Weinergate: Now the Democrats Are circling the wagons (Update: Schumer gets on the edge of the circle)

The Democrats are taking oaths of fealty to Weiner’s veracity, one by one. Now we’re getting somewhere.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, does not believe the Twitter story will hurt Mr. Weiner or the Party. “Somebody hacked into his Twitter account and projected material which can happen, I guess, to anybody, which was not generated by Mr. Weiner. It’s unfortunate. Mr. Weiner is pursuing the proper authorities to see if it can be determined who hacked into,” he said during a pen and pad session on Tuesday. “I understand that it’s (hacking into a Twitter account) is an illegal activity and the proper authorities ought to pursue it.”

Sure, except Weiner isn’t sticking by the hacker version, and isn’t calling for an investigation. Why?

Rep. Charlie “I write the tax code but don’t have to live by it, suckas!” Rangel: I believe in Weiner.

Rangel, who has been beset by scandalous charges in recent years, says that Weiner is likely the victim of a smear campaign. “It’s some kind of political game they’re playing,” he says. “I don’t know who did it, but that’s what they’re doing.”

A smear campaign? In an off year, to a Rep in a safe seat? On a Friday night in the midst of a holiday weekend? What’s the point?

Rep. Louise Slaughter: I, too, believe in Weiner.

“Why would he do a stupid thing like that?” Slaughter chuckles. “Anthony Weiner is as smart as a whip.”

Is she sure he did not snap that infamous photo? “I don’t doubt for a moment that it was not him,” she says.

Well then, since you’re so sure, why don’t you explain why he hasn’t denied that it’s him?

What we have here is a minor scandal that is now tainting the entire Democratic Party. Nice job keeping a lid on your twitter problem, Anthony.

Update: Now, this is funny.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said he doesn’t think his fellow New York Democrat Rep. Anthony Weiner had anything to do with the picture of a man’s erect penis underneath gray boxer-briefs sent from Weiner’s official Twitter account Friday night.

“I don’t know the details,” Schumer said, according to the New York Daily News. “But I know him to be a person of integrity and I am virtually certain he had nothing to do with this.”

Virtually certain? Is that like virtual reality; i.e. not reality at all? And I do wonder why Chuckie is so much less certain than Louise Slaughter seems to be.

Also read: Video: Weiner gets roasted by the press.