Throughout George Ryan’s time as governor, I have heard stories linking him with the licenses-for-bribes scandal. I have tried to believe he was involved, but even after all the muckraking, I have not heard any solid evidence that proves it.
Every now and then, above the din of indictments, I have heard about the good he has done–overhauling capital punishment in Illinois, fighting for the Safe Neighborhoods Act, unraveling the Hillside Strangler–actions that did not necessarily make good political sense, but which he has pursued because he could not in good conscience do otherwise.
How many politicians would refuse to save their approval ratings by making popular political gestures, when their only reward would be the satisfaction of doing the right thing? As Scott Turow pointed out (“In praise of Gov. Ryan,” Commentary, Feb. 4), the secretary of state is not likely to need such bribes to raise money. If he did, given the length and public nature of the license investigation, someone would have been able to prove it by now.
All that has been proven is that some of Gov. Ryan’s employees enjoyed lucrative, undeclared bonuses. As for Ryan, he has not been indicted, merely convicted in the court of public opinion.
I want to thank Mr. Turow for standing up for Gov. Ryan; in doing so, he, like Ryan, risks the wrath of his own party in order to follow his conscience.
I sincerely hope the people of Illinois will spend the next two years recognizing what a singular governor we have. If we choose to believe in scandalmongers rather than facts, we do deserve politicians-as-usual.
