When George W. Bush took office, he and his wife quickly set about reversing what they saw as a glaring wrong committed by the Clintons. They restored a sense of "tradition" to the role of first lady. In other words, Mrs. Bush would steer clear of important policy decisions, and present a genteel, non-threatening presence to the American public. Gone were the much decried days of "two for the price of one," in which the first spouse was suddenly catapulted into a leadership position on front-burner issues such as health-care reform.What so rankled many voters, liberal and conservative alike, was the fact that while the nation took pains to scrutinize the candidates for president, it believed it need not do the same for their wives. Who was being elected, after all?
Well, "two for the price of one" has come a long way in six years, and it's not just Hillary who's singing the idea's praises.
...Rudy Giuliani said that if elected president, he would have no problem allowing his wife Judith Giuliani to sit in on cabinet meetings, "If she wanted to. If they were relevant to something that she was interested in. I mean that would be something that I'd be very, very comfortable with," he said.Update and more, after the jump.So just who is thrice-married Judith G.? The always reliable Wikipedia, paints the following portrait of Rudy's Judy:
-Got married to a medical supplies salesman at Vegas's famous Chapel of the Bells (marriage #1).
-Was re-married to a wallpaper salesman 5 days after her first divorce was finalized.
-Is a Roman Catholic.
-Her specialty is infectious diseases.
-Took up with Giuliani sometime while he was still married to Donna Hannover.
What does it all mean? Who knows. But one wonders how the twofer suggestion will play with those Republicans who so reviled Mrs. Clinton for the active role she played in her husband's administration.
UPDATE: I guess Rudy has reconsidered.
Late Friday, the Giuliani campaign issued a statement in which the former New York City mayor suggested that would not be the case. "Obviously, she [Judy] will not be a Cabinet memeber or attend most Cabinet meetings, if any. But she will pursue a campaign to educate Americans on preventing illness and promoting overall health."
There, there Judy. Take Laura's lead and teach the nation how to floss.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 11)
61. If any of you lived in NY during giulianni's rein of terror. Shoot first ask questions later you know better than to put him in the White House!
William at 11:13AM on Mar 30th 2007
62. American's are so hypocritical!! Who care's if Mr. Giuliani and Ms. Nathan have been 3x each. Does this make him any less capable of leading America? I don't think so. People "forget" that JFK was far more promiscuous than Mr. Clinton. Give America a break!! Mr. Giuliani is far more capable than any other candidates.
diane
queenee510 at 11:47AM on Mar 30th 2007
63. If the firemen of NY City have issues with Rudy Giuliani in that he is misrepresenting himself as a hero, during 9/11, I have a real problem voting for him. I know many NY City Firemen, having live in this state of NY all of my life and grew up with many who became Firemen. They are a pretty straight arrow bunch of guys and gals, and if Rudi is not what he appears to be, in their eyes, then I will exclude Him from my consideration, based on the many good and sincere firefighters that I know and have called friends. You can't fool all of the people all of the time!!
Jack Carpenter at 11:50AM on Mar 30th 2007
64. now we get to comment on his wonderful wife? he and prince charles get to raise their doxies to social positions they disrespected to begin with. make sense to you?
what a joke! i am heartly sick of hearing about juliani's heroism. how many aides surrounded him? what did he do?
communications broke down; many died; firemen don't like him; but he had great photo ops.
family man? look what he did to his family for this thing he married. so now she is legitimate? not!
he fired the police commish that was cleaning up nyc. he is a typical self-centered politician. haven't we had enough of that?
gag me!
sherry at 11:50AM on Mar 30th 2007
65. (1) If W.G Bush backs Rudy 4 presidency he also becomes da biggest hipocrit.when he and da republicans party said they will bring character to da white house again,yeah right!and they talk about family values?
(2) and what party wanted too impeach Clinton? and i don't hear impeachment going on now,especialy
when active duty personel are dying for our country on a pack of lies about world of mass destruction??? pls!!
D. Martinis at 12:08PM on Mar 30th 2007
66. As a Southern, Roman Catholic, Republican, single parent, I will NEVER vote for Rudy. After all, if his own wife could not trust him, why should I?
Above, you stated that Judith's specialty is infectious diseases. It seems to me that she IS an infectious disease.
Where is Fred Thompson when you need him????
maggie b at 9:18AM on Mar 31st 2007
67. Giuliani did what any mayor would do. What makes him so special? He did nothing out of the ordinary and nothing that any other mayor wouldn't do. A majority of people in this country wouldnt even know who he is if it weren't for 9/11.
