President Barack Obama believes U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner was wrong to send a lewd picture of himself over Twitter and then lie about it, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday. And the continuing scandal surrounding the New York Democrat is a distraction from important national business, he said.
Carney's comments were the first by the administration since the scandal broke in late May.
"The president feels, we feel at the White House, this is a distraction, as Congressman Weiner has said himself, his behavior was inappropriate; dishonesty was inappropriate," Carney said in comments to reporters aboard Air Force One during a trip to Raleigh, North Carolina.
"But the president is focused on his job, which is getting this economy continuing to grow, creating jobs and ensuring the safety and security of the American people."
Weiner has been in the spotlight since late May, when a lewd photograph of the congressman became public after it was sent to a woman over the Twitter social networking service.
After initially claiming that his account had been hacked, Weiner admitted that he sent the picture and also had engaged in several inappropriate relationships with women he had met online.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called for an ethics committee investigation to determine if Weiner misused government resources while conducting the online relationships. She and a number of prominent Democrats have since called for him to resign.
Weiner has said he does not plan to step aside. Instead, he has decided to seek treatment "to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person," his spokeswoman said Saturday.
While he is seeking treatment at an undisclosed location, he will ask for a "short leave of absence" from Congress, Risa Heller said in a statement.
The president's staff has not been involved in calling for Weiner's resignation, Carney said.
The fact Weiner Refuses To Step Down Proves He Is Emotionally Unstable & Badly In Need Of Immediate Mental Health Intervention.
This Is So Sad. So So Sad!
Everyone In New York Loves Anthony Weiner. Even People Who Love To Hate Him.
At This Point I Believe If He Steps Down (Like Yesterday!), His Political Career Could Still Be Repaired Sometime In The Future.
However Only AFTER He Seeks Mental Health Treatment First. i.e., Dr. Drew Pinsky.
But If The Guy Refuses To Resign & Refuses To Seek Treatment, God Only Knows What Might Happen Next.
(FYI: Many Suicides Are Committed In New York City Each Year.)
I Only Hope His Wife Huma, The Clintons, Nancy Pelosi & Chuck Schumer Will Convince Him To Resign & Immediately Allow Himself To Be Committed Into One Of Dr. Drew's Facilities In California.
The Guy Obviously Needs Some Rest & Relaxation.
Perhaps Getting Away From The Fast Pace Of NYC & Into The Laid Back Environment Of Sunny California Will Do Weiner Some Good.
Don't Worry About Andrew Breitbart!
Breitbart Is NOT A Journalist.
Instead He's Nothing More Than A Homewrecker & Dirty, Paid GOP Operative.
Nothing Good Will Come Of Breitbart Just Watch! Scumbags Like Him Always Get Their Due!
Meanwhile Too Much Is At Stake Politically For Weiner To Remain In Public Office.
Pres. Obama NEEDS To Be Re-elected.
Democrats & Independents Need To Focus On Stopping Republicans From Ruining Our Nation With Unfair, Unequal Budget Cuts Disguised As "Deficit Reduction".
Budget Cuts Which ONLY Hurt Middle Class Citizens, Veterans, Senior Citizens, College Students & Low Income Citizens!
And Millions Of Voters Still Need JOBS!!!
This Is Definitely NOT The Time To Continue Talking About Weiner's Private "Assets"!
Congressman Anthony Weiner Sir, We STILL Love You & Appreciate All Of Your Service.
But Please, For The Sake Of Your Beautiful Wife, Unborn Child, The Entire Democratic Party & 2012 Elections.....
Their marriage has become the subject of intense speculation and scrutiny amid an embarrassing online sex scandal.
Now, Representative Anthony D. Weiner and Huma Abedin are about to make news of a different kind: they are expecting their first child.
Ms. Abedin, 35, is in the early stages of pregnancy, according to three people with knowledge of the situation.
The pregnancy, which the couple has disclosed to close friends and family, adds a new dimension to questions about the future of their marriage.
Mr. Weiner, 46, has admitted to engaging in salacious online conversations with at least six women over the last few years, including an incident last month in which he sent a photograph of himself in underwear to a college student in Washington state. He apologized to his wife and declared that they have no intention of splitting up.
“We will weather this,” Mr. Weiner said on Monday, during his emotional news conference. “I love her very much, and she loves me.”
But Ms. Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton, has remained silent about the topic as she keeps up a hectic schedule at the State Department.
Ms. Abedin returned to work this week and departed on Wednesday for a trip to Northern Africa with Ms. Clinton.
A State Department spokesman declined to comment Wednesday afternoon.
I Totally, Totally Agree With MSNBC's Ed Schultz(Glad To See You Back Ed) That Its Time For Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) To Resign.
After Supporting Him Earlier, I Now Believe It Would Be In The Best Interest Of The 2012 Elections, That He Should Step Down. NOW!
