Dean's Wife Shuns Politics

NY Times ^ | January 13, 2004 | JODI WILGOREN

[Nonstatist]

BRLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 12 — Eddie Kasperowicz, 74 and retired from the Seabrook, N.H., auto plant that Howard Dean was touring the other day, had a question unrelated to his union's hot-button issues of trade and health care. "When," he wondered, "will America have a chance to meet your bride?"

No time soon, Dr. Dean told him, "unless you get sick in Shelburne, Vt., in which case she'll probably see you."

In 23 years of marriage, 18 of which Dr. Dean has spent running for, or serving in, office, his wife, Judith Steinberg Dean, has developed an unusual role for the political spouse: invisible.

During Dr. Dean's two years of relentless campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, Dr. Steinberg has stood by her husband's side at a political event exactly once, at his official announcement speech here in June. A country doctor who still makes the occasional house call and attends PTA meetings, Dr. Steinberg has given about a dozen interviews — none televised — two fund-raising letters and a cameo on a half-hour advertisement.

She has never been to Iowa.

[Nonstatist]

Lacking cable television, Dr. Steinberg tries to get to headquarters to watch debates, though she skipped at least one to do laundry.

How sweet! Her husband is running for President , and it's so (yawnnn) interesting!

[steve8714]

Her pic is on drudge...I didn't know the Quayles got divorced.

[gunnedah]

Chances are she just doesnt want to be around the obnoxious ba$tard!

[Phantom Lord]

Howard is running for president, not his wife. If she wants to stay out of the entire process totally that is her decision and her right. She should be left alone.

[ken5050]

A quasi-hatchet job from the NYTimes....did you notuice the intimation that it's a sham marriage..."they've been together 4 nights in 6 months"...this will get uglier, and fast...

[EggsAckley]

Right on. Seems like she just shoved him out the door 18 years ago and said, go......play with your political playmates, and leave me alone. She's probably had a very happy life.

[Alouette]

Dean's Wife Shuns Politics

That just proves she is much smarter than he is.

[EggsAckley]

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Dean's Wife Shuns Politics

Steinberg's Husband Shuns Sanity

[PBRSTREETGANG]

..."they've been together 4 nights in 6 months"...

So they're together about four times as often as the Clintons?

[latrans]

Dr Steinberg Is probably smart enough to know that her husband has no chance of winning.

[BushCountry]

I know this sounds a little crass, but... With him being away from his spouse for months at a time, are we going to have a sexually frustrated president (if elected) or more interns with added job responsibilities?

[princess leah]

I hope Hillary is watching because Americans generally like their first ladies to be supportive and yet not overbearing either...AND WE SURE DON'T WANT NO FIRST MAN EITHER!

[Phantom Lord]

I know this sounds a little crass, but... With him being away from his spouse for months at a time, are we going to have a sexually frustrated president (if elected) or more interns with added job responsibilities?

Replace Dean with "US military members", who are away from their spouses for many many months at a time and see if you still would like to ask the question.

[BushCountry]

I been in the military (USMC) for eight years and know the damage to marriages these "FORCED" seperations cause personally. It is another reason why the current crop of people serving are heros in my eyes.

However, with that being said, running for President doesn't make him a hero and his seperation is by choice not necessity, which is apple and oranges my friend.

[Ciexyz]

If she wants to stay out of the entire process totally that is her decision and her right. She should be left alone.

I disagree. It's like the position of minister--you get two for one, the pastor (whether male or female) and the spouse. The spouse is a gateway to the President/Pastor/Mayor, etc. The spouse should always be available at meetings, campaign stops. The public considers it an honor to shake the hand of the spouse, who is a representative of the state.

Sorry, Mrs. Dean's attitude is women's rights run amuck. It is selfishness on her part. She should be supporting the efforts of her spouse. The public would surely consider it an honor to shake her hand, since she sounds like a person of integrity and intelligence. This is hard to understand, that she is not at her husband's side.

[bray]

Headline should read, "Dean's Wife Shuns Howard".

Could you imagine being locked up with this madman in a Des Moines Holiday Express??? She might fold his socks wrong or go to Denny's instead of IHOP??

Pray for W and The Truth

[isom35]

I hate to be cruel, but after seeing this pic, I can hear Dean saying "hey, you stay out of the limelight all you want..."

[TigersEye]

She should be left alone.

She won't be. If the unthinkable happens and Dean is elected can you just picture the SS agents hanging around her little Shelburne, VT doctor's office giving every patient the onceover before she sees them?

[swampfox98]

Dean's wife probably shuns Dean.