Why do they stand?

Spitzer is latest political wife to show loyalty in sex scandal

Spitzer Scandal

The wrongdoer is, of course, the featured actor, but, the professor says, the cheating-elected-official show actually boasts quite a cast which includes the media, the constituents, the campaign donors and, of course, the family.

The purpose of the performance, Apostolidis says, is to reinforce stereotypes: The politician is a straight man with a good marriage - despite any transgressions that might suggest otherwise.

Often in the aftermath of these affairs, it's not just a matter of a scorned wife, but an entire mortified family. The Spitzers, for instance, have three teenage daughters.

The Spitzer girls were not present at Monday's news conference. Though children are usually trotted out for happier political moments - campaigning, inaugural addresses - they seem to be protected from the spotlight in troubled times.

"Even these extremely ambitious people do have some human emotions and they want to protect their children," Sabato says.

"They don't want to embarrass their kids. Though they're perfectly willing to embarrass the spouse - or maybe the spouse is willing to be embarrassed."

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