A Good Career Gone Up in Smoke?

Like all too many baby boomers, T. Timothy Ryan, who is currently the Bush Administration’s nominee to head the Treasury Department’s Office of Thrift Supervision, smoked marijuana and tried cocaine about 20 years ago during the freer, flower-power era that stretched into the early 1970s. He volunteered this information during an investigation by the FBI.

As often happens in the highly politicized atmosphere of Washington, Ryan’s honest disclosure was leaked to the news media. That’s normal politics, but now the disclosure is taking on the aura of a witch hunt. Ryan’s candor--and regret--concerning his casual drug use is being used against him. Critics want to deny Ryan, who is 46, the top post because he, like millions of his generation, dabbled with drugs. His youthful experimentation, as his backers have pointed out quite astutely, has no bearing on his ability to handle a tough job now.

When the Senate considers Ryan’s nomination, the debate should focus solely on his credentials, qualifications and experience in the financial industry. A vote could come as early as today, and his nomination should rise or fall on his merits.

Americans are far less tolerant of social drug use than they were 20 years ago, with good reason. But this kind of persecution--who used drugs and when did they use them?--should be discouraged to avoid blacklisting an entire generation.