Review of Weiner (2016) by V H — 06 Aug 2016

Anthony Weiner was a rising political star in his 7th term as a U.S. Representative. He was known for his impassioned speeches to members of Congress in defense of single-payer health care and funds for 9/11 first responders. He was a champion of the middle class. But unfortunately for Weiner, his public service is not what he's best known for. I'd be willing to bet than when most people hear the name "Anthony Weiner", they think "sexting scandal".

After admitting to sending sexually explicit pictures of himself to several women using his public Twitter account (idiot!), Weiner resigned from Congress in June of 2011. This documentary begins almost two years later, shortly after Weiner has decided to come out of hiding to run for mayor of New York City.

Despite his flaws (and in part, because of them), Weiner comes off as a likable guy, marching in parades, shaking hands on the street, and hanging out at home with his wife Huma Abedin (long-time aide to Hillary Clinton), and their little son. I'm not into politics, but this inside look at the unglamorous business of running a political campaign is still very interesting.

It becomes even more so when, just as Weiner's poll numbers start rising and the people seem ready to forgive and forget, a second sexting scandal emerges. Late night talk show hosts have a field day. Tabloids exhaust their list of "Weiner" puns. New Yorkers are pissed. Staffers feel betrayed. And poor Huma Abedin finds herself in the unenviable position of being publicly humiliated for the second time in two years.

I can't say that this movie shed too much light on why Weiner risked his career and his marriage to do what he did but obviously it's because he thought he could get away with it. There's something vaguely comforting about seeing someone embarrass themselves on a far greater scale than most of us will ever come close to and still walk away with their sense of humor and dignity intact. Perhaps going through childhood with the last name of "Weiner" inures one to the taunts of others.