Watch Anthony Weiner Almost Get in a Fight

Anthony Weiner's campaign for mayor is nothing if not consistent. Today, Weiner is in the news for referring to one of his opponents — one of his older opponents — as "Grandpa." Oddly, it's not quite as bad as it sounds.

Anthony Weiner's campaign for mayor is nothing if not consistent. Today, Weiner is in the news for referring to one of his opponents — one of his older opponents — as "Grandpa." Oddly, it's not quite as bad as it sounds.

NY1, a local news station in New York City, captured the exchange between Weiner and George McDonald, a long-shot Republican candidate for the position. McDonald has not been shy about criticizing Weiner, telling a forum last week that the Democrat is a “self-pleasuring freak.” When the two ran into each other today, McDonald reacted badly when Weiner touched him, as the Daily News reports.

Then this happened, via NY1.com.

McDonald: I said keep your hands off me.

Weiner: I heard what you said.

McDonald: Don't put your hands on me ever again.

Weiner: Really? What's gonna happen if I do? What, are you a tough guy now?

McDonald: Yeah, I am. (mumbling)

Weiner: You have an anger issue.

McDonald: I don't have any anger issue.

Weiner: Yes, you do, Grandpa.

McDonald: (throws up his hands) Ooh, OK. They're going to love that.

The "they" to whom McDonald referred was probably the hosts of the event: the American Association of Retired Persons. McDonald had a point, of course, but the exchange was more contentious from both sides than has been represented.

Later in the forum, McDonald undermined his own argument against having an anger issue a bit, as at right. The audience reacted poorly.

But that still wasn't the extent of it. The Daily News reported on McDonald's other comments against Weiner.

“Believe me, it’s not nice to talk about. I didn’t have a nice conversation with my ten-year-old granddaughter about why one person is so much more famous that you, grandpa. What did he do? Why don’t you do what he did?” he said.

“Why do you want to ignore a person’s character and judgment?” he told the hostile crowd. “Believe me, you’ll be very disappointed if this person gets elected mayor. He doesn’t have any executive experience, never has anybody that works for him longer than three weeks, is only interested in himself and not your best interest, that’s for sure.”

Even after the event ended, NY1 reports that the dispute continued. Afterward, "McDonald got into a heated debate with a couple of Weiner supporters, forcing police to intervene."

In twelve months time, the odds are extremely good that neither of these men will be the mayor of New York, in part because neither is very good at controlling himself.

Update, 9:20 p.m.: Via BuzzFeed, here's video of the exchange.