What Akin, Ryan and Romney Have in Common

But I guess you can't blame Ryan too much for being such a dishonest wuss, because he has joined a ticket headed by the dishonest wuss to end all dishonest wusses. Mitt Romney's flip-flopping on issues such as health care -- his program was the model for Obamacare, as we all know -- has been the most outstanding characteristic of his campaign. To give you an idea of the man's total lack of integrity, he recently threw a bone to Paul supporters by endorsing Paul's longtime call for an audit of the Federal Reserve. Romney had previously shown a degree of integrity by sticking to his guns on the subject, refusing to endorse a good-sounding but essentially meaningless political gesture, but has now succumbed.

I'd like to see Ron Paul on the podium at the Republican convention. Rather than going on and on about "freedom," he ought to show us the kind of man's man that he is. Denounce aid to Israel! Talk about the Fed funding the Watergate burglars and the arming of Iraq! Show your integrity. Don't worry about the political repercussions. If it benefits the Democrats, well, so be it.

Meanwhile, here's hoping that Todd Akin stays in the race. Hang in there, chum. Don't let the Republican establishment bully you.

Gary Weiss's most recent book is AYN RAND NATION: The Hidden Struggle for America's Soul, published by St. Martin's Press.