Perspectives: News Outlets and Political Endorsement

It’s political endorsement season.

Editorial boards from newspapers across the country are coming out with endorsements for political offices, from the local level all the way to the president of the United States.

But in these divisive and polarizing times, might they do more damage than good if an endorsement can potentially alienate half of a publication’s audience?

Are they still worth doing?

Last month, The New York Times’ Ben Smith wrote that the 30 papers in the McClatchy chain would only make a presidential endorsement if they actually conducted...

“He’s unpresidential.”

“He’s crude and unkind.”

“He’s just not a good man.”

These things, and much worse, are commonly said of President Donald Trump. His personality totally eclipses his record.

So we, seemingly, have him on the dunk tank, ready for a very cold bath.

Let’s play dump the lout.

But is this really what it’s about?

Isn’t the real question whether he has been taking the country, and the economy of this region, in the right direction these last four years?

Can we separate the man from the record?