Posted on 05/31/2011 2:21:46 PM PDT by abb
After retaining legal counsel in a case in which a lewd photo was sent from his Twitter account to a 21 year-old female college student, New York Rep. Anthony Weiner says he will no longer answer questions about the matter. The matter has become a "distraction," the outspoken Democrat told reporters Tuesday, and he intends to spend his time working on congressional matters and not answering questions about what has become known in furious Internet speculation as "Weinergate."
In a performance that might please a defense attorney but would make a public relations consultant cringe, Weiner, who has said his Twitter account was "hacked" and also that he was the victim of a "prank," one-by-one refused to answer six of the most pressing questions about the controversy:
1) Was the photo in question of Weiner himself?
You know, look, I'm not going to talk about this any more. I think that if I was giving a speech to 45,000 people, and someone stood up and heckled in the back, I wouldn't spend three days talking to him. I'm going to get back to the conversation I care about.
2) Why hire a lawyer?
I've put out a couple statements over the last couple days. I would refer you to those to answer these questions. I understand you're doing your job, but I'm going to go back to work.
3) Why not report the matter to Capitol Police?
I put out a statement about that over the last couple of days. I put out a couple of statements. I mean, I'm trying my best, I've spent a couple of days cooperating and trying to help you do your job, but at a certain point I've got to get back to work and I think we've reached that point today.
4) Was the account hacked, or was Weiner the victim of a prank?
I'm not convinced that there's any value any more of me talking about it. I understand you've got to do your job, and I'm going to get back to work. There are some enormously important things, and I believe this has been a distraction. I'm not going to let it be so any more.
5) Why was Weiner following a 21 year-old college student on Twitter?
I appreciate the questions. I understand you're doing your job but this is now a couple of days later, I've got to finally get back to work and focus on things I want to focus on.
6) Is Weiner concerned about the security of Facebook and Twitter accounts?
I'm going to return to working on things that I care about. I've participated in the story a couple of days now, given comments on it. This is a distraction and I'm not going to let it distract me.
Near the end of the news conference, a reporter said to Weiner, "This distraction might go away if you answered some of the questions that are out there." A pensive looking Weiner quickly responded: "I'm not convinced of that. I'm not convinced of that."
At the moment, there is no publicly available proof either that Weiner sent the photo or that he was the victim of hackers. Weiner has expressed a desire to "move on." But many members of Congress have Facebook and Twitter accounts, and the possibility that those accounts could be sabotaged by someone seeking to destroy a politcian's career is troubling. For that reason alone, it seems likely that public officials, if not Anthony Weiner himself, will want to know more about what really happened in this case.
Fox News about to cover the burgeoning story.
Wasn't that Weiner's (sorry) point?
At the end of the day,Weiner could probably use a stiff one.
It would be such a shame if extraneous issues of repeated poor personal conduct and bad character caused problems for a promenent Democrat who is so good at his job.
We’ve seen this before when Right Wing conspiracies try to bring down good public servants that are just trying to help the poor and elderly. And children, did I forget children? Unwed mothers — opps, forget I brought that one up and don’t even mention Muslim women. By the way, did Huma get Weiner to convert? Anyway, he is an important guy and very big (whoops, wrong term again) in the current minority in the House.
"Aw. Ah am touched. He got a lotta those evasive answers from me!"
A Weiner Waiver? Hasn't he done too much of that already??
Really?
And here I thought he was going back to work on important things...
Something about a "vast right wing conspiracy" if the past is any precedent.
Why didn’t he just blame it on a “Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy” and be done with it??
Could we get back to talking about Tony now?
This is a dangerous politician that needs to be “exposed” (sorry for the pun). As stupid as it may seem, we need to force this scum from our Capitol Building.
Try watching this lunatics antics anytime, but especially on the House Floor, he pounds his fists like Kruschev use to.
Dangerous man.
http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/05/cnns-dana-bash-holds-rep-weiners-feet-to-the-fire/
CNNs Dana Bash Holds Rep. Weiners Feet To The Fire
Rep. Anthony Weiner snaps at reporter asking about lewd picture that came from his Twitter feed
By Alison Gendar
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, May 31st 2011, 7:13 PM
Thanks for the info. I believe he is never going to ask the FBI to investigate. It appears that he may well have done this himself.
By Lachlan Markay
Created May 31 2011 - 7:27pm
Rep. Weiner in 2009: ‘Cyber attacks...are real and demand immediate action’
Two years - nearly to the day - before Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Memorial Day weekend was thrown into turmoil by the burgeoning “Weinergate” scandal, the New York Democrat offered some strong words on cyber-security that now carry quite a bit of irony.
For those unfamiliar with the basics of the Weinergate scandal, a photo of a male erection was sent on Friday from Weiner’s verified Twitter account to a 21-year-old Washington State coed. For a quick rundown of the full timeline as of Tuesday morning, check out Jonah Goldberg’s post on the topic.
Weiner, who has refused to initiate an official investigation into what he claims was a criminal “hack” (he later dubbed it a “prank”) into his Twitter account, insisted in May 2009 that “Cyber attacks are real and demand immediate action.” But he warned against giving a government agency too much power, and called for a “balanced approach” to cyber security.
The New York Daily News reported the Congressman’s statement thusly:
Whoa, there, Mr. President: Let’s be careful with giving the NSA more power, Rep. Anthony Weiner warned today.
That’s in response to President Obama’s move to appoint a cyber-security czar (the plan is after the jump) who Weiner doesn’t want to give up too much civilian control while protecting the country’s information grid.
“Cyber attacks — both foreign and domestic — are real and demand immediate action,” Weiner said. “But we need a balanced approach. It is important that we don’t give too much authority to a government agency that collects information and rarely shares it.”
Weiner’s call to act on cyber threats “immediate[ly]” seems all the more ironic given his hesitancy to involve law enforcement in the scandal that has dominated headlines since the tweet in question was sent on Friday evening.
One congressman, Republican Cliff Stearns of Florida, is even calling for an investigation into the alleged “hacking,” citing the same national security concerns to which Weiner paid lip service two years ago. The Daily Caller reported Tuesday:
Although this particular incident is a matter for law enforcement, it clearly indicates that hacking is a serious problem and as Chairman it would be appropriate for the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to examine the issue of cybersecurity to protect our privacy and to ensure our national security, Stearns said in an email to The Daily Caller.
But previous statements notwithstanding, Weiner was reluctant to involve law enforcement in what, if true, would amount to a fairly serious breach of Congress’s digital security. Even the congressman’s defenders must admit: it doesn’t look good.
Arrogant little pr!ck.
He should call C. Destine to see how it’s really done...
“Ok .Ok ,Folks ....move away from the Weiner......”
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