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White House Weighs In On Weinergate: ‘A Distraction,’ Behavior And Dishonesty ‘Inappropriate’

by Tommy Christopher | 4:56 pm, June 13th, 2011

» 19 comments

Aboard Air Force One, en route to Morrisville, North Carolina this morning, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney weighed in on the Anthony Weiner scandal for the first time. Those expecting a searing rebuke were, instead, treated to a lightly-poached filet of talking point, as Carney was asked if President Obama thinks Weiner should resign, and and responded by sort of saying yes, without actually saying yes.

Carney was asked about Weiner twice, and if it is possible to double-down on nothing, that’s what he did: (transcript via email from The White House)

Q Jay, does the President have a position on whether Anthony Weiner’s continued service in the U.S. Congress is in the nation’s best interests?

MR. CARNEY: The President feels — we feel at the White House that this is a distraction. Obviously as Congressman Weiner has said himself, this is — the behavior was inappropriate; the dishonesty was inappropriate. But the President is focused on his job, which is getting this economy continuing to grow, creating jobs, and obviously ensuring the safety and security of the American people.

…Q Did any of the President’s top aides have any role in engineering or encouraging Anthony Weiner to resign or to step aside?

MR. CARNEY: Well, I think this is an issue that the Congress has been addressing, congressional leaders have been addressing, and that Congressman Weiner has been addressing.

Q But did any of his top aides have conversations –

MR. CARNEY: Not that I’m aware of.

Q Does the President believe that Anthony Weiner should resign?

MR. CARNEY: Again, I think I answered that question. We think this is a distraction obviously from the important business that this President needs to conduct and Congress needs to conduct. Beyond that, I don’t have any more comment.

This deep into the scandal, it’s fair to assume that Carney’s response was thoroughly prepared, and the message is obviously “nothing to see here.” While this leaves the President open to criticism from opponents (can’t you see the headlines now? “White House Refuses To Call For Weiner Resignation”), and frustration from the press, the White House’s line effectively chokes off further questions, while leaving them free to maneuver for Weiner’s exit behind the scenes.

Such a response, though, had to have gone against Carney’s every instinct as a journalist. He probably had to employ George Costanza‘s trusty “do the opposite” strategy, and likely has filled the margins of his briefing book with cathartic Weiner jokes.

Anthony Weiner, Jay Carney, WeinerGate

tatboy

How about they comment on Op Gunrunner or Op Fast & Furious or forcing Boeing to stay in Washington state???
RazorsEdge

Wow!

Relieved the WH stated the obvious. It’s called sitting on a “political fence”.
slickerwick

Should Weiner resign? Obama won’t answer yes or not but votes ‘present’ instead. He lets Pelosi and Whatshername-Schultz take the heat from the progs. What a weasel.
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

a fly buzzing around your head is a distraction.
this weiner affair is not just a distraction.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Cusick/1215594294 Kevin Cusick

Is Anthony Weiner going to hang in there? Check out “A Day in the Life of Anthony Weiner” on The Loop Now.com. It’s all fantasy, because the Congressman likes it that way.
theloopnow.com/?p=8260
slickerwick

Kevin Cusick said:
Is Anthony Weiner going to hang in there? Check out “A Day in the Life of Anthony Weiner” on The Loop Now.com. It’s all fantasy, because the Congressman likes it that way.
theloopnow.com/?p=8260

The proper form of the question is, “Will Weiner stick it out?”
http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

Did Jay Carney clear that statement with POTUS or his wife Clair “Women know better then men” Shipman?
slickerwick

There was a Dem rep from New York
Who said, “Watch me bring home the pork!”
As he grabbed at his meat
And got off a tweet
His colleagues stuck in the fork.
libra blue

I wonder if the WH would think it was a “distraction” if a Republican had sent these photos? Next time something like this happens on the other side of the aisle, and it will, we shall see how they define the situation.

If Weiner wasn’t such a lying big-mouthed bully this might have gone away sooner.
slickerwick

No doubt we’ll always remember
His awesome congressional ‘member.’
He liked sending pics
To various chicks
Now he’s rehabbing until next September.

(I’d like to thank the honorable Representative for sparking my creativity.)
Colorado_Conservative

So called Journalists these days ask the stupidest questions…..What the hell did they think the response was going to be that Obama approves of what Weiner did and doesn’t want him to resign?

The media is oblivious as to why they have ZERO credibility among the masses….including Obama and his incompetent admin.
TeaPartyNation

Even the lunatic-left d-cRAT socialists want their disgusting disgrace of a congressman, The Weiner, to go away – but he won’t. Although I usually don’t help the socialists, I’m going to make an exception this time to benefit all of America. So, lunatic-leftists, here’s how to get rid of The Weiner: place him on the Nov 2012 ballot as “YOU LIE!” hussein’s VP running mate. Since the voters will throw-out “YOU LIE!” in a humiliating, massive, crushing defeat, The Weiner bites it also. Nobody could ever recover from such total and complete rejection by the voters, and America simultaneously gets rid of BOTH of its worst-of-the-worst politicians.

It’s a WIN-WIN for everyone.
cjd ohio 1

what the surprise , the president never takes a position until its over
slickerwick

cjd ohio 1 said:
what the surprise , the president never takes a position until its over

No, only until he sees which way the wind is blowing. (And in this case it’s of hurricane strength.)
Dem4Ever

I’m glad Obamma wants Weiner to stay in office. I want Weiner to stay in office. He is the comedy gift that keeps on giving. More Weiner less bun!
lonestar77

“This is a matter for Weiner, the HOR’s & his constituents”. The end. That’s all they had to say.
BarneyFranken

Im glad to see Obama feels dishonesty is inappropriate.

I guess it was just ‘inappropriate’ for Obama to tell us that :

We could keep our employer based health coverage in Obamacare.

That there are no funding for abortions in Obamacare.

That Obamacare would reduce the deficit.

http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/06/morning-bell-obamas-other-broken-health-care-promises/
X-3

White House Weighs In On __________: ‘A Distraction,’ Behavior And Dishonesty ‘Inappropriate’

The stock answer from liberals on every such issue. You can fill in the blank with:

(hic) Kennedy
(snort) Kennedy
Waters
Rangel
Boxer
Pelosi
Reid
Byrd
Feinstein
all the way back to Roosevelt
X-3

lonestar77 said:
“This is a matter for Weiner, the HOR’s & his constituents”. The end. That’s all they had to say.

I REALLY DO like your abbreviation for “House of Representatives.” In fact, I have just stolen it from you.