Ryan's Out

Nobody's very surprised that Jack Ryan dropped out of the U.S. Senate race today. As we at 2GL have noted previously, it's unfortunate that Mr. Ryan's strange sexual preferences became public. However, I think Mr. Ryan is off the mark in his press release:

"It's clear to me that a vigorous debate on the issues most likely could not take place if I remain in the race," added the statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

"What would take place, rather, is a brutal, scorched-earth campaign — the kind of campaign that has turned off so many voters, the kind of politics I refuse to play."

Barack Obama conducting a brutal scorched earth campaign about sex? That is absurd and paranoid. Quite to the contrary, when asked about Ryan's swinging, Obama has declined to comment.

Obama's strategy amid the Ryan revelations has been to appear to take the high ground, confining his rhetoric to issues like shrinking wages and rising health-care costs and avoiding anything that could drag him into the divorce controversy.

Ironically, the harshest critics of Ryan have been within his own party. Come on, Jack. Can't you at least bow out with some class?