Mary Matalin appeared on the Imus in the Morning show this morning, wondering, heatedly, how Eliot Spitzer could subject his wife to the indignity of standing by his side at yesterday's press conference after he had already broken their marriage vows. It was a theme that many in the media are commenting upon. Matalin, before signing off, told the jocular Imus crew that her husband, Democratic strategist James Carville, would never commit a similar act because he would be ''too scared.''

WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show, by contrast, had a phone-in segment -- for women only -- with New York Times editor and writer Joyce Purnick on what they thought about the Spitzer story on what they thought about Silda Spitzer's standing beside her husband under those circumstances. ''I think it depends on the nature of the relationship. How many spouses -- mostly women, but also men -- stand by their spouses when they (fall into) financial difficulties. I think you have to know more about the relationship before we can answer than question.''

Purnick, who has a book of media mogul-Mayor Michael Bloomberg coming out, also noted that she doesn't think Spitzer can, under the present circumstances, govern. ''Looking purely pragmatically as to whether he can govern, make compromises -- which is what Governors do -- I think it becomes impossible ... I don't think anyone will work with him.''

(image via foxnews)