Should Weiner stay or go?

Of course we're all only human, and over the course of a lifetime, we all do some pretty foolish things. But it seems like not a week goes by without one of our elected officials arguing against or admitting to an action they ultimately "deeply regret" ["The imbalance of powerful men on the prowl," Opinion, June 10]. What is with these guys?

Look, if you're an elected official, don't do something so brainless and stupid that it will be destructive to your career and family. In case you forgot, you're in the public eye, and whatever you do will likely get exposed. Better yet, if you have these "tendencies," do us all a favor -- don't run, and stay out of public office.

Hopefully, Rep. Anthony Weiner's actions will provide a modicum of guidance for aspiring politicians, who will be able to remind themselves from time to time, "Don't be a Weiner!"

Joe Licari, Saint James
 

Once again I turn on the news and watch another politician vehemently denying any involvement in a salacious scandal, blaming others, acting indignant -- and then, when confronted with the truth, having a tearful mea culpa. At least this time, the wife had the good sense not to stand by his side.

Anthony Weiner has proved that he is skillful at mendacity and being a serial sexual predator. Is this who the voters want to represent their interests? There seems to be a genetic defect in many of these politicians lately, namely character. What happened to men with values and decency?

I find it even more incredible that Weiner still feels he should remain in office. When a politician is more interested in shooting photos of his reproductive organs and sending them across the Internet to young women, one really has to question not only his value system but his judgment.

Cynthia Paulis, Massapequa
 

One of the most stunning aspects of the Weiner affair is the arrogance of power that we saw on display and have come to expect with many of our elected officials.

Now, Congressman Weiner wants us to believe that he is truly sorry for his actions and his questionable judgment. Sorry about the arrogance which was on full display a few days prior, when he sneered at a CNN reporter, calling him a "jackass" for asking a question about this matter? Sorry for trying to blame political opponents for hacking his Twitter account? Did Weiner even know the age of the females to whom he sent racy photos and sexting messages? When did the social media profile pages become the de facto standard for age verification?

Weiner said he lied because he was embarrassed and wanted to protect his family. No, he lied because he thought he could get away with it. Only after consulting with legal experts and learning that the press was about to expose more salacious details did he realize the jig was up.

Is Weiner fit for office? The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be caught.

Bob Friedrich, Glen Oaks
 

The United States is losing soldiers in Iraq, servicemen and women are putting their lives on the line in Afghanistan, and Congressman Weiner is busy showing his underwear on the Net? In these difficult times, shouldn't a congressman's public priorities be somewhere other than his own crotch?

It is impossible to shame the guy.

John Condon, Huntington Station
 

I don't particularly like Anthony Weiner, but he has been much maligned. His actions were stupid and immature, and he should not have taken photos of himself and corresponded with unknown women over the Internet. But Weiner is the victim!

Conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart thought he was so smart to show photos of Weiner to the public. I do believe that Weiner's right of privacy has been violated. Breitbart should face criminal and civil charges.

Furthermore, he "unknowingly" shared a nude photo with the shock jocks Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia. With their reputation for insane and tasteless behavior, what did he think they would do?

Personally, I feel that Weiner shouldn't resign. Others have done much worse. True, he lied about the photos, but did we not have a president who started a war in Iraq under false pretenses? He didn't resign.

Giacomo Pantaleo, Farmingville
 

Is it any wonder that young people have little respect for authority? Rep. Weiner displays the immature, attention-seeking and narcissistic behavior of a junior high school student struggling with puberty. We should demand more of our elected representatives. That he lied about it, and continued to lie, suggests what we all suspect of many of our politicians -- that they have no moral compass.

Dov Neidish, Commack
 

I don't know who is more pathetic: the men who misinterpret their positions of power, wealth and celebrity as sexual prowess, or the women who validate such delusions.

Abby G. Burton, Plainview
 

Dirty pictures aside, this episode confirmed one thing -- Rep. Weiner is not to be trusted, not by his wife, his constituents, by anyone.

He's a bald-faced liar. This fact makes him incapable of governing or representing his constituents.

Michael Chimenti, Oakland Gardens