Is there a double standard against Democratic women? I think so.
Hillary Clinton was mercilessly attacked by commentators from Rush Limbaugh to Chris Matthews to the Washington Post by means of vicious sexism, and it went on for a long, long time without being called.
Yet when Newsweek publishes a photo of Sarah Palin in running clothes, or Dave Letterman makes one of his many distasteful jokes and it happens to fall on Palin and her daughter, suddenly the news cycle is dominated by cries of sexism.
Most recently this double standard seems to be in the treatment of Elizabeth Edwards vs. Jenny Sanford. Michael Humphrey at True Slant points out that "when Elizabeth Edwards published her [memoir] last year, she was lambasted." You never see her around any more.
Humphrey thinks this is because Sanford comes off better, but I'm not so sure. Elizabeth has always come off as very charismatic-- even since well before the scandals.
I am not sure whether Elizabeth Edwards prefers to have her pain in private. But at this point, that's pretty much impossible. News stories are appearing about her and her husband every day, many of which could be rumors. The response from Elizabeth Edwards is silence. This is unlike her. Last year, she appeared on Oprah to talk about her story.
On the other hand, Jenny Sanford is everywhere, talking about how her husband's betrayal made it harder for her to raise her sons and her nagging doubts about her husband. I can't but help that this is therapeutic for Ms. Sanford, a vindication of sorts. It allows her to define her own personality and give her own side of a story that forcibly became public.
But what about Elizabeth Edwards? I remember so many diaries here back in the day when so many Kossacks proudly said, "we've got your back, Elizabeth!" And then on the day she appeared on Oprah, I remember a critical diary of her appeared that made it seem like she was trying to somehow exploit the scandal in order to gain attention. I haven't seen her post anything here since, although I could be wrong.
If what the rumors are true, what this lovely, intelligent woman must be going through, must have gone through, must be hell. If she ever decides to come public again, we must give our unqualified support.