Embarrassed for our congressman

U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) did his party and himself a disservice by withdrawing from the congressional race at the last possible moment and then reversing himself a few days later.

Gallegly initially said a medical problem forced him to withdraw from the race on the last day that candidates were required by law to file their intent-to-run documents. Gallegly erroneously thought that if an incumbent withdraws, it extends the deadline for new office seekers to apply. That might have been the policy for city council races, but it doesn't hold water in congressional races.

What's amazing is that a U.S. congressman could make such a fundamental blunder. While Gallegly can't be expected to know everything, his staff, in this case, should have had a clue.

They either didn't, or they weren't consulted, neither of which says much for Gallegly.

Until now, the congressman's medical problem has been kept confidential. He said he hadn't gotten back some test results and decided not to run. The tests dealt with an abnormality that Gallegly hasn't revealed. The mysterious tests were apparently negative.

Gallegly may, indeed, be facing a delicate health problem. But the right to privacy is pretty much gone when it comes to public officials, especially at the federal level. The taxpayers of America, after all, learned more about polyps of the colon through former President Reagan.

Even celebrities sometimes reveal medical conditions that aren't pleasant to talk about, such as Lance Armstrong's testicular cancer and Melissa Etheridge's breast cancer.

The congressman owes his electorate a complete explanation because his health is now a factor in the election.

He's made it an issue.

Gallegly is yielding to the beckoning call of his supporters, who've begged him to reconsider and run for office after all.

He, of course, has graciously accepted their request and will run for office in the June primary and in November, barring a June 6 miracle from a Republican challenger nobody has yet heard of.

Some of us are left to wonder if the whole mess was an abortive attempt by Gallegly to hand pick his replacement.

If so, it didn't work and Gallegly now says he won't run in 2008. That's the wisest decision he's made lately.

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