Wash. Post's Quinn suggested "personal ambition" led Clinton and Silda Wall Spitzer to "stand by her man" because "there was something in it for her"

On the March 11 edition of the CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric introduced a report by correspondent Nancy Cordes on "powerful men who cheat and the women who stand stoically by them." During the report, Cordes asked, "Big-city mayors, members of Congress, presidents, and presidential candidates: Why would they let sex jeopardize a position they worked so hard to win?" and aired a clip of Washington Post reporter Sally Quinn saying: "I can only think that ambition, their own personal ambition, is part of why they stick by these men, because they are accomplished women in their own right. And so, why would a Hillary Clinton or a Silda [Wall Spitzer, wife of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer] stand by her man and allow herself to be humiliated unless there was something in it for her?" Cordes then noted that "Wendy Vitter, whose senator husband David [R-LA] paid a prostitute, had a different explanation," and aired a clip of Wendy Vitter saying, "Like all marriages, ours is not perfect -- none of us are."

Similarly, during the March 11 broadcast of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck remarked of Eliot Spitzer, "The thing that I'm most shocked about in this whole thing, or most disturbed about, is watching his wife stand beside him as he made these statements yesterday." Beck's guest, psychologist and author David Eigen, asserted: "Probably the wife knows that things weren't working ... and she's been going, 'I enjoy my lifestyle. I enjoy my position. And it's simply -- we've been allowing this to go on and on.' And there's been no true dialog ... and that's what really is the problem." Eigen later added: "Well, you know, this is a sad situation. But you know, the bottom line is -- how do I say this genteelly? They're paid to not worry about it. And they're in a position -- they've bartered themselves, in many cases. And unfortunately, you know, she's made her bed, and she's sleeping in it." Beck replied: "Ay, yi, yi."

According to the biography posted on his website, Eigen received a "Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology, from Delphi University," in McCaysville, Georgia. The website also states that Eigen is an "Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist," a "Certified Breath Release Therapist," and a "Past Life Regression Therapist." According to its website, Delphi University is an "International School of Alternative, Complementary and Energy Healing, Metaphysics, Spiritual Training, Esoteric Studies, Transpersonal Psychology, and Intuitive and Psychic Development. Equally important, Delphi is a Spiritual Retreat, a Unique and Magical Place of Self Improvement, Spiritual Growth and Personal Transformation. Founded by Patricia Hayes in 1974, Delphi is the place for those seeking to Discover, Develop, Enhance, and Refine their Spiritual Gifts and Abilities, as well as to Grow, Transform, and Heal themselves."

From the March 11 edition of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric

COURIC: The scandal involving New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has thrown a spotlight on a dark corner of politics: powerful men who cheat and the women who stand stoically by them. What makes these men, who seem to have it all, so reckless? And why do their wives put on such a brave public face? Here's Nancy Cordes.

[...]

[begin video clip]

CORDES: Big-city mayors, members of Congress, presidents, and presidential candidates: Why would they let sex jeopardize a position they worked so hard to win?

LAUREN SILVERMAN (clinical psychologist): Sometimes people who are very powerful feel as if they're exempt from the law. They may cut corners and feel as if they can get away with it.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: I did something for the worst possible reason, just because I could.

CORDES: And there at their side, almost always, are the wives, showing support in the face of something that seems unforgivable, as Silda Spitzer did yesterday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She looked awful, like, you know, your heart went out to her -- which, if he was appealing for that, then yes. But I can't imagine even asking her to do that after what he put her through already.

QUINN: I can only think that ambition, their own personal ambition, is part of why they stick by these men, because they are accomplished women in their own right. And so, why would a Hillary Clinton or a Silda stand by her man and allow herself to be humiliated unless there was something in it for her?

CORDES: Wendy Vitter, whose senator husband, David, paid a prostitute, had a different explanation.

WENDY VITTER: Like all marriages, ours is not perfect -- none of us are.

CORDES: But even if their families forgive, in today's video universe, it's virtually impossible for anyone to forget.

From the March 11 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: The thing that I'm most shocked about in this whole thing, or most disturbed about, is watching his wife stand beside him as he made these statements yesterday. Am I the only guy in America whose wife would have punched him in the face, and then I would have slept outside or at a hotel without the hookers last night?

He betrayed her. He betrayed the family, the children -- my goodness! The children had to leave for school today with a whole swarm of media. Thanks, Dad.

Dr. David Eigen is a psychologist and author of Men: The Gods of Love. I mean, with that title, I don't know if you're the right guy to talk to -- the gods of love.

First of all, what is this gonna mean -- let's start with the kids. What do you think this is gonna mean for the three kids -- three daughters, teenagers?

EIGEN: It's very sad for the children. They're going to have to go through a lot of changes. But, you know, really the answer to this whole picture is simply that, obviously, the man has not been leading -- is leading a double life, and he's not been honest. The family hasn't been honest. Probably the wife knows that things weren't working --

BECK: Yeah.

EIGEN: -- and she's been going, "I enjoy my lifestyle. I enjoy my position. And it's simply -- we've been allowing this to go on and on." And there's been no true dialog --

BECK: David, I --

EIGEN: -- and that's what really is the problem.

BECK: Yeah, I have to tell you, that crossed my mind with these women, that, I mean, you don't stand there -- you don't even -- I mean, you don't even walk up to the podium, you'd be in such shock. Now, maybe they're standing there at the podium because they are in shock, and they just don't -- they haven't, you know, woken up to it yet, or they knew.

Can you live with a guy who's making it with hookers for years and not really know?

EIGEN: Well, you know, this is a sad situation. But you know, the bottom line is -- how do I say this genteelly? They're paid to not worry about it. And they're in a position -- they've bartered themselves, in many cases. And unfortunately, you know, she's made her bed, and she's sleeping in it.

BECK: Ay, yi, yi.

EIGEN: And that's the unfortunate consequence of all of this. Obviously, they need to have a real, true dialog. Getting counseling would be wonderful, absolutely necessary between him and his children, especially, because they're the collateral damage, if you will. And you know, but it's about, "Hey, what's the real truth? Who am I as governor? Who is the wife? Do we have a relationship? What's it based on? Are we done being fake --

BECK: Yeah.

EIGEN: -- or are we really gonna be real now?"

BECK: OK. Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate it.