Rep. Paul Ryan joked Wednesday about how Americans keep mistaking him for disgraced politician Anthony Weiner, who ironically called the comparison insulting.
Speaking Wednesday during an event at Bucks Run Golf Club in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Mr. Ryan primarily focused on Midland Congressman Dave Camp, who recently announced he will not be running for re-election, MLive.com reported.
But for comedic relief, the Wisconsin Republican talked about some of the more “humbling moments” of his political career.
Mr. Ryan said he posed for a photo with a woman in the Milwaukee airport, who thanked him.
“Then she said, ’It’s so nice to finally meet you, Governor Walker. I’ve always wanted to meet you in person,’” he said.
He then said he has not once, but twice been mistaken for Anthony Weiner, a former Democratic representative of New York who resigned in disgrace in 2011 over a sexting scandal. A second scandal arose in 2013 during Mr. Weiner’s unsuccessful bid for New York City mayor.
“I went on this flight a week later,” Mr. Ryan said, MLive.com reported. “And the flight attendants were looking at me; and they were sort of looking at me and pointing at me. And then, finally one of them comes up to me and says, ’You’re somebody famous, aren’t you? Are you Anthony Weiner?’
“I’ve been confused for Anthony Weiner twice now. I don’t know how this keeps happening,” he said, gaining laughs and groans from the Republican audience.
Mr. Weiner told Business Insider, for whom he works as a monthly columnist, that being mixed up with the conservative was “the final insult.”
“How much more can I bear?” Mr. Weiner asked.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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