Hypothetical Question Concerning First Ladies

[Feralpeg]

What would happen if a man were to run for president and his wife didn't want to be an active participant? I'm not trying to start a debate. I was just thinking how much I would hate the first lady thing. I would hate having to watch every word I said and everything I did. I'm not the type of person that would want to be out making speeches, so it seems like a horrible position to be put in. Does that mean that her husband shouldn't run for president? Just because a man is qualified wouldn't necessarily mean his wife is. I imagine that there were first ladies in history that played a lesser role, but now days it seems expected that they play a very active role. Just wondering?

 

[kasar]

Good question, I was wondering about it myself. You never know when you get married what's to come but how can you not participate if your spouse is running for president? I know that I would HATE to have to do that but I suppose I would have to do some.

Remember when everyone gave poor Mrs. Dean (Judy) a hard time about continuing her medical practice? She loved her husband but she wanted to do her own thing and she was really criticized for it.

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

I suspect that we'll have our first woman president before a non-involved first lady will be accepted by the populace. It is sexist, but I think many Americans will be more likely to accept a "First Man" with outside employment before they'll accept a first lady doing that.

I'm not saying that it is right.

 

[Margie J]

I suppose that once anyone gets to the point in their career that they are a serious candidate for President their spouse and family should be use to Campaigning and all it entails. If a spouse hadn't supported the candidate at all in any prior election it may be unlikely that the candidate would either win previous elections or that the partnership would survive the stress of higher Political ambitions. It takes a very outgoing, strong and/or independent person to be married to a Political candidate.

It does seem the trend is to elect "couples" into higher offices. I think it happens to be the generation of the candidates and their mates. The new guard (Clinton, Kerry, Edwards, etc) is married to educated, outspoken and accomplished women, many of whom take a backseat to nobody and their husbands applaude that.

If they are like Judy Dean who would prefer to stay out of the limelight that's ok too. However, even she had to lend public support at some point or else it would reflect badly on her husband. I suspect if her husband were up for nomination this week she'd have to give a speech, however brief.

 

[MICKEY88]

not sure when it will happen on the national level, but PA has a Governor with a non participating first Lady,,the Governors wife is a Judge, so by law she could not participate in his campaign, she has kept her career as a judge and doesn't do the things former Governors wives have done in PA..

 

[Nancy]

So could anyone see a single man (or woman) beng elected into office? I don't see that happening anytime soon.