For the first time in 72 years, The Record is endorsing a Democrat for president.
Franklin D. Roosevelt got our nod in 1936.
The reasons for the endorsement of Barack Obama over John McCain are articulated in the editorial on this page.
The unanimous decision was made by our editorial board, which consists of Publisher Roger W. Coover, Managing Editor Donald W. Blount, Opinion Page Editor Eric Grunder, Human Resources Director Sandi Johnson and me.
There are many who will question - with some validity - the power or value of such an endorsement. Our decision is hardly going to tip the balance in a competitive presidential election.
But endorsements of elected officials are an important part of a newspaper's public service duty.
This is the third time I've been involved in the presidential endorsement process.
Our presidential endorsements over the years have involved decisions by many different publishers, editors and editorial board members. The Record has changed ownership several times.
Delailah Little, The Record's librarian, diligently combed our archives when I sought to find out our endorsement history. I was stunned to discover the newspaper has endorsed 17 consecutive Republicans - the anomaly being 1992, when The Record chose not to endorse either George H.W. Bush or Bill Clinton.
For historical perspective, here are excerpts of past Record presidential endorsements.
2004: George W. Bush over John Kerry Voters should re-elect Bush for four more years, in part because of his leadership under fire and in part because he recognizes that greatly expanding government's role isn't the answer to every problem.
Democrat John Kerry, polished, confident and convincing in the three presidential debates, fails to offer assurances on either front.
2000: George W. Bush over Al Gore After eight years of William Jefferson Clinton, the best opportunity for restoring dignity and honor to the presidency of the United States rests with George W. Bush.
He possesses the qualities needed to bring America full force into the 21st century - with new approaches to old problems and a pragmatic, rather than dogmatic, style.
1996: Bob Dole over Bill Clinton Bill Clinton can govern, but he cannot lead. He has no moral compass and no personal sense of right or wrong to guide him. Only Bob Dole can govern and lead. He is a moral, ethical man. He should be elected president.
1992: No endorsement The Record chose not to endorse either incumbent George H.W. Bush or challenger Bill Clinton. The non-endorsement editorial even suggested a larger role for the third-party candidate, stating:
How about Ross Perot for secretary of the Treasury or director of the Office of Management and Budget or chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers? In either a Bush or Clinton administration.
1988: George H.W. Bush over Michael Dukakis The nation is divided, more narrowly than the polls would suggest, over its choice between Democrat Michael Dukakis and Republican George Bush for president. So is The Record's editorial board.
If the choice was based on the tawdry campaigns both Bush and Dukakis have run, we'd be hard-pressed to choose between them. But looking beyond that, a majority of the editorial board believes George Bush offers a bit steadier, a bit more confident hand at the helm.
1984: Ronald Reagan over Walter Mondale It is a simple proposition with an inescapable conclusion: The nation is far better off today than it was four years ago, and Ronald W. Reagan should be re-elected president on Tuesday to make it even better four years from now.
1980: Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter We reject the view that Mr. Reagan's personal style masks a bellicose character likely to plunge this country into war. A man who believes strength is a virtue does not sacrifice his claim to compassion.
We accept Mr. Reagan's argument that consistency, not weakness and vacillation, are the truest defenses against conflict. And those defenses have been seriously lacking in four years of the Carter administration.
1976: Gerald Ford over Jimmy Carter We recommend the election of Gerald R. Ford because we are convinced he is better fitted to be president.
It is the Republican president who evokes our greater confidence and our least doubt as to the capability of leading the nation for four years.
1972: Richard Nixon over George McGovern It is true that we live in a troubled society and a troubled world. These problems were not created by Richard M. Nixon - yet he has made effective progress toward the solution of many of these problems.
1968: Richard Nixon over Hubert Humphrey Richard M. Nixon's time has come. The hour has struck when America desperately needs him to elevate the national spirit, to direct the nation's purpose, to make the United States whole again.
1964: Barry Goldwater over Lyndon Johnson The Record believes voters should searchingly question the course the nation has been placed on by Democratic administrations. We believe voters should ask of themselves a question, a very simple one: "What kind of America are we going to have tomorrow, five years from now, and 20 years from now?"
1960: Richard Nixon over John Kennedy The Record believes there should be no change in the basic philosophy that has guided the Eisenhower administration and to that end gives its unqualified endorsement to the Republican ticket of Richard M. Nixon and Henry Cabot Lodge.
1956: Dwight Eisenhower over Adlai Stevenson Next Tuesday's election will answer whether the nation shall go forward with the great program started by President Eisenhower or whether it shall return to the ways of government justifiably discarded by voters four years ago.
1952: Dwight Eisenhower over Adlai Stevenson Which man is the better qualified to lead the quest for economic stability? The Record believes he is General Eisenhower, the leader of the party which makes strongest appeal against corruption and waste.
1948: Thomas Dewey over Harry Truman An important factor in evaluating the potentialities of a national Dewey administration is the presence of Earl Warren at his right hand - the attack by a "full partnership" of two highly qualified executives of leading states on the problems which beset the nation.
1944: Thomas Dewey over Franklin Roosevelt By temperament and experience, Thomas E. Dewey is fitted to bring the right leadership to Washington to deal with the difficult problems of readjustment. He is exceptionally well qualified to replace the entrenched regimes and supply the vigor, energy and thought to win the peace.
1940: Wendell Willkie over Franklin Roosevelt As he casts his individual vote, the voter should ponder this question: Which of these two men - the third-term candidate or Wendell Willkie - can best be trusted to follow the democratic dictates of the election? The Record advocates the election of Wendell L. Willkie.
1936: Franklin Roosevelt over Alf Landon Mr. Roosevelt is thinking in terms of human values and broader benefits to many. President Roosevelt's course is charted in the right direction. He should get a clear mandate to go on with his objectives.
Stockton is a city in California and the seat of San Joaquin County (the fifth largest agricultural county in the United States). http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080928/A_NEWS0801/809280302editorial
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080928/A_OPINION01/809280301/-1/A_OPINION
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