It seems to me that it is just another unfortunate situation where addiction has destroyed another family. For the sake of his son, I hope AW gets the treatment he needs.

Not to make light of a sad situation, but some of you are pretty funny.

another unfortunate situation where addiction has destroyed another family

Do you really believe sexual impropriety and adulterous behavior are an addiction? I know it's very fashionable to run off to rehab facilities to claim one's bad behavior is the result of addiction issues, but don't most people consider that a lame refuge of scoundrels? Is everyone just a 28-day program away from forgiveness, no matter the deed?

I think Weiner is either an addict or the dumbest man alive. Probably both.

How many times does he have to get caught doing the exact same thing to figure out a different solution. Like, maybe just look at some porn or something instead of texting inappropriate pictures of yourself and trying to sext with women who are GOING to turn your texts over to the press as soon as they figure out who you are.

His is compulsive behavior, and many consider that to be an impulse control disorder or behavioral addiction in which brain abnormalities may play a part.

Do you really believe sexual impropriety and adulterous behavior are an addiction?

I believe it truly can be. In the case of an individual like this, who I do not believe is a dummy, has been publicly caught and shamed over this on multiple occasions, I believe that it is very possible that there is an underlying pathology/mental illness as opposed to an overwhelming moral failing. In this regard, I think the moral failing is most likely his denial and unwillingness to get help to treat the very real problem that exists.

I absolutely believe he has a sex addiction and needs treatment. I am glad she is leaving him, and didn't see the photos (don't want to), but the thought of them sickens me especially with a child involved. I haven't seen the documentary, but read that he regretted agreeing to it almost immediately after it was filmed. Duh!

My best friend divorced her husband who is a sex addict, and I believe it is a very real addiction which destroys lives and families. He is an extremely successful business executive who has yet to be found out by his colleagues, but he engages in some very risky behavior so time will tell.

This NYT interview w/ the couple from 2013 explains their history, and why Huma stayed w/ him after the first scandal. I had not realized she was pregnant when all that news came out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/magazine/anthony-weiner-and-huma-abedins-post-scandal-playbook.html

I really feel badly for her. And he's such a moron.

Not to excuse his ridiculous behavior, but I think the NY Times article sort of humanized Anthony. And that's never a bad thing.

I saw the documentary in the theater when it came out, with my daughter and we both agreed it was an incredible film. well worth seeing not just for the main storyline but as a great behind the scenes view of politics and politicians.

Re. addiction v. bad behavior/scoundrel/lack of character I'd say that in this situation clearly he must have a mental problem; his behavior has cost him his career, his family and of course his good name and his dignity now that he's a laughing stock nationally and probably internationally. Can't imagine someone mentally healthy wouldn't have stopped doing what he was doing before it destroyed everything a normal person holds most dear.

I think because the article posted above helped me to see him as more of a "real person" instead of simply a pathetic laughingstock, I'm reminded of how rarely sexual infidelity is about the actual sex. In Weiner's case, I think his behavior stems from a deep-seated insecurity that compels him to seek validation/approval in entirely inappropriate ways. The attention he receives from strangers on the internet is somehow intoxicating to him.

Again - not to excuse him. But I do pity him, and I hope he seeks and finds the help he obviously desperately still needs.

I wonder if in the times before cell phone photos, if he wouldn't have been (and maybe could be) one of the men who exposes themselves to women and/or children? I'm no expert but wouldn't that be a sexual deviancy rather than an "addiction?" I saw him on the panel of Bill Maher's show recently and was completely blown away by how much I liked what he said...and I expected to really dislike him (not really knowing a thing about him but the sexting scandal).

I know South Park is very juvenile but they did an amazing episode focusing on sex addiction and I've been thinking about it so much since yesterday.

I can't see this clip in Canada but it's part of the show: (I'm sure bad words etc etc)

http://southpark.cc.com/clips/267349/what-exactly-are-we-doing-now#source=ff4daa77-43e0-4601-8fd6-21ea1daf9c19&position=1073&sort=airdate

Hmmm. I think an exhibitionist exposes themselves to others because the shock and outrage excites them. It's definitely a deviancy - a perversion in that it induces a thrill at the detrimental expense of others.

