It’s a story as old as time itself…man cheats on woman, woman stays.
But when you’re in a high-profile relationship, or married to a powerful politician, the scrutiny and embarrassment can be 10 times as crushing.
And though it may still surprise us, the women married to these dirty-dog politicians usually stay. Whether it’s for their own political agenda, the money, or…the love…something keeps them standing by their men, even in the most humiliating situations.
Here are eight politicians whose wives took their wedding vows seriously. It’s really for better or for worse with these women:
“Carlos Danger” & Huma Abedin
Of course we have to start with sexting addict and NYC mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner. The disgraced Congressman was caught with his pants down, sending lewd photos of his penis to several women back in June 2011 (while his wife was pregnant). And even after he resigned, he continued being a creep. Just this past week even more pictures surfaced, but Huma Abedin stood right beside her man at a press conference to tell the world she forgives him and also to state that what goes on between them is their business. And…everyone else’s apparently.
John F Kennedy & Jackie O
The handsome president whose life was cut short in November of 1963 had his share of women during his marriage with Jackie Kennedy (later Onassis). Most notably, his alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe, who sang the president “Happy Birthday” in 1962. But through it all, Jackie was the dutiful wife of the ’50s and ’60s; the original ride or die chick.
Eliot Spitzer & Silda Spitzer
After it was revealed that former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was involved with a high-priced prostitute in 2008, Silda stood, with a straight face, by her man at a press conference while he announced his resignation. She claimed she had known little about the scandal and said that despite his wandering ways, her husband was a “good guy.”
Bill Clinton & Hillary Clinton
Superwoman Hillary Clinton’s husband has some of the most notorious sex scandals in political history under his belt. From Monica Lewinksy, to Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers and who knows who else, Hillary has stayed through it all with him. Though she usually doesn’t speak too much on her marriage, she has opened up a few times, including on a memorable episode of The Tyra Banks Show. On the show, she claimed she’s never doubted that her husband loves her. And, even though she doesn’t have the title “President” under her belt, she proves every day that she is WINNING!
Mark Sanford & Jenny Sanford
Even though they filed for divorce in March 2010, Jenny Sanford stuck by her man even before his infidelity scandal took over the media. She had reportedly become aware of her husband’s infidelities around five months before the scandal broke, and the two had sought marriage counseling. But the reality that he disappeared for seven days to visit a woman he was having an affair with in Argentina was too much to handle. After standing by her man through the initial media storm, the two called it quits.
Jim McGreevy & Dina Matos McGreevey
The former New Jersey governor told the world in 2004 that he was a “gay American.” And his wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, was right by his side during that emotional and shocking press conference. In the end, they did go through a bitter divorce, but Dina made sure she was there when it mattered most to Jim – during his coming out.
Kwame Kilpatrick & Carlita Kilpatrick
The former Detroit mayor has enough to worry about with all of the financial scandals under his belt, but one thing that has remained constant is his wife, Carlita. Even after a public sexting scandal between Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff Christine Beatty, Carlita has stuck with him. She does, however, acknowledge that it has been tough. “It has prevented any healing or reconciliation — the entire process of what women go through when they have unfaithful husbands. I have never been able to express anger or grief because we have had to band together to fight what has happened.”
John Edwards & Elizabeth Edwards
It was hard to believe, but while Elizabeth Edwards battled breast cancer, her husband, former U.S. senator John Edwards, was canoodling with his campaign videographer Rielle Hunter, with whom he had a child. But Elizabeth fought to save her marriage. In the end, the Edwards split (during the last year of her life) and she lost her battle with cancer at the age of 61.
PHOTO SOURCE: Getty
