Film Shows Clinton Aide’s Own Struggle With Anthony Weiner Scandal - The New York Times

Film Shows Clinton Aide’s Own Struggle With Anthony Weiner Scandal

"In May 2013, Huma Abedin and Anthony D. Weiner allowed filmmakers full access to his mayoral campaign with the hopes that the result would document a spectacular political comeback."

This attempt to explain themselves demonstrated how little awareness they had of themselves, each other, and pretty much all normal people, particularly those outside of their narrow social circle. The fact of the matter is that the more you know about them, the less attractive they are. Of course, any of us could have predicted the results of this full-access documentary, just as we could have advised Cliven Bundy not to hold a press conference, but it has generally been my experience that assholes are simply unaware of how they appear to the rest of us.

From the article:

The contrast between Ms. Abedin’s public and private faces can be striking. One scene has the couple in a small office working the phones for campaign contributions. Ms. Abedin uses a sweet voice when she is asking for money. “How was the engagement?” she says on one call. “I want all the details!”

The film then cuts to her hanging up, showing a total change in demeanor. “His wife is going to max out, and he’ll try to raise another five,” she says flatly.

I didn't realize that Huma would come off as a calculating phony, but that was only because I never gave her a second thought. She was a minor character. In their public drama Weiner was Hamlet and Huma was just Hamlet's ghost, providing some behind-the-scenes orchestration. On the other hand, I always felt that Anthony Weiner was a complete dickhead, from the first time I ever saw him open his mouth. He just has one of those smarmy faces that invites punching, kind of like a liberal version of Ted Cruz. The fact that he turned out to be Carlos Danger just didn't seem surprising at all.