OK, now that Anthony Weiner is closing the zipper on his congressional career and stepping down, it’s time to focus on his critics.
Let’s start on the right.
In the past few campaign cycles, a standard line from Jewish conservatives has been that liberals should learn to love conservatives because support for Israel is more important than abortion rights and a host of other domestic issues.
Well, Weiner has been one of the most ardent supporters of Israel in the Democratic caucus. He’s a regular at the annual dinner of the Zionist Organization of America, often taking the stage to declare that he represents the "ZOA wing of the Democratic Party." (I’ve seen him adapt the line for other like-minded crowds — "I represent the CAMERA wing of the Democratic Party.")
To be clear, ZOA — which has been a strong critic of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts, Israeli concessions and the idea that the current Palestinian leadership is a partner for peace — did not throw Weiner under the bus over Twittergate. Its president, Morton Klein, praised Weiner’s record and said his troubles represented a “terrible loss for the pro-Israel community.” But Republicans who talk about the importance of supporting Israel, like House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), had no trouble saying it was time for Weiner to go.
Of couse, after the scandal broke, it might be unrealistic to expect partisans to take a pass on the scandal just because Weiner was, from their perspective, good in one area. But what about before the fact? Andrew Breitbart, the right-wing muckraking blogger who broke the story, was a featured speaker at a Republican Jewish Coalition gathering on Sunday in Los Angeles.
It turns out that several RJC members have helped bankroll Breitbart:
“My first event was held here,” he told the audience. “Not in this esteemed room, but in the bar downstairs.” Since then, Breitbart said, he’s had the chance to speak to RJC gatherings numerous times, and he acknowledged that he has financial backers from the ranks of the RJC.
“What a lucrative alliance we’ve created,” Breitbart said.
Hey, it’s a free country, and no one forced Weiner to live up to his name in so many different ways. But the next time you hear a Jewish conservative talking about how Jewish liberals should put domestic concerns aside to worry more about Israel, just remember that a bunch of Jewish conservatives helped bring down one of Israel’s staunchest congressional defenders over these tweets.
But liberals, wipe those self-satisifed smiles off your faces. How many times in the past 15 years have you ripped into Republicans for trying to impeach President Clinton over his sexual indiscretions and untruths? Somehow all these Democratic leaders who have spent years painting Ken Starr and the congressional GOPers as waging a puritanical crusade against the will of the people took just a few days to conclude that Weiner had to go.
Weiner sent tweets to young women; Clinton had an actual affair with his intern.
Weiner lied to the press; Clinton lied under oath.
Weiner lied for a few days; Clinton lied and roped his Cabinet into the lies for about eight months.
And another thing: Most of the people calling for Weiner to take a hike don’t even live in his district. Clinton was everybody’s business.
So why exactly did Weiner have to go but Bubba had to stay?
OK, OK, that’s politics. But still.
