Anthony Weiner seeks treatment, refuses to resign
Anthony Weiner, the embattled New York congressman mired in a seemingly neverending sext scandal, is asking for "a short leave of absence" so he may seek treatment.
Weiner has been asked to resign by several top Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi but continues to refuse to quit.
"Congressman Weiner departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person," a spokeswoman for Weiner said Saturday.
"In light of that, he will request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well. Congressman Weiner takes the views of his colleagues very seriously and has determined that he needs this time to get healthy and make the best decision possible for himself, his family and his constituents," the spokeswoman said.
Weiner got support by actress Janeane Garofalo Friday on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" who said that because everyone lies about sex, the congressman shouldn't be vilified, instead his path should be cleared so he could run the largest city in the United States.
"Anthony Weiner deserves to be supported and hopefully he will be mayor of New York one day. I'm serious," Garofalo said on the political show. "He is a Democrat [who] actually fights for the things liberals and progressive and rational people care about."
Weiner seemed on the fence Monday in regards to professional help. "I have not -- you know, I'm going to try to handle this, and I haven't ruled out perhaps seeing someone," Weiner said about the scandal involving at least six women online, the most recent being a 17-year-old girl in Delaware.
"But I'm not blaming anyone. This is not something that can be treated away; this is my own personal mistake. This is not something -- this is a weakness, a deep weakness, that I have demonstrated, and for that I apologize," he said.
When the congressman emerged from his Forrest Hills, New York, home on Saturday he was met with cheers, according to the New York Daily News. "Two people yelled 'Don't go Weiner!' while another shouted, 'we support you,'" the newspaper wrote.
Anthony Weiner still refuses to resign over serial online sex
Can Anthony Weiner survive this? He admits online exchanges with a 17-year-old female
Anthony Weiuner admits lying about lewd photos; Twitter erupts with serial jokes over sex
--Tony Pierce
twitter.com/busblog
Photo: Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., is questioned by the media near his home in the Queens borough of New York. Credit: David Karp / Associated Press
Show us, the American public, the pics of your now famous weiner Congressman Weiner. Then they the public and the voters can decide whether sending your pics to young females over the net was apporpriate or not!.
Posted by: roberto | June 11, 2011 at 03:02 PM
WEINER NEEDS TO RESIGN NOW. PEOPLE WONDER WHY WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESS ITS IDIOTS LIKE THIS WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. NO ETHICS OR MORALS AND LIED TO US OVER AND OVER, A TRUE SOCIOPATH. NO PLACE IN CONGRESS FOR WEINER!
Posted by: bonnie Morrison | June 11, 2011 at 03:42 PM
WEINER NEEDS TO RESIGN NOW. PEOPLE WONDER WHY WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESS ITS IDIOTS LIKE THIS WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW. NO ETHICS OR MORALS AND LIED TO US OVER AND OVER, A TRUE SOCIOPATH. NO PLACE IN CONGRESS FOR WEINER!
Posted by: bonnie Morrison | June 11, 2011 at 03:42 PM
Well Anthony has decided to take a leave of absence and follow his calling - convert to Catholicism an become a Catholic Priest. This way they can help him cover up this sort of thing.
Posted by: Mahabir Swami | June 11, 2011 at 03:49 PM
This guy , Weiner even before the scandal was an ineffective loud mouth. One in a long line of loud but ineffective legislators we have had over the years. People like Moynihan and Schumer come to mind. People of note who got nothing accomplished in the way of bringing pork to the city. Now we know that Weiner has been disliked by many in Congress thereby not being able to do much for his district let alone the city. It is time for New Yorkers to wise up about who they elect.
Posted by: Gustav Cohen | June 11, 2011 at 04:07 PM
The sex rehab that treated Tiger Woods - the Flaccid Fellowship is a controversial cult and will now treat Rep. Anthony Weiner.….read the deets: http://spnheadlines.blogspot.com/2010/03/tiger-located-at-illinois-sex-rehab_16.html
Posted by: Al Dente | June 11, 2011 at 04:15 PM
Strangely enough, I do not consider Anthony Weiner as morally
bankrupt as the majority of his fellow politicians. In fact, he seems
more concerned with political realities than most. We need able,
pragmatic minds like his. A mild, adolescent sexual lapse is not
a crime, nor does it indicate unfitness for public office (FDR, Gen.
Eisenhower, Jack Kennedy, etc., etc.). Time to wake up, girls.
Posted by: Malcolm MacLeod, MD | June 11, 2011 at 08:05 PM
DO NOT RESIGN!!!!
What you are going through is a personal matter.
This should be between your wife and yourself.
People will do anything to make a name for themselves for money and fame.
I think you are doing a great job!!
Posted by: businesssuit | June 11, 2011 at 08:24 PM
Everyone is entitled to one mistake, He's the best we've got. Please stay and continue to represent us.
Posted by: H. D. Brown | June 11, 2011 at 08:57 PM
So he wants a 'leave-of-absence' from Congress to enter a treatment program. The government cannot pay its bills and the unemployment rate is near 10%. Whacko Weiner wants the US taxpayer pay his salary, his benefits, his retirement plan and now his bogus sex treatment program. It won't work. He's dishonest, arrogant, and will not accomplished anything of measure in Congress. He will not change his MO. He is a sicko con-man. Congress needs to abort him ASAP and I suggest the same advice to his wife.
Posted by: Rob | June 11, 2011 at 10:11 PM
I'm a life-long Democrat. Weiner's a disgrace to the party, and should have resigned last week.
