On Wednesday night, while addressing a group of Republicans in Michigan, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), a GOP presidential candidate, continued what is apparently a Cruz-on-the-campaign-trail tradition: He told a joke about Vice President Biden.
Now, politicians say dumb stuff all the time. But they rarely do what Cruz did afterward -- apologize unequivocally.
Politicians, like most human beings, find it difficult to admit their failings. Most have also been told repeatedly by political operatives and strategists that apologies only extend a story, spurring stories about the mistake, the apology, the quality of the apology and the subsequent public reaction.
But Cruz said simply what so many others have not.
It was a mistake. I'm sorry. Enough said.
Good on him.