What a personal thing to go through publicly. This is what these people sign up for however I’m sure they are never prepared for this. From what I hear, Silda is a smart woman and she will do what is best for herself and more importantly for her daughters. I do however wonder how Eliot would feel if he ever found out one of his daughters was visited through a prostitution website!

Maybe I’m way too picky … but if I had shelled out $5500 and the hooker called me “dude” … I’d go flaccid right then and there.

His problem is hypocrisy far more than adultery. There are in fact women who would prefer that their partners dally with clean, high buck sex workers than have affairs with others. Sex workers in these operations are usually medically very safe, as their employer cannot afford to have a client catch a disease. Personally, I could care less about the sexual antics of our public figures, and think the American fixation on same is unfortunate. All this said, Spitzer’s “crime” is his hypocrisy and his humiliation of his wife and family. If their relationship is strong enough that she wishes to be by his side as he suffers for his sins, perhaps there will be something healing in it for her. To do so for any other reason, misguided loyalty or his demands, is unthinkable.

Whether or not Silda stands by him in their marriage has to be a decision she comes to on her own account and our opinions really don’t matter much. I can’t even say what I would do for sure in her situation because I just don’t know all the personal facts. When my husband and I were first married (24 years ago) I told him right off the bat - I will only leave you for violating one of the 3 A’s - Adultery, Abuse to me, Abuse to my children. Other than that I was in it for the long haul. So, with no other references to their personal life I would have to assume that I would leave him for the escapade, but again - that’s between them.

Should she stand beside him literally during the press conference? Again, I guess that’s up to her but in my life I know for sure I wouldn’t be. The beginning of his penance - as an individual not just a spouse - would be to have to stand up there totally alone, not relying on anyone else besides himself to face and acknowledge his actions, to seek forgiveness and understanding by himself. He committed these actions with no help from his wife, why should she have to share the burden of the apology. She should be able to be in the front row of the audience having the apology given to her rather than stand beside or behind him watching him apologize to a group of journalists.

Resignation - absolutely. The reason he needs to resign in my opinion is his hypocrisy. Even if he had all the support in the world prior to this event, nobody would be able to believe his intentions or trust his integrity after this event. It’s like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department. The personal tragedy side of it - the marriage - is a private affair and not even up to the citizens of NY to be so concerned with, but the hypocrisy of his history of attacking with a vengeance people of “unethical” character and then to be one himself, as he defined it, is just too much to ask anyone to understand.

I once saw an angry attractive woman in Tiffany’s followed by a sheepish man in a suit who was followed by a Tiffany clerk. The woman went around Tiffany’s pointing to one thing after the other. Without a word the man nodded yes to each item. The clerk was writing as fast as she could. H-m-m-m. Gracie Allen did the same thing to George Burns. Maybe we should all gang up and take the governor’s wife to Tiffany’s.

Personally, I wouldn’t attend the press conference. I’d insist he attend by himself and privately take care of the personal/family matters accordingly. Also, I believe Spitzer should resign. Simply put, what he’s done is immoral and illegal.

I don’t know who the Spitzer’s PR person is, but if I had media-trained Mrs. Spitzer, I would have told her to do something other than read her husband’s statement over his shoulder. Like “make eye contact” or “try to look supportive.” Also, looking HOT on camera is always good after your husband’s been caught fooling around. Makes him look even more like an idiot.

Quoting Dershowitz, “In Europe, this story would be on page 26”. In Europe the story would not have been even published. Not because we Europeans are more tolerant or more open minded than Americans. I believe it is because the European atmosphere is more machista and less respectful of women this side of the Atlantic. I cannot understand the habit of having the cuckolded wife holding hands with the culprit in public, while he half confesses. I find it to add public insult to her injury. She should get rid of him… and the daughters, well, they are teenagers, and now they DO know who papa really is. I am not sure that the best and healthiest message to growing daughters is to keep at home the imbecile that spends (how many times?) 5500 $ for a few tickles and giggles. As for Hillary, she missed a good opportunity back then to have kicked hubby out and claimed the White House as residence for her and daughter; it would have been more refreshing than grabbing Bible and going to temple while holding hands (again the holding of hands!) with the cuckolder.

I propose a new approach, why not have the wife hold the press conference, make the apologies for him and the Gov. stand there and listen.

The only people who know the true state of their marriage are Silda and Eliot. I wouldn’t think less of her not matter which decision she makes. I have to agree with Ms. Marlo T. Eliot got himself into this mess, and if I were his wife, I certainly wouldn’t dignify his confession with my presence, whether I chose to work through this crisis or not. It’s so strange - scandals for Republicans tend to involve money and/or questionable practices within the public office they hold; scandals for Democrats tend to involve sex! Also, my first thought was, in Europe this would be about as scandalous as Bill Clinton and Ms. Lewinsky. However, this isn’t Europe, and in the course of Mr. Spitzer’s political career, he so zealously pursued and prosecuted those involved in prostitution - this is just too ironic. He must feel like such a fool. I hope he does, because he acted like one, and he certainly looks like one! I feel so much compassion for Silda.

His side..her side…and then the truth. Complicated question for Mrs. Spitzer and painful for their daughters to be sure. The public humilation of well known figures has us all “rubbernecking” like the scene of a bad accident. The fatality will be Gov. Spitzer politically and personally. Was this self sabatoge, a set up, or character flaws that got the best of him. My biggest issue with this is his contraditon of self and what he claimed to represent. Define a good politican who stays above the fray, do they exist? or do they do what they have to do and hope they don’t get caught morally, financially and sexually with their pants down….oh Mr. Spitzer how very disappointing to everyone.

Why do the wives stand next to these slimeballs when they are making their public confessions. I’d hold my own press conference!

Any one who has ever been married knows that there are times you have to stand by your spouse - either physically or emotionally - when you don’t really want to. It is a personal decision that I think can be determined by many different things… fear, dependency, moral outrage, business, apathy… you name it. But to stand behind the podium for political reasons…that’s painful. Not to mention demoralizing, degrading, and demeaning. He should take ownership for his actions. My concern is that the media is focused on the wife behind his shoulder, and not on the investigation that led to this discovery. Hmmmm….maybe that is why she is there????