If Weiner Refuses To Resign He Could Possibly Ruin Chances For Democrats To Regain The U.S. House & Could Also Possibly Cost Democrats The U.S. Senate.
Thus He Should No Longer Continue Speaking Out To The Press.
He Should No Longer Try To Hold On To His Seat Hoping He'll Be Able To Ride Out This Scandal Because It Won't Work!
Just Please SHUT UP & STEP DOWN For Christ's Sake!
PLEASE!
And....
Schedule An Appointment To Meet With Dr. Drew Pinsky ASAP In The Process.
The GOP Didn't Want Weiner, A Liberal Democrat To Become Mayor Of NYC.
So When He Messed Up With This Sexting, Twitter Scandal He Became Putty In Their Hands.
Andrew Breitbart, Founder Of Biggovernment.com & A Paid GOP Operative, Doesn't Just Sit Around Waiting For Scandalous Stories Like These To Pop-Up Out Of Nowhere, No!
Instead Breitbart Preys Upon Influential Democrat Politicians, Helps Set Them Up & Than Moves In For The KILL!
Kill As In Kill Their Political Careers, Thereby Making Room For GOP Replacements.
Folks Like Peter King (R) (Mr. "Muslim Radicalization") Who Represents Long Island, Was Also Probably Sitting & Waiting By The Sidelines For Weiner To Self-Destruct.
No Worries Folks!
Because There's Absolutely NO Chance Weiner Will Become New York's Mext Mayor In 2013.
However Unlike Adulterer & Former Presidential Candidate, John Edwards (D-NC), It Doesn't Appear That Weiner Violated Any Laws. (i.e., Campaign Finance Laws)
And Lying Isn't Usually A Crime Unless You LIE To A Government Or Law Enforcement Official Right?
After Receiving Some Serious Sex Addiction Counseling From Dr. Drew Pinsky, Who Knows What Weiner's Next Career Might Be.
But If He Wants To Regain The Trust Of His Constituents, He Will More Than Likely Have To Start Over At Ground Zero. (No Pun Intended)
Like Possibly Becoming A NYC District Rep., City Councilman Or.....
Perhaps Starting An Advocacy Program For Some Of Brooklyn's Most Vulnerable Citizens To Help With Issues That Have Repeatedly Plagued Citizens Who Reside In That Part Of New York City.
Ex: Slum Landlord Housing, Illegal Evictions, No Hot Water, No Heat, Illegally Fired, Low Unemployment, Bad Public Schools, Serious Crime, Mob Takeovers, Child Abuse & Neglect, etc.,
Kudos To U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi For Immediately Starting An Ethics Investigation Following Weiner's Babbling Idiot's Press Conference.
Listen Weiner For The Good Of Your Party & Pres. Obama's Re-election, Please Just SHUT UP & STEP DOWN!
Don't Drag This Out Any Longer Because The GOP Is Eating It Up Like A Delicious Coney Island Frankfurter.
Just RESIGN Dude!
TODAY!
And STOP Sexting Photos Of Your "Hot Dog Bun" To Other Women.
As Anthony Weiner is about to find out: When you're a politician, not all lies are the same. There's a big difference between breaking a campaign promise by failing to deliver on something and breaking the public's trust with an outright falsehood.
When you do the former, the public will shrug and surmise that you're no better or worse than any other elected official. But when you do the latter, you signal that you can no longer be trusted on any level.
In what you'd have to call a negative trend, Americans have become accustomed over the years to politicians saying one thing to get elected and doing another once they're in office. In fact, these days, people think that is normal. Whether it's George H.W. Bush breaking his promise of "no new taxes," or Barack Obama violating his pledge to make immigration reform a priority of his administration, most people are tolerant of broken promises. They tell themselves that circumstances have changed or that the elected official will eventually make good. Besides, they say, every politician has his share of unfulfilled pledges.
That's not Weiner's problem. The lies he told in response to reporters' questions were much worse and much more direct. They were told not with the desire to get elected but with the intent to mislead and deceive. And that being the case, the damage to his political future is likely to be much more severe.
But you knew that already, if you caught even a glimpse of Monday's news conference where Weiner finally came clean about posting lewd photos on his Twitter account and lying about it.
It was a much different story than what we heard last week, when Weiner claimed that his account had been compromised and that, as a "prank," a hacker had posted
But you knew that already, if you caught even a glimpse of Monday's news conference where Weiner finally came clean about posting lewd photos on his Twitter account and lying about it.
It was a much different story than what we heard last week, when Weiner claimed that his account had been compromised and that, as a "prank," a hacker had posted a lewd photo on the account and sent the photo to a young woman. In a textbook example of how not to answer a question, Weiner told MSNBC's Luke Russert that, while he didn't send the tweet, he "can't say with certitude" whether he was the person in the photo. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Weiner couldn't even say whether the underpants in the picture were his.
