A member of the U.S. Senate has set a good example by acknowledging he set a bad example.

U.S. Sen. John Ensign, a Republican from Nevada, announced last month that he had decided not to run for re-election, thereby avoiding what he predicted would be a "exceptionally ugly" campaign lodged against him.

Ensign has been involved in a widely publicized scandal involving the wife of one of his political aides, and there are credible reports that Ensign's family paid a significant sum of money to the aide in exchange for his silence.

That's what is called dirty laundry in politics, and Ensign, who is married, decided he wanted no part in airing more of it. Good decision. The people of Nevada deserve better than that.

Late last week, Ensign made another announcement he's resigning from the U.S. Senate rather than staying until his term expires.

Ensign is making his early exit to escape a pending ethics investigation by the Senate. If he goes, the ethics probe grinds to a halt, and Ensign decided that leaving is the better option.

That's another good decision. Nevada's governor can name a temporary replacement, and voters can make their own choice in a special election.

It's far better for all concerned when members of Congress who find themselves in Ensign's predicament throw in the towel and bow out semi-gracefully rather than subject themselves and their legislative body to the indignity of another ethics probe.

One need only go back a few months to recall the monstrous embarrassment that surrounded U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, who was censured by the House for his misconduct. By refusing to admit responsibility for his misbehavior, Rangel made things much more unpleasant than they might have been otherwise.

Unfortunately, many politicians can't admit mistakes or misconduct, no matter how overwhelming the evidence. Ensign was able to avoid that hubristic stance and decide to go quietly rather than go down in flames.