Grover Cleveland: 49. Frances Folsom: 21. When married -- in the White House.
Seems like this ought to be pointed out a few times, if this purports to be a campaign issue.
Posted on 07/10/2007 2:15:19 AM PDT by 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.
Grover Cleveland: 49. Frances Folsom: 21. When married -- in the White House.
Seems like this ought to be pointed out a few times, if this purports to be a campaign issue.
Title: Marriage of Grover Cleveland and Francis Folsom Description: On June 2, 1882, at seven o’clock in the evening, Francis Folsom married President Cleveland in the Blue Room. The wedding was small and private, and the reception was in the State Dining Room where the Marine Band played. The Clevelands were the first presidential couple to be married in the White House. During their honeymoon, newspaper reporters followed them everywhere, a taste of how publicly available their marriage would be in the coming years. Date: c.1886 Creator: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper Credit: Library of Congress
You know, that's a really good point.
The same bad perspective that makes Fred's legs too short,
also shortens Jeri's dress, waaaay out of proportion.
Nuh uh, Hunter wins that one.
She also looks disproportionately top heavy because of the distorted angle.
Look at Fred’s legs.
To think, a normal camera lense might’ve made the controversy moot!
I wonder why there aren't family pics of Hunter floating around.
I think Mitt could beat Hillary; I think any of the current Republicans could. But I agree with you, I’d rather Fred be president.
My; he’s a happy little fella.
I agree.
They know Mitt is too liberal for most conservatives, no matter how his family image looks.
Fred has rock solid conservatives behind him, so the media tries to sully Fred's family.
Yes, you are right.
Reread my post - I specifically state that I don’t think it has much to do with someones fitness to be president.
America was one restraining order away from Margaret Carlson Thompson. (Whew!)
Oh, my God. There’s mutt & jeff. ROFLOLOL
He's 64. She's 40.
So, actually, she is young enough to be his daughter.
Whenever I’ve seen them together, he always reminds me of one of the Lollipop Kids and she, Glenda the Good Witch.
Not much of an improvement over Hitlery, is she?
Wow, Kucinich is one lucky man. Compared to him she is a knockout.
I don’t know. You are saying I don’t think this has anything to do with a person’s fitness for the presidency then inserting a big “but”....insert whatever.
I think you can see what a good candidate Fred must be by the way the media is attacking him...they must be looing at polls.
I do not think either Romney or Juliani could defeat Hillary.
oops to bad I can spell better...sigh.
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