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Anthony Weiner Resigns

Once-rising Jewish political star is headed for the wilderness

by
Marc Tracy
June 16, 2011
Anthony Weiner today.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Anthony Weiner today.(Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Democratic representative announced his resignation at a senior center in Queens, in his district. What was once thought to be an endurable scandal quickly made his position untenable as members of his own party, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, called for him to step down, and even President Obama more obliquely suggested that he ought to. Much of their concern arose from the perception that he had become a distraction from the Democrats’ political agenda. “Spending time with one’s family” is a euphemism for being forced to move aside that resonates especially here, given that his wife, the top Hillary Clinton adviser Huma Abedin, is pregnant with their first child.

Meanwhile, The Hill reported, “Suspicious Package Found at Weiner’s Office,” proving that some puns can indeed write themselves.

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.