The California recall is the highest profile campaign Iâm aware of in which a leading candidateâs wife is a registered member of an opposition political party. Arnold Schwarzeneggerâs spouse Maria Shriver, a member of the Kennedy family, didnât doff her political affiliation when she married him.
In an era in which the financial and intellectual independence of women is a given, why should she? Still, political spouses are among the last to come out of the closet as - gasp! - Separate Human Beings. Itâs hard to imagine Laura Bush admitting to any political disagreements with the President. Even Hillary swallowed hard, knowing her feminist past left her without the political capital to do much but smile quietly in that Easter hat.
I hope Maria will do ladies luncheons in those awful, mandatory pastel suits and say, âWell, I think Arnoldâs full of it on a wide range of issues, but heâs a good man and I love him to pieces.â
I seem to recall once watching an interview with Barbara Bush where she eluded to being pro-choice despite her husband's stance on abortion. I've had a lot of respect for her ever since.
Posted by: Megan on August 8, 2003 11:56 AMThis is also a woman whose husband has stated publicly several times that she is not allowed to wear pants when she is out in public with him because he thinks skirts are sexier. I have very little respect for a woman who lets a man tell her what she can and can't wear, even if she says some things he may not like while complying with the order.
Posted by: Amy Phillips on August 13, 2003 11:43 PMAmy, you're kidding! Men actually demand things like that after they hit 20?
Posted by: Marie on August 14, 2003 9:27 AM