In a previous post, I wrote admiringly about the fitness level of all four of the current Pres/VP candidates, including a "wow" for ultra-fit Paul Ryan. Now we learn he even runs marathons, with a personal best of under three hours. Except, oops, once again Ryan's been caught saying something that's easily verifiable as not true. In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Ryan said his best marathon time was under three hours, specifically "two hour and fifty-something." It didn't take much effort for Runner's World magazine and others to determine that in fact his time was just over four hours. Details here and here.
Political narratives frequently take on a life of their own, and my favorite political scientist/blogger, Jonathan Bernstein, says Ryan's in real danger of ruining his reputation as "a wonk and a truth teller." In particular, he notes that once political reporters get an idea in their heads, such as "Paul Ryan sometimes tells lies", they start checking and digging and investigating and once that starts, who knows what they might find. As James Fallows notes in the article I linked to above, we've all exaggerated about something or other to make ourselves look better. In and of itself, Paul Ryan's marathon time isn't that big of a deal. If it's what creates the tipping point of the "Ryan is untruthful" narrative, it will turn out to be a very big deal indeed.
Saturday afternoon update: Although Congressman Ryan used the word "marathons" in his conversation with Hewitt, Runner's World has confirmed that he has only run one.
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