Weiner ain’t no Slick Willy…
NY Post: Anthony Weiner is so toxic that the powerhouse public-relations firm that hired him is losing top-flight talent, sources tell The Post. Arthur Schwartz, one of the top executives at MWW, quit after the p.r. firm put the horndog ex-congressman from Queens on its payroll as a public policy “expert,” the sources said.
Schwartz’s September departure is the clearest evidence of the blowback at MWW for hiring the married Weiner — who was forced out of Congress in disgrace in 2011 after he sent lewd pictures of his penis to young women under the moniker “Carlos Danger” and then lied about it. The former Queens politician had admitted to revelations of more tawdry sexting behind the back of his wife, Huma Abedin, a top adviser to Hillary Clinton, when he ran for mayor in 2013.
Schwartz on the right/NY Post photo
The Post broke the story of MWW’s hiring of Weiner in July.
Schwartz, 43, a senior vice president and managing director of MWW’s corporate communication practice since October 2014, was one of the few Republicans at the Democratic-leaning firm, with deep ties to the GOP establishment and the conservative-leaning corporate leaders. He previously was a top adviser to billionaire insurance titan Maurice “Hank” Greenberg.
Schwartz’s frustration boiled over when Weiner continued to tweet personal snarky put-downs of Republicans after joining the firm. “In related news, George Pataki hasn’t been seen all day,” Weiner tweeted on Aug. 28 of the three-term GOP New York governor who is running for president.
To which Schwarz tweeted the reply: “In unrelated news, @GovernorPataki is a man of honor and integrity, and you’re . . . well you’re @AnthonyWeiner. No explanation necessary.”
MWW is headed by Michael Kempner, a prominent New Jersey Democrat who is a fundraiser for the Clintons and President Obama.
Kempner and his buddy Obama
Since Schwartz left, he has drummed up business with firms that wouldn’t have hired him if he had stayed at MWW because of its ties to Weiner, sources said. “This is a direct reaction from Arthur’s business associates being uncomfortable with Anthony Weiner,” said O’Brien Murray, a consultant and Schwartz associate. “Corporations don’t want the image of working with a firm that is affiliated with Anthony Weiner,” Murray said.
MWW’s client list includes Netflix, Walgreens, Samsung, Ball Park Franks and Nikon.
Schwartz confirmed he left the firm but declined to comment on Weiner. “Michael Kempner is a very talented man who built a great company,” he said. “I’m sure MWW will do just fine.” Asked about Schwartz’s departure, MWW Executive VP Don McIver said, “We thank Arthur for his loyalty and service and will always consider him part of the MWWPR family.” The firm declined to comment on whether Weiner was a factor in Schwartz’s departure.
DCG