My Hometown Newspaper Endoresment Shocker! MUST READ TO BELIEVE!

[JeffreyWilliamson]

Hello all,

I was shocked the other day to see that my local newspaper, The Galveston County Daily News, had endorsed John McCain.:

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=808f8eee4e1bfc0e

The Daily News recommends Republican nominee John McCain for president in 2008.

We base that recommendation on McCain’s proven track record in national defense, his legislative leadership ability and fiscally conservative economic policies. For moderates who seek measured steps back toward the middle of the American political spectrum, McCain is the right choice this year.

He represents a middle ground between George Bush-Karl Rove on the right and the ultra-liberal polices of Barack Obama and the current leadership of the Democratic Party.

Seems a few readers didn't like this endorsment and decided to give a little feedback to the newspaper's president. For whatever reason, he felt it necessary to respond to the criticism today, explaining the decision:

http://galvestondailynews.com/blog.lasso?blog=2bfbcd6f05ab61f4

On Tuesday of this week, The Daily News endorsed John McCain for president and later that day one of our employees walked into my office and said, “Hey, who’s this ‘we’ you referred to in your editorial about how ‘we’ endorse John McCain?”

Her point was that while “we” might like McCain, she didn’t. She was a proud Obama supporter, and implying she, as a staff member of the newspaper, supported McCain bothered her. “That’s not me,” she said.

Okay, all pretty reasonable, and then came this little gem:

I told her that the “we” in editorials refers to the newspaper’s editorial board. In this case, however, the “we” really meant me. I didn’t poll the board because I wasn’t willing to endorse anyone but McCain.

:wtf:

[Robbien]

1. Little dictator

We means me cause I don't bother about you.

[Mollis]

2. My local newspaper

is basically endorsing McCain without really saying it. Just putting up how "great" he is and how "bad" Obama is. So right-winged, it's not even funny.

[TornadoTN]

3. Well, at least he admits it openly

That's about all I can give him credit for, but I'm a fair person, so I'll acknowledge his token gesture.

Now - is anyone willing to bombard his e-mail with mail calling him on this little slip?

[gratuitous]

4. "We" means me

So, the editor is either royalty or has a tapeworm. I wonder how he and his tapeworm are going to get their paper out without and reporters, copy editors, typesetters or printers? Because that's how he'd have to manage it if I was on the staff there.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Ah, yes, the royal "we." n/t

[Baldameer]

6. LOL Just love the Lebowski.... :)

The editorial, the "Royal We" just kills me everytime.

[JeffreyWilliamson]

7. It's absolutely stunning...

After his admission he goes on to say this(emphasis mine):

However, the truth is that the person who runs the company (me) has a vote that trumps all others. So, I went with my best judgment, and some readers agreed and some disagreed.

And then later:

So, you ask, if our endorsement of McCain is not expected to influence the race, why do it? Why alienate half a dozen people so much they quit taking the paper?

And to finish up:

By the way, you’re welcome to write us a letter to the editor agreeing or disagreeing with me about McCain or anything else. Your commentary, not my own, is one of the most interesting parts of our paper, in my opinion. Let us hear from you, especially when you disagree.