Monday, amid reports that there were more pictures that could yet be released, Weiner apparently decided to cut his losses before the story got worse. He apologized for lying about the ordeal and admitted carrying on inappropriate virtual relationships with several women he'd met online. Better late than never, the married congressman took "full responsibility" for both the relationships and for lying in an attempt to cover them up.
"To be clear, the picture was of me, and I sent it," Weiner said. "I'm deeply sorry for the pain this has caused my wife and our family, my constituents, my friends, my supporters and my staff," he said. "I lied because I was ashamed at what I had done, and I didn't want to get caught."
No kidding. Isn't that why most people lie -- because they're afraid of getting caught? That's obviously no excuse. Nor does it look good that the Democratic leadership in the House wants to know whether Weiner used government resouces while he "exchanged messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women over the last three years." (Weiner says he doesn't believe he did.)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced just moments after the news conference that she would call "for an Ethics Committee investigation to determine whether any official resources were used or any other violation of House rules occurred." Weiner said afterward that he "will fully cooperate with an investigation by the House ethics committee."
Whether or not Wiener violated House ethics rules, it is already clear that he violated the trust of his constituents. When he lied to reporters, he lied to the American people, who count on journalists to tell them what elected officials are doing on their dime. There's no way to make up for that kind of deceit. The relationship between lawmaker and constituent is forever damaged, and this public servant will never be effective again.
As it stands, Weiner is just holding a seat that the people of New York could put to better use. That's why the congressman has no choice but to resign.
I Totally, Totally Agree With MSNBC's Ed Schultz(Glad To See You Back Ed) That Its Time For Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) To Resign.
After Supporting Him Earlier, I Now Believe It Would Be In The Best Interest Of The 2012 Elections, That He Should Step Down. NOW!
If Weiner Refuses To Resign He Could Possibly Ruin Chances For Democrats To Regain The U.S. House & Could Also Possibly Cost Democrats The U.S. Senate.
Thus He Should No Longer Continue Speaking Out To The Press.
He Should No Longer Try To Hold On To His Seat Hoping He'll Be Able To Ride Out This Scandal Because It Won't Work!
Just Please SHUT UP & STEP DOWN For Christ's Sake!
PLEASE!
And....
Schedule An Appointment To Meet With Dr. Drew Pinsky ASAP In The Process.
The GOP Didn't Want Weiner, A Liberal Democrat To Become Mayor Of NYC.
So When He Messed Up With This Sexting, Twitter Scandal He Became Putty In Their Hands.
Andrew Breitbart, Founder Of Biggovernment.com & A Paid GOP Operative, Doesn't Just Sit Around Waiting For Scandalous Stories Like These To Pop-Up Out Of Nowhere, No!
Instead Breitbart Preys Upon Influential Democrat Politicians, Helps Set Them Up & Than Moves In For The KILL!
Kill As In Kill Their Political Careers, Thereby Making Room For GOP Replacements.
Folks Like Peter King (R) (Mr. "Muslim Radicalization") Who Represents Long Island, Was Also Probably Sitting & Waiting By The Sidelines For Weiner To Self-Destruct.
No Worries Folks!
Because There's Absolutely NO Chance Weiner Will Become New York's Mext Mayor In 2013.
However Unlike Adulterer & Former Presidential Candidate, John Edwards (D-NC), It Doesn't Appear That Weiner Violated Any Laws. (i.e., Campaign Finance Laws)
And Lying Isn't Usually A Crime Unless You LIE To A Government Or Law Enforcement Official Right?
After Receiving Some Serious Sex Addiction Counseling From Dr. Drew Pinsky, Who Knows What Weiner's Next Career Might Be.
But If He Wants To Regain The Trust Of His Constituents, He Will More Than Likely Have To Start Over At Ground Zero. (No Pun Intended)
Like Possibly Becoming A NYC District Rep., City Councilman Or.....
Perhaps Starting An Advocacy Program For Some Of Brooklyn's Most Vulnerable Citizens To Help With Issues That Have Repeatedly Plagued Citizens Who Reside In That Part Of New York City.
Ex: Slum Landlord Housing, Illegal Evictions, No Hot Water, No Heat, Illegally Fired, Low Unemployment, Bad Public Schools, Serious Crime, Mob Takeovers, Child Abuse & Neglect, etc.,
Kudos To U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi For Immediately Starting An Ethics Investigation Following Weiner's Babbling Idiot's Press Conference.
Listen Weiner For The Good Of Your Party & Pres. Obama's Re-election, Please Just SHUT UP & STEP DOWN!
Don't Drag This Out Any Longer Because The GOP Is Eating It Up Like A Delicious Coney Island Frankfurter.
Just RESIGN Dude!
TODAY!
And STOP Sexting Photos Of Your "Hot Dog Bun" To Other Women.
