At the Conways

As recent as a few days ago, there has been a very public struggle for the sanctity of free speech and the sacredness of marriage — specifically the points of view expressed by lawyer, George Conway III and deflected by his wife, Counselor to the President of the United States, Kellyanne Conway.

There’s a few people I would want to be right now. But Kellyanne, you're definitely not one of them.

This is not an article meant to address politics and political ideology. It’s not an article meant to determine the definition and application of the First Amendment. But in this media-crazed, news-in-a-nanosecond environment, I ended up considering the situation from Kellyanne’s perspective and didn’t feel too comfortable by George’s approach.

Trying to see the entire picture from a normal two-income family perspective, would I care if my husband spoke out publicly or privately against my boss and the way he runs his company? Would I request my spouse to tone down the rhetoric or would I play a lot of damage control, explaining to all who would listen that we are two individuals with independent minds? Would I ask my husband to lay low and eliminate the social media jabs and op-ed articles? Would I impede on his opinions if they could have any embarrassing impact on my career?

My husband and I talked about this situation and came to a similar conclusion. We agreed that George can say what he believes, that is in his rights. However, his actions do not seem very appropriate when it comes to his relationship with his wife. In fact, work and family balance in 2019 is tough enough to navigate — for the employee, the spouse, the kids — even when you have bought into a life that is extremely high-profile. I cringe for Kellyanne.

And yet she rises each morning, gets her family ready for the day, and, right or wrong, spends an inordinate amount of time defending her man and her boss. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t want to be Kellyanne now or at any time: past, present or future.

A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is an East Meadow resident and a direct marketing/advertising executive who teaches advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, LIU Post and SUNY Old Westbury.