Enough Of This Stand By Your Man Thing
Another day, another man shaming his wife publicly. The line is endless. From Hillary, to Dina McGreevy, wife of former New Jersey Governor Jim Greevy, to Suzanne Craig, wife of the Senator Larry Craig, who has just admitted to getting arrested for lewd conduct in a men's room at an airport. Each, Stepford wife-like, silently standing by the side of the guy who have just broken their heart and made a mockery of their relationship. Don't you just feel their skin crawling with complete embarassment? 
Doesn't your skin crawl right along with them?
I just want one of those women to suddenly open their mouth at the press conference and scream, "You SOB, you are going to pay for this." Or better still, refuse to show up and act like all is forgiven and life is back to normal.
At least Donna Hanover, Rudy Guiliani's second wife, tried to maintain her dignity, by refusing to leave the New York Mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion, or relinquish her "official" duties. Holding her ground, she made him move out. 
Come on political wives, don't be so pathetic. Demand more, expect more, and be a better role model to others.
Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive
Comments
Amen! Enough is enough! This is a horrendous message to send to our daughters and sons. Basically, we are demonstrating to our daughters to be emotional doormats to emotional, psychological and sexual abuse. Furthermore, we are telling young men that it is ok to be a heel and totally disregard the feelings of the person you took an oath to honor. It takes two to make a marriage work and regardless of faith that abdicates "through thick or then" and "good and bad". What happened to the verse for husbands to " honor your wives as yourself"?
What will it take for women to stop this destructive behavior? Sadly, I think it will take one of them to become HIV infected! Will you "stand by your man" then as you say your heart- wrenching goodbyes to your children and loved ones?
Posted by: Jade Greene | March 11, 2008 8:26 PM
Being under the political mircoscope, your life is scripted. I know the cookie cutter response having the couple stand together is a fake and grotesque image to me and I would rather do without. However, the PR person knows having the couple stand together eliminates a host of "where was she" publicity and follows the script. As much as we can see through it, your article should be directed at the political advisors saying the decades old script you are following is awful.
It is also a matter of survival. From what insiders are writing, Silda does not want to see her husband but is working to help him find the best outcome for his future. She is probably drafting divorce papers and will not talk to him again but her future share of his earnings is at stake. Living in NY, I know their apartment would cost at least $25,000 per month in taxes and maintenance before even considering mortgage payments. With that kind of overhead for living alone, you tend to keep a level head if you don't want to downgrade to a house in suburban Rochester.
The last point is sad but true. With some surveys indicating that 50+% of men and 30-40% of women cheat, we cannot be surprised. I do not cheat on my wife and do not like the breach of trust in exacts but I cannot be surprised given the statistics. In fact, many of the readers here are victims as well and may not know it - me included.
Posted by: eggroll | March 13, 2008 9:34 AM