The Monica Syndrome

Christine Beatty

Why is it that when powerful men have illicit relationships the women always suffer the most? Let's consider the case of Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Bill Clinton seems to be doing just fine, after all he's out running for President again. What I mean to say is, he's out campaigning for his wife, who is running for the Presidency. But Monica Lewinsky? Last I heard she was hawking Handbags. Which is not a bad thing until you consider that in December 2006, Lewinsky graduated with a master's degree in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics.

According to reports she has complained that having at least one Clinton as an enemy has made it extremely hard to find a job commensurate with her education.

Now in Detroit another woman who made the mistake of having an illicit affair with a powerful man appears to have been thrown under the proverbial bus.

Christine Beatty who it seems had an affair with Kwame Kilpatrick, the Mayor of Detroit, resigned yesterday after the relationship became public. Ms Beatty was the Mayor's Chief of Staff.

Mayor Kilpatrick as of this moment has not indicated any inclination to resign. This even though in the last couple of days it was reported by several Detroit news outlets that Mayor Kilpatrick spent last weekend at a luxury resort with a women, who was not his wife or Christine Beatty. The woman's name is reported to be Carmen Slowsky.

By the way, Kwame Kilpatrick's wife appears to be doing a Hillary Clinton and standing by her man.

The reaction I have seen in the media and on blogs is the usual blame the woman thing. And why should so much blame be shouldered by Christine Beatty? After all she was not elected by the people of Detroit to represent them, Mr Kilpatrick was. But that hasn't stopped many people from making her the villain.

So what is going to happen to Ms Beatty? Well if Monica Lewinsky is an example she will spend the rest of her life as a footnote in a powerful mans life. And more than likely the object of scorn.

And Mr Kilpatrick; will he have the opportunity to rebuild his career like Bill Clinton? Probably.

I'm pretty sure that when Monica Lewinsky is 80 years old she will still be best known for her sexual association with Bill Clinton.

I hope the same fate does not befall Ms Beatty.

Do you agree with me or do you think women like Ms Beatty get what they deserve?