A man texting photos of "his junk" to women who apparently provide positive feedback and/or reciprocate is different, IMO.

I am still horrified that he would do such a thing with his infant lying next to him. That speaks to a complete breakdown of boundaries and discernment.

Underlying pathology/mental illness? Possibly. Lack of impulse control? Definitely. But addiction? No. I get so tired of seeing that term thrown around inappropriately.

There is such a thing as behavioral addiction. It's a clinically-recognized term.

You hit the nail on the head, pink :)

Whenever people do awful things, e.g., child abuse, hurting innocent people, fill in the blanks, I assume most had horrible experiences as children. For many, it's a learned behavior, or lack of positive behavior. What kind of effect will this have on his child? Was the kid asleep during the latest episode? What is he exposed (!) to when the camera isn't rolling?

My thoughts were in line with Pinkmountain, psychopath and I feel bad for Huma. Honestly, she must have loved him a lot of forgive him so publically and to try to make the marriage work. She's a beautiful woman with so much going for her, I just don't understand what she saw in him though; in comparison, he's so icky.

What's really terrible is that because she was the bread winner, she may end up paying him alimony to live.

Interesting take on the situation from Dan Savage - is it any of our business?

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.3739807/dan-savage-anthony-weiner-s-sexting-problem-is-none-of-our-business-1.3739811

"I don't think it's any of our business. I actually think what's been done to Anthony Weiner may be criminal. It's hard for people - particularly in a sex-negative, sex-phobic society like ours to recognise Weiner as the victim here.

Imagine if Weiner were a sixteen or seventeen year old high-school girl and someone had sent the images that she shared with them to a newspaper and they'd been splashed across the cover. We would have no problem recognizing that girl as a victim of what's called revenge porn."

I agree, Robo ... I do not think this tawdry nonsense is any of our business. I'm surprised that even the NYTimes, which I find to produce very biased coverage that is pro-Hillary and anti-Trump (keeping in mind I adore the NYT and detest Trump), ran a headline that implied this was an issue for Hillary's campaign. I don't think so.

It is prurient and salacious and mean-spirited to gossip about this IMHO. But that is what tabloids are. We add to Huma's humiliation and this is one of the reasons that good, normal people are loathe to enter politics and instead we are left largely with megalomaniacs who care only about winning and will subject themselves and their loved ones to this type of examination and baiting.

Coincidentally I also recently listened to this Radiolab about Gary Hart

http://www.radiolab.org/story/i-dont-have-answer/

"Roosevelt, Kennedy, Eisenhower … they all got a pass. But today we peer back at the moment when poking into the private lives of political figures became standard practice.

In 1987, Gary Hart was a young charismatic Democrat, poised to win his party’s nomination and possibly the presidency. Many of us know the story of what happened next, and even if you don’t, it’s a familiar tale. But at the time, politicians and political reporters found themselves in uncharted territory. With help from author Matt Bai, we look at how the events of that May shaped the way we cover politics, and expanded our sense of what's appropriate when it comes to judging a candidate."

It's hard for people - particularly in a sex-negative, sex-phobic society like ours to recognise Weiner as the victim here.

But he's not a sixteen or seventeen year old girl. He's a middle-aged man with a wife and children, and he knew full well the potential consequences of his behavior - especially the second time around (or whichever "time" this latest activity covers). I don't think Weiner is a victim. That designation is reserved for his family, IMO.

It's clear that his was not an open marriage where this type of behavior was encouraged or even tolerated. He was exposed, not victimized.

A 16 year old girl has not chosen to be a public figure and her sexts aren't a matter of public interest. Weiner, by virtue of his own career and Huma's is a public figure and there is a newsworthy purpose to the release.

This is even different than the Hulk Hogan sex tape which led to the Gawker bankruptcy because Hogan did not know he was being taped.

Weiner assumed the risk when sending these texts as a public figure that they would be exposed. It is the price of voluntary extramarital sexual conduct as a public figure. He also got a lot of perks from being who he is / married to who he is, so this is the downside.

