Let's thank the Plain Dealer editorial board

[annerevere]

I've worked in the newspaper business, and when the publisher jumps, everyone including the editorial board, jumps.

There was a revolt on this editorial board. They stood toe-to-toe with the publisher and forced the situation to a draw. It's a bit like a mutiny, and believe me, that is extremely rare in newspapers.

Thank these guys, the most of whom supported Kerry. What they did took real courage. Think about how strongly they must have felt about Kerry and against Bush to do something like this. That they fought the publisher to a draw, is a victory for them, for Cleveland and for Kerry.

[Tim_in_HK]

1. wait, did they not endorse or something?

i missed this . . .

what's going on?

[fugue]

2. The publisher ordered them to endorse Bush

after they had voted to endorse Kerry. So they refused to endorse. Amazing in today's media climate, huh?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x932775

Here's the e-mail address for letters to the editor: [e-mail]

[MostlyLurks]

3. How Do We Know That's What Happened?

The editorial does say the board majority voted to endorse Kerry, but the editorial does not go on to say that the publisher decreed otherwise. Where does that half of the story come from? Or is the publisher-decree a "read between the lines" situation? Just curious.

[TruthWins]

5. Reported on several Web sites, plus

I am in Cleveland and the Kerry grapevine here has some Plain Dealer reporters who said the publisher was overruling the editorial board. In fact, one editor said when he/she (can't remember) left the office Friday the understanding was that there would be a Bush endorsement on Sunday. Someone obviously kept fighting.

[TruthWins]

4. Not Only Did They Not Endorse

but the pro-Kerry side gave Bush a hard time...

"Americans know more about Bush.

They know that he and his aides seriously underestimated the quality and intensity of the resistance to the occupation of Iraq by troops from the United States, Great Britain and an assortment of coalition partners.

They know that on the home front, he has insisted on tax cuts in the teeth of a growing federal deficit, instituted a color-coded terrorist threat alert system that Americans have come largely to ignore because they consider it useless, and oversold a Medicare prescription package that bears all of the earmarks of a budget-busting disappointment.

They know that he has done these things in the atmosphere of an administration that prefers to hold its own secrets close even as, in the name of homeland security, it proposes new and sometimes disturbing avenues of government intrusion into the lives of ordinary people."

They also admitted that a majority of the editorial board wanted to endorse Kerry, but "after long and difficult deliberations, it was decided that the better path would be to sit this one out."

In other words, our publisher said "We endorse Bush or we endorse no one." So officially we endorse no one, but we wanted to endorse Kerry.

[liberal N proud]

6. I do know that people are canceling their subscription in droves

Many people in Cleveland area ar pissed off about this and have cancled their subscriptions to the Plain Dealer.

[sendero]

7. Are they cancelling...

... because they didn't endorse Kerry, or because they didn't endorse Bush*?

[liberal N proud]

8. The fury is over the forced endorsement going against the editors

The Plain Dealer is actually going to Release its Endorsment this Sunday 10/31 and it will be for bush.

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. I just sent this email letter to the Plain Dealer

Because of the importance of the vote in Ohio this
year, I like many Americans, am taking a greater than
average interest in the opinions held by your
citizens, and media, regarding the Presidential
Election. A Presidential Endorsement by a leading
media outlet is an important decision. I applaud the
the seriousness shown by your Editorial Board in
evaluating that decision, and hope their work will be
honored and respected by the Cleveland Plain Dealer's
Publisher.

Recently the Denver Post chose to endorse George Bush,
reportedly against the wishes of their own editorial
board. In a statement published Oct 26th by the Post,
(http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E416%257E,00.html)

they stated in part: "More than 700 readers have given
us their thoughts on Sunday's presidential
endorsement, and they add up to a passionate
dissent... Every letter we received was critical of
the Post endorsement". Americans want reasoned debate
from their media, not partisan cheer leading from
media owners. They are duly noting when their media
falls short of that standard.

Sincerely

Tom Rinaldo