A Convenient Pregnancy

I can’t say the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. It did.


Wanting to remain decorous, I dismissed it.


How cynical do you have to be to imagine that yesterday’s announcement of Anthony Weiner’s wife’s pregnancy was just a little too convenient.


You don’t have to be that cynical, especially if you have watched the Clinton’s manipulate public opinion in a similar situation.


Since Weiner and his wife are junior Clintons, and since Huma Abedin is a constant companion of Mrs. Clinton, you are within your rights to expect some fairly sophisticated public relations chicanery.

Besides, as the whole world rejoices at the thought of the Weiner-Abedin spawn, it feels rather churlish to suggest that the news was put out in order to shift the public debate from his bulge to her bump.

For all we know, we might be watching some of the world’s greatest public relations managers in action.

Keep in mind that the happy couple has not said a word about this. When the story was first reported by the New York Times, it was attributed to insiders, people in the know.

This could mean that these sources are reliable insiders who know more than we do. Or it could mean that these people are willing to say whatever needs to be said in order best to preserve Weiner’s political viability.

As I say, I was going to ignore the possibility that we were all being played, yet again, by the Clintons.

And then I read this from blogger Ann Althouse: “ Isn't this convenient? Turn off the criticism, lest it hurt Huma. We're supposed to accept the assertion, of course. Is it true. Oh! Shut up! How terrible to question this! It’s really outrageous. The implication is outrageous. It's outrageous. “

Now I felt emboldened. If as serious and reputable blogger as Althouse could entertain these suspicions, I could share mine.

Could it be that the story had been put out to stop the criticism? Because, after all, given how fragile and vulnerable a pregnant woman is, we do not want to be saying anything that might add to her stress.

Of course, it’s altogether possible that Anthony and Huma will soon welcome a scion. It would be a blessed event.

Yet, I think that the better part of sober wisdom is telling us to hold off the celebration until, at least, it is confirmed by the parents themselves.

As of now the State Department has been silent on the subject.