Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) admitted that he engaged in inappropriate online relationships with several women, and then lied about them. Shortly thereafter, MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews suggested that Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin (an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton), might be responsible for his conduct:
FEEHERY: I think we all feel for his wife right now. You know, Democrats think back to Gerry Studds…
MATTHEWS: He says his wife knew. He laid it out on her.
FEEHERY: Which is terrible. Terrible mistake.
MATTHEWS: But maybe she’s party responsible if she knew about it?
MACMAHON: She’s not responsible.
FEEHERY: She’s not responsible. Come on, that’s ridiculous.
Watch it:
Near the end of the broadcast, Matthews backtracked: “Putting a bit of the blame on her, I don’t think that’s fair. I hope I didn’t give the impression that I agreed with that. I certainly don’t. This is his problem. People love people, they marry them despite their faults.”
For what it’s worth, Weiner did not say that his wife was aware of his recent conduct and only told her that he’d been lying about it this morning.
But in any event, it’s safe to say that his wife is not in any way “responsible” for Weiner’s inappropriate conduct and dishonesty. As Weiner himself noted, “I came here to accept the full responsibility of what I’ve done.”