Weiner's Flash of Stupidity

Our culture has become sadly predictable.
Technology - photo technology and methods of sending photos, specifically - have opened up new juvenile territory for all of us. It's possible to "show you mine if you show me yours," via cell phone, and in Anthony Weiner's case, scatter shot images of his not-so-hot bod to anyone who showed remote interest.

And what does he do once he's inevitably caught?


He plays the treatment card.

It's been done before, Anthony. It's boring.

And wrong on so many levels. He's just the latest in a long line of celebrities who seek refuge in the form of a rehab program when their habits got the better of them. Habits almost always do.

A few drinks too many, all caught on camera? A coke-fueled spiral into insanity? It's all great fodder for us.

The media - and worse, your wife - caught wind of your sophomorically illicit photos being tweeted? Seek treatment and all will be forgiven. Or at least it can buy you some time.

And in the meantime, we're all supposed to take the high road and respect the "patient's" privacy. You forfeited your privacy when you went public with your privates, and apparently coached someone on how to effectively lie about it. Now you want privacy? Really?

Treatment would be fine if his motives were a genuine attempt at cleaning up his life. But since he's already been caught coaching one of his lucky picture recipients on how to lie, I have a hard time believing his motives.

People go to treatment - most of 'em, anyway - to save their lives. And for what they're trying to do, they deserve our respect and support. And not all celebrities' motives are suspect. I wish them good luck, good health, God speed and happiness. There's a difference between wanting to get well and clean up your life, and pandering your way out of self-inflicted trouble.

Anthony Weiner is that pandering boob who got caught. And what's his "amends" going to be like? Something along the lines of Tiger Woods' phony apology to his wife? Maybe that would have meant more to Elin if the apology weren't televised in such staged glory.

It didn't strike me as genuinely remorseful, and I don't think Weiner's going to pull off anything better, or ever really have any credibility left with his wife, his constituents or his colleagues.

And last I heard, there isn't a 12-step program for stupidity or arrogance.