Neither Ms. Abedin [Anthony Weiner’s wife] nor Mr. Weiner earn lucrative salaries, and Ms. Abedin is worried about her husband, who has been in politics much of his adult life, finding work. Mr. Weiner would still be eligible to collect his pension after his resignation.
This is from Raymond Hernandez, “Weiner Resigns in Chaotic Final Scene,” New York Times, June 16, 2011.
Huh? If Mr. Hernandez wants to make the point that neither Ms. Abedin nor Mr. Weiner earn the money they are paid, I will agree with him. Weiner was paid to be a Congressman; enough said. Abedin was and is paid to help Hillary Clinton go around the world interfering in foreigners’ lives.
But that’s obviously not what Raymond Hernandez meant. He meant that the annual salary of $174,000 that Weiner made until recently is not lucrative. Nor, in Hernandez’s opinion, is Huma Abedin’s salary lucrative. But he doesn’t tell us what her salary is. Does he know? He’s a reporter for the New York Times and so you would expect him to check. Did he? I’m guessing her salary is well in excess of $100,000. To me, that’s lucrative. Notice also that if I’m right, the couple’s salaries together totaled over $250K. Isn’t that supposed to be the magic number in this country that makes you rich? It was when Abedin’s big boss, Barack Obama, ran for president in 2008.
READER COMMENTS
ColoComment
Jun 17 2011 at 8:22pm
My most recent full time salary (as a 24-yr. business/transactional law paralegal) here in Northern Colorado was ~$48k. In November 2010, my employment was reduced to 1/2 time due to an anemic economy, and no full-time job opportunities have arisen since.
Former Congressman Weiner served 12 years in the House and not only was he overpaid for his service, but he’s entitled to a pension??????
At least highly-paid sports figures have to perform, and highly-paid celebrities have to fill the house, but Congress critters earn a decent pension just by being egotistical, perverted jerks.
In my next life, I know what I’m gonna do for a career….
Patrick R. Sullivan
Jun 17 2011 at 9:05pm
I’m guessing the price Weiner extracted from the Dems for his resignation included a lucrative (six figure) job. Paid for by some fat cat like George Soros.
TheMichaelOnline
Jun 17 2011 at 9:38pm
I forget exactly when, but I looked into what Anthony alone received from only his congressional salary over the years. The number was around $2 million I believe.
Over, what, 12 years I believe he received through his salary alone what at least what it takes the average American their adult lives to earn.
MattW
Jun 17 2011 at 10:37pm
ColoComment says he knows what he will do for a career in his next life, and I take that to mean he will be a congressman. But when I think of what it would take to run for congress and work there for 12 years, I’m not sure $174K is enough.
I certainly agree that Weiner doesn’t provide $174K worth of services, but I understand that the amount of time it takes to campaign is enourmous, and then all the ridiculous things that congresspeople do while campaigning and while they have the job… I just don’t think that amount would make it worth my time.
She only needs $76K/year to get them up to the “rich” threshold. I just searched for a salary and found nothing.
Matt Flipago
Jun 17 2011 at 11:50pm
But the left keeps telling me that government workers are underpaid. Of course this would mean getting fired or resigning is good news from an income standpoint. Unless they are actually overpaid for their skills, talents and work ethics.
Tim Worstall
Jun 18 2011 at 6:40am
Can’t remember where I saw it but I’m sure I’ve seen her salary as being $110,000 or so.
Which, in most parts of the world, is a just fine income for a two, soon to be three, person household.
Dave Schuler
Jun 18 2011 at 9:27am
This is merely an instance of neither the writers nor editors knowing what the meaning of a word is. “Lucrative” means profitable. If the couple earns net revenue from their jobs (which they almost certainly do), the jobs are lucrative.
Whether their salaries are munificent, lavish, sufficient, or more or less than they might otherwise earn is a completely different question.
Comments are closed.