Endorsements, A First

The Chicago Tribune and LA Times endorse Obama. Partisans will argue that this is just another indicator of the liberal mainstream media's love affair with the Democrats. Hold on to your horses. Both newspapers have never endorsed a Democrat for the White House! (H/T: David C)

Chicago Tribune:

This endorsement makes some history for the Chicago Tribune. This is the first time the newspaper has endorsed the Democratic Party's nominee for president.

The Tribune in its earliest days took up the abolition of slavery and linked itself to a powerful force for that cause--the Republican Party. The Tribune's first great leader, Joseph Medill, was a founder of the GOP. The editorial page has been a proponent of conservative principles. It believes that government has to serve people honestly and efficiently.

Top of the Ticket, a LA Times blog, discusses the endorsement by their parent newspaper.

Someone could suggest the endorsement confirms the mainstream print media's ongoing adoration of the liberal Windy City machine magi. Except this is the newspaper's first presidential endorsement of any kind since 1972, when it had appeared to learn its lesson and stopped White House endorsements after supporting Richard M. Nixon, who was forced to resign in disgrace. So, no Times pattern there.

In fact, Obama is the first Democratic presidential nominee endorsed by The Times newspaper ever, which makes him very special or weird.

Conventional wisdom says that endorsements do not matter and perhaps they don't. But what does it say about John McCain as a candidate and about the campaign that he's run when two prominent newspapers that have never endorsed a Democrat decide to endorse Obama? The fact that they have endorsed Obama over McCain, who was thought to be the strongest candidate the Republicans could nominate for the general election, is just the cherry on top.

From the LA Times endorsement:

John McCain distinguished himself through much of the Bush presidency by speaking out against reckless and self-defeating policies. He earned The Times' respect, and our endorsement in the California Republican primary, for his denunciation of torture, his readiness to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and his willingness to buck his party on issues such as immigration reform. But the man known for his sense of honor and consistency has since announced that he wouldn't vote for his own immigration bill, and he redefined "torture" in such a disingenuous way as to nearly embrace what he once abhorred.

Indeed, the presidential campaign has rendered McCain nearly unrecognizable. His selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate was, as a short-term political tactic, brilliant. It was also irresponsible, as Palin is the most unqualified vice presidential nominee of a major party in living memory. The decision calls into question just what kind of thinking -- if that's the appropriate word -- would drive the White House in a McCain presidency. Fortunately, the public has shown more discernment, and the early enthusiasm for Palin has given way to national ridicule of her candidacy and McCain's judgment.