Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government

No Left Turns

Jack Ryan of Illinois

According to George Will if this Republican--Jack Ryan of Illinois--can’t make inroads among black voters, then it can’t be done. This is a great story about a man whose character and purposes seem unimpeachable. It is also a story about education, for this 41 year-old "left Goldman Sachs to become a teacher at Hales Franciscan High School in the heart of the huge black community on the South Side. In an area where some schools send more young men to prison than to college, Hales Franciscan has for six consecutive years sent all its graduates -- all black boys, most from homes poor enough to qualify for the school lunch program -- to colleges, including Notre Dame, Northwestern, Georgetown and the Naval Academy." He is a Republican running in the primary for the U.S. Senate in a Democratic state.

Discussions - 4 Comments

You state that “It is also a story about education, for this 41 year-old "left Goldman Sachs to become a teacher at Hales Franciscan High School in the heart of the huge black community on the South Side”.
What I found at least as compelling in the article is the tradition in Mr. Goldman’s family of community service.
“His mother saved a failing Catholic school in Chicago. His uncle, a Jesuit priest, started a school in a Hispanic neighborhood. There the students are in school four days a week and work one day. Five students share a $25,000-a-school-year job, each earning their tuitions. Ryan’s sister was a sixth-year medical student at Northwestern when she left to open a medical clinic for indigent and immigrant Hispanics. With a verbal shrug, Ryan says, "That’s what we’re supposed to do."

I find this family tradition refreshing. This is nobles oblige at its best.

You said Mr. Goldman’s family but I think you meant Mr. Ryan’s family.

Is it not a shame that this guy shares a surname with the former Republican Governor of Illinois? How many will remember him shameful pardons of all condemned prisoners on his last days in office and confuse him and his act with what seems to be a wondeful and compassionate man? I hope he can draw enough publicity to overxcome this but it seems to be a hill to climb.

Gary,

The ironic thing is that the Republican candidate for governor to replace George Ryan was named Jim Ryan! He suffered from the name recognition and Rod Blagoevich won the election easily. Perhaps Jack Ryan will have an easier time of it because he is running for Senate and not Governor. (and maybe they will associate him with the hero of Tom Clancy’s books!)

Jack Ryan is easily the most attractive candidate in memory to run for national or statewide office in Illinois (and I am not just referring to his knockout good looks). Please let us know what we can do to further his campaign.

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