Is Anthony Weiner's sexting a no-sex sex scandal? (just tell them they're "hot")

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 8, 2011 | Joe Garofoli

[Cincinatus' Wife]

....."It is cheating in that it came from the same space inside him," said Kerry Cohen, an Oregon psychotherapist and author of "Loose Girl: A Memoir of Promiscuity." "It is a betrayal, absolutely."

Like former President Bill Clinton, who officiated at Weiner's wedding, Weiner is a powerful public figure who got caught in a sex scandal. Their straying, Cohen added, "comes from the need to be seen and attended to" in ways politics can't.

..John Portmann, editor of the anthology "In Defense of Sin" said....

"I don't believe that Weiner cheated on his wife, not at all," said Portmann, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Virginia. "I also think that there is quite a lot of this erotic chatting going on in the U.S. right now."

Six percent of Americans over 18 have sent a nude or near-nude image of themselves to someone else and 15 percent have received one, according to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.

Sexting isn't just a young person's pastime: 17 percent of adults in Weiner's 30- to 49-year-old demographic have received such a communique......

...being a congressman and a desired speaker in progressive circles didn't provide enough of a visceral thrill for Weiner, Cohen said. That's why his head was turned by a sexual comment by Broussard, who posted "hot" under a speech Weiner had posted on his Facebook page. Then Weiner contacted her.

It's much in the same way, Cohen said, that then-married former Democratic Sen. John Edwards got involved in an affair with campaign staffer Rielle Hunter, who told the presidential candidate, "You're so hot."

[snip]

Ethically, Weiner's biggest sin may not have been sexual. Instead, it was one that has felled politicians for generations: covering up the original sin by lying....

[Cincinatus' Wife]

First, it isn't "quite a lot" of sexting if 94% of Americans and 83% (30-49) AREN'T receiving these "communiques."

Since I expect more than 6% of the population has been told they're "hot," is the population on Capital Hill just weak minded and overwhelmingly insecure, or as I suspect morally corrupt and feeling entitled to what ever they want?

Weiner calls this a "personal failing" and that he is "sorry." It's time to pull the plug on these flawed politicians and get good people elected who aren't "professional" pampered, protected elites.

I notice they don't put a percentage for sexting under 18. We can thank Bill Clinton (and his defenders and disciples) for the uptick in sexuality of our school children.

I guess Monica uttered those fateful words, "You're hot Mr. President."

What's a man to do?

[Alberta's Child]

If 6% of Americans have sent such images and 15% have received them, then this isn't a simple case of people sending them to each other. Most likely, this phenomenon is some kind of "digital exhibitionism" like we've seen with Weiner, involving one person sending images to multiple recipients.

If you did a survey and asked people how many of them have "flashed" other people, and how many people have been "flashed," you'd notice a similar disconnect in the numbers.

[The Bronze Titan]

Sorry, couldn't resist....."(just tell them their they're "hot")

[politicalmerc]

I think this is far more pervasive than these figures would indicate.

[bgill]

He is not hot. He is creepy. Very creepy.

Further proof the marriage to Huma is nothing but a front.

[LoveUSA]

Weiner allegedly never had sexual intercourse; but he did deceive and totally humiliate the person he swore to love and honor.

That's all anyone needs to know about him.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I know. Ha!

I saw it the minute it posted and made a request for assistance to cover my misspelling tracks.

LOL

[Alberta's Child]

Maybe so, but I think the 2.5-to-1 ratio of “I’ve received nude photos” responses to “I’ve sent nude photos” responses is probably pretty accurate.

[WashingtonSource]

If you read the texts, he is masturbating while doing this and looking at the pictures and messages. That is sex, albeit pathetic. Also, the whole point of this was to later arrange a rendez-vous with any of the women who responded. I would guess that eventually it will emerge that he did have sex was “that woman” and “that woman” and “that woman.”

[Elle Bee]

so if I go down to the local park and open my raincoat and expose my junk to a young woman - I go to jail.

But if I expose my stuff to a young woman on a computer screen - I get another term in congress?????

.

[mvpel]

I’m frankly shocked that he’s being classy enough to refrain from releasing the photos or video that the women undoubtedly sent to him, considering how they threw him under the bus like that.

[Elle Bee]

don't be

he spoke to Clinton yesterday

I'm sure the private detectives and operatives are already threatening women

.

[kalee]

If those women get harassed Breitbart will deliver the bomb he says he has.

[Elle Bee]

that's why it should be dropped now

I can't remember who said it first, but the is no reason for civility in war - you only give the other guy time to inflict more damage upon you and yours

.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Weiner kept using the word “consensual” to keep it legal.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I think he was trying to avoid a stained blue dress.

[Matchett-PI]

"I think this is far more pervasive than these figures would indicate."

Or as Fred Thompson said on Hannity's show last night [paraphrased], "To see how far down we've come in America today, contrast back in the days of Nixon when we asked, "What did he know and when did he know it?". Today we ask, "What did he show, and when did he show it?". LOL

[Peet]

I have been wondering how long it would tale the piss-stream media to start the same thing they did with Clintoon: a “lewinsky” isn’t really “sex” so it isn’t cheating.

Now it’s “Mailing pictures of your ‘little tony’ isn’t sexual, so it doesn’t matter.”