Your vote and his sex scandal
Juliana D'Amico
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Opinion
We watch a politician's wife look lovingly at her husband as he diplomatically shakes hands with a man he would rather punch right in the face.
Then we think of Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde," whose boyfriend passes her up because of his political aspirations. "I need a Jackie, not a Marilyn," he says.
And it makes sense. Our American first ladies are known for performing that role beautifully - the hair, the pearls, the figure, the smile.
We also watch these women in very different circumstances - the hair, the pearls, the figure, but no smile. We watch "Jackie" Spitzer stand by her husband, who risked his entire political career to spend just a few hours with a "Marilyn." Part of us feel sorry for her. Another part wonders why her husband didn't choose a Carla Bruni, who has welcomed numerous affairs, in the first place if that's the sort of man he is.
A perfect political wife is indicative of a politician's relationship with the voters.
A voter forcibly reminds politicians that they are accountable. A politician, good or bad, knows that the very voters who got him into office can take him out.
They know that people who don't vote for any reason, no matter how principled, are a bad candidate's dream come true.
Vote abstinence does not show a certain political party that you are taking a stand. Instead, it's a vote of, "I think you stink." And that is all the impact a no-vote will carry.
If New Yorkers had not gone to the polls, Spitzer would still be governor. Like Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), Spitzer received more heat about resigning from members within his own political party. Despite standing on the same side of the political platform, they tried to separate themselves as much as possible from Spitzer or Craig - whether it was giving them the cold shoulder at a cocktail hour or denouncing Spitzer's or Craig's actions in public.
Was this because of their moral principles, sense of decency or sensitivity to their conscience? Maybe.
Then we think of Elle Woods in "Legally Blonde," whose boyfriend passes her up because of his political aspirations. "I need a Jackie, not a Marilyn," he says.
And it makes sense. Our American first ladies are known for performing that role beautifully - the hair, the pearls, the figure, the smile.
We also watch these women in very different circumstances - the hair, the pearls, the figure, but no smile. We watch "Jackie" Spitzer stand by her husband, who risked his entire political career to spend just a few hours with a "Marilyn." Part of us feel sorry for her. Another part wonders why her husband didn't choose a Carla Bruni, who has welcomed numerous affairs, in the first place if that's the sort of man he is.
A perfect political wife is indicative of a politician's relationship with the voters.
A voter forcibly reminds politicians that they are accountable. A politician, good or bad, knows that the very voters who got him into office can take him out.
They know that people who don't vote for any reason, no matter how principled, are a bad candidate's dream come true.
Vote abstinence does not show a certain political party that you are taking a stand. Instead, it's a vote of, "I think you stink." And that is all the impact a no-vote will carry.
If New Yorkers had not gone to the polls, Spitzer would still be governor. Like Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), Spitzer received more heat about resigning from members within his own political party. Despite standing on the same side of the political platform, they tried to separate themselves as much as possible from Spitzer or Craig - whether it was giving them the cold shoulder at a cocktail hour or denouncing Spitzer's or Craig's actions in public.
Was this because of their moral principles, sense of decency or sensitivity to their conscience? Maybe.
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