Lyrics by Tammy Wynette/Billy Sherrill

Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman
Giving all your love to just one man
You’ll have bad times
And he’ll have good times
Doing things that you don’t understand But if you love him you’ll forgive him
Even though he’s hard to understand
And if you love him
Oh be proud of him
‘Cause after all he’s just a man
Stand by your man
Give him two arms to cling to
And something warm to come to
When nights are cold and lonely
Stand by your man
And tell the world you love him
Keep giving all the love you can
Stand by your man
Stand by your man
And show the world you love him
Keep giving all the love you can
Stand by your man.

Tammy Wynette’s 1969 Grammy Award winning song “Stand by Your Man” has certainly gotten a workout during the last 40 years.

Elliott Spitzer is the latest entry in the roll call of political husbands whose wife stands beside him on the podium as he apologizes, denies or minimizes extramarital sexual behavior.

When Hollywood celebrities cheat, at least their spouse doesn’t have to stand by their side in a public show of support. Nor do the millions of other wives whose husband admits to an affair.

Political wives, by definition, are drawn into the public arena when their husband is caught cheating. There’s nowhere for them or their family to hide as the tawdry details of their husband’s behavior are spread across the media.

I couldn’t help running the numbers on Client 9’s activities. Based on the alleged $50,000 he spent on prostitutes over the last year, Spitzer could have had 150 hours of psychotherapy at $300 per hour.

He might have gained some insight into why he was willing to run the risk of hurting and humiliating his wife and his three daughters whose lives will be changed forever.

Therapy might have taught him that love is not unconditional, that power is not license and that there are consequences for stupid choices.

It took Spitzer 2 minutes to resign. His wife Silda was willing to stand by her man one more time.

As the song says,” Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman , Giving all your love to just one man…”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 11:15 am. Visit the archives for all blog posts.