Scott Wiener’s chatbot hypocrisy — just his latest misfortune

Scott Wiener has taken down a “sexist” and “racist” chatbot that he used to ridicule his opponent for Nancy Pelosi’s congressional seat, Connie Chan.

Wiener tried to use the chatbot to cast Chan as a “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) politician, who — he claimed — opposes every housing development.

By contrast, Wiener wants to build more housing — at least, that’s how he puts it. 

Critics say that Wiener’s recent housing bill, SB 79, will put high-rises near bus stops and train stations. 

That’s the kind of housing Californian’s don’t want, especially because few people live in places as crowded as San Francisco, and even fewer want to depend on buses and trains. Even in dense SF, public transportation is struggling to maintain ridership levels.

Chan and Pelosi said that the ad was sexist and racist, because it put words in the mouth of a woman of color.

Regardless of thorny questions of gender or race, the idea of using an AI chatbot to mock your opponent doesn’t sit well with voters who have strong misgivings about artificial intelligence.

Ironically, Wiener voted for AB 2839, the bill that banned “deepfake” videos of politicians before and after elections (and was later struck down by a federal court because it violated the First Amendment).

So he is a hypocrite, whether or not you think he is also a bigot.

The chatbot fiasco is just the latest misfortune for Wiener as the race to replace Pelosi heats up.

Earlier, in the primary, Wiener — who has long been the target of antisemitic protests — gave in to the radicals and called the recent Gaza war a “genocide,” which it was not.

Wiener flip-flopped on Israel — the only country in the Middle East that honors LGBTQ+ rights, which is Wiener’s core issue.

He turned on the Jewish state because he was afraid of the left-wing activists supporting his opponents. In other words, for voters.

San Francisco faces a choice between two extreme Democrats, and Wiener’s principled support for Israel’s right to defend itself was one of the few points in his favor.

He threw Israel under the bus, and what was left of his principles. 

Now, a liberal firebrand state senator whose bread-and-butter has been accusing others — including Charlie Kirk — of being bigots is facing similar accusations.

It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.

No matter who wins in November, San Francisco’s residents will lose.

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