Anthony Weiner Talks Healthcare, Immigration Reform and Food for the Hungry--I Like That

Anthony Weiner Hints of Another Comeback Attempt

BY JILL COLVIN 12/26 4:08PM

Anthony Weiner running for mayor. (Photo: Getty)

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner posted a thank you message to supporters on Facebook this afternoon that leaves the door open–ever so slightly–to another comeback run.

“What’s next? I’ll keep you posted on my plans. But I hope we keep the band together,” he wrote in the message to supporters posted onhis Facebook page.

“(Who knows, maybe I have a third book of ideas in me!)” he added.

Mr. Weiner, who lost his race for mayor this summer following revelations that he’d continued sexting with women long after he resigned from Congress, has kept largely out of the spotlight since his loss.

In the message, titled “What’s Next? First, Let Me Say Thanks,” Mr. Weiner reflects on the year that was.

“I do want to take stock a bit of 2013. It certainly didn’t go as I had hoped,” he wrote. “I continue to be deeply sorry that my personal mistakes undermined an amazing campaign that included too many amazing staffers to mention and hundreds of volunteers and many of you who kept active from afar with ideas, contributions and encouraging notes.”

He also encouraged his supporters to keep up the fight for immigration reform and universal health care–and to avoid the urge to move to the center.

“[W]e all have sought to make the argument that too often we progressives come to knife fights carrying library books. Although my Republican friends have to decide what to do with the tea party wackadoo wing of their party, it does not constitute a strategy to simply sit back and watch them immolate. Our team has to be a font of ideas and debate …” he wrote, urging readers to “remember the admonition of Jim Hightower, who frequently said, ‘there’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos.’”

Here is the letter, in full:

What’s Next? First, Let Me Say Thanks

There is a fundamental optimism that is wired into the DNA of America and its true capital – New York City. We are a place that people come to improve their condition. And once here we are unified by a common aspiration – to leave our kids a place better than the one we found. In the ideological battleground that seeks to define what it is to be American, perhaps we can lay down arms and say that our most shared quality is optimism. After all, nobody picks up their lives and crosses the sea unless they are hopeful about the future. Nearly all of our families did that.

So in spite of the challenges that we face in our families and in our communities, I look forward to a better 2014.

I do want to take stock a bit of 2013. It certainly didn’t go as I had hoped. I continue to be deeply sorry that my personal mistakes undermined an amazing campaign that included too many amazing staffers to mention and hundreds of volunteers and many of you who kept active from afar with ideas, contributions and encouraging notes. (Even the snarky comments of our opponents weren’t entirely humorless). Huma and I were buoyed by the kind wishes of countless friends and total strangers. And I must admit, it’s easy to get cheered up when you are watching a little boy sprout before your eyes. Did I mention Jordan turned 2 this week?

What’s next? I’ll keep you posted on my plans. But I hope we keep the band together. You have been an amazing resource and the network we have all become part of has helped lead the debate on national health care, the need for a smarter and more compassionate approach to the growing pockets of need in our nation, and we all have sought to make the argument that too often we progressives come to knife fights carrying library books. Although my Republican friends have to decide what to do with the tea party wackadoo wing of their party, it does not constitute a strategy to simply sit back and watch them immolate. Our team has to be a font of ideas and debate. I tried to run my campaign on this theme and the response was amazing. (Who knows, maybe I have a third book of ideas in me!)

As we support Mayor de Blasio in New York and push the seemingly immovable Congress on issues like immigration reform, aid to the hungry and our aspiration for universal health care that makes things better for America’s children, not just America’s health insurance companies, let’s remember the admonition of Jim Hightower, who frequently said, “there’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos”. This year lets fight to make this the country we want it to be and one that lives up to our common ideals about progress.

I pray for a sweet, healthy and productive year for you. And thank you for your kindness in the year past.

–Anthony

copied from politicker

 Chloe Louise · San Diego, California

Wish Anthony the best--he represents the needs of the average citizen very well. His views and fight for health care and immigraion are admirable. Love Huma, too. We all have flaws, he has that certain something of successful politicians--to keep changing for the better and keep moving forward.