The ‘Twexing’ scandal began more than a week ago when a conservative website reported that a photo of a man's crotch had been sent from New York congressman Anthony Weiner's Twitter account to a college student in Seattle.
For days, Weiner claimed that he had never sent the photo and that he was the victim of a hacker. But when Wolff Blitzer asked about his possible ownership of the underpants, Weiner could not say with "certitude" whether they were his. Then, on Monday, June 6, Congressman Weiner admitted to having engaged in online relationships involving pictures and messages of a sexual nature with six women via Twitter and Facebook.
In this apology address, Weiner said again and again that he had made "terrible mistakes" and had done "a very dumb thing" for which he bore complete responsibility. He apologized repeatedly to his wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Following his admission, Weiner is now under intense pressure to quit, though he vows not to.
I received a vastly different reaction from fellow college students than the ones people were expressing on the news stations. Many reporters and panelists find his behavior disgusting and indecent, but as one person I spoke with asked, "Is it that inappropriate if the woman wanted to see the pictures and liked them?" Others agreed with him, viewing the event as harmless and somewhat innocent because Weiner did not actually physically engage with these women. This response initially surprised me — how and why did such a morally lax attitude manifest itself? The answer came quickly enough as I scrolled through my Facebook newsfeed. People post almost equally racy pictures of themselves as a form of promotion. This is also true for magazines, movies, and television. Body-bearing images are not breaking news to social media users. In fact, it’s accepted and encouraged.
The risqué factor has lost its shock value on younger people because of its prevalence. Has social media made people more ethically lenient in regards to online behavior? And if people are more permissive in online escapades, how will that affect tangible relationships?
The convenient, yet intimate access to people through Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist, etc., is very tempting, and for some, is too much to resist. Social sites serve as a way for some people to forge a personal connection, suffice a need for attention, and sustain somewhat low-maintenance interactions. Not for Weiner, however.
The photos and details from Meagan Broussard, a 26-year-old single mother from Texas, prompted Weiner’s confession. It began innocently when she ‘liked’ a video of him addressing a gathering of construction workers in Washington, DC. Broussard wrote on Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com site, “I commented that it was 'hot.' From there, he introduced himself to me over Facebook Chat.”
This is not the first time a politician has turned the gossip gears through his sexual exploitation of social media. These sites have become the latest place for political scandals.
Earlier this year, New York’s former Republican Congressman Chris Lee took shirtless pictures of himself with his Blackberry and sent it as a response to a woman’s Craiglist post. In 2006, Republican Rep. Mark Foley of Florida quit his post after a situation involving promiscuous emails and instant messages.
Access to a variety of digital mediums has solicited a diversity of societal problems that never existed in previous generations.
According to CNN, the brash Weiner “rose through New York City politics as a young man unafraid of a fight and eager for attention.” These traits will serve him well in the media storm he has created for himself.
In some ways, I agree with people who are supporting Weiner, and in others, I agree with those degrading him. I am not disgusted by Weiner’s actions because a politician’s sexual involvements should not be of a voter’s concern. It is each person’s choice how he decides to express himself, and that is a decision between him and his wife.
However, I am disheartened with Weiner’s blatant contortion of the truth. He conceded to a “hugely regrettable” lapse in judgment, but would he have had this realization if his lewd photos had not been publicized?
People need to be able to rely on their representatives to be a pillar of integrity, dignity and honesty, and so, misrepresentation should not be tolerated.
Might this be too idealistic? Probably, but perhaps this is a lesson to all those in the midst of a sexual scandal — when in doubt, “no comment” is fully appropriate (and sincere). Simple can be sophisticated, too.
Reach the columnist at mgrichar@asu.edu
