Editorials

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Is America ready for the 2008 Presidential Candidates-or even their spouses? By Anne Mills Nov 11, 2007, 11:45

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Quick- picture the First Lady of the United States. The conventional image of the President’s spouse is one of a well-dressed woman, standing behind her husband, with a look of admiration and awe, only participating in order to showcase her exemplary, peaceful, and completely traditional home life, or to raise awareness for the charity of her choice.

However, the spouses of the 2008 presidential candidates’ dramatically break this mold. Rather than the customary first lady being one that stays in the background, many of this year’s spouses are outspoken, opinionated professionals, with four of this year’s spouses earning their degrees in law.

Not only outspoken, Michelle Obama, wife of presidential hopeful Barack Obama, has been using a new technique to hopefully attract the normal American voter. In a recent Time article, she points out her husband’s flaws, and being perfectly frank with when describing her husband as “snore-y and stinky”, and pokes fun at him for leaving his dirty socks on the floor.

One other wife known for her candor is Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic candidate John Edwards. She is also known for her controversial remarks labeling Hillary Clinton as “divisive and unelectable,” and complaining that her husband does not get as much media attention because he is neither black nor a woman.

Only two previous First Ladies, Florence Harding and Betty Ford, have been divorced, each having one previous marriage. However, if Rudy Giuliani was elected to the Presidency, his wife, Judith, would be the first to have had two previous marriages.

If Democrat Dennis Kucinich is elected, his wife, Elizabeth, would be the first First Lady to wear a tongue stud.

Not only are the wives breaking the mold, former President Bill Clinton is in the fray, joking that if Hillary Clinton is elected, he might be called the “First Laddie.” Is America ready to have their 42nd President of the United States back in the White House, not making executive decisions, but rather only there to support his wife?

In fact, Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, actually sets herself apart from the other presidential contenders’ wives by having married her high school sweetheart and producing a close-knit, picture perfect family

With this election campaign promising to be longer and more competitive than ever, one reason campaigns are relying more heavily on spouses to be outspoken and to take initiative is because two people can cover far more territory than one, covering much more of the country on the campaign trail with two individuals making speeches and attracting groups of voters.

With the changing times and the government’s approval rating rapidly decreasing, it only makes sense that the public wants candidates and their spouses to be a little out of the ordinary.

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