Marcus was interviewed by Contessa Brewer on MSNBC this afternoon, and the pair turned to the question of why political wives tend to appear with their husbands who have been caught up in sex scandals.
RUTH MARCUS: I just don't think that we should also lump all these women together. And to use a line that got Hillary Clinton in some trouble back in the 1992 presidential campaign, Eliot Spitzer's wife is not some Tammy Wynette, stand-by-your-man kind of woman.She continued . . .
She's a very serious, Harvard-educated, Wall Street-working, mergers-and-acquisitions lawyer who is now involved in a children's charity. She is a serious person, and she's not simply kind of dragged up there on stage by her husband. So I am sure that every spouse needs to sort of, after an event like this, decide what's right for their future. But at the moment, you just sort of go on with the part of your job.
Could Marcus possibly be more condescending? Are women who are not Harvard-educated and haven't worked on Wall Street less "serious" than those who have? Are they less proud? More likely to look the other way? Or is this simply the elitism of the MSM as typified by Marcus, who let it be known she is herself Eliot Spitzer's Harvard Law classmate?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Really shows their disdain
March 11, 2008 - 17:28 ET by rbosqueReally shows their disdain for us "little" people eh? I didn't go to Harvard but it sounds like many libs go there.
Screw the little people, eh?
March 11, 2008 - 17:39 ET by Mica the MagnificentI thought the libs 'fight' for the little people? Why, they love the little people!
Since when do they defend elite wall street people named Silda Wall?
Wall Street people are evil and greedy, right?
I thought people like Ruth were on the side of people named 'Tammy?'
Good point!
March 11, 2008 - 17:41 ET by rbosqueGood point!
No, they're not on the side
March 11, 2008 - 19:37 ET by motherbeltNo, they're not on the side of people named "Tammy"....or "Paula"....Women like Silda Wall Spitzer are exactly the ones they defend.
Those big-haired women with no class ("drag a hunnadolla bill thew a trailer park....") don't rate any support from the feminists.
And yeah, right, another woman who's NOT Tammy Wynette. They all have such high-falutin' reasons for standing by their lousy cheating, "I caused pain in my marriage" husbands. Because those guys are so much more worthy of their support, or more "entitled" to play around? Which is it, ladies?
What, because she's a Harvard grad and a serious person she can't be made a fool of by a man? Give me a break.
And what's with this?:
But at the moment, you just sort of go on with the part of your job.
It's her JOB to humiliate herself in order to save a little face for her cheating husband?
Shame on Ruth Marcus, if she thinks that's part of a wife's "job."
Narcissism continues
March 11, 2008 - 17:32 ET by 911isbusy"She's a very serious, Harvard-educated, Wall Street-working, mergers and acquisitions lawyer". I'm surprised she didn't throw in "beautiful" and how she could easily play a lead role on a Lifetime Channel romance opposite Brad Pitt. She probably knows karate too!
Those who have not swords can still die upon them.
Narcissim Continues
March 11, 2008 - 18:14 ET by Darwin Akbar...as well as Harvard Law School elitism.
I am an attorney and, in my 28 years of practice, 95% of the Harvard law school graduates I have met will figure out a way to work it into a sentence within the first five minutes in order to "put me in my place" and make it clear that they are smarter and more accomplished than me or anyone else in the room.
"Pretty cold today, eh?"
"Not as cold as the last day of my exams at Harvard Law!"
One of the only ones I've ever met who did not do that was David Brog, director of Christians United for Israel, to his everlasting credit.
When I lived in California,
March 11, 2008 - 18:48 ET by Chris NormanWhen I lived in California, we used to say that about Stanford graduates - it actually became humorous. :)
Darwin,
March 11, 2008 - 21:57 ET by R D HelmLOL-My best friend since chilhood is an attorney, and she told me the exact same thing, only it came much sooner than five minutes.
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
Well, we are talking about
March 11, 2008 - 17:41 ET by balboaWell, we are talking about Hahvahd after all. If anything says "I take myself too seriously," it's "Harvard." I'm so shocked that Conan O'Brien went there. Does not seem like the kind of place he would enjoy.
I don't understand how she can say Mrs. Spitzer's not a "Tammy Wynette-type" when so far she is standing by her man.
the hrc type
March 11, 2008 - 17:52 ET by mom_roxbal - Because referring to Silda as a Hillary Clinton, stand-by-your-man type of woman would be more accurate.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
Another Dumb Ass
March 11, 2008 - 17:46 ET by Solrac7These wives of disgraced politicians are playing the same game as their husbands, trying to keep power and the title in front of their name.
It would be nice , for just once, maybe more, to see a wife stand next to her man and then just snap and start kicking and gouging the SOB. Of course that would be a normal thing to do, probably not taught at Harvard.
The arrogance of these people. At least Spitzer wasn't on stage with his daughters (Mommy, what's a hooker & where does Daddy go at night?).
cliche update
March 11, 2008 - 17:49 ET by mom_roxI guess the old cliche of 'good girls being attracted to bad guys' needs to be updated to 'Ivy League girls being attracted to bad guys'.