Danielle at 12:18PM on Mar 30th 2007
68. Judith Nathan ...intelligent? She lied about her college (disguised it under Penn State). I don't believe she even holds a Bachelor's degree. I find her demeanor to be very "Barbie-like" and she carries herself like a placating bimbo. She rarely responds naturally (she is now the by-product of political finishing school). If she ends up in the white house it will be a severe backlash to women all over the world. Rudy Guiliani for president? There was a time I thought he used necessary tough tactics to stabilize our city. The reality is that Bill Bratton was the best thing that ever happened to him. It was Bill Bratton who instilled law and order to this city (that was being overrun with crime, porn, prostitution and quality of life issues). When people overwhelmingly noticed that it was Bill Bratton who brought the city back to order Rudy Guiliani had to get rid of him. Rudy was being outshined. He put a low-life like Bernie Kerik in his place. The full details of Bernie have yet to be disclosed, wait and see. Rudy met Judy long before the prostate crisis. How convenient is that (er., private nurse)? All the emergency response tactics activated on 9/11 were designed by Bill Bratton, Rudy just followed his protocol. I don't care how many times one marries, but a loser is a loser and two are worse. Bill Bratton for president, his records speak for themselves.
Merkle at 1:21PM on Mar 30th 2007
69. Never mind that Rudy Guiliani announced his intentions to divorce his second wife on TV, instead of telling his wife privately. Tres tackee! He embarrassed her and their children by carrying on with "good friend," Judith Nathan, very publickly, trying to throw his family out of the mayoral mansion so he could move his paramour in, and cutting ties with his children that have caused hurt feelings that exist to this day. This tells me everything I need to know about his character. About his judgement: he insisted that Elian Gonzales stay with that nutty family of vipers in Florida instead of returning to be with his loving father. He is still fighting the Cold War, long after the fall of the Soviet Union. He is the wrong man at the wrong time.
Nadya at 12:38PM on Mar 30th 2007
70. We don't need a HO in the white house.....Mrs Clinton is the strong woman we need in the white house, she did help her ONE and ONlY husband, she is a wife that stayed with her man, pride did not enter into her life, She does have strength, truths, love for her family, and lets hope she can carry all that for the people of the USA, BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE IS CARING FOR THE THE PEOPLE!!! We need a president for the People!!!
Dee at 12:57PM on Mar 31st 2007
71. I REALLY GET A BIG LAUGH FROM ALL YOU HYPOCRITES!!
YOU TEAR APART THE CLINTONS...BILL FOR HIS B/J AND HILLARY FOR BEING STRONG! THEN RUDY FOR HIS MAYORAL ANTICS AND HIS NEW WIFE FOR BEING SO FORCEFUL!
HOWEVER, WHAT ALL YOU '2 FACE HYPOCRITES' FAIL TO REMEMBER IS FRANKLIN & ELEANOR ROOSEVELT! WHAT A TEAM THAT WAS! IT'S BEEN SAID IN ROOSEVELTS' LAST DAYS AS PRESIDENT, ELEANOR "RAN THE COUNTRY".
MOST OF YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF NUVO YUPPIES! WHAT A DISGRACE YOU ALL HAVE BROUGHT ON THIS GREAT NATION! BOTH REPUB-LIE-CONS AND DEMOCRATS!
FRANK at 1:14PM on Mar 30th 2007
72. Isn't it ironic that everytime there is an election, all the dirt is dug up.....The media hype is getting desperado if this is all the news they can find.....where were these people during and post 9/11 with their comments.....
It all is learned in Sunday school.....do unto others...and if you dont have something nice or positive to say keep your big yap shut......personally a good choice for president would have been Colin Powell....but he was samrt to get out of Washington while he still had a reputation.....the old wood in the senate and house need to retire and move on.....the problem is the apathetic US people who dont vote...thats why there are no real choices gfor President. No One gives a damn.
CArol at 1:17PM on Mar 30th 2007
73. Why is "is a roman catholic" and "her specialty is infectious diseases" an issue? Roman Catholics like me deserve less respresentation than you, why?
And who should take care of infectious disease? God bless people who do.
I think we did look at each candidate's wife in the Bush vs. Clinton run-off. Isn't that what the whole "Stand By Your Man" cookie recipe foolishness was about? We answered that entire "Keep the damn woman in her place" thing by voting for Clinton who put his wife out there as an important part of his decision process. Like mine is. It's her life too.
If we are back to that after all this time, then Bush has accomplished nothing but drive us back 50 years. (Shut up, woman, I'm typing!!!!)
String
String at 1:15PM on Mar 30th 2007
74. Very,very reliable ressources in the Mayor's office attest to Rudy's harsh and rude treatment of people whom he may nothave liked or did not bow to the king.Nathan was known as a social climber of the 1st degree including of course no morality. If Rudi wanted to divorce his wife anf if Judith had any self-respect certaily she could have/should have persuaded Rudi to do it in a better fashion...and she's going to aattend cabionet meetings..oh ugh!
NormaLee at 1:18PM on Mar 30th 2007
75. I think a person's personal life is very important when one is seeking the highest political position in a democratic country. I remember an evangelical church minister saying in the 50's that people shouldn't vote for Adlai Stevenson because he was divorced (also strongly Republican church), but never saying a word against a divorced Reagan (maybe the Hollywood connection helped him there); I can't imagine that church endorsing a 3 x's divorced candidate unless they're just Republicans in "morality" disguise.
Jane Carl at 1:23PM on Mar 30th 2007