Poor Anthony Weiner skips out on Israel Day parade

The congressman sits out a party attended by people whose votes he'll want very much when he runs for mayor in 2013

Published June 6, 2011 2:07PM (EDT)

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., waits for an elevator near his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (AP)
Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., waits for an elevator near his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (AP)

Poor Anthony Weiner. The recent media hysteria surrounding the underwear picture that may or may not be him that he may or may not have sent from his Twitter account to a young woman in Washington state has obviously upset him so much that he was unable to attend Israel Day festivities in New York on Sunday. And if you know Anthony Weiner like New Yorkers know Anthony Weiner, you know that he doesn't miss Israel Day for anything.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Andrew Cuomo made sure to make it. New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg was there, for some reason. Bill Thompson, the man who threw the last mayoral election to Mike Bloomberg after Weiner cowardly declined to run, was there. Charles Rangel, no stranger to scandal, was there. Weiner was not. (And none of those people really wanted to talk about him.)

Skipping the Salute to Israel parade is a much bigger deal than skipping out on a speech in Wisconsin for the embattled congressman. He wants very much to be mayor of New York City, and the last time he wanted to be mayor he spent a lot of time very vocally saluting Israel and viciously attacking all its critics. Usually, if there are cameras and an opportunity to announce one's love for Israel, Weiner shows up and delivers.

Meanwhile, Andrew Breitbart says he's releasing loads of pictures and things from Weiner to someone or other. As always, you should assume he's lying about whatever material he has.


By Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene

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Anthony Weiner D-n.y. Israel New York New York City