Anthony Weiner to resign

Representative Anthony Weiner will resign his congressional seat ten days after admitting he sent lewd photos and text messages to women he met online. Boston University professor Graham Wilson is chair of BU’s political science department and the author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective.” He offers of the following comment on Weiner’s resignation:

“This is a personal tragedy and one that Democratic leaders were closely determined should not also be a tragedy for the party. It remains unclear, however, how much this issue mattered to the general public.

“Perhaps one important contrast with conservatives involved in sexual scandals, e.g. Gingrich or Ralph Reed, Weiner did not base his political career attacking permissiveness or immorality in others.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu