In scandal's wake, Melania keeps her distance from Donald. Do we care?

Lisa Belkin 23 hours ago, January 25, 2018, https://ca.yahoo.com/news/scan...-care-202535527.html

Melania Trump is not in Davos today. She was planning to go — her office had already announced that she would be there to “support the president” as he hobnobs with the global elites at the World Economic Forum. But the first lady is staying in Washington for what her office opaquely calls “scheduling and logistical reasons.” What happened?

Well, one thing that happened was the disclosure that Donald Trump’s lawyer arranged a $130,000 payment to a porn star, reportedly to keep quiet about her decade-ago affair with Trump.

In the swirl of news over the last week, Melania’s defection — which was announced on the couple’s 13th wedding anniversary — didn’t get much public attention. (Yahoo News White House correspondent Hunter Walker asked the White House how the Trumps celebrated, but got no answer.) To the many rules that Mrs. Trump’s husband has rewritten in the past two years, add one more — that the public will always care how a politician’s wife reacts to news of his infidelities.

Until Trump changed everything, the public was insatiably interested in what the wronged spouse thinks. When Bill Clinton was accused of Oval Office dalliances, for instance, Hillary Clinton at first became his fiercest defender, blaming the charges on a “vast right wing conspiracy.” She also became the subject of endless speculation about whether she would stay in the marriage or leave. The photo of the couple walking forlornly toward the presidential helicopter, with Chelsea between them holding each of their hands, ran with countless stories about the tense state of their marriage.

When John Edwards was found to have fathered a child out of wedlock, attention also focused on his wife. Some publications were reluctant to cover the story at first, in part out of respect for Elizabeth Edwards, who was fighting cancer at the time. At first Elizabeth defended her husband, but then she announced she was separating from him.

Ditto for Eliot Spitzer’s payments to prostitutes, when much of the coverage centered on why we expect wronged women, like his wife, Silda, to stand publicly — and clearly miserably — by their husband’s side. Or Anthony Weiner’s lewd texting, when as much ink and energy was dedicated to why his wife, Huma Abedin, stayed with him (she did eventually file for divorce last year) and what price she would pay in her own career for his behavior.

The meme of the wronged wife, and the public’s outrage on her behalf, became an entrenched part of popular culture. The TV show “The Good Wife” rode it for seven seasons.  In the musical “Hamilton,” the title character’s admission that he had an affair leads to brief glee from his political opponents, which abruptly ends with the words “his poor wife.”  That segues into a wrenching solo, and the rest of the show focuses more on her anger and eventual forgiveness than it does on the political price he paid.

There has been, to be sure, much speculation about the Trump marriage: The way he left her behind when the couple arrived at the White House on Inauguration Day; how her smile turned to a frown during the ceremony; how she didn’t move to the White House for months, and swatted his hand away when he reached for hers on a tarmac; and, most recently, how the photo she chose to tweet on the first anniversary of his taking office was of herself not with her husband but with the military escort who accompanied her to her seat.

But the public reaction to the news that weeks before Election Day Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, set up a shell corporation to pay Daniels shows the fundamental rulebook for public reaction to sex scandals no longer applies. (Cohen has denied that Trump and Daniels had an affair but has not denied the payment nor said what it was for.)

There was no “stand by your man” statement, no public display of support. While Melania did travel to Florida with her husband immediately after the allegations were first published in the Wall Street Journal, she did not attend any events with him there that weekend. The closest she came to signaling her feelings was canceling her trip to Davos, and while it appeared to speak volumes it was not accompanied by the headlines and speculation that would previously have been de rigueur in such circumstances.

Perhaps it’s because this is the second time the Trumps have been through this particular type of news cycle. In October 2016, when the “Access Hollywood” tape surfaced, Melania did a version of the traditional public wife walk, telling Anderson Cooper that Trump’s boasting about grabbing women was “boy talk, and he was led on — like, egged on — from the host to say dirty and bad stuff.”

