Via Libby at Newshoggers: Is America ready for a trophy wife as First Lady?
I will eschew specific discussion of the “trophy wife” label (as it is unnecessarily derisive), but given the entire issue of marriage and family, and its prominence in Republican circles, and given the over lack of GOP front-runners with stellar marital credentials, one has to wonder if pictures like the following might have an effect on some Republican primary voters:
In this case the more specific question is: how will Fred Thompson’s second wife (Jeri Kehn), a quarter century his junior, play in Peoria? (Or, with Southern Social Conservative females?).
Of course, we already know that Thompson has lost James Dobson…
Seriously, as Libby at Newhoggers notes, one’s first reaction is that photos of Thompson and wife are of Thompson and daughter, and so I really do wonder if something like this might not cause a visceral reaction amongst some voters. And there is no doubt that the US electorate often does have visceral reactions to potential first ladies (both of a positive and negative nature).
H/t: Tennessee Guerilla Women for the photo.
Jim Henley also comments.
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June 3rd, 2007 at 10:18 pm
I must admit, my first impression was that she looks more like his daughter than his wife, and this is coming from someone whose husband is 16 years her senior.
June 3rd, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Of course, we already know that Thompson has lost James Dobson…
Ah, actually, that’s not the case anymore. Dobson had a talk with Thompson, explained that it was a misunderstanding, and is now on good terms with Fred.
Don’t be too shocked if Thompson gets into the race and gets an endorsement from Dobson.
June 3rd, 2007 at 11:38 pm
I searched and found some pictures that don’t look quite so shocking. She looks about 25 in that picture, but in others I’ve seen she actually looks her age, which is 40, or so I read.
June 4th, 2007 at 5:13 am
I think a makeover could fix this just fine. Nice conservative hairdo will make her look her age.
Also - they’ve been married 5 years - and she’s no dip about politics - I bet they can make it work.
June 4th, 2007 at 6:21 am
As long as he doesn’t perjure* himself over the relationship he’ll do just fine.
*(though there now appears to be some wiggle room here as well)
June 4th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Intriguing about Dobson. I was unaware of any reconciliation…
June 4th, 2007 at 10:57 am
I have no problem with her, as long as she stop wearing her lingerie out in public
June 4th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Yeah, but have you seen the photo of Fred’s wife and Wolfowitz?
http://guerillawomentn.blogspot.com/2007/04/fred-thompsons-wife-and-wolfowitz-share.html
The church ladies will nevah vote for Jeri to be First Lady.
Nevah!
June 4th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
As a “church lady”, I have no problem with Mrs. Thompson based upon her age and her looks. I know nothing else about her so there is no basis for an opinion, except that obviously Mr. Thompson thought enough of her marry her. On the other hand, we have Rudy’s wife, who was his girlfriend while he was still married to another woman and Rudy is husband number 3, if I am voting for a First Lady that one makes me pause.
Then of course we have the “in the closet” candidate who spent years covering for her “husband” when he sexually harrassed, and sexually manipulated women young enough to be his daugher and now turns a blind eye while the hubby hops the globe with his rather attractive girl friend. Yea, if I am basing my vote on the candidates’ marriages and spouses — then Mr. and Mrs. Thompson don’t even raise an eyebrow.
June 4th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Fred Thompson and Jeri Kehn: Trophy wife, trophy husband?
At 40, Fred Thompson’s attractive, blonde wife of five years, Jeri Kehn, is considerably younger than he is. And while Fred is the TV and movie star of the pair, he looks his 64 years, while in the photos I’ve seen of her, she often looks younger tha…
June 4th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
[...] Beldar noted my post on Fred Thompson and his wife from last night and dubbed it “mildly gossipy” (which is better than what he called some of the other posts he found in the ‘Sphere). [...]
June 4th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
[...] Beldar noted my post on Fred Thompson and his wife from last night and dubbed it “mildly gossipy” (which is better than what he called some of the other posts he found in the ‘Sphere). [...]