Last night, Harry B sent me a link to a rather amazing speech by the first minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson. He knows that I have a weakness for writing about politician's peccadilloes and all things salacious.

In the speech, Robinson explains that his wife of 40 years had an affair and attempted to commit suicide when the affair became known. He describes his first reaction, which was to walk away from the marriage, but that after reflection of the entire history of their marriage, he decided to remain married. He insists that although his personal life was in turmoil, he was still able to perform his public duties.

The speech is extraordinary for many reasons. It is heartbreaking in its honesty. The minister is  completely devastated by his wife's actions. 

It is also extraordinary, because the minister felt the need to make a public statement about her
affair. He didn't run off to Argentina or buy a high priced call girl.
It was his wife who made the error, and her error was a very
commonplace, boring sort of affair. No laws were broken. No illegitimate love children.
No hypocrisy. But with the 24 hour media and the Internet, the lives of
public officials are open to all of us and required him to make a
statement. We are living in strange times indeed.

He does seem to be a strong person with incredible powers
of forgiveness. This is certainly an example not of a politician's
peccadilloes, but of a politician's character. A rare thing.

It also made me wonder if I had be too judgmental about political wives who remained married to their husbands, even after very public and horrific betrayals of trust.