This is not a political post.
Yes, #ImWithHer, but that's not the point of this article.
I'm writing this article because I am tired of seeing people ridiculed in their professions because of situations that have nothing to do with their job.
Unless you are very young, very uneducated, or have just been living under a rock, you probably are aware that former President Bill Clinton has had relations with women outside of his marriage to Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. If you have followed the election at all this year, I'm sure at some point you have heard someone criticize Hillary because of her husband's previous sexual indiscretions.
The people that are questioning how Hillary could excel at being Commander-in-Chief because of her husband's choices, I believe, are failing to remember the many former scandals that first ladies have held, and how none of these things have tarnished their husband's reputations as President.
The "Slut"
Florence Harding, first lady to Warren Harding (1921-1923, he died while in office) was a devoted believer in astrology and was even told by an astrologer during the campaign that her husband would become the President of the United States. This was, of course, still a time in which astrology was believed to be a form of "witchcraft". As if this isn't "controversial" enough, Florence Harding had a child from another man; a child born out of wedlock. Regardless of the fact his wife "believed in witchcraft" and was an unwed mother, Warren Harding still became president.
The "Cheating Bisexual"
Another first lady who did not lack scandal, but did not tarnish her husband's reputation is Eleanor Roosevelt. It is rumored that while her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was in office and shortly after he contracted Polio, Eleanor became overwhelmed by the stress of the situation. This stress caused her to find comfort into the arms of someone else. A female journalist named Lorena Hickock. Regardless of this, he still remains known as the strong man who led our country through some of it's hardest times.
The "Substance-Abusing Divorcee"
Not only were Betty and Gerald Ford married only weeks before the election that resulted in his Presidency, he was Betty's second marriage. Betty received criticism for her non-traditional training as a modern dancer. Before her husband served as President, Betty suffered from an addiction to pain-killers and alcoholism, both issues she had to receive professional medical help for.
I will not try to say that conservatives and "Hillary-haters" are the only ones to blame for bashing a candidate's spouse. The same "spouse-shaming" could be spotted about Melania Trump, when left-wing extremists released her nude modeling photos from 20 years ago.
What the spouse of a Presidential candidate does or did in their past or present, does not make the nominee "unfit" to lead the country. What makes someone fit to lead the country is their professionalism, patience and perseverance.
Shoutout to my mom's Facebook friend, Tou Lee Yang, for providing me with the inspiration for the title of this post!
