It might sound progressive to say you don’t care what someone does in his or her private life, but if private behavior contradicts what you’ve built your public career on, your convictions will be questioned — and legitimately so. That appears to be what’s happening to Clinton right now, and it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

On the campaign trail, she doesn’t directly trade on her status as Bill’s wife. Yet, it’s always there. She is married to Bill Clinton, beloved by some, despised by others, and indisputably, a powerful man to whom she has chosen to remain yoked for decades despite his poor treatment of many women, including Hillary herself.

Plus, she certainly does trade on her time as first lady to make the case for her experience, that she knows how things work from the inside. It’s thus impossible not to notice that “standing by her man” was a fabulous career move.

Is that inspiring? Is feminism about ambition and toughness alone? Or is it also about ethics and the dignity of women?