Once again, a man is caught with his pants down. And once again, all eyes are on the woman. And we're not talking about "the other woman". We are scrutinizing the scorned wife. Why is she standing by him? Doesn't she have any self-respect? What will she do? Obviously we are talking about the recent prostitution debaucle involving disgraced former Governer Eliot Spitzer and his wife, Silda Wall Spitzer.

What makes this case particularly troubling isn't the scandal itself as we are somewhat accustomed to seeing hypocracy of this nature from government officials (thanks Bill!); it is the way the media are treating his poor wife! Why is it that the woman must suffer criticism and judgment for her reaction to her husband's infidelity? Isn't it bad enough that he has betrayed her with a hooker? That he has humiliated her before the entire world? That he has debased her as a wife and a woman?

As an advocate for women, I have been horrified to watch the media coverage of this affair as story after story headlines: "Why is she standing by his side?" as though she should bear some blame for the situation. How is this is a more compelling story than one on his incredible stupidity and terrible judgment? This is a man who is smart enough to get voted into office and yet he threw away his marriage to a beautiful intelligent woman in exchange for getting his rocks off with a service he is famous for laying the smack down on. Come on! This is Darwin award material!

Everyone makes mistakes and it is up to them to sort out their marriage, but as the media and the public let's not go there and criticize the wives. They have been through enough.