By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Jul 29, 2013 at 2:36 PM Photography: shutterstock.com

The opinions expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the opinions of OnMilwaukee.com, its advertisers or editorial staff.

I have been watching with interest the assault on Anthony Weiner, who is running for mayor of New York City.

For the second time, Weiner is being hung out to dry for having traded explicit sexual messages with women who are not his wife. His wife, by the way, stands by her man and says she’s ready to help if need be.

My question is, what’s wrong with Weiner’s behavior?

So he likes online sex and phone sex with women. If we were to arrest everybody who liked these things, we’d have to build a thousand new jails. There is nothing illegal about online sex and there is also nothing particularly immoral about it. Same thing for phone sex.

As kinks go, it is a long way down the list. Nobody seems to be getting hurt by this activity. Everybody involved seems to have been a willing participant.

I wouldn’t know how to get into a chat room if you paid me big money. I know it has something to do with the internet, but that whole world is still kind of a mystery to me.

But I have long believed that whatever your sexual practice is, it’s not anybody else’s business. I don’t think people ought to be hurt. If a spouse is both surprised and hurt by a lying, cheating mate, then you have a problem. (Hello, John Edwards.)

But if everybody knows what’s going on and nobody raises a stink except the media, then I think people ought to rethink this thing. I agree with Weiner when he says he thinks New Yorkers will focus more on his message than on this other stuff.

I hope so. I mean, if Weiner was taking advantage of someone or hurting them or doing something illegal or even seriously immoral, then he should go.

But a little harmless fun online doesn’t seem quite serious enough to derail a political career.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.