Following is a transcript of Rep. Anthony Weiner's resignation announcement he delivered at a news conference this afternoon:
“Good afternoon. About 20 years ago, I stood in this very same room here at the Council Center and asked my neighbors for their help to take a chance on me in electing me to the City Council. And then some seven years later, I asked those same people to join with people in Queens in sending me to Congress. There is not higher honor in a democracy than being sent by your neighbors to represent them in the United States House of Representatives.
“It is particularly humbling to represent this district because the communities and families of the 9th Congressional District are hardworking, patriotic, opinionated, they are authentic. I have never forgotten my neighbors because they represent the same middle-class story as mine. I went to public school my whole life. My mother was a schoolteacher for 32 years. My father went to law school on the GI Bill.
“The middle-class story of New York is my story, and I’m very proud of that. I’m here today to again apologize for the personal mistakes I have made and the embarrassment I have caused. I make this apology to my neighbors and constitutents, but I make it particularly to my wife Huma. I had hope to be able to continue the work that the citizens of my district had elected me to do, to fight for the middle class and those struggling to make it. Unfortunately, the distraction I have created has made that impossible. So today I am announcing my resignation from Congress, so my colleagues can get back to work, my neighbors can choose a new representative, and most importantly, so that my wife and I can continue to heal from the damage I have caused.
“To repeat, and most importantly so that I can continue to heal from the damage that I have caused, I want to thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike. They come from different places around the country, but fundamentally, we all agree. They’re all patriots and I will miss them all. Thank you. I also would like to express my gratitude to young members of my staff. They are young people who are not paid very much. They are people who have worked very hard and very long hours. Ultimately those people define the notion of service. I’d like to thank of course the many people who’ve helped me. The people who have volunteered, the people who have given advice, the many of my contituents who have offered me good ideas. And of course I want to express my gratitude to my family.
“And of course I want to express my gratitude to my family. To my mother and family who instilled in me the value s that have carried me thus far, to my brother Jason, and of course to my wife Huma who has stood with me in this entire difficult period and to whom I owe so very much. I got into politics to give a voice to the many who simply did not have one. Now I’ll be looking for other ways to contribute my talents so that we live up to that most New York and American of ideals. The ideal that a family, a community, and ultimately a country is the one thing that unites us. The one thing that we’re all focused on. With God’s help and with hard work we will all be successful.
“Thank you”
“Good afternoon. About 20 years ago, I stood in this very same room here at the Council Center and asked my neighbors for their help to take a chance on me in electing me to the City Council. And then some seven years later, I asked those same people to join with people in Queens in sending me to Congress. There is not higher honor in a democracy than being sent by your neighbors to represent them in the United States House of Representatives.
“It is particularly humbling to represent this district because the communities and families of the 9th Congressional District are hardworking, patriotic, opinionated, they are authentic. I have never forgotten my neighbors because they represent the same middle-class story as mine. I went to public school my whole life. My mother was a schoolteacher for 32 years. My father went to law school on the GI Bill.
“The middle-class story of New York is my story, and I’m very proud of that. I’m here today to again apologize for the personal mistakes I have made and the embarrassment I have caused. I make this apology to my neighbors and constitutents, but I make it particularly to my wife Huma. I had hope to be able to continue the work that the citizens of my district had elected me to do, to fight for the middle class and those struggling to make it. Unfortunately, the distraction I have created has made that impossible. So today I am announcing my resignation from Congress, so my colleagues can get back to work, my neighbors can choose a new representative, and most importantly, so that my wife and I can continue to heal from the damage I have caused.
“To repeat, and most importantly so that I can continue to heal from the damage that I have caused, I want to thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike. They come from different places around the country, but fundamentally, we all agree. They’re all patriots and I will miss them all. Thank you. I also would like to express my gratitude to young members of my staff. They are young people who are not paid very much. They are people who have worked very hard and very long hours. Ultimately those people define the notion of service. I’d like to thank of course the many people who’ve helped me. The people who have volunteered, the people who have given advice, the many of my contituents who have offered me good ideas. And of course I want to express my gratitude to my family.
“And of course I want to express my gratitude to my family. To my mother and family who instilled in me the value s that have carried me thus far, to my brother Jason, and of course to my wife Huma who has stood with me in this entire difficult period and to whom I owe so very much. I got into politics to give a voice to the many who simply did not have one. Now I’ll be looking for other ways to contribute my talents so that we live up to that most New York and American of ideals. The ideal that a family, a community, and ultimately a country is the one thing that unites us. The one thing that we’re all focused on. With God’s help and with hard work we will all be successful.
“Thank you”
Exactly. Clinton was blown in office and this guy just sent some pictures. In the end who cares as long as they do their job right.
I didn't care about when that gay conservative was caught trying to get a blowjob in the bathroom.
The problem is how dumb the public is as evidenced by this thread. Some people are in joy right now as if this is going to somehow impact their lives.
Bill Clinton has also taken a direct role in pushing Weiner. The former president has reportedly been "livid" about Weiner's behaviour, despite Clinton's own history of sexual peccadilloes.
The Clintons are intricately linked with Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin.
Bill Clinton officiated at their wedding, Abedin is a close aide to the secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and Abedin's best friend Doug Band is Bill's top adviser.
"The decision for Weiner to go was taken on a presidential level, by the existing and a past president," said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic consultant who has worked on campaigns for Bill Clinton. "It was a straight political decision."
The Clintons are intricately linked with Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin.
Bill Clinton officiated at their wedding, Abedin is a close aide to the secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and Abedin's best friend Doug Band is Bill's top adviser.
"The decision for Weiner to go was taken on a presidential level, by the existing and a past president," said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic consultant who has worked on campaigns for Bill Clinton. "It was a straight political decision."
Every once in a while someone comes along and their name just fits. This guy is truly a Weiner. Only a hot dog would want one more day in the sun and he would have drug his wife along had she been willing. He could have submitted a simple letter of resignation but he loves the attention. His speech was more of a campaign speech as anything else and in the end the only thing he was sorry for was the fact that he got caught.