As Anthony Weiner is about to find out: When you're a politician, not all lies are the same. There's a big difference between breaking a campaign promise by failing to deliver on something and breaking the public's trust with an outright falsehood.
When you do the former, the public will shrug and surmise that you're no better or worse than any other elected official. But when you do the latter, you signal that you can no longer be trusted on any level.
In what you'd have to call a negative trend, Americans have become accustomed over the years to politicians saying one thing to get elected and doing another once they're in office. In fact, these days, people think that is normal. Whether it's George H.W. Bush breaking his promise of "no new taxes," or Barack Obama violating his pledge to make immigration reform a priority of his administration, most people are tolerant of broken promises. They tell themselves that circumstances have changed or that the elected official will eventually make good. Besides, they say, every politician has his share of unfulfilled pledges.
That's not Weiner's problem. The lies he told in response to reporters' questions were much worse and much more direct. They were told not with the desire to get elected but with the intent to mislead and deceive. And that being the case, the damage to his political future is likely to be much more severe.
But you knew that already, if you caught even a glimpse of Monday's news conference where Weiner finally came clean about posting lewd photos on his Twitter account and lying about it.
It was a much different story than what we heard last week, when Weiner claimed that his account had been compromised and that, as a "prank," a hacker had posted
But you knew that already, if you caught even a glimpse of Monday's news conference where Weiner finally came clean about posting lewd photos on his Twitter account and lying about it.
It was a much different story than what we heard last week, when Weiner claimed that his account had been compromised and that, as a "prank," a hacker had posted a lewd photo on the account and sent the photo to a young woman. In a textbook example of how not to answer a question, Weiner told MSNBC's Luke Russert that, while he didn't send the tweet, he "can't say with certitude" whether he was the person in the photo. In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Weiner couldn't even say whether the underpants in the picture were his.
Monday, amid reports that there were more pictures that could yet be released, Weiner apparently decided to cut his losses before the story got worse. He apologized for lying about the ordeal and admitted carrying on inappropriate virtual relationships with several women he'd met online. Better late than never, the married congressman took "full responsibility" for both the relationships and for lying in an attempt to cover them up.
"To be clear, the picture was of me, and I sent it," Weiner said. "I'm deeply sorry for the pain this has caused my wife and our family, my constituents, my friends, my supporters and my staff," he said. "I lied because I was ashamed at what I had done, and I didn't want to get caught."
No kidding. Isn't that why most people lie -- because they're afraid of getting caught? That's obviously no excuse. Nor does it look good that the Democratic leadership in the House wants to know whether Weiner used government resouces while he "exchanged messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women over the last three years." (Weiner says he doesn't believe he did.)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced just moments after the news conference that she would call "for an Ethics Committee investigation to determine whether any official resources were used or any other violation of House rules occurred." Weiner said afterward that he "will fully cooperate with an investigation by the House ethics committee."
Whether or not Wiener violated House ethics rules, it is already clear that he violated the trust of his constituents. When he lied to reporters, he lied to the American people, who count on journalists to tell them what elected officials are doing on their dime. There's no way to make up for that kind of deceit. The relationship between lawmaker and constituent is forever damaged, and this public servant will never be effective again.
As it stands, Weiner is just holding a seat that the people of New York could put to better use. That's why the congressman has no choice but to resign.
Michelle (Bombshell) McGee has offered "a heartfelt apology" to the woman whose marriage she wrecked.
The tattooed model opened up to Australian TV show "TodayTonight" in a new interview in which she expresses her remorse for allegedly carrying on an 11-month affair with Sandra Bullock's husband, Jesse James, according to UsMagazine.com.
"I do feel guilty. I feel bad for Sandra," she said.
When asked what she would say to the Oscar-winning actress, McGee answered, "I'm sorry for your embarrassment. I'm sorry all this is public. I'm sorry for everything."
McGee, 32, also took swipes at James for claiming he was separated from Bullock when they first became intimate.
"I feel like I was duped just as much as Sandra was. I feel like I was lied to just as much as she was," she said. "If Jesse was upfront with me in the beginning, we wouldn't be in this situation."
Just one week after contacting him via MySpace, McGee met face-to-face with James at his West Coast Choppers shop where she claims to have slept with him "two or three times."
"I did know he was married to Sandra. When we were sitting on a couch watching a movie, he leaned over to kiss me, and I said, 'Slow down! What's going on between you and Sandra?'" she said. "He said, 'She lives in Austin, I live here. We're not together because she's filming a movie...' I believed him.... he said he didn't want to talk about it, I assumed because of legalities."
Though James reportedly sent her text messages every day, McGee said she didn't see much of him after their first two adulterous months together.
"I cared about him. My feelings were growing toward him," she said.
James, 40, checked himself into a treatment facility on March 26 "to deal with personal issues" in the hope of saving his five-year marriage, his rep said in a statement.