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
Personal aside: one of the
March 11, 2008 - 17:51 ET by Mark FinkelsteinPersonal aside: one of the strongest, most serious women I've known was my maternal grandmother, Anna Schwartz, a Hungarian immigrant who never went past high school. I'd proudly put her up against any of the women -- or men-- I met while doing an LL.M. at Harvard law school.
Didn't mean to offend...
March 11, 2008 - 18:17 ET by Darwin AkbarMark, - didn't mean to offend you - I'll put you in the 5% of Harvard Law grads who don't work it into the first five minutes of their conversation....
Thanks, Darwin. I didn't
March 11, 2008 - 18:22 ET by Mark FinkelsteinThanks, Darwin. I didn't take it that way. As I was writing the item I debated whether from a journalistic perspective I had an obligation to mention it and decided the answer was probably 'no.' On the other hand, I didn't want to play the false populist. In any case, what I said about my grandmother is very true. I'm sure all of our readers could share similar examples.
Mark,
March 11, 2008 - 22:38 ET by R D HelmI, too, hope you are not offended by some of the digs aimed at Harvard here.
I am quite sure that you realize that your attending Harvard Law School, along with the others who similarly attended, was an experience that 99.99999% of us did not share, so there is probably more than just a little envy at work here, even though most all of us truly respect you in this regard.
Besides, we here at NB know you aren't like some Harvard types that a few of us have occasionally encountered in our lives.
LOL-And some of us still are from Georgia, and we ain't easily impressed.
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
»→ Mark
March 11, 2008 - 22:43 ET by Cool ArrowIs it true that at Harvard they teach y'all not to end a sentence with a preposition?
Cuz, I was wondering where the gym was at.
♣ a seal
Just for the record, I got
March 11, 2008 - 22:48 ET by Mark FinkelsteinJust for the record, I got my "regular" law degree from SUNY Buffalo, did well there then went on to Harvard law for a one-year LL.M. degree. Not long enough for the good grammar to rub off ;-)
Steal this picture from me
March 11, 2008 - 17:57 ET by PamMark, you must take this picture in order to give the full depth of this nonsense!
I wonder if they are one of the couples that sizzled, fizzled or are expecting to pay that 1 billion dollar alimony :)
That's a great picture
March 11, 2008 - 18:20 ET by Solrac7That's a great picture
Oh I'd go stand next to my
March 11, 2008 - 18:33 ET by bigtimerOh I'd go stand next to my man alright, then take the mike.
It would of been one of the last things my soon ex-to-be husband would ever ask me to do publicly...ever.
...ahhhh, but the satisfaction to speak nationally and tell him and the chattering classes exactly what I thought.
Yep, I'd be the Tammy Wynette type alright, and proud of it.
Btw...Marcus is the one who started this we can't say democrats anymore, it has to be the democratic party...blah blah blah...
Leave Tammy alone please!
March 11, 2008 - 19:14 ET by txcoPlease don’t disparage the name of Tammy Wynette!!! When I was in high school, in the late 60’s, I was madly in love with her!!!! By the way, besides the song “Stand By Your Man”, Tammy had another song that Mrs. Spitzer should listen to…it was called D-I-V-O-R-C-E!
These uppity "Harvard Type"
March 11, 2008 - 21:44 ET by mostlymoderateThese uppity "Harvard Type" don't live like the rest of us. She has her life and he has his life. Use Bill and Hillary Clinton for example. Do you think for one minute these two kiss each other before going to bed, have a little tender lovingness, and then wake up together eating pancakes and eggs? No, and neither did the Spitzer's. THIS is why people cheat. When you have two spouses that put their career's and greed before the family unit, something has to give. Thank god me and my wife love each other more than we love money and power.
mm,
March 11, 2008 - 22:00 ET by R D HelmDo you think for one minute these two kiss each other before going to bed,
LOL-That would be a mean feat, as they most likely reside in different locations.
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
It would be a miracle :)
March 11, 2008 - 22:02 ET by mostlymoderateIt would be a miracle :) Sorry about the graphic example too. The though of Bill and Hillary...nevermind...bleh
Why do they put up with this behavior???
March 11, 2008 - 22:58 ET by m4ster chiefI'll hazard a guess or two.
Perhaps Mrs. Spitzer stands by her man because she knows now that the new Ferrari she's been wanting will be hers; now she can trade in some of those old, worn-out diamonds and gold jewelry pieces for some shiny new bling. And, she's been after Elliot to allow her to have her very own credit card, and in HER name!
Lastly, even if he can only be elected dogcatcher in the future, she knows she will always be Mrs. Dogcatcher. And if he ever tries to divorce her...wow...she'll get so much of his $$$ he'll have to start using $10 crack hoes again.
But I wonder...where did they meet? Never mind...
speaking of ring bling
March 11, 2008 - 23:53 ET by mom_roxYour post reminded me of the multimillion dollar 8 carat purple diamond ring that Kobe Bryant bought for his wife after, well, you know...
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944
However, Tammy Wynette probably would have
March 12, 2008 - 08:12 ET by YahooWatcherhad enough self-respect to have not been standing next to her husband while he admitted associating with whores. Tammy probably would have been home packing her bags and gathering the children for the trip to grandma's house like a normal person would have done. I guess there's no "Common Sense 101" class at Harvard.