VOL. 5 NO. 78 POLITItuesday, june 7, 2011 CO www.politico.com ‘ The Picture Is of Me and I Sent It’ Weiner’s Twitter story unravels in surreal press conference

By Jonathan Allen

REUS TER Rep. Anthony Weiner’s Twitter Sen. Jim DeMint “casts a huge shad- career ended in tatters Monday, ow,” freshman Rep. Trey Gowdy says. as the New York Democrat admit- ted in a chaotic news conference that he used social media to send explicit photographs and sexu- S.C. Senator ally suggestive text messages to several women over the course of three years, including in the peri- Looms Over od since he married Huma Abedin last year. Weiner, more than almost any Freshmen other lawmaker, understood how to exploit social media — not to DeMint is powerful mention the mainstream media godfather to rookies — to help make him a “star of the caucus,” but “it was his undoing,” By Marin Cogan said one colleague. “That damn social media.” Washington can be a heady It’s now clear that the very place for a freshman, especially tool that helped propel Weiner to when you share a home state with prominence became the weapon a tea party kingpin who can make by which he damaged his own or break a conservative rookie. AOSP PH TO political career, and the episode The South Carolina freshmen Rep. Anthony gave yet another warning to law- — Tim Scott, Mick Mulvaney, Weiner arrives for “If you’re looking makers to watch what they send Trey Gowdy and Jeff Duncan his news confer- over the Internet. — have leaned on one another ence in Manhattan. for some deep He faces an ethics investigation as they navigate Congress, but Before he stepped explanation, I don’t — called for by Democratic leader they’ve also gotten some help up, conservative Nancy Pelosi — and an uncertain from one of the most well-known publisher Andrew have one, except future in both congressional and and iconoclastic members of the Breitbart took the New York politics. Senate: Jim DeMint. stage to address that I’m sorry.” “To be clear, the picture is of the media. — Rep. Anthony Weiner See demint on Page 13 See weiner on Page 16 Divided Dems Afghanistan Choice Senate Dems Struggle Over Weighs on Obama Grumble Over Swipe Fees Lawmakers’ opposition is intensifying Credit card debate Reid Agenda By Josh Gerstein tary withdrawal from Afghani- reveals two camps and Mike Allen stan, congressional and public opposition to the decadelong Lack of budget, slow pace By Scott Wong As President Barack Obama war appears to be hardening. leaves some senators restless and Meredith Shiner prepares to make a major deci- But it’s unclear whether crit- JOHN SHINKLE — sion about the pace of U.S. mili- ics of the president’s Afghani- POLITICO By Manu Raju A fight raging in the Senate stan policy can force him to T he lack of a over credit card swipe fees could accelerate the pullout, which Democratic A growing number of Senate Democrats are anx- come to a head this week, pitting he has promised will begin next budget is ious about the lack of a Democratic budget and the two Democratic camps against month. creating unrest unusually slow legislative agenda, creating another each other: populists vs. Wall Obama must decide whether among Senate headache for Majority Leader Harry Reid as he tries Street supporters. he will accept an initial with- Democrats for to protect his majority ahead of a daunting election The Senate could vote as early drawal of about 5,000 troops Majority Leader year. as Wednesday on a bill that would — which many experts expect Harry Reid. “I’m “On the budget front, I’m not a happy camper repeal new rules passed last year the Pentagon to recommend — not a happy around here,” California Sen. Dianne Feinstein told that cap swipe fees banks can REUS TER or whether he will insist on a camper,” said POLITICO. “I think we need to have a budget that The president wants a “significant” Sen. Dianne See swipe on Page 21 drawdown. See afghanistan on Page 15 Feinstein. Seene se at on Page 22 inside Simon Says Hea lth Care Poi l tics Former CLICK Sen. Bob An Edwardsian tale of ribaldry, DoJ, HHS find themselves on op- Illinois GOP, Texas Dems fight Graham Ex-senator on how his background blunders and likely redemption. posite sides in Medicaid suit. for more Hispanic-majority seats. landed him “Keys to the Kingdom.” Page 4 Page 8 Page 23 JOHN SHINKLE Page 33 — ­politico