State Sen. Barack Obama released the a statement about Jack Ryan’s decision to withdraw from the race for the U.S. Senate: ‘I can only imagine what Jack and his family have gone through over the last several days. I admire Jack’s commitment to public service and his willingness to give back to others by leaving his career at Goldman Sachs to teach at Hales Franciscan High School on the South Side of Chicago. I wish him and his family all the best.’
Ryan was pressured to withdraw after the release of divorce papers in which his former wife, actor Jeri Ryan, accused him of pressuring her to go to sex clubs. While many gays said they back Ryan’s right to privacy, it is Ryan’s alleged hypocrisy and lies which pushed some to favor the release of info.
For example, Ryan does not support gay rights, and he also alleged that the divorce papers, if revealed, would harm his son. In fact, in an an earlier battle to keep the papers sealed, Ryan admitted the papers could damage his political aspirations.