The choice for candidate spouses: "stand in the back and smile, or get off the stage"

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Cindy McCain's Super Do Day
By ROBIN GIVHAN
Sunday, February 10, 2008; Page M01

....(Cindy McCain) was in the unenviable position of so many political spouses. She was onstage as an accessory. She was visible but not vocal. Supportive but not overshadowing. A focus of attention for no other reason than to help paint an idyllic familial image. Can anyone, including former president Bill Clinton, survive the spousal role without having their stature nicked, if only a little? Is it possible to avoid such symbolic gestures altogether?

Cindy McCain has an impressive résumé that includes volunteer work abroad, service on the board of charitable organizations and oversight of her family's business -- one of the country's largest Anheuser-Busch distributors. And yet, as she stands behind the candidate with nothing to do but smile, she is minimized, her power diluted. In this politically correct, post-feminist era, the sight of a woman standing behind her man still has the potential to convey tradition, family values, old-fashioned Americana....

Another political spouse, Michelle Obama, seems to be working hard to negotiate her way out of the accessory role. From the beginning of her husband's campaign, she went out of her way to rough up his mythic reputation. In her speeches, she told audiences about his not putting the butter away. Of how he was just a man, not an ideal....That evening, when the Obamas arrived to greet their supporters, the wife did what she generally does in these situations: She kissed the candidate and left the stage. She would return for the photo op, to furnish the tableau of a happy couple waving to supporters. Withhold that image at one's peril. But she did not stand behind him as he spoke. She was not nodding and smiling. She wasn't diminished.

The spousal role has even tripped up a former president....Earlier in the campaign, he regularly used to stand onstage behind his woman. And he tried to strike the right facial expressions, to tilt his head just so. But no longer. (Recently, Chelsea Clinton has been serving as the adoring and silent accessory.)

Hillary Clinton arrived at her New York headquarters Tuesday accompanied by her family. They waved and smiled for the family portrait. But when it was time to deliver her victory speech, both Chelsea and Bill Clinton stepped out of the spotlight. Like other spouses, even the former president was stuck with the same two choices: stand in the back and smile, or get off the stage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/08/AR2008020801005.html?referrer=emailarticle

(NOTE: Robin is the Washington Post fashion writer, but I've omitted references to clothing choices in order to focus on the dilemmas facing the candidates' spouses.)

[Hailtothechimp]

1. Michelle Obama is something special.

Mrs. McCain can't compete with her, and she doesn't have the baggage that Bill does.

She's his ace, if you ask me.