The XX Factor: Slate women blog about politics, etc...

Thrown Stones, Glass Houses

Normally I think Americans should tolerate more separation of sex and state when it comes to politics; I'm not convinced that sexual morality has much bearing on political judgment or efficacy. But when it comes to Spitzer, well, you nailed it, Hanna: Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. You can't make a career out of policing others' crimes while lapsing lustfully yourself. There are gonna be a lot of people out there glad to see Spitzer humbled (or humiliated) like this. Which almost makes me feel sympathetic.

Tim, you ask about Silda's decision to stand by her man: Marriages do create a wall between the public and the private. Though the feminist in me thinks there's no reason she should feel she had to stand by him—your Option B sounds pretty good to me—I can see how she might feel there is some honor in maintaining the public front while dealing privately with the fallout. Marriage is a funny institution that way. The bonds between husband and wife are so complex that it can take a while to sort out where one's loyalty to oneself and to your partner overlap or diverge.