It is embarrassing for some of us who have been in operational (as opposed to elective) politics to watch the circus around the family issues of Kellyanne Conway. A status usually reserved for candidates, not those of us behind the scenes. It’s a bit mortifying in the “by the Grace of God there go I” sort of way. Full package considered probably the most attractive woman in politics, Conway faces controversy from an unlikely source, her loquacious spouse. It’s not only that he doesn’t support her boss, it seems he goes out of his way to rankle him. In a normal work environment this might have gotten her fired a long time ago.
But politics in the Trump White House is anything but normal.
In many ways, thank God for that.
The kerfuffle bespeaks a tremendous loyalty on the part of the notoriously thin-skinned president and an overreaching sense of self-importance on the part of George Conway. It’s so weird and so counterintuitive for a couple that obviously knows their way around politics, you’d almost think it was an op either to send a mole into the other camp (see Dzerzhinsky’s Trust) or an actual attempt on the part of Kellyanne to hedge her bets in case the administration goes south. Then she would finally jump ship for “personal reasons.” If I had to guess, of the two I’d say the former. But there is another more prosaic answer.
The annoying little man is just miffed. Envious of his high-flying beautiful wife and her day husband. Jealous of a status and power that will never come to him. Covetous of a page in the history books he will never earn. He’s hardly a footnote, if that. Granted, that is reading a lot into it, as only the couple involved knows what’s actually going on in a relationship.
What does seem obvious is that this guy is trashing his wife’s superior at every chance and in a very personal way, calling into question the president’s mental state and basic integrity. This can not but complicate, if not somewhat impede, her ability to work for the president. It certainly does not support her stated goals.
So perhaps he should put his bruised ego aside and let the woman do her job. You’d think it would be an obvious move for a spouse who puts family above politics.
As any sane person in the world would do.