With Bullock still in seclusion since news of the alleged affair broke, McGee said she understands what the "Blind Side" actress, 45, is going through.
"She must be hurt, devastated, upset, embarrassed. I want to give her a heartfelt apology," she said. "I'm sorry for her embarrassment and pain. I do feel really bad about it."
The world's greatest golfer was dumped Friday by the sports drink company, just one week after Woods' public apology for a string of sordid extramarital affairs.
It's the latest financial blow to Woods, already abandoned by major sponsors AT&T and Accenture.
Woods - once featured in Gatorade ads with fellow stars Michael Jordan and Peyton Manning - signed a reported five-year, $100 million deal with the company in 2007.
"We no longer see a role for Tiger in our marketing efforts and have ended our relationship," said a Gatorade statement. "We wish him all the best."
But not everybody has ditched Tiger, according to a new Golf Digest magazine piece on Woods.
President Obama and former President Bill Clinton offered encouragement to the fidelity-challenged golfer in separate phone calls after the sex scandal broke.
- Woods discussed the sordid details of his cheating with wife Elin Nordegren during a no-holds-barred "Disclosure Day" as part of his therapy.
- Woods has not hit a golf ball since the Thanksgiving night car wreck that preceded his fall from grace.
- His mother, Kultida, accompanied Woods on a visit to a Buddhist monk just before his 34th birthday Dec. 30.
"I tell him, 'Tiger, right now you are in a dark hole, and I know it's hard, but you can do it,'" Kultida was quoted as saying.
"'You know mom is strong, and you have my blood. You are strong, too,' she told him. 'You made a big mistake, but now you know the cost. So you are going to be much better and stronger, a good husband and a good father.'"
As a disgraced Tiger Woods plots his comeback in sex rehab, estranged wife Elin Nordegren has not gone to visit him once!
As The ENQUIRER reported the potent putter entered Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Tiger is undergoing a six-week intensive treatment directed by Dr. Patrick Carnes, who pioneered treatment for sexually compulsive behavior.
Yet, he's already planning his comeback and aiming to be back on the PGA tour by Spring possibly for the Masters Tournament April 5.
Tiger is not publicly revealing his plan to return to golf this Spring but a source told RadarOnline.com that the golfing great believes going through rehab will help him convince everyone - including corporate sponsors - that he has changed.
Meanwhile his wife Elin who has been consulting with a top celeb divorce lawyer is still not wearing her wedding ring in public and has yet to visit her promiscuous hubby in the cloistered rehab facility.
Since The ENQUIRER first exposed Woods' affair with NY party girl Rachel Uchitel he has been linked to 14 self-confessed mistresses and with the knowledge of Woods' sex-capades being made public he has been dropped as spokesman by several major corporations including GM and Gatorade.
Tiger Woods' mother has hit out at her son, saying she is 'angry and disappointed' with him, according to a family friend.
However, Kultida Woods has vowed to stand by her 33-year-old son, despite being 'furious' over his infidelity.
'[She] is hurt, angry and disappointed in Tiger,' the friend told People magazine.
'She wants to know how he could do this to his family.'
But, despite reportedly dealing with infidelity in her own marriage, 65-year-old Kultida is trying to forgive her son, according to the source.
'She loves him and will support him through anything, but she needs some time to work through this.'
'It was devastating to her. She likes Elin, and adores her grandchildren.
'She's worried about them. She doesn't want to see them hurt,' said the family friend.
Woods' father, Earl Woods, who died from prostate cancer a couple of years ago, was allegedly unfaithful to Thai-born Kultida several years ago.
The golfer was said to have been 'devastated' when he learned of his father's infidelity.
Kultida's anger comes as Elin Woods prepares for divorce and a custody battle over her and Woods' two young children, Sam, two, and Charlie, ten months.
Woods is thought to have cheated on Elin with up to 14 mistresses.
It is reported the ex-model had been prepared to discuss joint custody arrangements with Woods, but his refusal to see a doctor for his reported sex addiction has prompted Elin, 29, to limit his involvement in the children's lives.
One of Elin's close friends told the Sunday Mirror: 'She can't believe Tiger's behaviour. He says he wants to save the marriage, but he's not doing anything about it.
'He's hiding out like a child and refusing to go to rehab to get the treatment he needs. She's so mad at him, she's flipping out.
Everyone wants Tiger to get treatment and going down that road was his only real chance of delaying the divorce, but he wouldn't even sit through therapy.
'Elin has had enough now,' the friend told the newspaper. 'She's made up her mind that she's going for custody.'
It is reported that Elin will instruct her lawyer, legendary Hollywood divorce specialist Sorrell Trope, to fight for half of Woods' £340million fortune along with full custody of the children.
