Will we ever have a first lady that holds a job?

[RB TexLa]

Poll question: Will we ever have a first lady that holds a job?

While her husband is in office.

Asking only about first ladies, we can just assume that our society would not expect a first gentleman to give up his job for his "duties" as first gentleman.

How long?

[Deja Q]

1. Nope. They don't need the money.

And if they did, they'd scribble in a pay raise somewhere...

[RB TexLa]

2. Hardly about need

My wife and I could live easily off either of just one of our incomes. If I only worked for what I needed I would stop working at some point of the year, month or week.

[pitohui]

3. conflict of interest/influence peddling

we don't need to encourage spouses of any gender to be holding "jobs" which are in reality just another way to funnel $$$ to rich families


if your wife or husband or family pet is president, your job should be support NOT having your own "job" and raking it in hand over fist because of your actual or perceived ability to divert funds to your company

the presidency pays enough for an honest family to live on, it only doesn't pay enough for a greedy/dishonest family to live on

[MADem]

11. Well, Lynne Cheney kept her job--didn't stop her

She toddled off to the HERITAGE FOUNDATION every day.

And I wouldn't have expected Mrs. Howard Dean to give up her job had Howard gone all the way. Why should she? She has a vibrant practice and people who rely on her.

[ComerPerro]

13. yeah, but so what? "Conflict of interest" obviously means nothing

to the Cheneys

[MADem]

15. There was little outrage over it, that's the point

The spouses aren't on the ballot. They shouldn't be in the damn equation at all. It's government, not a soap opera.

I await the day when First "Spouse" (Lady/Gentleman) is a quaint old term that has fallen out of regular use, like collar stays or watch fobs.

[ComerPerro]

22. there was little outrage because it was the Cheneys

if it was a Dem, I can assure you that there would be outrage.

[MADem]

25. Well, she broke the mold, and no one dare bitch now, dare they? NT

[pitohui]

16. ok here's the deal lynn cheney IS influence peddling

and a job as a doctor is a special case, mrs. dean (she doesn't call herself mrs. dean actuially) is not in position to influence peddle

but corporate and foundation jobs, that's pretty much selling yourself and influence peddling if your spouse/child/daddy/cat holds high office

lynne cheney is a criminal as are all the cheneys

that's not an example i want followed, i want honesty restored to the office

[MADem]

27. The point is, it should not matter. At all.

Everyone knew what her job was, before the election. And hate her, or her job, or not, it wasn't a secret.

It shouldn't matter if the spouse is a car salesman or a teacher or an underwater basket weaver. If they want to keep their job, they should be able to. We have no right or authority to dictate duties to, or proscribe activities of, unelected relatives of elected officals.

We don't vote for the First Spouse. OR the Second one. They have the same rights as any other citizen.

[JDPriestly]

4. Being the president's wife is a full time job.

No one could pursue a separate profession in addition to the duties of the president's wife. She represents the American people at diplomatic, cultural, humanitarian and other events in addition to advising and supporting the president. When we have a female president, her husband probably won't be able to have his separate job either.

[RB TexLa]

5. Those duties do not have to be fulfilled

That is a choice by the spouse of the President as to what they do. And if the President does not have a spouse the country doesn't grind to a halt.

[MADem]

18. No, it isn't. Bess Truman used to stay back home all the time

leaving Harry alone in the WH. She hated the joint, hated the social life, and skipped out ALOT. And when she was in DC, she'd drag her girlfriends with her, they'd drink cocktails and play cards.

The Eleanor Roosevelt model has made it tough for others. But it's a paradigm that could shift, with the right President and spouse. It'll probably take a pissed-off First Husband calling the press a bunch of gossipy assholes to get future First Ladies and Husbands off the hook.

[LeftyMom]

6. I think it's coming

Howard Dean's wife continued practicing throughout her husband's presidential canidacy and it was almost a non-issue.

I'm guessing the initial first lady working independent of her husband's political organization will be somebody who has a non-profit job or something, not somebody who's a corporate lawyer or lobbyist or something that creates conflict of interest

[RB TexLa]

7. Her name is Dr. Steinberg, not Dean n/t

[LeftyMom]

9. Come to think of it, I believe you're right

Though the fact that I haven't the feintest clue what her name is kinda illustrates what a huge stinking media circus campaign issue it was, eh? I seem to recall somebody in the media tried to draw attention to it and nobody cared.

