The TNT won’t endorse Bernie for president - or Liz, Joe, Mike or anybody. Here’s why
Opinions are like elbows, a pop-culture philosopher once mused: “Everyone’s got ‘em, but they only bend one way.”
It’s a clever analogy though perhaps overly generous, at least where politics are concerned.
From my experience in a 30-year journalism career, including what’s now my second presidential election cycle as the TNT’s editorial page editor, there are many folks out there whose opinions bend little, if at all.
Presidential elections tend to bring out sharp-elbowed opinions like nothing else in American public life. That’s certainly true in 2020, as positions have hardened early for President Trump on one side and a growing army of “Bernie or Bust” progressives on the other.
It’s also true in Washington as our state’s presidential primary lies right around the corner on March 10 — a full 11 weeks earlier than usual and much more impactful in the race for the White House than in the past.
Many Washingtonians are breathlessly sharing pointed opinions about their preferred candidate. Elected officials seem more eager than ever to declare a favorite in the crowded Democratic field, though it might irritate some voters and alienate political allies. (I’m thinking here of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, an open and enthusiastic Michael Bloomberg backer.)
The News Tribune Editorial Board, however, is going in a different direction in 2020.
We aren’t endorsing anybody in the presidential primary, nor will we make a final recommendation for that office before the Nov. 3 general election.
To be clear, we still believe newspaper election endorsements fulfill an essential civic role. Our Editorial Board expects to spend dozens of hours this year researching ballot measures; vetting candidates for local, state and congressional offices; and discussing the pros and cons of each one, thoroughly and fairly.
We plan to offer our voting suggestions by the time ballots reach your mailbox for the August primary runoff and November general election. Our endorsements will be transparent and based on original reporting. But most important, they will be locally focused and flavored by our affection for the 253, this place we call home.
Why would we divert resources from our local mission to a presidential race — especially one where public opinion has calcified so quickly, and where there’s a 24-hour firehose of national commentary available?
Another factor is that the TNT doesn’t have the same opportunity to meet with presidential candidates that bigger papers do. Bottom line: If our Editorial Board doesn’t interview candidates face to face, we won’t endorse them this year, whether they’re running for local, state or national office.
Meeting candidates in person is typically the most critical step in our endorsement process. It gives us a clear sense of their values and priorities, how they think on their feet, and how they respond to the opponent sitting next to them.
Every year, I hear from people who wonder why we weigh in with election endorsements at all. It’s a reasonable question; a 2008 study by the Pew Research Center found that most Americans are more likely to be influenced by a political endorsement from their governor, minister, priest or rabbi — or Oprah Winfrey — than from their local newspaper.
But here’s the thing: Influencing you means a whole lot less to us than informing you. This isn’t March Madness; there’s no scorecard for how many picks we get right. Ultimately, we just want to shed light on issues and candidates you may not be well acquainted with.
With all due respect to Oprah, she doesn’t have time to provide informed judgments about those who aspire to be the next generation of leaders for Pierce County and Washington state.
As for other trusted sources of guidance in local communities, our goal isn’t to replace them, merely to supplement them. And the further that voters work their way down the ballot, the more helpful we think we can be.
That presidential race at the top of the ballot? Not so much. Of course there’s nothing wrong with observing the quadrennial contest from a distance and forming strong personal opinions, but South Sound residents can do that as well as we can.
March 10 is the start of something special. I’m confident that TNT readers will be thoughtful participants in the 2020 presidential election, a monumental crossroads for American values, Washington’s trade-based economy, the world’s fragile climate and our nation’s tenuous standing in the international order.
Just try to keep those elbows under control and show some flexibility now and then.
Reach News Tribune editorial page editor Matt Misterek at (253) 597-8472 or matt.misterek@thenewstribune.com