Jeri Thompson, No Mere Trophy

Jeri Thompson is still feeling defensive. That is understandable, given the harsh, sexist criticism from those who continue to see her as nothing more than a "trophy wife." In a new interview with People magazine, Mrs. Thompson directly addresses the accusation that has dogged her for some time:

"I almost think they had to fabricate that trophy-wife stuff because there's nothing interesting to say."

Nothing interesting to say? Talk about damning with faint praise.

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Come on, Jeri, you can sell yourself better than that. Or maybe not. It turns out that Mrs. Thompson isn't really a lawyer, as so many of her defenders claimed (as proof that she possessed a sharp mind). Clearly, Jeri, who is 24 years younger than Fred, is a guiding force behind her husband's campaign. The real question is, is that good thing?

For better or worse, a candidate's spouse steps into the spotlight when his or her mate runs for office. This election cycle, we've seen the spouses out front like never before. Collectively, they represent a capable and dynamic group, delivering speeches, raising money, guiding the overall message.

It is true that you can tell a lot about a person by who he or she chooses to wed. But love is also mysterious, and if you're on the outside looking in, you may never understand the reasons it strikes. Take the Thompsons:

To hear her tell it, the then-U.S. senator from Tennessee was standing in line with a can of beanie weenies and half a premade tuna fish sandwich.

"I looked at him and said, 'I'm so sorry,'" Thompson says.

Updated: Here's a video from an interview which ran on 10/3...


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