Weiner, Weiner, Weiner

Even if you don’t care a whit about an elected official’s personal life and think that even they are entitled to a private life, however bizarre, you truly do have to ask the “stupid” question, “WTF were they thinking, and if they are that stupid, should they really be serving as my representative?” Forget the “lying to the public” part (bad choice of words, I know), because, well, remember that line: “How can you tell if a politician is lying? His/her lips are moving”?

It would be one thing for “stuff” to be ancient history (way to cover up Governator… wow, a full decade), but when the conduct is while in office, the old “What goes on the Internet stays on the Internet” adage kicks into full gear… not to mention that ubiquitous press corps joined by civilians with camera-laden cell phones looking for dirt. Stupid is not an endearing quality in elected representatives, but that hasn’t stopped most from running and getting elected…. really, really stupid, on the other hand, can drive them from office!

Oh, there have always been rumors (and more) of political mistresses and casual lovers even (especially) in the White House – from Ike, FDR to Jack Kennedy, Billy and his willie and Monica, did Thomas Jefferson (one of my favorite presidents, pictured above) really have his Sally Hemings? But some of the moments in the era of television reporting and beyond, moments you may have forgotten, are just plain amazing. The June 8^th Washington Post reminds us of a few (visit the Post for a more complete list):

“[In 1974], Rep. Wilbur Mills (D-Ark.) gave up chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee after being stopped in his car with Anabell Battistella, known as ‘Fanne Foxe, the Argentine Firecracker.’ Foxe jumped into the Tidal Basin while Mills was being questioned. Mills did not seek re-election.”

Barak Obama may actually owe his political ascendancy to a sex scandal: “[In 2004] Republican Jack Ryan dropped out of the Illinois Senate race after his wife, Jeri Lynn Ryan of Star Trek fame, filed divorce papers alleging he had taken her to ‘bizarre clubs’ and asked her to have sex in front of other people. Ryan's Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, easily won the Illinois seat.”

“[2007] Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested for lewd conduct in the men’s restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. He finished his term but did not run again.” I was particularly amused when Craig told reporters that his apparent game of between the stalls footsie was really because of his particularly “wide stance” while relieving himself.

This year, “Rep. Chris Lee (R-N.Y.) resigned within hours after it was revealed that he sent a topless photo of himself to a woman he met on Craigslist.” Craiglist? What were you smoking?

Sigh – and in politics, apparently sighs matter – it is so interesting. To Americans. In France, it is expected, and the rumors of President Nicholas Sarkozy and his wife having affairs draws yawns. In Italy, the antics of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, accused of serious misconduct with a minor, draws snickers and shoulder shrugs. Still, you really can’t downplay that “really, really stupid factor,” although I am told that being a CNN anchor pays a heck of a lot better than being Governor of New York.

I’m Peter Dekom, and despite the title, I didn’t even talk about the really, really stupid antics of one particular now ex-Congressman from New York who apparently didn’t Tweet like a bird.