Huma Abedin, Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons “second daughter,” finally announced Monday she’s divorcing Anthony Weiner, and she wouldn’t have done it if not for her son.
The power couple married in 2010 in a wedding officiated by another serial cheater, former President Bill Clinton. Ten months later, then Rep. Weiner accidentally tweeted a picture of his wiener. It was intended for a college student. And thus started the slimy spiral of their six-year marriage. They would fade from the public eye (except, occasionally, through Huma’s association with Hillary), only to be thrust back into it by Weiner’s inability to stay faithful.
His penchant for dick pictures accumulated over those sad six years, culminating in the final picture that broke Abedin’s back: A July 2015 shot he sent while laying in bed with his son.
A woman can put up with a lot in a relationship; just look at Hillary. Her husband has long been accused of keeping a mistress, he cheated on her as president and rumor has it he has continued to do so in the 15 years since he was in office.
But sending a lewd picture including your four-year-old child is unforgivable, privately and politically. Weiner’s infidelity was always embarrassing, but it could once be spun in a way that made Huma look valiant in her attempts to keep together a family — just like Hillary, who is said to have previously counseled Abedin to stay with her husband. Involving their child destroys that narrative. Not only is it selfish, an intimate betrayal of trust and blatant disrespect between father, mother and child, but there’s no way to spin defending a man sending crude pictures including his toddler.
There’s plenty of reasons to explain why Hillary never left her husband: pride, political ambition, convenience. The fact is, she didn’t leave.
Because Hillary pushes herself as the candidate for women’s rights, her right-hand woman can’t stay with a man involving his child in sexual escapades. So, Weiner had to go.
Hillary’s already having trouble with her feminist brand. On the campaign trail, she has to defend her husband, who allegedly raped and sexually assaulted multiple women, while also telling women, “I want to send a message to every survivor of sexual assault: Don’t let anyone silence your voice. You have the right to be heard. You have a right to be believed, and we’re with you.”
And that latter portion about being believed? That was scrubbed from the campaign website after Juanita Broaddrick rape allegations resurfaced.
Even if Huma wasn’t associated with Hillary, she’d likely divorce Weiner. Even Republican nominee Donald Trump thinks so: “Huma is making a very wise decision,” he said. “I know Anthony Weiner well, and she will be far better off without him.”
It’s a sad occasion, and not something that should have to be played out in public, but it does create an interesting dynamic between how the Democratic nominee handled her husband, and how one of her closest confidants handled hers.
Maybe Hillary never divorced Bill because he never involved their daughter, Chelsea. And maybe Huma is divorcing Weiner because he involved theirs. Either way, Huma has done what Hillary never did.