I Need Help, and You Have To Pay Me While I Get It
by James Glaser
June 13, 2011

Representative Anthony D. Weiner of New York said on Saturday that he was entering a psychological treatment center and seeking a leave of absence from the House to deal with a pattern of reckless online behavior with women.New York Times

I suppose it gets stressful when you (an elected politician) get caught for texting semi-nude photos of yourself to young women just a few months after you got married. It is also bad when you don't know if these women are really women or maybe young teenage girls.

What do you do? You could resign, but then what? What if, like Anthony Weiner, you have no other skills other than being a politician, then what? Who the heck is going to hire you if you have lost all your power?

Anthony Weiner knows what to do. He is going to take a paid leave of absence.

"Congressman Weiner departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person," said his spokeswoman, Risa Heller. "In light of that, he will request a short leave of absence from the House of Representatives so that he can get evaluated and map out a course of treatment to make himself well."New York Times

That's it! What a wonderful idea! You don't really have to ask permission, after all you still are a Congressman. Who knows this might be just the ticket, and who really knows how long this "treatment" will take? Sure, it will be hard. Nobody will be able to ask you questions, and your picture won't be on the front page, but for now maybe that is a good thing. People will just forget about this whole mess, and then you can come back and start saving the country again. It sure is great that you don't have to stick around and ask permission to do something like this. It is a political perk most taxpayers don't know about. Besides, you need that $3,000.00 plus the American taxpayer pays you every week, and the treatment will be covered under your Congressional health benefits, because, well because you are still on the payroll.

He must submit his request for the leave in writing. Approval is fairly routine: the letter will be presented on the House floor and recorded, without a vote. Mr. Weiner would continue to collect his salary and benefits during his leave.New York Times

You know this is so cool. Too bad the average citizen can't do this. I know you wish everybody could be a Congressman, and I bet when you get back you are going to author a bill to do just that.

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