Sydney Leathers Fact-Checks Anthony Weiner's Politico Interview

Yesterday, I saw a piece about Anthony Weiner on Politico. Within this piece, Anthony announced his departure from politics as his own decision, long in the works. I found this interesting: not just because it was me, rather than his commitment to fatherhood, that crushed his political dreams, but also because he once promised me a job at that very same website. He told me he was going to help me with many things (including a condo in Chicago) but the thing I was most excited about was the opportunity to write for Politico about what it was like to live in a swing state during an election year. As a Democrat in Southern Indiana, I would’ve had a lot to say.

Alas, my political blogging dreams never came true, and I never got that Chicago condo either. But I did manage to build my own weird little empire of sorts, just by turning on the man I once thought would “save” me from my own life. Were my dealings with him the most moral or ethical way I could’ve spent my time? No. But he wasn’t a very moral or ethical person either, which is something that the Politico piece reminded me of in nearly every line. Reading each little lie bothered me more than anticipated, so, here: I’ve fact-checked his announcement for you.

Weiner:

I watched the first season of ‘House of Cards,’ it got so ridiculously implausible that I couldn’t stick with it.

Fact Check: We talked extensively about the show. In fact, the last thing he ever said to me was something about how I should go watch the original version.

Weiner:

I would have quit Congress to be home with Jordan, plain and simple.

Fact Check: Do you really think someone with an ego that size would have willingly bowed out from public life? I don’t either. It doesn’t even make sense. If he truly wanted to retire from politics to be a father, why did he run for mayor? Obviously he didn’t think he was done with politics. He wasn’t done until I ruined it for him.

Weiner:

I can’t and don’t dwell too much on how people are going to write my Wikipedia entry.

Fact Check: I find it very hard to believe that such an egomaniac doesn’t care about how he’s viewed. One time he got mad at me because I didn’t have a “favorite picture” of him. Seriously.

Weiner:

The only job I ever wanted more than Congress was mayor, and I don’t think that either of those two jobs are going to be available.

Fact Check: Do we really think he’s learned his lesson? After the first scandal forced him to resign from Congress, he still ran for mayor. I would be shocked if he didn’t try to run for something again in the future.

Weiner:

“It wasn’t like I wanted to see it as a career,” Weiner says of his media appearances.

Fact Check: For someone who doesn’t want a career in media, he sure does a good job of staying in the press. At least I admit it’s something I enjoy being involved with.

There are days when I feel badly about the way everything played out, from the first picture to my public outing as Weiner’s sext partner. Of course there are days like that: I’m human. But the one thing that I have to continuously remind myself is that I told the truth, and it was my story to tell. I was naive to think I could remain anonymous, and I know now that if BuzzFeed hadn’t outed me, it would’ve just been someone else.

Like Anthony, I just have to pick up the pieces and move on. He is moving on with his restaurant venture; I’ve moved on to porn and college. My life is by no means perfect, but I’m in a better place than I was a year ago. And I genuinely hope Anthony is too. I wish him no ill will. But it would be nice if he would stop lying.

Sydney Leathers is a 25-year-old Radio/TV Broadcasting major/occasional porn star who lives at home with her two cats in southern Indiana.

Images via Getty.