Readers Write: Ease up on Congressman Ryan

The Island Now

Alan Reff is upset that U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, did not place his hand over his heart during the singing of the national anthem. I have to say that was inexplicable and really mystifying. It was bothersome. I give Mr. Reff that.  However, to vow never to vote for the man? That is a bridge too far.

Mr. Reff, have you ever run for president or major office? You don’t need to have done so in order to have an opinion here. I haven’t either. But I have worked for and traveled with major national presidential candidates out on the hustings in New Hampshire, Iowa, New York,  Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. I saw the endless daily 24/7 pressure to stand here, say that, turn this way, go here, learn Y, recite X, take endless selfies, shake a sea of hands, and always,  always, always be ON. The hours bleed into themselves.

Guess what? These folks mess up. I would! Granted, this was a doozie of an error. But I get it. If Ryan was an all-around total dunce, dunderhead or bully, liar and progenitor of the worst human instincts in people like Trump is, then I’d pile on this, and say this guy is not ready, and it shows.

But Ryan is one of the good ones. He’s actually one of the better ones running in that vast Democratic field of hopefuls. He’s an independent Democratic moderate to liberal, calls-them-as-he-sees-them Rust Belt Democrat who won overwhelmingly side-by-side while Trump was also winning his district. He was an early fighter for meaningful reforms in the House that get bills on to the floor faster and easier; he favors term limits for committee chairs; he’s solid on guns and has a lot of guts taking on the gun issue being from Ohio. 

Is he my first choice in the field? No, but under the right circumstances, he might be just what the Democrats need as a vice presidential candidate to beat Trump.

But I’ve seen what these folks go through. It’s not easy running for a House seat, a statewide race and, of course, a 50-state marathon 24/7 race for the highest office in the land. Trump made it look so easy. It’s not. Been there, seen that. I say: Ease up a bit on the guy.

Jon Weinstein

Port Washington

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