My husband and I live in New Jersey, close enough to New York City that when Terry goes to the local convenience store for coffee, he can also buy the New York Post. He loves the paper’s clever, double entendre headlines and pull-no-punches stories. So when he heard Anthony Weiner was going to run for mayor of New York, he was thrilled. “I can’t wait to get the paper,” he chortled. “It will be full of Weiner jokes!”
Yesterday the news broke—Anthony Weiner was at it again, sexting women he never met.
He held a press conference declaring that his behavior was wrong, it was behind him, and he was still a candidate for New York City mayor. His wife Huma Abedin was by his side. She read a statement, saying she loved and believed in her husband, forgave him, and they were moving forward.
By the time the 10-minute press conference was over, I was furious. Anthony Weiner glossed over his atrocious behavior as if it were as insignificant as jaywalking. The man had no shame, no remorse. I’ll bet that the only reason he apologized was because as a candidate, he had to.
I’m not sure what to make of Huma Abedin. She was obviously uncomfortable during the press conference. So either she feels trapped by her marriage to Weiner, and the fact that they have a child, or she is also a political animal willing to tolerate her husband’s infidelity as part of a quest for power. Frankly, I hope she leaves Weiner.
Weiner, with wife at side, says lews exchanges happened after resignation, on CNN.com.
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner
Then there’s the mayor of San Diego, Bob Filner. On Monday, his former communications director, Irene McCormack Jackson, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. And apparently McCormack is just one of many women that Filner allegedly harassed. It was so bad that the mayor’s deputy chief of staff told him he needed “extreme therapy,” and many political supporters abandoned him.
For his part, Filner admits he has a problem, but says McCormack’s claims are untrue.
San Diego mayor: I think claims in sex harass suit untrue, on CBSNews.com.
Even though we loved Weiner jokes, this is no longer funny. The sense of entitlement, recklessness, and hubris of these two men is appalling. One way or another, they both need to vacate the mayor’s office.
San Diego, California News Station – KFMB Channel 8 – cbs8.com
And don’t forget the current mayor of Toronto. What a freak show that is!
I can’t help but wonder, though, at how the real sociopaths of New York keep getting off with a free pass. Those would happen to be the financial and pension system crooks that the infamous Eliot Spitzer will be going after once he’s elected comptroller. The tabloid assault on Weiner interrupted the similar assault on Spitzer, so similarly that it’s a wonder they didn’t just use the same headlines and bikini pictures. Spitzer is supposed to be a sociopath, too. Interesting how he’s trying to stop sociopaths loot New York for millions, if not billions. That’s what killed Detroit, by the way. It’s all been reported and little remarked upon.
Filner’s behavior is not unique in public agencies in San Diego County or elsewhere in California. The sociopath that I was in a long term relationship with was a high ranking official in another public agency and behaved in a similar fashion, negatively impacting numerous women’s lives and making sure two of them lost their jobs while his greatest punishment was perhaps a little annoyance that he didn’t get exactly what he felt entitled to – absolute compliance and subservience from any woman he targeted. This behavior was going on throughout our relationship without my knowledge and only came to my attention after he had abandoned me and moved on to new victims because a friend saw the stories in the press and forwarded them to me. Following the Filner story is like reliving it for us, but both I and these two women are moving on with our lives and though it is not easy at all, we will be fine. These men will always be monsters. I know Filner’s type well and watching him makes me sick.
While no high ranking politician, my former spath always had women working for him. He was most definitely in a position of power and influence. .. Making a LOT of money. I am certain he used many of those women. When I finally figured out what the affliction was – it took all the courage I could muser but I kicked him to the curb and I am SO GLAD. I now realize and know that he could NEVER change. On our old computer I found a bookmark for a sexual harassment attorney. I almost guarantee he was worried about some woman threatening a lawsuit at so;me point, hence then it is time to just job hop. These types are filth, pigs, trash. They will continue what they do until the law has serious consequences. . There are so many articles already detailing how the courts don’t care. These men will be monsters. My spath actually said, “I am not the monster you think I am.” How telling!!
And one more thing.. when in the interview about Weiner it was said, he acts as if he got caught jaywalking. I laughed so hard because I always thought than when my spath was caught he acted as if he got caught stealing a #2 pencil. They minimize their actions but if they don’t like that we made spaghetti instead of pizza (small example) they act as if an earthquake brought their house to the ground.
Honestkindgiver, your spaghetti vs. pizza example is so right on…love it!
The spath I was involved with actually never minimalized his actions, he denied he took them. When one of these dramas was going on, he told me about it, saying that the woman was telling lies to hurt him and get him fired. What she was accusing him of, and subjecting herself to the humiliation of going public was so embarrassing that I told him women don’t make things like this up and subject themselves to the humiliation of going public for the fun of it…so if he didn’t do what she was accusing him of, then what did he do? After that he didn’t mention it to me again until one day he told me how disappointed he was in me that I hadn’t been supportive in his “time of need”.
These men have a sense of entitlement that is outrageous, and too often they are sharp enough to stay just inside the law. Filter seems to be on his own since the City Council voted unanimously to sue him for any damages the City incurs as a result of his actions as well as denied his request that the City pay his legal bills. Bravo.
Speaking of sexual predators in politics, Larry Elder says:
Weiner Should Say: ’I’ll Quit When You Apologize to Broaddrick and Willey’
Now it’s up to 13 women who have accused Mayor Filner of unwanted sexual advances.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-filner-veterans-20130807,0,1540797.story
Thanks for the update Donna. Women in the military have a difficult time just getting superiors to listen to them about sexual assault and harassment, let alone having it prosecuted – it’s reached epidemic proportions and Filner would have known this as a congressman. I’m sure he’s an opportunist, but he’s also (intentionally, IMO) targeting women who already feel they don’t have a voice.
Huma was horribly and publicly betrayed. She is likely to be experiencing the shock reaction of a “betrayal bond.” It’s the toxic glue that many folks simply are not aware of, that keeps victims in relationships when they should be heading for the hills.
Patrick Carnes’ book, The Betrayal Bond should be “must reading” for anyone experiencing this type of humiliating abandonment.
JmS
More audacity – San Diego Mayor Bob Filner ignores demands for his resignation and instead touts the progress he says the city has made since his election last November. A recall drive is underway, and people are flocking to sign the petitions.
Read:
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner replies to recall effort, ignores pressure to resign
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Mayor-Bob-Filner-Replies-to-Recall-Effort-219413341.html
Filner’s statement (accessible on the above link) sounds just like a sociopath.
Plus, his credit card expenses while mayor are being investigated – apparently he’s been taking different women to hotels.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/bob-filner-expenses_n_3752483.html
Finally, Hooters has banned Filner from its downtown San Diego restaurant.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/13/us/san-diego-mayor-scandal