Letter to the Editor: Ryun Ought Get His Story Straight

A lovely Letter to the Editor of the Topeka Cpaital-Journal about Jim Ryun's problem remember where he stands on Social Security privatization:

Letter: Stand should be known
Published Thursday, May 01, 2008

The headline April 18 on the story about the 2nd Congressional District race read, "Social Security divides Republican candidates." Not only that, but it seems to divide Jim Ryun in a struggle against himself.

In the article, Ryun's campaign staff said the world "privatization" doesn't accurately describe their candidate's plan for Social Security. But the same article noted that when he first ran for office in 1996, Ryun supported "compassionate privatization."

There's one well-documented Ryun flip-flop on the issue. Here's another. In a 2004 debate, Ryun claimed to have not yet made up his mind about the idea of privatization. However, The Capital-Journal published excerpts from a letter Ryun sent to his constituents in which he advocated for privatized Social Security accounts.

So, to sum up: Ryun supported privatization in 1996. In 2004, he both opposed and supported it. And now he opposes it again.

Now, I'm confused. Does he or doesn't he?

After his 10 years in Congress, shouldn't Mr. Ryun have made up his mind on an issue of this importance? And if he just can't reach a decision — well, maybe that's why voters resoundingly kicked him out of office in 2006.

JACKIE BROWN, Topeka