ABC FLASHBACK: ‘Good’ Weiner ‘Should Hang in There’

If you ever wondered whether the liberal media’s horror over sex scandals is entirely situational and dependent on political party, Anthony Weiner settled it for all time. This month, 11 years ago, the ex-Democratic Congressman was faced with calls for resignation after sending explicit photos of himself to young women. But that didn’t stop many in the media from attempting to defend the then-rising star. 

Barbara Walters was a famous journalist and co-host on The ViewWeiner was aggressively supported by her on her program. On June 2, she echoed the idea that the penis pictures were all part of some grand conspiracy against the “good” Weiner: 

Joy Behar is the co-host.

Barbara Walters is the co-host.
Behar: “Well, somebody’s out to get me, apparently ’cause we don’t like my politics.”
— Exchange on ABC’s The View, June 2, 2011.

When it became clear that he was likely going to be forced out, Walters returned to The View to chastise her colleagues for daring to call for Weiner’s resignation: 

“You believed that Anthony Weiner should quit, and it seems that that is what many are saying. It’s not my opinion. He has done something that is beyond comprehension. The pictures look disgusting to me. He may have hit rock bottom, and that could be the catalyst he needs to change his life. His record as a Congressman has been excellent and efficient. We now know that his wife is pregnant and has stated her intention to keep the marriage going. He is wanted by his constituents.  

An ethics committee may investigate and punish him, but it does not have to throw him out. We had Bill Clinton, a president who was in a lot of trouble but survived and is loved by many with a good marriage. Anthony Weiner needs to hang on. He was a great Congressman and maybe this will help him to weather the storm and still be effective.
— Barbara Walters to her co-hosts on ABC’s The View, June 9, 2011.

When, inevitably, Weiner was forced to resign, NBC’s TodayThe sad death of Weiner was mourned. 

Luke Russert is Correspondent
Chuck Todd, NBC’s political director: “He would become a sort of a hero for the more progressive left who are always unhappy that Democrats don’t stand up to themselves.” The man with all the potential to make a big political impact ….” was here.
— NBC’s Today, June 17, 2011.    

(For additional information on Weinergate see our 10th anniversary retrospective. 

So next time you hear journalists excitedly calling for the resignation of some conservative involved in a sex scandal: Remember, they don’t really care. It’s all partisan politics from the liberal media. 

You can find more flashback examples in our NewsBusters Time Machine series. Go here.