Indiana’s Senator leaves the Senate. The chatter from the political class centers around how this affects the 2010 election, and some of it bemoans the “partisanship” of Washington.  But the bigger story–the very big story–is that a politician, a Senator, a Democratic Senator just said, “I can do more good for my country by creating a business.”

From his press conference:

After all of these years, my passion for service to our fellow citizens is undiminished. But my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned.

…I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives. But I do not love Congress. At this time, I simply believe that I can best contribute to society in another way: creating jobs by helping to grow a business, helping guide an institution of higher learning to educate our children, or helping run a worthy charitable or philanthropic endeavor.

Wow. By all accounts, he would have easily won re-election. How rare and refreshing when a politician voluntarily steps down.  How even more rare and refreshing for him to acknowledge that he can contribute more in the private sector.

The truth is, he certainly can.  If Bayh succeeds at business, he will enhance more lives and create more jobs than all of Congress ever does.