The idea this will hurt Clinton is silly. Maybe in a normal election, as this would remind people of the sleazy people orbiting the Clintons (Weiner, not Huma) and of the continual scandals that seem to orbit around this family (Clinton scandal fatigue, even if in this case the connection to Clintons is very tremulous) but not against Trump...

This question is worth asking because I have discussed it many times with friends. Is a sex scandal anyone's business if it is not related to your work? Many of my friends say that these kinds of things happen all the time and that they should be private matters if it doesn't affect the job performance of the person. But if a person is gaining notoriety for this kind of behavior, I can't imagine how it could NOT affect their job. For example, if the boss is carrying on with his secretary, don't tell me that won't affect the way things happen in the workplace. Immature behavior happens all the time, but it certainly shouldn't be considered OK/good/the norm. That's the old "everybody's doing it" excuse that I wouldn't accept from my child and it is not very flattering to see it touted as a desirable social norm. Professional behavior is professional behavior, and if you're going to set yourself up as a leader, you can't act like a 16 year old and expect to be successful over the long haul. And besides, public service shouldn't be about you anyway, it's about helping others.

On the flip side, however, a psychopath will weather the disdain and criticism and it won't affect them because they don't care. They bounce back in almost robotic fashion. So the larger issue is, why are we drawn to such people and their drama and why have the conditions of public service become such that these qualities are the ones that portend success? And is there anything we should or can do about it? People who don't care how their behavior affects others can often become very successful by some standards, particularly short term. We don't ever seem to be drawn to the boring, plodding guy who has taken the time to research the complex issues and is willing to spend the time working on the details of the solutions, the un-flashy compromises that just might work. We go for the simple dramatic, which gets our attention while it is on the TV screen, but often isn't how real life plays out. Not sure if anything about this can or will change. The train-wreck phenomenon is always with us.

Edited to add that I absolutely believe that this is a personal tragedy for Weiner's family and isn't worthy of being in the news, but because it involves sex, it sure will be fodder for endless reporting. Meanwhile, I just got back from vacation and the conditions of the bathrooms in the state parks in my state are atrocious, they are in desperate need of repair. How many seconds of air time would that story get and who would even remember it if it was on? But if someone has an issue involving transgender people in those bathrooms, it will for-sure be all over the news and on everyone's list of water cooler topics. Sex sells.

Remove the sex component from it altogether, and you still have very, very bad judgment.

Like not fully learning or understanding the ramifications of social media use. There's no excuse for that anymore. ETA, Eisenhower, Kennedy et al got a pass because news was reported differently then, and we did not have social media. Kennedy vs. Weiner is an apples to oranges comparison, totally and entirely.

Like not pausing to consider that when your child is next to you, taking a selfie with an erec+ion is a bad idea. And sharing that selfie is an even worse idea.

Like not realizing that, when prior actions result in devastating professional loss and severe personal consequences, you don't repeat those actions.

His personal life is his personal life, yes. But only if he keeps it personal.

More Weiner news today. Looks like he was engaging in inappropriate messages with a 15 YEAR OLD! Not going to link to the article b/c it is graphic and disgusting.

How could he possibly be this stupid? I hope the police investigate...

Is that illegal? That must be illegal right?

This article says the report of Weiner texting the 15 year old is a hoax.

Hoax? Or not?

I don't think it's a hoax. In his statement he kind of said it's a hoax but apologizes at the same time. There are lots of screenshots of the messages he sent from his twitter handle, if that's what it's called?

From what the Daily Mail article says, his "proof" it was a hoax is emails from the girl which she said Weiner told her to write.

'After I told my teacher about the relationship, [Weiner] wanted me to email my dad and my teacher and tell them that was I said was false,' she said. 'That the conversations were appropriate and were never inappropriate, and he was very helpful.'

Weiner sent DailyMail.com a copy of the letter he believed she sent to her teacher.

Who knows. There are a lot of screen shots and some pictures in the Daily Mail article of Weiner which he allegedly sent... but I guess it still could be faked. Although, I kind of doubt it, based on his past behavior and the fact he admitted talking to the girl...

And yes, I would think the behavior described in the Daily Mail article, if true, would be criminal.

