The Weiner Presser

So here we are again, Anthony “Carlos Danger” Weiner holding a press conference where he admits doing wrong but deludes himself into arguing that he shouldn’t resign.

Just to walk down memory lane, here’s his press conference from 2011:

And while we are at it, let’s remember how Andrew Breitbart hijacked that press conference just minutes before:

And now we have today’s latest promise that this will never happen again:

Meanwhile, via Twitchy we get word from Emily Miller that there might be even more women coming forward.  But even if this is the only one, Aaron Blake over at the Washington Post has this devastating point:

Anthony Weiner basically knew this day would come: the day his sexual chats with women who were not his wife are released for all in the public to view.

But one of the most damning aspect of the whole episode over the past 24 hours — in addition to the bombshell admission that he kept engaging in these relationships after his resignation — is the irresistible shorthand we all now have for Weiner’s indiscretions:

Carlos Danger.

What Blake is getting at is the idea that Weiner knew or should have known this day of humiliation would occur, so why did he pick such a ridiculous name as his persona?  Either he is actively self-destructive or he is a colossal idiot who lacks the judgment to recognize how this stuff will look to others.  He has previously said, in that prior press conference, that this is self-destruction.

Anthony Weiner is a deeply damaged human being.  He really needs to go and be on his own for a long time and straighten himself out.  He needs to stay out of politics and probably stay off the internet, generally.

By the way, will anyone ask if he keep his paramours above eighteen?

At the same time, Pete “DaTechGuy” is exploring another angle: how Weiner promised his paramour a job at Politico.

And over at Buzzfeed, Andrew Kaczynski points out that this cyberaffair had been going on for a week before he met with People magazine.  Read the whole thing, but here’s a key passage:

“Anthony has spent every day since [the scandal] trying to be the best dad and husband he can be,” his wife said. “I’m proud to be married to him.”

Bluntly it is hard to see Huma as anything but a woman who is in a marriage of convenience at this point.

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Disclaimer:

I have accused some people, particularly Brett Kimberlin, of reprehensible conduct.  In some cases, the conduct is even criminal.  In all cases, the only justice I want is through the appropriate legal process—such as the criminal justice system.  I do not want to see vigilante violence against any person or any threat of such violence.  This kind of conduct is not only morally wrong, but it is counter-productive.

In the particular case of Brett Kimberlin, I do not want you to even contact him.  Do not call him.  Do not write him a letter.  Do not write him an email.  Do not text-message him.  Do not engage in any kind of directed communication.  I say this in part because under Maryland law, that can quickly become harassment and I don’t want that to happen to him.

And for that matter, don’t go on his property.  Don’t sneak around and try to photograph him.  Frankly try not to even be within his field of vision.  Your behavior could quickly cross the line into harassment in that way too (not to mention trespass and other concerns).

And do not contact his organizations, either.  And most of all, leave his family alone.

The only exception to all that is that if you are reporting on this, there is of course nothing wrong with contacting him for things like his official response to any stories you might report.  And even then if he tells you to stop contacting him, obey that request.  That this is a key element in making out a harassment claim under Maryland law—that a person asks you to stop and you refuse.

And let me say something else.  In my heart of hearts, I don’t believe that any person supporting me has done any of the above.  But if any of you have, stop it, and if you haven’t don’t start.