[JI7]

10. her name is officially Dean, but she uses her maiden name

when it comes to her medical practice.

[MADem]

12. She's Judy Dean socially, Dr. Steinberg professionally

Like attorney Hillary Rodham.

It's the name on the sheepskin that rules the day.

[JI7]

8. first lady usually has influence they want to take advantage of

Hillary did a lot of work as first lady though not a "regular job" such as if she had continued to practice law.

sadly, in Laura Bush's case she does nothing but prop up the administration with her phony media whore enhanced image. she does photo ops just like the Chimp. like when Katrina victims were told to pose and look happy when she came by.

[patrice]

14. We will if "she"'s a first gentleman. n/t

[tandot]

17. She'd have secret service agents following her everywhere

to make sure that nothing would happen to her. How can your work efficiently when you are so restricted on where to go and always have secret service around?

[ComerPerro]

20. No kidding. What's she gonna do, run to the supermarket on the way home

[MADem]

24. They're pretty good. Not always intrusive.

Hell, you'd see the Gores all over DC, on foot, if you kept your eyes peeled. They'd dress unobtrusively, and you wouldn't even notice unless you were a type who looked at faces. I used to see Barbara Bush here and there, too, going for walks, actually. They're close, but not too close to be obnoxious. If you tried to pounce on them, I imagine you'd get pounced on.

Of course, now that Nahn Wun Wun has changed ever'thang, the whole detail could be a bit more onerous. It helps if it's an unannounced kind of thing when they are out and about.

Of course, if you worked in a regular office, they go and get set up, they do their sweeps, and they do the whole protection gig, just as they do for children in colleges.

Hillary had a full detail when she first went to the Senate, because of all the crap she caught from jerks. I don't know if she still has a full detail, or just a partial one.

[cynthia]

19. Some people actually work for other reasons than to bring home the bacon

Like Howard Dean's wife, there might be a first lady (gentleman) who has a profession (vocation) that she does because there is a need for her talents and skills and she enjoys doing it. I work at my job because I am good at it, they need me, and I enjoy doing it. If I won the lottery (which won't happen because I don't buy tickets), I wouldn't quit my job.

I predict that it won't be long before we have a first lady who is actually fulfilled in her profession, yet supports her spouse in his. She keeps her job AND shows up looking pretty for the state dinners. I'll bet most of the rest of the stuff that takes up the first lady's time is fluff and would be put on a shelf in a second if there was a first gentleman!

[ComerPerro]

21. lets focus first on getting a PRESIDENT who works while in the WH

how can you expect Laura to do a God damned thing when her lazy fucking husband, the president, for Chrissakes, won't even do his job?

[PresidentWar]

23. As long as it's not Condasleeza Reich.

[MADem]

26. As First Lady? Or as Pretzledunce??

She doesn't have a spouse....!

[Kailassa]

28. But Bush is her husband .... at least, she once said he was ...

And he once said something about being first lady. ;-)

[Kailassa]

29. Yes, when Presidents are paid what they are worth.

Then any republican first lady will have to work to pay the bills.

[hootinholler]

30. Been reading Clancey again?

This would be a secret service nightmare check out _Presidential_Orders_.

-Hoot

[RB TexLa]

31. Who?

[hootinholler]

39. Tom Clancy.

Mispelled is name and got the title wrong.

Ececutive Orders but read Debt of Honor first it will make more sense.

-Hoot

[Odin2005]

32. Not while they need Secret Service agents around 24/7.

Just not practical.

[AZBlue]

33. Didn't Hillary Clinton hold a job - in a way?

I mean, at least her days weren't all about tea and cookies.

But, a 9-to-5 job unrelated to the Presidency? Doubtful. At least not for a while - it would be too much of a lightening rod!

[Cleita]

35. So did Eleanor Roosevelt as much as she was able to, she

wrote articles for the media.

[AZBlue]

36. Excellent point! Yes, she was the first to have a mind & voice of her own

eom

[Cleita]

34. We might have with Howard Dean.

His doctor wife had no intention of giving up her practice to be First Lady. Somehow I think even with a full time job she probably would have done more as First Lady that the do nothing cow that is now enthroned.

[AZBlue]

37. It's funny you mentioned her -

as I was writing my earlier post I was thinking that the only career that wouldn't be a lightening rod would be a doctor - I mean, how can you criticize someone who's helping the sick and doesn't want to give that up??

[Zomby Woof]

38. Hillary Clinton was a senator for a few weeks as First Lady