Silda Wall Spitzer stood beside her husband, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, as he resigned on Wednesday amid a scandal over a $1,000-an-hour prostitute. The mother of the governor’s three daughters also stood by her husband’s side at a news conference on Monday where he admitted he had violated his obligations to his family and his “sense of right and wrong.”
The public reaction to Mrs. Wall Spitzer’s stance to “stand by her man” has been mixed at best, New York Magazines notes . Political blog from N. Dakota, “Say Anything” , said it would have paid to see Silda Spitzer punch her husband on the podium.
Others were not as generous. “What’s more disgusting than a lyin’ no good, cheatin, hypocritical, political man? Their wives that stand by looking dumbfounded as their unfaithful husbands apologize to the public. Do these women have no pride?” wrote New York City Moms blog. Dr. Laura went so far as to blame Mrs. Wall Spitzer for the scandal.
She’s not the first wife to stand silently by her husband as he apologizes or confesses. Dina Matos McGreevey wrote a book called “Silent Partner ” about her life with her ex-husband, the former governor of New Jersey, who resigned after announcing he was a homosexual.
What are your views? Can we or should we read much into the private decisions of a wife of a public figure?
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She is probably in a severe state of shock, humiliated and in disbelief. I would not have blamed her if she slugged him at the podium…..but she would have probably been arrested for assault.
If I were in her place….I would not have been able to stand by him.
I don’t know anything about HER past…..but what he did was wrong….and he knows it!
He should have used better judgment.
What the “*)))* was he thinking???
- Posted by ebroomI think that people condeming are doing so out of what they believe would be their reaction to the same situation. However, some women (perhaps Silda) still care deeply for their spouse. If they think that they are going to work through their problems; why not support him, almost as a gesture of commitment to working this out. Perhaps she felt that it could have been worse, such as Eliot having an affair, which involves an emotional connection to another woman.
- Posted by KevinEven if Silda were aware of Spitzer’s extramarital activities, I cannot imagine why she would stand by her side, unless she has something to gain. Alternatively, he could be so controlling that she was almost forced to do so. We may find out a bit more when she writes her “tell-all” book.
- Posted by SharonSilda should wait until he inherits his family’s wealth and then go for his jugular.
- Posted by susanI pray that Silda finds peace.
- Posted by BrendaI honestly to not understand why Mrs Spritzer makes any public appearances with her husband. She should request immediate child and support for herself and throw the BUM out. The feeble excuse of staying with him for the children went out with the dinosaurs. This is a spoiled brat who apparently thinks he can have what ever he wants. Would not be surprised if we were to learn that he has been soliciting hookers since he was a teen ager.
- Posted by Erik NordensonThis would not be the first wife of a politician to stand by silently. Perhaps someday she’ll run for president.
- Posted by PeterShe is a graduate of Harvard Law, a resident of New York, and a Democrat. That makes her a femminist. Her femminist core value is to tolerate all behaviors.
That gives her husband the permission he needs to do what he does. If she were a conservative, she would have left her husband. I hope she realizes how silly he makes her look.
And then again, femminists are silly, and they don’t know how silly they look.
- Posted by JohnI am shocked to see her standing by this cheater at the news conference. this was terrible.
- Posted by Mamoon MoazamSilda rocks! She’s showing incredible strength through her decency. She’ll figure out what’s her next best move…Silda for Governor!
- Posted by AnonymousShe has no responsibility to the public and he doesn’t deserve the support of her presence. His selfish acts will leave a permanent mark on the lives of his wife and children. I wonder if the sex was worth it? I doubt it.
- Posted by Sylvia HoustonI believe that she should have stayed away from both public events. It would be better to think this over and then make a private decision about how you dealt with your husband and his infidelities. There is no need to stand by him in public and imply support, when it is obviously so painful and embarassing. Let him face the consequences alone.
- Posted by mageeHe’s been naughty and she’s still a hottie, so she should dump him and move on. She was smart and strong and beautiful before she became a Spitzer, and she’ll be even better without that jerk. He’s another ‘powerful’ idiot that let his little head do the thinking for his big head, and the little head always seems to tell these types that “two birds in the bush is worth one in the hand”
- Posted by ChrisGo Silda!
It is not for us to judge what Silda should or shouldn’t do in regards to the decisions she has to make during this troubled time. She needs compassion, not judgements.
- Posted by TeresaAll I can say is that with a face like his, he’d have to pay for sex. She’s way, way too good (and attractive) for him. She needs to leave him and get her self esteem back.
- Posted by MichelleSilda may be the one to blame. Men get the blame for seeking sex. But what about their partners.
- Posted by John WilsonAin’t nobody’s business but their own. What is this puritanical moralizing about? Couples should be able to make their own decisions on how they want to react to issues in their private lives. Laura Bush has NOTHING to say about water boarding or the lies her husband told the public about the war in Iraq? That is a truly outrageous silence.
- Posted by Ilze EarnerIn response to NYC Mom’s Blog comment that “Their wives that stand by looking dumbfounded as their unfaithful husbands apologize to the public”, did you ever think that it may not just be that they are “looking dumbfounded”, but actually are dumbfounded? Give Silda some credit here. Less than a week ago, this attractive, highly educated, woman found out that her husband on several occassions had sex (possibly unprotected no less)with multiple prostitutes. Who are you to judge her or her decision to stand next to him (for now)?
- Posted by Melissa-Melissa, New York, NY
Having been thoroughly impressed with the accomplishments of Silda Spitzer, I truly hope she has the dignity and strength to put her husband on “waivers”. His depth of betrayal is so profound, it is hard to fathom why anyone with a stitch of dignity would endure any further marital relations under these circumstances. I believe the betrayal trandscends all. I remember when I was a kid thinking how great Jackie Kennedy was until I read how she repeatedly tolerated the late President’s betrayal of her. I have such a low opinion of her now. I hope Silda Spitzer steps up to the plate.
- Posted by WadeWe cannot know the details that she is assessing (and will assess) in choosing the course she deems best for herself and her daughters. I believe she is intelligent and a very capable person, so I trust that she will make her choices carefully and thoughtfully. We should not second-guess her in the course she chooses… doing so would be merely projections of ourselves and our own circumstances into what we perceive of her situation, and as such is not very meaningful.
- Posted by Mike