Regardless of what he or the girl says if I was her parent, I would be insisting on an investigation by the police. Given his history, chances are this isnt't the first time he's had "conversations" and been "helpful" with a minor. I'd want to be sure nothing happened.

I think it's inappropriate for him to be messaging back and forth with a 15 year old girl regardless of the content. I'm not clear whether he admitted to conversing with her or not. It sounded more like he stated he was subject to a hoax like this due to his previous activities, not that he was admitting to this particular relationship.

Pled guilty today. Has there ever been someone who gave up so much for so very little. https://apnews.com/096a57ce8775447c925f6e084c94da4d 

The judge accepted Weiner’s guilty plea Friday to a charge of transmitting sexual material to a minor. He agreed to not appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months in prison.

The Democratic former congressman apologized to the 15-year-old, saying, “I have a sickness, but I do not have an excuse.”

The judge told him he would have to register as a sex offender.

You're right. He gave up so much. And for what? I hope his sentence is harsh and that he serves it stoically.

I still have a hard time accepting wildly inappropriate sexual acting out as "a sickness." A sickness is something that can't be helped, and I believe we do have control over our bodies and our *ahem* "passions."

Last I read there is no cure for pedophiles. It is a sexual preference that is inborn. Weiner probably controlled it the best he could by doing the phone/picture thing instead of actuall physical contact (as far as we know). I have a problem with him labeling himself as having a sickness...like the flu or something. I hope somewhere in the ruling he will have to go on med's for the rest of his life to lower his sexual drive.

I feel so bad for his young son. If I were Huma, I would change their last name, like the Madoff daughters-in-law did. Thanks to the internet, stories never die and this will haunt him forever.

We have so much to learn about the function of the human brain. We can hate pedophiles and other sex offenders, and we need a way to protect society from them, but we know far too little about what drives people to do things. This one is a head-shaker for sure.

So sad all around. I can understand in te beginning of social media that people thought they could get away with things, but so many have been caught now!

It boggles my mind that people still think they can get away with this behavior.

It is obviously deviant behavior, so maybe it will get categorized. That being said, I too feel so sorry for Huma and the son.

I have mixed emotions about this one. I don't feel badly for him at all and I hope he gets the maxium allowed. As for it being an illness, the behavior is so repulsive that it's hard to think of it as such if it is.

As for Huma, I understand her wanting to preserve her marriage, but to me there are certain things that are instant deal breakers and being a pedophile is one of them, especially when you have kids. I don't get her reasons for staying because IMO, he should not be around children, including his own. Even if he were to never abuse his own child, he still had the baby right there next to him while he did his "thing". It's just mind boggling.

I feel bad for Huma that she married a scumbag but I do find it a bit odd she stayed through #1, then #2 during the mayor run, and then didn't even file for divorce until yesterday. Would she have divorced him if he didn't have to plead guilty to a crime?

If he was "sick," he should have done something about it after #1. The fact he kept doing this until he was charged with a crime tells me he didn't really care enough to try to get help.

If ever a name defined a person, his does.

Maybe the guilty plea makes Huma's case for asking for sole custody of the child?

I think the picture of the kid with Anthony's you know what should be enough for sole custody- if she wants it. He's been a stay at home dad to make her career possible. Her life is going to be a lot harder.

Maybe I am naive but don't you have to have something seriously wrong with you to engage in that behavior? Is it similar to alcoholism which, to me, seems to be a toxic combination of choices, experiences and genetics?

beagles - Only in one respect is her life going to be a lot harder (scheduling work/home). Think of how much harder it would be to continue exposing her child to this guy day in and day out; wondering how it would shape her child; then dealing with how it shapes her child. Although, same could be said of him being in prison. Lose/lose.

Give me a couple minutes with this guy. Even with a bad "wing", I'll make sure he's not capable of doing much for a while.....

Faron

Either way, Weiner is this kid's dad forever. So, she still has to worry about how that's going to shape her child... but now she also needs to address what she's going to do w/ the child's care. Yes, she can hire nannies, but that's not the same as a parent being there.

Although, who knows what she's doing now anyway. It's been quite a rough year for her... maybe she'll get out of politics and make a life for her and her son somewhere out of the public eye.