Is Jeri Kehn Thompson too hot for the White House? (Fred's wife)

Slate ^ | July 9, 2007 | Catherine Price

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sunday's New York Times contains an article about the 2008 race that poses a different question than most other commentary thus far. It's not asking if America's ready for a woman president, or a Mormon, or an African-American. It's asking whether America's ready for a trophy wife.

The wife in question is Jeri Kehn Thompson, 40, who's married to Fred Thompson, the 64-year-old former "Law and Order" actor and Republican senator from Tennessee who's expected to announce a bid for the presidency. The Times describes her as having "youthfulness, [a] permanent tan and bleached blonde hair" and asks whether "so-called values voters" -- i.e., conservative Republicans -- would "accept this union."

This probably won't come as surprising to Kehn Thompson, whose age and appearance have earned her Internet abuse and a comment by Joe Scarborough asking if she "works the pole," during a segment about striptease workouts. But that doesn't mean it's excusable. (And as the Times put it, "It is hard to imagine a man, however handsome, suffering similar insult.")

Here are my questions: Why should the couple's age difference be blamed on the woman? (Fred was presumably a big part of that decision, too.) What does the appearance of a first lady have to do with her husband's bid for the presidency (or vice versa)? And, as always, why should a woman need to defend herself against accusations that she's a "bimbo" just because she's attractive? Even the Times plays into this, pointing out that Kehn Thompson is a former Senate aide and a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee -- as if her blondeness needs to be offset by professional accomplishment. And, continues the Times, "she is not a homewrecker." Thanks. What, exactly, does that have to do with her husband's run for president? Even if their marriage had been preceded by an extramarital affair, why should Mrs. Thompson be the one on the defensive? Wouldn't that reflect just as poorly -- if not more so -- on her husband?

What's more, it seems as if people's obsession with Kehn Thompson has less to do with her objective age or attractiveness than the fact that she's with an older man. After all, Michelle Obama is a vibrant 43 -- not too far past Kehn Thompson, and an attractive person to boot. And yet no one's asking whether Michelle's too hot for the White House (perhaps those people are too busy asking whether she's too black for the White House). Yes, a 24-year age difference does turn heads, and yes, any candidate with a "trophy" spouse is going to attract attention. But why must the attention always focus on the woman?

The Times' headline was "Will Her Face Determine His Fortune." Let's hope that if push comes to shove, it's actually his capabilities, not his wife's appearance, that determine whether Thompson's fit for office.

[Badeye]

‘I knew that Scarborough was a twit, I didn’t realize he was white trash.’

I think we should see a picture of Scarborough’s wife.

Lets see how much of a reason he actually has to be envious of Fred Thompson....(chuckle)

[tioga]

YOU are right! She does look just like Mortitia's red headed daughter!

[stopem]

I agree, much better picture, more appropriate of an aging 40 year old mother of 2 and wife, rather than the leaves nothing to the imagination blue dress.

This one shows she is a typical 40 year old beginning to get the fat flabby upper arms. :)

[hellinahandcart]

and their nether regions disproportionately small.

You can say that again. ;D

That being the case, the picture would seem to have more potential to harm Fred than Jeri...

[GreatOne]

I’d rather look like Mortitia’s red-headed daughter than Gollum’s distant cousin!

[soccermom]

Meow!

[stopem]

Nope just the truth Ma’m.

[soccermom]

Ummmmmm......it’s called a perspective shot — and not a very flattering one.

[Clara Lou]

I’ll bet he thinks twice before he asks for pictures again! LOL!

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

This particular picture is a little distorted - JMHO - I think it was taken with a wide angle lens — making Fred’s feet appear tiny, and the middle section of the picture, his torso AND hers, appear larger than they really are.

[pke]

It shows that they both have good taste. Another reason to vote for them.

[CaptainK]

Its not like she's old enough to be his daughter

With a twenty four year age difference she is young enough to be his daughter.

[finnman69]

Slate is soooo trashy

[Atlas Sneezed]

My understanding is that Jeri is pregnant in this photo, thus the ample bosom. Of course, the MSM and gnats love to post an repost this photo from the hundreds available, for its distorted view of the couple.

[nyconse]

I am a conservative woman. I have blonde hair and a tan most of the time because I live in GA. I am so tired of the mainstream media thinking conservative and/or Chritian women are ugly,frumpy and badly dressed. What an insult!

[nyconse]

Romney will not win the election against a Democrat. His religion will hurt him. The media is after Fred because they know he is probably the only one who can defeat Hillary.

[M. Dodge Thomas]

All I’ll say about it is this: When Monica Lewinsky turned up, I found myself thinking “Boy, here’s guy with an obvious way with women, POTUS, who could have had his choice of any of dozens of intelligent, attractive, age-appropriate woman, instead here his is, another man who chooses someone young enough to be his daughter…”.

I don’t think this disqualifies someone from being president, but it does means that he’s probably not someone I’m not interested in inviting to sit around the dinner table with my spouse and my social circle of long-married friends, and I certainly don’t want to be hearing lectures from him about other peoples’ choice of lovers or mates...

[nyconse]

My husband’s Mom and Dad married in 1949. She was 20, and he was 40. It was a love story. She ran away from Ireland to American in order to marry him (her family didn’t approve). They had a very happy marriage, raised four wonderful children. He lived well into old age. After, his death, my Mother-in-law lived only a few years; she missed him so much, I think she really did die of a broken heart. I feel blessed to have seen a love like this-it’s a rare thing. Age has nothing to do with love. I think it would be great to have a young wife and children in the Whitehouse.

Also, I think some posters should quit being so judgmental. There is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Those of you who like Romney (I like him too) should understand that being a Mormon is going to hurt him. People don’t understand this religion. I have seen even Catholics bashed on some threads.

[hardback]

"My precious, I need to have that ring!!" :)

[trisham]

Also, I think some posters should quit being so judgmental. There is no such thing as a perfect candidate.

*************

Those who find Mrs. Thompson objectionable are supporting other candidates. They're unlikely to stop with their petty insults, since it appears that is their idea of the political process.