Taylor Marsh – TaylorMarsh.com – News, Opinion and Weblog on Progressive Politics

Did I miss something and Murdoch buy the New York Times, too? Are tabloids now busting out all over?

If Patrick Healy & company aren’t sliming the Clinton marriage or digging
into Candidate Clinton’s marriage with glee, it’s only because they’ve decided
to mine the fields for other lows. And people wonder why candidates clam up
and don’t want to talk with the corporate hack pack press.

I think Fred Thompson is a desperate attempt by Republicans to resurrect Reagan.
But the New York Times story today on Jeri Kehn Thompson has absolutely
nothing to do with that and goes way beyond the pale.

Mr. Thompson’s supporters, on their Web site draftthompson08.blogspot.com, put it this way: “It couldn’t hurt diplomatic relations to have a smart, pretty blonde as first lady.” But that comment was quickly attacked. One writer described the May-December marriage as “gross,” while others said Mrs. Thompson was an outright liability. Political analysts said there is very little evidence to suggest that candidates’ spouses affect their electoral outcomes. But one political scientist, Karen O’Connor, the director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University, said Mr. Thompson may lose with one key group whose support he needs: Republican women. “I think women have an innate ‘ick’ reaction when they see a wife so much younger and vital than her husband,” Professor O’Connor said. … .. Will Her Face Determine His Fortune?

Women can be petty, no doubt about it. But the "May-December" marriage
topic has been around for centuries now. People aren’t nearly as put off by
it as this piece offers. Now if the ages and genders were reversed there might be a problem. It’s like Susan Saulny, who wrote the article,
just stepped out of the 1800s to find women working. But having sex with an
older man? Shocking. Pu-leaze.

What an insulting premise. For that matter, what a stupid column. Fred’s older,
she’s younger, and quite frankly, it often works out very well for couples.
I interviewed hundreds of couples during the 1990s and earlier, of all age variations, about sex and relationships. It just depends on the
people and what they want from marriage, with the important point to both want the same things. The Thompsons have obviously got a
great thing going, with a great family too. She’s gorgeous. He’s successful.
Mazeltov!

But he’d still make a lousy president. However, his wife has nothing to do
with it.