Posted by: karen siverson | June 11, 2011 at 11:38 PM
I'm a life-long Democrat and find Wiener'sbehavior unconscionable. He should have resigned last week.
Posted by: karen siverson | June 11, 2011 at 11:40 PM
It's crystal meth addiction or cocaine. He has lost a lot of weight recently. Coke and meth trigger sexual addiction and unusual sexual behaviors.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | June 12, 2011 at 01:00 AM
Don't regular people go to prison for sexual behavior involving a minor (17 y.o. girl)?
Posted by: Jerry | June 12, 2011 at 03:52 AM
The funniest quote by this pathetic little dweeb in his conversations on Twitter with a 17-yr. old was, IMHO:
"I'm a very important man and don't have a lot of free time....."
If he doesn't say so himself. My guess is this pompous grandiose li'l paraphiliac may have his Blackberry confiscated and his congressional district gerrymandered out from under him.
What a shame that would be for such an important dude!
Posted by: daveinboca | June 12, 2011 at 04:17 AM
Even Wassermann-SchutUpp & Pee-loosey want him to make a graceless exit. I guess the Demonrat Party is less sleazy and slimey without him. Chris Lee shows that not all New York state residents are parasitic bloodsuckers like Wiener-man's constituents.
Posted by: daveinboca | June 12, 2011 at 04:22 AM
don't you dare resign--- you've still got alot of work to complete for the people of new york--that's what they sent you to washington for. SO WHAT HAPPENED ? Seems you had to much time on your hands OR you weren't THAT concerned about the job,the people that you were suppossed to respresent, or respect for yourself or your wife. what a screw-up
Posted by: nick | June 12, 2011 at 08:09 AM
The most disgusting thing about the Weiner mess is, that it took the rest of the Senate and House so long to realize that such behavior is a direct and
negative reflexion on every member of the House and Senate. As our Washington representatives clumsily stumble around such rancor, it suggests
they (most if not all of them) just don't get it. Is there any wonder why things are so screwed up in D.C?
Posted by: Tom DeLuca | June 12, 2011 at 08:19 AM
Date A Dem!!!!!
Want to treat your significant other like dirt and have them stay with you while others defend and excuse your actions? DATE A DEM. Yes, you to can treat your significant other like garbage and have people like Barbera Walters, Pelosi, Whoopi or Chris Mathews defend you and your actions. Find out what Bill Clinton has always known. Date a Dem and live like a Weiner!
Posted by: Teddy | June 12, 2011 at 08:22 AM
Maybe you should have a career change and sign up to be a Catholic Priest. I think they need some new priests!
Posted by: Mahabir Swami | June 12, 2011 at 08:58 AM
The decision of Congressman Anthony Weiner to seek treatment and take a leave of absence from Congress is a lame attempt to pacify the public. It is another corrupt attempt to flee from his responsibilities. Politicians and priests seem to have the same flawed DNA. The " pig-factor" is more common than assumed. How did politicians satisfy their decease before sexting and porno e-mailing? The Congressman has only one alternative left: priesthood.
Posted by: Freudenberger | June 12, 2011 at 10:59 AM
I pray REALLY pray that he repents most importantly, a is able to save his marriage. I pray that what he experiences makes him a better person. We have
all sinned but what we do afterwards is what matters. Read Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Chill out everyone...and pray for him.
Posted by: Courtney | June 12, 2011 at 01:12 PM
Even if embattled U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner doesn't resign from Congress, hopefully, someone will challenge him in the Democratic primary for the district's U.S. House seat and voters will oust him in New York's state primaries next year.
Posted by: Erik K. Weseman | June 12, 2011 at 05:28 PM
A recently married man, who is a member of the United States Congress, sends pictures of his wiener to a 17 year old over the internet?
What more do you need to know to conclude that America does not need nut jobs in Congress?
Posted by: clogger | June 12, 2011 at 07:45 PM
Political leaders have the legal right to indulge in kinky and freaky sex. They should not be obligated to follow traditional sexual standards. The expose of Weiner`s erotic pleasures are no grounds for his dismissal or forced resignation. Lets stop putting politicians on a pedestal and grant them a license to indulge in sexual variety and openness.
Posted by: Small Business Resources | June 13, 2011 at 12:28 AM
It is amazing that this guy would get a free pass. He should resign. He is an example of a guy who should have realized how much sending photo graphs of his privates is just not what most would expect from our elected official. Weiner is one of the leaders of support of a Middle East nation and he can always decide to move to that place. Heaven knows we have enough people with strange habits of photographing their private parts.
Posted by: Employment Experts | June 13, 2011 at 07:23 PM
SELF SERVING EGO MANIAC ELITE PREV ITS ALL ABOUT ME IM ABOVE YOU ALL IM SORRY I GOT CAUGHT I LIED AN IM NOT GOING TO RESING HAVE A INVESTAGATION OF THIS PREV SCUM BAG WELFARE KING HE WANT THE TAXPAYER TO PAY FOR HIS ME BORN 500 DOLLAR TO DELIVER HIS BABY AT THE NAVY HOSPITAIL IN DC WHAT A CREEP
Posted by: mandingo | June 14, 2011 at 03:22 PM
Jeanane, You go girl! I totally agree with you. I hope he stays. He could really help so much by staying and challeging misperceptions that people need to resign and leave public life in shame when they have problems. He shows Tremendous courage.
Posted by: Maria | June 14, 2011 at 07:51 PM