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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[Silda may be the one to blame. Men get the blame for seeking sex. But what about their partners.] - Posted by John Wilson
You are right John. Silda is completely to blame–for ever choosing to marry this toad of a man. It’s a well known fact that some unattractive men who suffer constant rejection feel that they have no alternative but to “pay for it”, and it may be that by the time these two met, it was too late for him to change his ways. Tough luck for her. No amount of giving is enough to fulfill some men who suffer from deep seated insecurities.
- Posted by ohpuhleeeseI have to say that Silda is the most beautful woman I’ve ever seen and I hope she dumps Elliot in a trash can on the side of the road. I would walk through Hell to have a woman like Silda by my side - I can’t believe that someone as stupid as Elliot dumped on her and acted the fool three ways to Sunday!
George Elliott-Applegate
- Posted by George Elliott-ApplegateOh, and remember: to err is human, to forgive is divine!
- Posted by MeredithThough she stands beside him, anguish is written all over her face. She looks tortured and dazed at his side, and the shock of it all has probably not yet fully set in. Judging her harshly for standing by her husband as he confesses to this scandal of leachery and of the betrayal of public trust, is an act which, itself, deserves harsh judgement. She will do what’s right once the hurt is realized and she will make sure her children are taken care of, above all things. She has always seemed to be a loving wife and mother, so I do not doubt this. In the interim, however, she protects her children from further scandal by not storming off stage or beating him with the microphone at the podium; she behaves as a lady would because she is a lady. I have nothing but the utmost respect for her, and I will keep her family in my prayers. God Bless You!
- Posted by MeredithIt’s sad that a Harvard education, a career in corporate law, and the upbringing of three children should all amount to a silent stance next to a man who takes all the credit and takes you for granted.
- Posted by AmandaThis guy has to rank as one of the dumbest brilliant minds of all time.
- Posted by dentman333It’s her life, let her live it the way she wants. No one has the right to challenge her, she’s done nothing wrong.
- Posted by bpThis woman is like the majority of women out there, Statistics show huge percentages of men that cheat on their wives, and most of the time, the wife puts up with it. In essence she approves, looks the other way, when she KNOWS something is off. Most people just don’t want to rock the boat, start over, tell the truth., men and women, are both guilty ,but women accept this abuse over and over.
- Posted by gailToo old to start her career, are you kidding? Any law firm on earth would take her and be grateful to have her. She is probably kicking his ass in private, as he deserves. I heard today that he adores his wife, so what gives? Probably pure arrogance.
- Posted by debAfter Monday, she’ll be suing him for divorce…now let’s see; $4300 per hour x 24 x 365 days…jeeez….that’s some $37,000,000 + he’ll be owing in alimony.
- Posted by LorraineWHO CARES?
- Posted by GThis guy fought for the rights of the common man. For that I will always respect him.
You were losing weight, picking fights with me
Didn’t care enough, to look guilty
But I waved with you, on the stage
Pretending not to know about Heather and Paige
And Jenny and Drew “Miss Tattooed Barbwire”
I wasn’t even threatened by her
If I can believe him you can too
He’s the best man to represent you.
Chorus: I’m done takin’ my time, waitin’ for you to stop foolin’ around, now I know what to do.
It’s amazing what you’ll take
When your status quo’s at stake
It’s the same speech in a different city
On my last day as the wife to pity
Behind my smile beat a war drum
And when it’s my turn at the podium I said
Men and women with a cheatin’ spouse
Rise up and vote out this louse
Or he’ll treat you like his family
You can vote for me
etc. AMW
- Posted by Anne Willshe can do much better and still have the life style she has been accustomed to with dignity. it appears she has much more dignity than this.
- Posted by dnieseShe definitely should not have stood by him. Wives don’t stand by their political husbands during any other press conferences, so why should they be required to show up to these? Plus, if the tables were turned and the indescretion was on the wife’s side, how many men do you think would actually stand by their women at a press conference?
- Posted by KarenI have considered what I would do each time a cheating male politician’s wife “stands by her man”. I am sure that I would make my husband stand there alone. He was responsible for his testosterone-driven behavior and he should do the public pennance alone.
- Posted by Donna CarsibApparently he broke a law, if that is the case, resignation may be appropriate.
Beyond that, why does anyone think their family business should be a topic of public discussion, any more than the family business of my neighbors down the street?
I imagine she is stunned and certainly not ready to make any decisions about the future. For the moment they are together, still a family and presenting a united face to the public. Those of this who are married do this everyday, no matter the private challenges were are working through in our marriages. Why should she behave differently.
That said, it would be nice if he were gallant enough to not ask her to deal with the public and press at this moment.
- Posted by MarySilda is hot! What does this guy see in a has been twenty-something
- Posted by BozNot quite sure where her SELF-PRIDE is. How could she or any women stand in public next to her husband that has treated her like that. I feel for her. Hopefully she will gain confidence in herself through this, and tell him where to go. She will be better off.
- Posted by chris tishmaIt is almost as if Spitzer meticulously planned, scripted, then executed his own destruction. He originally set in place the mechanisms intended to uncover exactly the kind of deceit he perpetrated, and is now apologizing for. A man nicknamed variously, but most consistently as Mr. Clean, and considered a likely aspirant for the White House in 2012 imploded before our eyes. Having taken on the Gambino family and won, at least by all appearances, his sense of invincibility dazzled his own reflection from every mirror he gazed into.
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…… http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008 /03/sex-trumps-presidential-race-covera ge.html
- Posted by PacificGatePostShe should have kicked him in the balls
- Posted by Jerry