No need to wonder.  It would have been business as usual.

Apparently not but we’re supposed to make a judgment based on them and the untrustworthy as fuck Chicago PD.

Are there any other sources besides TMZ?

I believe them. Who doesn’t believe them? What black woman PhD holding, college professor is going to come out of the woodwork 15 years after the fact to sabotage the career of the black Lieutenant Governor of Virginia with the account of an event she was verifiably present for, if it’s not true?

It’s kind of like why I believed Ford. All other facts aside, what is in it for this woman to put herself through this?

thank you for such a thoughtful article.

I think that is a little flimsy. I respect your right to make a personal value judgment based on the available facts, but the video and WaPo article made it clear she didn’t really understand who the girlfriend is (other than a friendly regular presence) and otherwise didn’t object - either because didn’t mind or…

Presumably, your step dad would talk to you about it.

I am with you. Unfortunately, when we get to the point of advancing dementia, when we might want to think about taking the exit ramp, our judgment usually goes so quickly that we don’t realize that our younger, wiser self didn’t want to live like this. I have witnessed with my parents, my parents-in-law, and nearly…

Well if that seems more credible to you, then I guess go with that. I’ve been following Dan and B since her diagnosis. (I used to LOVE her show). I don’t see how she’s being harmed. Is there some evidence that she’s being exploited? Would people be happier if he put her into a facility?

TThanks for sharing your experience. My mom’s sister was in Smith’s shoes. And my uncle made a choice to find companionship when her health got worse. All while he stuck with my aunt. He did not want anyone else to hanger her diaper, bathe, or change her. He bit of a mistrust with nursing homes regarding Alzheimer’s…

Caring for a partner with a long-term illness that they will eventually die of is an incredibly painful and draining job. I would hope that they talked about this scenario while she was still able to have those kinds of conversations, and if they did, then I’m not going to hold it against him. Leaning on your adult…

Then I guess we just have to rely on the people who actually know and love her and knew and loved her before she got sick.

I told my wife decades ago that if I ever start losing the core of my being like that, what she did to get through the day was fine by me and no judgements. Because it stops being about me when I’m just a shell to be supported.

(If we’re being honest,I think half of the people who take issue with this do so because of the race of the other woman). Either way,as you said,there is no abuse or harm or secrecy involved here,and everyone is an adult,so I’m good with it.

I agree with you,though on the other hand,it wasn’t like this info wasn’t going to be publicized in one form or another,sooner or later,so I guess they figured,who better to tell their story than themselves? My mom took care of my grandmother when she had it up until she had to put her in a home,and honestly,I don’t…

He very easily could have put her in a home (my grandmother suffered from dementia, and at some point, my grandfather was simply unable to care for her and she was put into a long-term care facility, so there is absolutely NOTHING wrong about that choice either as long as it is made with research and consideration)…

I wondered what happened to B. Smith so when I saw the piece in the post I understood. I read the article with mixed emotions. I completely understood what was happening and, more crucially, WHY it was happening (for many of the reasons you cite in your piece), but it still left me a bit uncomfortable to see Smith…

Whatever one thinks of this situation, as far as I can tell no one is being abused or harmed. That’s the bottom line for me.

As a person whos mother has dementia the amount of ignorance being said about B Smith and her husband was stunning. While i might not agree with going public with the new GF. I understood what was happening and that her husband is grieving. Nice to see an article with some perspective on the caregiver and what they…