American politicians’ wives shed the “good wives” image amid sex scandals

For years, the wives of American politicians have portrayed images of being loyal and loving, the good wives who stand loyally beside their husbands even though they disapprove their sexual romps and scandals. They would stand behind their husbands quietly, hardly uttering a peep that would make the public look down on their husbands.

But in the past two years, the “good wives” image has changed. From Jenny Sanford in 2009 to Maria Shriver last month, and quite currently Huma Abedin, wife of a former New York Democrat, Anthony Weiner, American politicians’ wives are showing a new image in front of the public.

Jenny Sanford was the wife of Gov. Mark Stanford, Republican of South Carolina. After the sex scandal in 2009, she refused to join her husband in public appearances.

Maria Owings Shriver, who was formerly First Lady of California as the wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, was absent at two press conferences of her husband. Now, Huma Abedin has also joined the group.

Ms. Abedin, 35, is married to Mr. Weiner for less than a year and now is pregnant. After the scandal broke, she not only didn’t show up at any of his news conferences, but also kept her distance from the media.

“The rule book has been thrown out,” The New York Times quoted Ruth Mandel, director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, as saying. “These other women started to look less like supportive spouses and more like victims.”