Or perhaps it’s because this first lady is so opaque, and those who might be inclined to speculate or empathize have been given no window into how she might be feeling. Other wives weathering scandals had friends who would dish. Articles about the Clinton and Weiner marriages, for instance, were filled with anonymous quotes from friends of the couple, who served as conduits for their pain. But Melania Trump’s public-facing world seems to be only herself, her parents and her son, Barron.  Who are her close friends?

Perhaps because the man who is accused of cheating on her does not seem to pay a political price for his actions and because his actions do not “stick” to him, the usual public embrace does not envelop her. Yes, polls show she is the most popular member of the Trump family, but still her approval numbers are lower than her disapproval numbers.

And so, one of the many lessons of this presidency may be this: When every day brings an accusation or misstep that might have brought down a previous president, it leads to a numbing lack of surprise that translates into lack of sympathy for his wife. With a news cycle in hyperdrive, there is neither time nor inclination to wonder what Melania is thinking.

It is only so much a woman can take from a cheating husband, she will break. Hillary stayed because she had higher political aspirations , where as Malenia can move on sell her name and brand.

Perhaps, she would be the one to destroy Trump, he is too old to take pressure.

Interesting issues and developments emerging.

When she heard the Orange Orangutan Knack Up Stormy Daniels 7 months after Baron she realized she is a Trophy.

She has every right to be upset, but I doubt she will end her marriage over it.  

Funny, now she will bring him down since Mueller seem to have failed!!

Base, like you saw Muellar's Report):

Nehru posted:

When she heard the Orange Orangutan Knack Up Stormy Daniels 7 months after Baron she realized she is a Trophy.

Come on, she knew what she was getting into marrying Trump.   She is no lil innocent girl!  

In an interview, She said women slipped their phone # to him in front of her.  He then gave it to her.

Nehru posted:

Base, like you saw Muellar's Report):

I got a peek preview!  There will be some procedural issues and some infractions, but nothing close to impeachable!   

Trump is riding high and will continue.  He will win big in 2020.  Much bigger than the PNC will!

Riding high?? Stormy Daniels said he has no rocket in his pocket.0;0:

Nehru posted:

Riding high?? Stormy Daniels said he has no rocket in his pocket.0;0:

Stormy getting rich bai!

Perhaps, by taking the solo flight to Florida, it is a sign that it is getting much more closer for ....

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsaTElBljOE

Maybe she did not tell the Donald of her trip to Florida. 

Nehru posted:

When she heard the Orange Orangutan Knack Up Stormy Daniels 7 months after Baron she realized she is a Trophy.

Actually it was 4 months after Baron was born. He couldn't even wait for de ohman's patacake to get repaired. 

Baseman posted:

Nehru posted:

Base, like you saw Muellar's Report):

I got a peek preview!  There will be some procedural issues and some infractions, but nothing close to impeachable!   

Trump is riding high and will continue.  He will win big in 2020.  Much bigger than the PNC will!

Watching FoxNews is a bad idea bai. I stopped after this ohman quit to move to Australia. 

ksazma posted:

Nehru posted:

When she heard the Orange Orangutan Knack Up Stormy Daniels 7 months after Baron she realized she is a Trophy.

Actually it was 4 months after Baron was born. He couldn't even wait for de ohman's patacake to get repaired. 

Banna 4 months is long to be in drydock. Keep in mind the pregnancy.  I’m sure she knew how to keep the glow plug aglow by ”other means”.

ksazma posted:

Nehru posted:

When she heard the Orange Orangutan Knack Up Stormy Daniels 7 months after Baron she realized she is a Trophy.

Actually it was 4 months after Baron was born. He couldn't even wait for de ohman's patacake to get repaired. 

Perhaps, this modified version ...

Pat-a-cake, patacake, baker’s man
Make him a cake as fast as you can
Pat it and prick it and mark it with T
Send it quickly to Trump and She.

