A poorly thought op-ed by Maureen Dowd

She certainly does not need to, is not required to, and should not be expected to campaign with him. I vote (or don’t) for the candidate, not the smart spouse, cute kids, or well trained dog.

I too was disappointed in the article. I would respect a candidate’s wife of any professional background if she wished not to become a campaign accessory. As a primary care doctor, however, it struck me as particularly sad to consider Dowd’s assumption that patients across Vermont should have to lose their primary care provider in the name of creating good appearances.

When I read her screed I thought, “Ms. Dowd obviously feels threatened by someone like Dr. Steinberg, an accomplished professional woman who doesn’t play to the vanities of lazy, self-important would-be opinion makers.”

This was only reinforced when I read today’s followup whine, in which she fulminates because Dr. Steinberg’s husband, who–in case she hadn’t noticed, is locked in a four-way tie in Iowa–evidently failed to connect with her for a planned phone interview. She called Matt Drudge and vented about it. (Gee, I wonder if her trashing Dean’s wife’s personal life, marriage and career decisions might have had anything to do with it?)

This isn’t really about the Deans. It’s about Maureen Dowd’s massive ego.

I sent her a fan letter.

Maureen Dowd is a disgrace generally, on a newspaper that is rapidly becoming a laughingstock.