Anthony Weiner Goes Out With About The Amount Of Class You’d Expect

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s campaign was pretty much over weeks ago when revelations about new sexting incidents became public, but it became officially over last night when he finished the night with less than 5% of the vote. However, it was how he went out that made news:

New York (CNN) - The now-immortalized final moment of Anthony Weiner’s failed New York mayoral campaign was the candidate’s middle finger directed at a reporter curbside as his car drove away Tuesday night.

CNN affiliate NY-1 captured Weiner flipping the bird on video as the candidate departed his primary election night party after delivering his concession speech, punctuating the end of his bizarre campaign and an odd evening.

If that wasn’t enough drama, Weiner had trouble getting into his event as Sydney Leathers, the woman at the center of the sexting controversy that began the unraveling of his mayoral campaign, had shown up outside in what she admitted was a blatant play for media attention. Weiner’s problem was there was only one entrance to Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant, the election night headquarters for his campaign.

“I’m here to celebrate. I think he needs some sex therapy,” explained Leathers, who is now embracing a career in the porn industry.

Dressed in a skintight, red dress and platform black pumps, Leathers got what she was looking for as some of the press inside headed outside to interview the newly minted porn star. For about 30 minutes, it was a media frenzy outside. Leathers stuck around for several hours hoping Weiner would show up, even heading inside to the bar to drink a glass of white wine with a male friend.

“We went to his campaign headquarters today first, and he decided to rearrange his schedule because apparently he doesn’t think he can handle confronting me or me being in his presence so I felt like it was only appropriate to make one last stop,” she said.

You can find pictures of Weiner’s parting shot to reporters here and here. I suppose next we’ll hear of Weiner showing up on Howard Stern’s show or something.

FILED UNDER: 2013 Election, US Politics, , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. John Peabody says:

    Keep it classy, Mr. Never-to-be-Mayor.

  2. Franklin says:

    I admit, there was a time when I thought he was a bright up-and-coming politician with an ability to speak the brutal truth at times. Oh, well.

  3. Neil Hudelson says:

    @Franklin:

    Agreed. He always struck me as slightly slimey…but what politician doesn’t?

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone become their own self parody like Weiner has.

  4. grumpy realist says:

    @Neil Hudelson: and so quickly, as well.

    There’s a certain in-your-face attitude that New Yorkers don’t seem to mind about their politicians–but you should never, ever, ever, become a laughing stock. Which Mr. Weiner did.

  5. Ernieyeball says:

    @Neil Hudelson:..always struck me as slightly slimey…but what politician doesn’t?

    Dwight D. Eisenhower?

  6. Surreal American says:

    South Carolina GOP elects Mark Sanford.
    NYC Dems don’t elect Anthony Weiner.

    Draw your own conclusions.

  7. Sydney Leathers. That is her porn name, right?

  8. Jenos Idanian #13 says:

    @Surreal American: South Carolina GOP elects Mark Sanford.
    NYC Dems don’t elect Anthony Weiner.

    And California Democrats covered up for Filthy Filner’s serial groping of women for years For The Good Of The Party.

    What was your point again?

  9. Surreal American says:

    @Jenos Idanian #13:

    That the party of Mark Sanford and David Vitter has no room to lecture anyone on morality?

  10. Franklin says:

    @Stress N. Strain: Depends on if that is your porn name.

  11. Grewgills says:

    So much for her being his victim, or did he drive her to porn?

  12. Tillman says:

    @Surreal American: Isn’t much of a parallel. Sanford stuck with the mistress, asked forgiveness, and so far hasn’t been seen cheating on the mistress.

    Weiner, on the other hand, “cheated,” asked forgiveness, and then started “cheating” again.

  13. Surreal American says:

    @Tillman:

    Point taken.

    I suppose Gingrich would be a better example since he is a known serial cheater. However he didn’t immediately seek elective office after leaving the U.S. House during the late 1990s. The only election he won since leaving the Speakership was the 2012 GOP Primary in…South Carolina??? Wait, what???

    What is it about that state anyway?

  14. Dave says:

    It seems that both Weiner and Spitzer have seen their political careers deep-sixed yesterday, but I don’t know. I have a queasy feeling that neither is actually finished, that a sequel has already been written. It’s like a horror movie where everyone walks away thinking the evil has been buried and when they are gone, all of a sudden a hand pops up from the ground.

    In either case, we can only hope it’s just a hand.

  15. legion says:

    @Tillman: Sanford didn’t just cheat. If that was his only failure it would barely make the news. Sanford, while Governor, left the country without telling anyone to spend a week with said mistress, leaving the entire state government hanging in the breeze. That’s a level of irresponsibility sooooo far beyond vanilla infidelity that it pretty much defines his character forever. Anyone who trusts him _will_ get burnt.

  16. Deserttrek says:

    the guy always struck me as a whiny sob. he was one of those who would stand in the well in an empty house chamber spewing his vitriol to the camera. he could never disagree, he has to call people names and step on everybody else. sadly he is a typical 21st century politico.

  17. Tillman says:

    @legion: Heh heh. “Hiking the Appalachian trail,” indeed.

  18. the Q says:

    “I admit, there was a time when I thought he was a bright up-and-coming politician with an ability to speak the brutal truth at times……..”

    He still does, only it got lost following his tragic flaw of sexual addiction.

    If you are going to have brain surgery and you have a choice of doctors and you pick the best one in the world, who has saved the most patients and has the best track record and the nurse, right before surgery,whispers in your ear, “oh by the way, the Dr. post nude pics of his penis online”, would you give a schitt? Or would you say, “oh, then I better go to Dr. #2 who loves his wife and doesn’t cheat.”

    I think 99% would go with the best Dr.

    Obviously not so in current politics.

  19. grumpy realist says:

    @the Q: the problem with Mr. Weiner is a) he wasn’t able to control himself, b) he lied, and c) got miffed when people pointed out his inconsistencies.

    It’s one thing being a brain surgeon; it’s another thing being a politician in a position of power where you can be blackmailed for your indiscretions.