Demerara_Guy posted:

Perhaps, by taking the solo flight to Florida, it is a sign that it is getting much more closer for ....

Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsaTElBljOE

No, sir, she's embarrassed, but will stay with him throughout his reign because they have a business deal. She's on center stage and is among the world's most important, admired and coveted women. She'll probably leave him when they're out of the White House, he'll be an old man, and she could have someone closer to her age.

kp posted:

It is only so much a woman can take from a cheating husband, she will break. Hillary stayed because she had higher political aspirations , where as Malenia can move on sell her name and brand.

Perhaps, she would be the one to destroy Trump, he is too old to take pressure.

There are so many protests in Davos currently going on.  Folks don't want him there.  He will end up a broken, lonely old man one day. 

alena06 posted:

kp posted:

It is only so much a woman can take from a cheating husband, she will break. Hillary stayed because she had higher political aspirations , where as Malenia can move on sell her name and brand.

Perhaps, she would be the one to destroy Trump, he is too old to take pressure.

There are so many protests in Davos currently going on.  Folks don't want him there.  He will end up a broken, lonely old man one day. 

Well, thus far he seem to get what he set out, including President of the USA, the TOP job in the world.  And he is already old.  He will always invoke passion, people will love and people will hate him.   If he continues, history will judge him as one of the most impactful presidents of the USA.  Trump will never be broken, not his character!

Baseman posted:

Well, thus far he seem to get what he set out, including President of the USA, the TOP job in the world.  And he is already old.  He will always invoke passion, people will love and people will hate him.   If he continues, history will judge him as one of the most impactful presidents of the USA.  Trump will never be broken, not his character!

President of the US-of_A is NOT the top job in the world.

Baseman posted:

Well, thus far he seem to get what he set out, including President of the USA, the TOP job in the world.  And he is already old.  He will always invoke passion, people will love and people will hate him.   If he continues, history will judge him as one of the most impactful presidents of the USA.  Trump will never be broken, not his character!

Impactful indeed, as one who is focused on inconsequential world matters and unaware of practical issues that face the world.

Demerara_Guy posted:

Baseman posted:

Well, thus far he seem to get what he set out, including President of the USA, the TOP job in the world.  And he is already old.  He will always invoke passion, people will love and people will hate him.   If he continues, history will judge him as one of the most impactful presidents of the USA.  Trump will never be broken, not his character!

Impactful indeed, as one who is focused on inconsequential world matters and unaware of practical issues that face the world.

Yea yea, says the great fortune teller!

Demerara_Guy posted:

Baseman posted:

Well, thus far he seem to get what he set out, including President of the USA, the TOP job in the world.  And he is already old.  He will always invoke passion, people will love and people will hate him.   If he continues, history will judge him as one of the most impactful presidents of the USA.  Trump will never be broken, not his character!

President of the US-of_A is NOT the top job in the world.

True, top blogger on GNI is.  My bad!!

Baseman posted:

True, top blogger on GNI is.  My bad!!

ASJ is #1 but only posts on Bollywood Forum; used to post on the other forums. It's mind-boggling how he racked up so many posts -- maybe he has other nicks and sends messages to himself -- don't know how the post count works. 

Leonora posted:

Baseman posted:

True, top blogger on GNI is.  My bad!!

ASJ is #1 but only posts on Bollywood Forum; used to post on the other forums. It's mind-boggling how he racked up so many posts -- maybe he has other nicks and sends messages to himself -- don't know how the post count works. 

I forgot, also the top fortune mis-teller!

Leonora posted:

Baseman posted:

True, top blogger on GNI is.  My bad!!

ASJ is #1 but only posts on Bollywood Forum; used to post on the other forums. It's mind-boggling how he racked up so many posts -- maybe he has other nicks and sends messages to himself -- don't know how the post count works. 

It’s not a person, it’s AI  machine scanning the internet and cut and paste based on key word finds.  There was a time when PPP of Pakistan news flooded political.  I believe Amral put a patch, but it works too well!