on womankind. This is gender neutral stupidity. I’m tired of this victimization crap. This isn’t an assault. And I suspect that women like the now famous Ms. Leathers were more than happy to play the game.
Andrew Wolf,
There are fools of all ages, genders, races, nationalities, and religions. Being foolish does not make unacceptable behavior okay. Sadly this fool put his foolishness out there again both on the internet and by running for a public office.
I wouldn’t vote for him for dog catcher – the dogs deserve better.
Wolf’s comment that “women like the now famous Ms. Leathers were more than happy to play the game” discounted Leathers’ claim that she felt manipulated and Cordova’s acknowledgement that she was taken aback by the unsolicited photo Weiner sent to her. All of the women involved have described being initially engaged in political discussions with Weiner and supporters of his politics when he suddenly turned the conversations to sex.
When 1 out of 5 women in this country has been raped and an estimated 54% of us have not even reported it, I think there’s good reason to be sensitive to woman’s issues such as this. And, yes, it is a woman’s issue when women are made the targets of sexual predators.
I did not report it either, after I told my father that I was raped and his reaction was to ask me if I “liked it”. A sailor exposed himself to my sister when she was 8 and walking home from school. No matter, females. Just delete any sexual violations from your life. (Boys will be boys?)
Wolf encouraged Weiner to run for mayor, since he is “the most moderate of the Democratic contenders” and he’s “unencumbered by ties to the traditional power brokers of the irrational left and labor union demands.” http://www.nysun.com/new-york/how-history-beckons-for-anthony-weiner-to-run/88302/
Oh, great. Just what NYC needs: another union-busting mayor and one from the neo-liberal Clinton perv mold at that, with no self-control and no heart.
Teachers should consider putting up one of their own truly progressive mayoral candidates.
The perfect question- and sadly, the perfect answer from a man who truly thinks it has no bearing on his qualifications for the job. The people need to consider this at the voting booth.
I agree with the teacher and also Nancy Pelosi who echoed the same sentiment about Weiner.
But, it is interesting the same standard was never used within the Democratic party for Bill Clinton….as his “moral authority” to lead.
There is a enough evidence going back Clinton being governor in Arkansas to conclude he is a serial predictor at best, and rapist at worst.
I guess an objective observer could call Clinton the “general” leading the War on Women we hear so much about.
http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/07/31/huma-sydney-leathers-and-things-that-look-like-feminism-and-arent/?FB
The NYT also reported that he asked her to shake his hand and she refused, telling him she didn’t know where that hand had been!