In recent days, New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner's admission that he'd 'sexted' with half a dozen women, lied to cover it up, along with the lewd photo, allegedly of Weiner, that surfaced recently on Twitter, have put his head squarely on the Democrats' resignation chopping block.
And that's not all. In a story fraught with bizarre twists, Weiner reportedly apologized to former President Bill Clinton, who officiated at Weiner's wedding last summer. Truly, it's hard to pick a cliché that best captures the irony - birds of a feather, perhaps?
Also this week, it was reported that Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, top political aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is pregnant.
Ouch.
Weiner says, per the June 7th foxnews.com article, ''Sexting is Considered Being Unfaithful, But Not Grounds for Divorce, Say Legal Experts'' that ''he did not have a physical relationship with any of the women and has never had sex outside his marriage.'' Additionally, he was quoted as saying that he has ''no intention of splitting up'' with Abedin, but she is ''not happy'' with what he's done.
As of this writing, Weiner and Abedin are staying together. However, should that change, legal experts say if Abedin were to seek a divorce, his emotional, social media 'affairs' would help her case.
Attorney Stephen Haller, who provided representation for former scandalized New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey during his divorce, was quoted as saying, also in the foxnews.com article, ''there's no specific grounds anywhere that I know of where sexting is listed as grounds for divorce.''
But is it time for that to change? Legal experts have seen a rise in social media issues being cited in divorce cases, and one only need read the headlines of the day to know it's true.
The immediacy and availability of technology has made communication a double edged sword, powerful on one hand, devastating on the other - if placed in the wrong hands. One might argue that a cheater was always going to cheat - social media just gave him or her an easier way to do so.
Freedom of speech is just that - a freedom. Along with that freedom comes responsibility, and a choice about how, and when to exercise, or not exercise, that freedom.
As of this writing, Representative Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania and former Virginia governor and Democratic National Committee head Tim Kaine have called for Weiner to resign - something he's refusing to do.
Democratic strategist says Robert Zimmerman was quoted as saying in the June 9th cbsnews.com article, ''Dems shunning Weiner, strategist says'': ''Personally, I think it's time for him to step down. I think it may be the best way for him to help build his future. He can be a very effective public policy advocate and not be in Congress.''
