The wives of politicians?

So on the news today we learn that Tim Mahoney Elected to Remove ‘Ethical Cloud’ of His Disgraced Predecessor, Mark Foley was found out to have had a mistress while he was campaigning on honesty and morals. I didn’t see his wife, but from his actions, she was nearby when he stated he broke no laws.

Q: Other than Spitzer, wives of these scoundrels “stand by their man” (literally) while they are denying any legal wrongdoing (though its clear the extra-curricular sex happened). The wives clearly look stressed, distraght and are no doubt totally embarassed. Why do they agree to stand there to show support for this person?