The news is all a buzz about Congressman Anthony Weiner  and his photos sent over his twitter account to young women.    Many will say another politician showing a disregard for the  rules that others most follow.  Some may see a man going  through a mid-life crisis.  I would say we need to look at his  life in the context of Birth Order and we may find a reason  for his behavior.

A Family of Brothers

Anthony was born September 4, 1964 and was the second  birth to his Father Morton an attorney and Frances a math  teacher. He had an older brother Seth born in 1961, three  years older and a younger brother Jason at least four years  younger. Sibling rivalry usually occurs between the first  two children.  When both are boys the testosterone level  can be high and result in a struggle for the throne.    Remember Cain and Abel?  Anthony was the second born and may have developed a more aggressive personality in  his attempt to dethrone his brother. When there are no girls  in a family, girls can be a mystery to these boys and the  fascination may continue all their lives.

Anthony as a Second Born

Some of the characteristics of a true second born is that he is not the better student but usually a better athlete with a more outgoing personality than the older brother.  This may have  been the case with Anthony as he ended up at a technical  high school and then went on to a local college where he also  played hockey. Having a name like Weiner would be a focal  point for jokes and humor at his expense.  As a number Two birth order he would not take this easily and may also have  been the reason for a more combative personality.

First Job an Entry into Politics

As a number Two birth order he would always be looking for a way to better his position in life. His first job out of college in 1985 was to join the office of Representative Chuck  Schumer. Chuck called him Weiner Beaner but Anthony kept  saying that “one day I will have your job”. He was in this  position for one year when his parents divorced. As a second  born the stability of this job would have been even more  important during this time.

Anthony as a First Born

He continued to work in Schumer’s office until 1991.  Always upward mobile, he ran and won a seat on the New York City Council in 1992 and stayed until 1998.  It was that year he won Chuck Schumer’s seat in Congress. In the year 2000, his older Brother Seth was killed in a hit and run accident. This moved Anthony into the number One position in the family sibling order.  When this happens to a family member they have to take on the role of their older sibling but they still keep the characteristics of their birth order.  The role they now must play is just that, an act. They now act like the higher birth order.  As a Second born Anthony does not like to be told what to do but does not tell others what to do.  As a First born he feels he knows best and wants to tell others what to do. He has been playing this role for eleven years. The drive and power of these two birth orders may be the reason why he has the highest turnover rate of staff of any member of Congress. He says, “I push people pretty hard”

Marriage: Anthony and Huma An Unusual Combination

When looking at birth order and marriage we find the easiest unions are those with a partner that mimics the birth order and gender of a sibling in your own family. If the oldest is a boy and has a sister who is next in line than she would match with an eldest boy who has a sister in the same position. You might  say the more things are familiar the easier the marriage. Anthony is a Second born with only brothers, is Jewish and Grew up in New York City. Huma is an Only child and a practicing Muslim. She left the US when she was 2 years old and grew up in Saudi Arabia. She returned to the US to attend George Washington University. Like Anthony she has been involved in politics all her life. When she graduated college she started as an intern in 1996 at the Clinton White House and has been Hillary’s most trusted aid ever since. Former President Clinton officiated at their marriage ceremony and said, “marrying a politician can be tough because its easy to distrust them….” What a prophetic statement. As an Only birth order Huma has the power in this marriage.

Why Anthony will not leave Quietly

As a Second born he does not want to be told what to do. His job and income are also important to his survival and he will not let it go easily.  As a Firstborn he enjoys the power and the ability to tell others what to do.  This too he does not want to give up.  Last, he never has held a job in the private sector so has nothing to fall back to if he looses his House seat. If a deal is cut, look for the Clinton’s to be behind the scene with another government job or a lobbyist position. If this doesn’t happen he has a history of  never losing an election.  He is more likely to let the voters decide his fate. We have not heard the last of Mr. Weiner!