But legal experts told the Sunday Mirror Elin is unlikely to win full custody as Woods' home state of Florida is 'dad-friendly' and his serial cheating would not count unless Elin can prove his behaviour made him 'a detriment' to his children.
The talk-show queen has called Tiger Woods to offer him advice - and a chance to tell his side of the story.
While everyone is clamoring to woo Tiger into their television lairs, "only Lady O has personally reached out," according to Rob Shuter of the celebrity Web site PopEater.com.
Image experts said it was time Tiger took the story by the tail.
"If he were my client I would counsel him to say as much as he can say to come clean," said Barbara Laskin, president of Laskin Media.
Michael Gordon, CEO of Group Gordon Strategic Communications, said that Oprah's show should be a "friendly forum" for Woods.
"He needs to apologize to the public so he can get on with his life - and we can get on with ours," he said.
The golfer’s ability to play through pain made him a hero. But now his prescription-drug use has been linked to his accident, sex habits, and, Gerald Posner reports, prompted a doctor’s warning.
Florida police have not yet released a full report from Tiger Woods' immediately infamous SUV crash on November 27, but the most curious detail to emerge came from a neighbor, Jarius Adams, who reached the accident scene almost immediately, dashed into his sister’s house to call 911, then returned.
"At that point, he was, uh, he [Tiger Woods] was snoring," Adams told the police.
"He was snoring?" asked the investigator.
"He was actually snoring."
Trauma doctors I interviewed said that Woods should have been hyper-alert because of the adrenaline rush naturally associated with such unexpected excitement and stress. Various reports have suggested that Woods’ crash was influenced by prescription medication, taken for an injury. But one law-enforcement officer, familiar with the investigation, tells The Daily Beast that police on the scene suspected that Woods was disoriented and loopy because he had taken Ambien, a highly popular prescription sleeping pill. A person familiar with Woods’ medical treatment two years ago tells me that Woods has used prescription sedatives, when injured, to help him sleep.
Ambien has increasingly emerged as a cause of impaired driving, best evidenced by the celebrated 2006 car accident in which Congressman Patrick Kennedy smashed into a Capitol Hill traffic barrier at 3 a.m. Despite the talk of pain pills and sedatives, the Florida Highway Patrol did not administer any drug or alcohol tests to Tiger, telling the Orlando Sentinel that it did not have the “probable cause” for such tests.
But the incident also raises questions about Woods, and his pill habits. The suggestion of an Ambien link to the 2:30 a.m. crash comes on the heels of reports that one of Woods’ mistresses told friends that she and Tiger liked to have “crazy” sex in an “Ambien haze.” Meanwhile, a source familiar with Tiger’s medical treatment in the latter half of 2007 tells me that Tiger’s regular dosing of painkillers was “potentially a problem” during those six months because of the addictive nature of his medications. That coincides with Woods tearing his left knee ACL, a common athlete injury, in July 2007. Woods and his advisers decided against surgery then and instead he continued playing and winning on the PGA Tour.
As far as Tiger’s advisers and family were concerned, the potential problem, this source stressed, was more focused on whether the prescription pills might take a minute edge off Tiger’s reaction time and somehow adversely affect his game. But at least one physician was concerned enough to directly raise with Woods the potential of addiction and his need to wean off the pain pills.
After surgery for injuries—Woods has endured four operations on his left knee—almost every patient gets a prescription for painkillers. And every athlete plays through pain at some point in a professional career. It’s part of sports. Cortisone shots, pain pills, ice packs, physical therapy—it’s how athletes prevent injuries from sidelining them. On any given Sunday in the NFL, a post-game locker room looks like a veritable pharmacy, with painkillers seemingly being popped like M&Ms. But the downside remains omnipresent. The closest thing football has to a Tiger Woods, Brett Favre, battled a Vicodin addiction early in his career, and had to check himself into a rehab facility.
So it’s completely normal that Tiger Woods used painkillers through his discomfort, and completely appropriate that doctors worried about him developing an addiction. Especially since playing through the pain is part of his legacy. The 2008 U.S. Open is such a case. Tiger had torn his ACL the previous year. What no one knew at the time of the U.S. Open was that just a couple of weeks before, Tiger had suffered a double stress fracture in his left tibia, known popularly as the shinbone. Although his doctors advised he go on crutches for three weeks, followed by a month of rest, he refused. His swing coach, Hank Hanley, later told a reporter that, “Every night, I kept thinking there was no chance he's going to play. He had to stop in his tracks for 30 seconds walking from the dining room table to the refrigerator.”
But not only did Tiger limp and grimace through 91 holes, including sudden death, but he won one of the most exciting Opens in memory. That he did so on pain medications was just another reminder to sports writers and fans that he was a living legend.
