Weiner and New York's Impotent Democratic Party

In the spirit of full disclosure, I have no love for Anthony Weiner; he played dirty politics against friends of mine and he actively opposed my campaign for Congress in 2006.  I did, however, respect his intellect, his tenacity and his ability to articulate a more progressive Democratic agenda – when he thought it was to his advantage to do so.

When the Weiner Scandal erupted, I found myself hoping that he would get help – which he really needs – and that the dogs of redistricting and the voters would decide his fate.  I thought it was premature and inappropriate to demand his resignation.  He might get re-elected but he was done as a Mayoral candidate in 2013.  Now, however, I believe that Anthony Weiner should resign his seat in the House of Representatives and heal in private.  The pictures from the House gym now create a more formal ethical murkiness that will dominate Democratic efforts to hold off the rabid Republicans in other areas. 

But that is not why I am writing today; because, like me, you undoubtedly have an opinion on this matter as well.  I am writing to protest the fact that this scandal – an important event with implications for our State's Congressional delegation and seniority on House Committees – has not been addressed by the Brooklyn and Queens Democratic County Leaders.  Furthermore, Democratic State Committee members and District Leaders in these boroughs have not been convened to take a position regarding Mr. Weiner's future.

If New York's Democratic Party structure took the time and effort to convene an emergency meeting of the State Committee, at a minimum, then it would be our collective voices sending a message to the concerned parties.  We might have told Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, et al, to back off and let New Yorkers handle our own business through redistricting and the 2012 elections.  Alternatively we might have collectively expressed our lack of confidence in Weiner and made a strong local statement supporting his "voluntary" departure.  Or we might demand that our Party organizations commission an independent and thorough poll of Democratic voters to inform us all and leverage the situation.

As a Democratic State Committee member, I would like to know what my colleagues whose districts intersect with Weiner's 9th Congressional District have to say:  what they are hearing from their friends and neighbors, whether or not they will carry petitions for Weiner in 2012, and is there a viable replacement willing to run, win and then be redistricted into oblivion as the new "freshman of freshmen" from the New York delegation (Yvette Clarke is happy to lose that status.)  There hasn't even been a conference call. 

I care much less what Jay Jacobs thinks, what Governor Cuomo thinks, what Senator Schumer thinks and what the ethically-challenged Congressman Rangel and morally-challenged Paul Ryan think.  Let's hear what the rank and file have to say – the troops on the ground who must enthusiastically pursue a Democratic agenda nationally and at the state level in 2012 – with Weiner on their mind.

But, no!  Everyone is talking behind the scenes and, as a result, the New York State Democratic Party looks like it has no ba---, I mean, gumption, and, worse, the Party looks irrelevant at a critical time.  I've been invited to spend $400 on a Kings County Democratic Party dinner ticket, which I will not do, but my County Leader has yet to poll his Executive Committee members or call a meeting regarding Anthony Weiner.

It's time for Democrats to stand up and be counted.