June 2004

Is it a Meta-Sin?

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 2 Comments

Christopher Hayes has a thoughtful argument in The New Republic arguing that the scandal is based on a meta-sin. One thing that is troubling about the story is that in-itself is that his sex life is his business. But what I think the author misses is in the last paragraph:

The point is not that a candidate’s private life is sacrosanct; it’s fine for the press to inform us of the personal moral failings of our potential elected officials. The point is that Ryan shouldn’t be taken to task by scolds for mishandling embarrassing allegations when it is these same scolds who incorrectly define the allegations as embarrassing in the first place.

I think it would be embarrassing that you take your wife to a swing club on three different occasions and in one she ends up crying because to which you respond, crying doesn’t turn you on. Disqualifying no. Embarrassing yes. Bombshell–not quite, but Wycliff agrees that was a poor headline.

Often embarrassing sex information is buried pretty quickly if you disclose it. We know about John McCain’s dalliances in his first marriage and no one cares. Other politicians have other issues as well. Ryan played a game of chicken in which the allegations aren’t that great, but he made a huge effort to conceal them magnifying the entire issue.

The second thing is that while going to a club with your wife isn’t the worst thing in the world, it is embarrassing to many. Suburban women and downstaters simply don’t understand the reason one would go to a sex club. It’s just out there to them. And it appears to be embarrassing to Jack Ryan who tried to have the file sealed to avoid such a disclosure. If there is nothing embarrassing in the file, than why was it sealed? One part for his child, but much of it because of the political damage it might due–he even says Jeri’s accusations are made to hurt his potential ambitions in the file.

What led to the media frenzy is that Ryan denied there was anything there. This creates two problems. First, he lied. Second, it gave people something to blackmail him with. So say he wants to appoint a strong, independent US Attorney, the Illinois GOP had a trump card on him.

So, not a meta-sin. But an allegation about a fairly minor incident that by hiding he made seem a lot worse than they probably are. If it is a meta-sin the start to tearing down the views about sex lives is to be honest about them and not act like the “scolds” Christopher laments.

I do think it is a good article and an important one in checking ourselves and how we react to ‘sex scandals’.

UPDATE: Eric Zorn has a different take on it. While I generally agree with Zorn’s logic, I don’t think Chris’ point is a bad point in thinking about the scandals.

Zorn has the Roundup

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 No Comments

Over at the Notebook.

Any bets on how Kevin McCullough tries to blame this all on Zorn?

Kass Points Out Jack!’s problem

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 No Comments

I don’t care about his sex life. It’s his judgment that worries me.

The politics were a natural extension, from Hull to Ryan. Yet Ryan persisted in thinking that his own divorce files would remain sealed. He chirped and flashed those teeth, a mannequin of a political candidate animated only by his own narcissism.

It takes great ego to run for high public office, to withstand competing agendas and their agents, and constant criticism, both valid and spiteful. But persisting in the belief that the information in those files wouldn’t come out suggests a mind unwilling to face reality.

The U.S. Senate is not a place for people like this.

And a man who still thinks he can win political office after being accused by his wife of having taken her to sex clubs and asking her to have sex in front of strangers has a serious wattage deficiency.

If you disclosed early and dealt with it in a forthright manner that avoided the feeding frenzy, it would draw a couple stories from time to time, but I still think it was manageable.

But most importantly RYAN KNEW THERE WAS AN UNREDACTED FILE OUT THERE ONCE ROD MCCULLOCH POINTED OUT THE ALLEGATIONS IN MARCH! It was pointless to argue about whether the files should be released there was a copy floating around. Ryan knew McCulloch had seen the contents because McCulloch was accurate and kept on going like it was no big deal.

The GOP has dodged a bullet by the Trib suing to open the sealed files.

Lyin’ Ryan

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 1 Comment

One of the more unfortunate headlines for Jack! is from Human Events Online

I don’t think even Team Ryan can say Human Events is a part of the liberal media conspiracy.

Also, note that Eric Zorn is keeping his confidence with Jack! even though Jack! lied to him-while the Human Events folks are saying to hell with off-the record–you lied.

National/State Split

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 No Comments

Rich Miller in today’s Capitol Fax runs down a split between national leadership and local leadership in the GOP over Ryan:

Washington insiders continued to publicly support Ryan yesterday. A mostly pro-Ryan article in The Hill yesterday quoted Washington, DC Republicans as saying that Illinois GOP leaders ought to butt out of their business.

“Congressman LaHood is out of line,” said Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), who is chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. Santorum was referring to comments made by Ray LaHood that Ryan should drop out.

The Hill even quoted from a list of supporters that Ryan produced, which
included one group that just about nobody has ever heard of, the Virtue PAC out of Kankakee County.

Today’s edition appears to ignore the whole thing, even though Ryan is in DC
for another scheduled fundraiser.

* Local leaders seemed unconcerned about criticism by Washington politicians..
Cook County Republican Chairman Gary Skoien was highly critical of Ryan
yesterday, as was state GOP money bags Ron Gidwitz.

Even DuPage County Republican Chairman Kirk Dillard had some unkind remarks for Ryan. State Sen. Dillard had, up until yesterday, attempted to avoid the controversy. ABC-7 reported last night that DuPage precinct committeemen were ordered to stop campaigning for Ryan.

Other reports came in that a GOP chairman in downstate Pike County had ordered Ryan signs pulled from the county fairgrounds, where Ryan was scheduled to appear but has now been disinvited. Several county chairmen said yesterday they don’t want Ryan to come to their areas.

The Republican US Senate nominee in 2002, Jim Durkin, said he thinks Ryan
should drop out, as did a handful of people on the GOP State Central Committee

Why the different reactions? In DC every wants to circle up the wagons and fight an ideological fight. In Illinois. that’s the Party’s meal ticket you are tampering with and it’s personal–he lied to several local folks.

Losing the DuPage committee people is pretty much the end whether Ryan realizes it or not.

Capitol Fax also has good stuff on the special session, but that is for subscribers so pony up if you are a big junkie or in the business.

Late Night Joke Fest

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 1 Comment

From the Capitol Fax:

Craig Kilborn of the “Late Show” also got into the act. “The Senate race in Illinois has been thrown into chaos as Republican candidate Jack Ryan admitted he took his ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, to a Paris sex club and asked her to get it on with him in front of another couple. It’s nice to see Republicans reaching out to Democrats.”

Explainer: Why the Records Were Unsealed

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 3 Comments

Essentially, they are public records

Jack Ryan just has bad lawyers to go along with a bad campaign staff. Also, the article is a rather effective rebuttal to the laughable talking points by the Ryan campaign.

What is Ryan Thinking?

ArchPundit June 24, 2004 4 Comments

Okay, here are two quotes from Ryan and different times:

During the divorce:

We did go to one avant garde nightclub in Paris which was more than either one of us felt comfortable with. We left and vowed never to return.

Tuesday:

“She says three times over eight years [of marriage], we went to places that she felt uncomfortable,”

Clearly Jack is avoiding the issue of whether he did go three places, but I can safely say I don’t know anyone who’d parse their words like this if they weren’t trying avoid admitting perjury. ‘She says’ can clearly mean he is addressing the worst case scenario, but who the hell would say it like that? If it isn’t true, you’d say that under these conditions.

Well, if my ex-wife’s lies were true, they wouldn’t be a big deal.

No. Doesn’t pass the smell test. Certainly not enough for a prosecution, but enough to wonder what the hell.

And no, I don’t think he should be prosecuted for perjury if he were to admit he lied in the depositions. The lie was immaterial to the case and while unethical, is more stupid than anything (if a lie).