I asked Tiger’s agent, Mark Steinberg, about Woods’ prescription drug history. His response came by email on Friday:
“As any doctor would attest, patients are universally prescribed medication for bone fractures and following major orthopedic surgery. Tiger's care has been managed with especially attentive observation by leading medical professionals, and others simply aren’t in a responsible position to make any assessments. Most importantly, the specifics of his medical care ought to be private, which is why unending Internet innuendo about his condition is so irresponsible and offensive. For amateurs to make speculative judgments about the quantity, propriety, or duration of a patient’s care is reprehensible.”
In some ways this answer sounded similar to part of the statement that was first issued under Tiger’s name after the car accident. In that case, they said, "This is a private matter, and I want to keep it that way. Although I understand there is curiosity, the many false, unfounded, and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible.”
When I followed up with specific questions about Tiger’s 2007 regimen, he did not answer, nor did anyone else in the Woods camp.
Yankees' Manager Joe Giraldi says "nothing today is private". Tiger is a Public Figure who sold his private life for a Billion Dollars. Thus he has very little privacy.
Tiger Woods's scorecard of extramarital affairs rose to a total of six last night after three more women were claimed to have shared his bed.
A Florida waitress and a Las Vegas model told over the weekend of their torrid relationships with the billionaire golfer.
A blonde Manhattan nightclubber, Cori Rist, 31, was added last night to the list of those with whom the married father of two had 'transgressed'.
And it seems unlikely to stop there.
Even as they digested the latest claims yesterday, Woods and his team of advisers were bracing themselves for yet more revelations from as yet unidentified women.
There were strong rumours last night of a dalliance with a seventh woman, a porn star, and there has even been speculation that the trail of shame will lead to this side of the Atlantic with claims of a fling with a British TV presenter.
Miss Rist declined to comment last night on claims by the New York Daily News that she has been secretly seeing Woods since they met last year at a Manhattan club. But the two other alleged mistresses to emerge over the weekend showed no such reticence.
Waitress Mindy Lawton, 33, spoke out to describe how she conducted a torrid affair with the golfer under his wife's nose.
And the former boyfriend of blonde model Jamie Jungers, 26, said she had slept with Woods repeatedly over a two-year period.
Both women described tawdry affairs in which they were used for sex - and then discarded.
Their revelations further damage Woods's carefully-constructed image as a dedicated - even boring - professional sportsman and family man.
Representatives of his numerous sponsors - which include Nike, Gillette and Pepsi - have contacted the star to demand he act to extinguish the flames of bad publicity.
But Woods himself appears to be stunned into inaction: he has reportedly fled the family home in Orlando, Florida, to escape the media glare. His representatives refuse to comment.
The explosion of sexual revelations was sparked just over a week ago when Woods crashed his car outside his home in the early hours of the morning.
At first the golfer denied allegations that he had rowed with his Swedish wife, Elin, 29. But when details about an affair with glamorous New York party organiser Rachel Uchitel, 34, started to emerge, he made a limited public apology.
While he refrained from explicitly admitting infidelity, he did confess to 'personal sins' and said: 'I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.'
Two more women - cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, 24, and Las Vegas club promoter Kalika Moquin, 27, then told how they too had affairs with Woods.
As well as revealing Woods's predatory modus operandi, Mindy Lawton's testimony also gave an indication of how his alleged philandering was kept secret for so long.
It has been claimed that an American tabloid magazine, having gathered irrefutable evidence of his affair with Miss Lawton, was persuaded not to print by Woods's management team, who in exchange granted an exclusive interview with the golfer to the tabloid's sister magazine.
And last week it was claimed that Woods's management offered Rachel Uchitel $1million to cancel a press conference she had planned to give on the topic, claims which surfaced again yesterday.
Yesterday another, as yet unnamed, girlfriend tried to explain Woods's action, telling the Mail on Sunday: 'His big problem is, ironically, insecurity. He has never felt particularly attractive.
'From the age of four or five he was destined to be a golfing legend but no one told him how to be a man.
'He married the dream girl, had the perfect family, but couldn't feel satisfied with that. He's not a happy man.'
She added: 'He was caught once and got away with it. He thought he could get away with it for ever.'
Woods married Elin Nordegren in 2004 after they were introduced by the Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik, who had employed her as an au pair.
Parnevik has said: 'I really feel sorry for Elin - since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him. We probably thought he was a better guy than he is.'
Elin is reported to have been offered £50million to stand by her husband and help salvage his tattered image. She could expect a £200million settlement if they divorce.
Mindy Lawton, 33, was almost outed as Tiger Woods mistress two years ago.
But the relationship between the £5-an-hour waitress and the billionaire golfer was covered up as part of a deal between 'Team Tiger' and the U.S. magazine Men's Fitness.
It agreed to keep the lid on the alleged affair in return for an exclusive interview with Woods.
Yesterday, however, all the salacious details of Woods's supposed fling with Miss Lawton appeared in Sunday newspapers.
