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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all we see is not always all that there is. we don’t know the “behind the scenes”. she may be just as guilty(women are better at getting away with things) and she may also have known all along. i totally disagree with her standing by him, if it’s to support him in his “time of need” give me a break…what is his “need”. he made this bed! And to say that she is showing her kids that she supports their dad is really twisted. Supports him in what…wrong?
- Posted by angelaShe might as well hang out for the money. Her looks are wearing off (certainly in comparison to the hottie Elliot rented!) and she’s too old to restart a career. She can divorce him after the dust settles and live quite well.
- Posted by SRShe’s not a child that’s why she’s supporting Spitzer. Only a naive woman will leave her husband because of this nonsense. Remember, she’s the only one that urged him to stay on as governor and not resign.
Dershowitz eruditely said, “Big deal, married man goes to a prostitute.” All men cheat. And if it’s not Eliot Spitzer, it’s Rudy Giuliani.
So she leaves Spitzer, then what? Right now she’s got a rich and distinguished husband, a lush 5th Ave apartment, she doesn’t work, she’s got the best Manhattan has to offer, she’s been married 20 years and has three kids with him, and she’s in NYC’s elite circle. Really, she’s 50, and if she leaves and finds another guy, he won’t be any better. At least this one’s a rich and prominent NY lawyer, who sleeps with elite escorts and not with some girl he met in the bar. (Although, who knows.)
She’s a smart woman. It’s the same reason why Hillary stood by her man, and why Jackie Kennedy closed her eyes on JFK. Woman are very wise.
As for Eliot Spitzer? Voltaire said this about men in the 18th century, “Men use thought only as authority for their injustice and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.”
- Posted by David L.Adultery and Prostitution are crimes. Private or public decisions to commit crimes are criminal, not civil, acts. It’s the law. And law breaking but not enforcing is thus lawlessness sold as lawfulness under rule of law. Thanks.
- Posted by KEKSIWhy would she stand by her boy? (”Man” being too much of a promotion.) The money and status, of course. What else matters in post-apocalypse America? [See: Britney Spears.]
- Posted by dagnytYeah, $1,000 is about the right price for spending any time — let alone an hour - with this pouting, childish, selfish, arrogant fool. The pouting picture says it all: “I got caught with my hand (or something worse) in the cookie jar. But I would do it again in a New York minute!”
Great judgment: just the kind guy I want running my state!
- Posted by dagnytUntil we give up the antiquated term “ladies” (i.e. “obey your husbands, keep your mouths shut, don’t make waves, don’t speak your mind, oh and…stand by your man no matter what) wives who are in the political spotlight will continue to believe that it is their duty to stand by their man, no matter what he has done to the country or to them and no matter how much every instinct in their body is telling them “punch the bastard!.”
The question we must ask ourselves is, if the roles were reversed, would a man do the same thing? I think not, since he knows that he would look like an absolute fool. Unfortunately, women have bought the lie about how a good “lady” behaves. At least for past generations. I dare say that women in successive generations will not be fooled by such sexist crap!
- Posted by Cheryl WenzelI don’t think Ms. Wall Spitzer’s decisions are public domain in any way. She has the right to make decisions about her actions and we are in no place to criticize her. In fact, the only part of this entire scandal that is public domain is the illegality of Governor Spitzer’s actions.
- Posted by KaanWow, what a woman of strength to stand beside this son of a bitch as he announces his confession. I wouldn’t stand beside him. I would leave instantly. I would never subject myself to that type of public humiliation. I would leave instantly. He’s a sham, a loser and she’s better off without him. Shame on him.
- Posted by GiselleI am amazed at the plethora of opinions and declarations based on speculation and incomplete information. No one knows the whole story, probably not even Silda. I am even more amazed at the rude and negative commentary in regard to this story. Where’s the compassion for another person’s suffering, and who cares whose fault it is?!
- Posted by kaiulaniroseMedia savvy Donna Hanover handled possible public humiliation best. When Rudy held a press conference to announce their break-up, without her knowing, she immediately countered by holding her own. By simply stating the facts she didn’t have to resort to bashing him, his actions sullied his rep.
- Posted by JerriUnless she broke some law, it is no one’s business what, how or why she does anything.
- Posted by KennyShe did what we all do when in shock–what comes automatically(which was show up, stand up and be dignified).
- Posted by SJAnd God bless her for acting with dignity and giving her poor daughters at least one parent they could count on.
Dr. Laura is a hypocritical harpy. There’s no amount of hero worship and home-grown bedroom tricks that can make a man with that large a sense of entitlement feel any compunction about helping himself to what he clearly feels he “deserves”.
Shame on Laura. And Mrs. Wall? Take a long vacation, plan your strategy, and with quiet dignity….take that bastard to the cleaners!! (Prayers to you and the girls for your emotional and physical well-being.)
I think that is is easy to pass judgement on someone from afar and show lack of empathy towards their situation. She has made far greater sacrifices than most of the people here can imagine. She had a very bright and promising career and gave it for the role of a mother and wife. It appears to me, an observer from an extreme distance, that she is humiliated and very sad. Perhaps the only vendication she has is to stand by him and watch him squirm during the press conferences. I would be willing to bet that he has hell to pay behind closed doors.It is certain that he should.
- Posted by James ShawWhat is wrong with these women? Rich, good looking, educated and they all make asses of themselves standing next to the bums who betrayed them. What a fine example for their children!!
- Posted by paulaMrs. Spitzer is obviously taking her que from the Jr. Senator of NY; Mrs. Bill Clinton. Monkey see as monkey do. Hey it worked out for Hillary!
- Posted by ObserverSilda Spitzer is a woman of great courage. Don’t forget that all fall short and God will not forgive you if you don’t forgive others. Also don’t forget that she is in a state of shock. She may be on medication to keep her calm and help her cope with this emotional trauma. I admire her strength and courage to even be seen in public at this time. She is also showing an excellent moral role model for their daughters as well. Someone in the family has to do it. Pray for her and the children. Pray for him too once you get over the shock and anger.
- Posted by Ivy FratterI thought most of the women in America admired Hillary for standing by her man — and Clinton preyed upon a relatively helpless intern, not to mention groping various other repectable women, whereas Spitzer’s call girl was paid and chose to do what she did.
- Posted by aisha melamedyes….he is probably a very controlling person….and Mrs. Spitzer is an “obedient” wife….trying to raise their children. I really feel for their children (girls). How is this going to affect their lives going forward?
I’m sure they love their father….and they probably don’t understand.
Bottomline, there is no excuse for his behavior. If he was not happy in his marriage, he should have gotten out of it.
IMHO, he is a chickens__t.
I wonder….would this behavior be acceptable if he was single?
- Posted by ebroomI read somewhere that an aide to Spitzer mentioned that his wife wanted him to try to remain in office. This makes me wonder that she may not have really cared what he did, as long as she had the power and prestige that his job provided. If this is true, they deserve each other…and they deserve this sad ending.
- Posted by Lauren