Congressman Weiner: A Man and His Wet Dream

I know it's been a while - but this latest male behavior/political folly and round o'interviews on the talk shows has prompted me to write. Last night Piers Morgan tried to convince us that the standards on these things are different for men and women. I don't think so....

One pundit, a PR expert, said if Weiner and Wife made the round of talk shows, she standing by her man - he might pull out of the mess. Then the pundit couldn't help but remark that the only way his wife would stand behind him - was with a knife in his back. Bravo! A male remark with a ring of truth. Mercifully many of the men in my day to day life who talked about this Fox News Field Day had no problem expressing shock and condemnation about what a jerk Weiner is - a pervert - addict or not. jerk moron asshole

  
Then, as part of his "heartfelt" - ha! apology he claims he's violated no congressional ethics rules and this is ok? What are "ethics?"  A code of conduct, rules of the road on decency - is he for real? Sadly this joker is a U.S. congressman and we trust him to represent us?  Is it some sort of male bonding conspiracy that enables the likes of Spitzer, Edwards, Schwarzenegger, Kahn etc. in positions of responsibility - to get away with it - for so long? Does the game of male prowess points give these guys extra credit in the eyes of other men for their "balls" ? 

Is it really a sex-based permission slip?

It makes me think back fondly to Jimmy Carter's confession three decades ago about impure thoughts - what prudes we were back then.

When good leadership is overtaken by perverted judgment, when sexual titillation and domination are more important than common sense, when men admire other men who have the balls to behave this way - this is what we all get.  So much for good government, tending to the economy or global concerns. This is the fodder of our headlines and these are the folks we have as key decision makers.

Women have been dropping out of high ranks of big business and government and the halls of "power" for a good thirty years - that's been my experience in the professional world. and this is part of the reason: many of the men we work with or for, are the arrogant pervert Weiner liars, sexually abusive Kahns, self-important Spitzers or all around admired womanizers like Schwarzeneggers.  It's tough for women to stick it out in these environments - and the 2/3rds pay is really the least of it.  It's the day to day BS we must endure when men like this are our bosses, colleagues or just run the show. 

I guess when we learn that Sarah Palin or Hilary Clinton or even Weiner's wife are doing the same thing - well then the playing field will be level. I'd like to believe that Weiner is an aberration though I truly doubt it.

I smile as I write this because I am enjoying these public hangings. I've watched years of these male transgressions on the work front and it's nice to see that there is some accountability - somewhere - after all.  In my day - and maybe still - girls secretly wanted to be prom queens who later married the likes of George Clooney. It seems our male counterparts were dreaming of becoming powerful, exposing themselves to the world, remaining on top and literally getting away with it.  

Maybe the age of Iphones, tweets, etc. has really turned out to be a real time tool for justice after all!