Gender & Sexuality Law Blog

The hot water Anthony Weiner has found himself in after his on-line sexual antics were made public has revealed just how few members of Congress – or anyone for that matter – have his back.  Almost no one has stepped up to help the guy out, including his wife, who’s been out of the country during most of his public decomposition.

Long before the sexting scandal, progressives gave up on Weiner largely because of his offensive and often ignorant positions on Israel/Palestine.  Juan Cole, the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History at the University of Michigan, has saved me the trouble of logging the Top Ten Things Anthony Weiner has Said that are Worse than Sexting on his blog Informed Comment:

Weiner:

1. Called for Columbia University professor Joseph Massad to be fired for being critical of Israel; Weiner thus spearheaded a new McCarthyism.

2. On the Israeli attack, in international waters, on the Mavi Marmara relief ship, Weiner sputtered: “”If you want to instigate a conflict with the Israeli navy it isn’t hard to do. They were offered alternatives. Instead they chose to sail into the teeth of an internationally recognized blockade.” The blockade of Gaza civilians is a breach of international law; it is not internationally recognized and has on the contrary been condemned by almost every nation and human rights organization.

3. Alleged that the New York Times is anti-Israel: “Amnesty International in particular, has always had bias against Israel, and frankly I would argue that in many cases, the New York Times has, as well.”

4. Alleged that the Palestine Liberation Organization is still listed by the US as a terrorist organization. It was dropped from the list over 2 decades ago.

5. Tried to bar the Palestinian delegation to the United Nations from New York.

6. Alleged that Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestine Authority, is not the head of the PLO. He is.

7. Refused to condemn the use by Israel of cluster bombs on the civilian farms of south Lebanon in 2006.

8. Alleged that the Israeli army does not occupy the West Bank and that there is no Israeli Army presence in the West Bank.

9. Called Israel’s war on Gaza a “humane” war. 400 children were killed.

10. Voted for Iraq War authorization in 2002, before later turning against the war.