Unlike the other women identified as part of Woods's harem, who hailed from Las Vegas and New York, Miss Lawton lived much closer to home in Orlando, Florida.
She claimed to have had sex with Woods at his mansion and while the golfer's wife was pregnant. 'Sometimes I looked like a rag doll after we'd made love,' she was quoted as saying by the News of the World. 'He really did like it quite rough.
'He wanted to spank me and loved pulling my hair as we had sex. He also liked me to talk dirty to him, but hair-pulling was what really turned him on.
'I realise now that all he wanted me for was sex. The only time he would call was when he wanted it. Tiger just used me as his sex toy. I thought I meant something to him, but all he cared about was lust. He is a selfish, heartless man.'
Despite his enormous wealth, she said Woods was not generous. 'He did not buy me anything, not even a meal.'
She also claimed his marriage was unhappy. 'I did not ask him about her, but I got the impression that he was not happy and the marriage was sexless.'
She added that Woods stopped calling after his wife gave birth to their first child, who is now two. The couple also now have a ten-month-old baby.
The blonde clubber
Cori Rist, 31, was remaining tight-lipped last night on claims that she was secretly involved with the golfer.
A source told the New York Daily News that Woods flew the blonde beauty to meet up with him at tournaments.
They reportedly met at Manhattan's trendy Butter club last year.
'They went on to another party,' a source told the Daily News. 'One thing led to another and, pretty soon, Tiger was flying her to hook up with him on tour.
'Tiger would typically get a large suite at a hotel. Someone would book Cori an adjacent room, so she would-n't be seen coming into his room. He would get a presidential suite. It was the ultimate in luxury. The trouble is, he never wanted to leave the room. He didn't want to risk anyone seeing them together.'
Miss Rist eventually grew tired of the deception.
'After about six months of this, she started to get tired of being cooped up,' said the source. 'She felt like a bird in a gilded cage.'
The paper also quotes a friend of Woods who recalled being introduced to Miss Rist. 'I remember she was quite attractive,' he said.
Confronted with the allegations over the weekend, Miss Rist replied: 'No comment. Not at this time.'
The model engaged to a Woods fanatic
Jamie Jungers, 26, was allegedly seduced by Woods nine months after his marriage to Elin Nordegren.
The golfer reportedly picked up the model at a party in Las Vegas and conducted an on-off relationship with her lasting 18 months.
The blonde, who bears a striking resemblance to Woods's wife, was herself engaged to be married at the time she was meeting the golfer for sex.
But according to the well-connected RadarOnline website in the U.S., the model was behind the bid to profit from her story by hawking it to the highest bidder.
'She did not want to be quoted directly but was directly involved in making it public,' said the site.
Her relationship with Woods is said to have begun when he sent a message to ask her to join him and his entourage at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas in July 2005.
'He immediately started hitting on her and telling her she was beautiful,' said Mr Schmidt, 28.
Miss Jungers is said to have been flattered enough by Woods's attentions to go back to his £3,000-a-night suite at the MGM Grand Mansion hotel where they had 'passionate sex', said the newspaper.
Mr Schmidt said that over the following months, his fiancee made a number of trips to California to see the golfer.
'I was a massive Tiger Woods fan. I had Tiger Woods memorabilia all over my house and even collected Tiger Woods videos.
'On the night Jamie met him for the first time, I had just bought the new Tiger Woods computer game. She showed me Tiger's number and we both called it. I still remember his answer machine message. It said, "You've called the right person at the wrong time. Please leave a message".'
Mr Schmidt added: 'I think Tiger is a great competitor on the golf course, but away from it he is a horrible person.'
And is there a British connection to come out of the woodwork?
As the number of women linked to Tiger Woods's infidelities continues to grow, rumours are increasing that it will lead to a British connection.
Although the women named so far are all American, it is strongly expected that the list of lovers will increase.
And since he has been a regular visitor to Britain because of his busy playing schedule, it seemed a strong possibility that someone on this side of the Atlantic had fallen for his charms.
According to the Sun, there are claims that Woods had enjoyed a fling with a well-known female British television presenter.
It quoted a source as saying: 'He would hook up with her when he went to the UK. She's really sexy and very well known. A good friend of mine told me about it years ago.'
The source, said to be a sports marketing executive who had known Woods for years, added: 'Both will be hoping this one doesn't come out. It will take the scandal to a new level.'
The claim was furiously denied yesterday by the woman in question, who insisted there was no truth in what was being claimed.
Woods has been visiting Britain for the Open championship since 1995. He first won it in 2000, and triumphed again in 2005 and 2006.
He had played in 13 consecutive Opens when he was forced to pull out through injury in 2008.
Woods was again here earlier this year for the tournament at Turnberry, where he failed to make the cut for the first time.
He has also played in the World Match Play Championship, held at Wentworth.
Woods also played in the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry in Warwickshire as well as visiting the UK for commercial purposes.
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