http://www.caller.com/ccct/opinion_columnists/article/0,1641,CCCT_843_3278147,00.htmlEndorsing Kerry was a tough call
One of the hardest decisions I've made in 15 months as editor is the lead editorial that appears on the Editorial Page today.
For reasons spelled out there, the Caller-Times Editorial Board decided to endorse Sen. John Kerry for president. It's a recommendation that I know will upset more than a few people, while others will wholeheartedly agree.
The presidential endorsement process was a new one for us this year. Previously, all Scripps newspapers endorsed as a group, which meant that the same presidential endorsement appeared in all Scripps newspapers. The Caller-Times joined the Scripps family in 1997, and we ran the corporate-wide endorsement of Bush in 2000.
That long-standing tradition ended this year when the Scripps Board of Directors asked the editors their thoughts on the process. The majority of the editors wanted local control over the presidential endorsement, pointing out that what makes sense in one community might not in another. So the responsibility was handed to the editorial boards of the individual Scripps papers.
The Caller-Times Editorial Board is made up of myself, President and Publisher Patrick J. Birmingham, Editorial Page Editor Nick Jimenez, Viewpoints Editor Murphy Givens and Senior Editorial Writer Brooks Peterson.
We've all followed the race closely, researched the candidates and watched the debates. We met as a group several times to discuss the issues - health care, education, homeland security, the economy and the war in Iraq.
The uncomfortable consensus is for Kerry.
I say "uncomfortable" because this was a difficult decision. We've known and liked George Bush for years. As governor, he visited and impressed our Editorial Board several times. As a reporter, I covered some of his local visits and always found him to be likable, easy-going and informed.
Bush was a strong and effective leader of our state. We supported him as governor, and I'm sure we would have endorsed him independently in 2000 even if Scripps hadn't had the corporate-wide policy at the time. But as outlined in our editorial today, we've not seen those traits in his performance as president, and are increasingly alarmed at the direction he is taking the country.
I'm aware that Bush carried Nueces County in 2000 with 51 percent of the vote, and may well carry it again this year. This is Texas, after all, and he's still one of us.
I understand that a Kerry endorsement may not reflect the beliefs of many in this community who support Bush. But I believe the duty of an editorial board is not to necessarily do what's popular, but to offer a well-thought-out opinion that residents can either accept or disregard.
My greatest concern about this election is the fierce polarization that has split our country, and I pray that an endorsement from us does not feed that division locally. I believe in our political system and our right to choose candidates whom best reflect what we want for this country.
But I also believe in a system where there is room for disagreement and that such dissent is vital to the success of our democracy. That difference of opinion should be respected - not cause for mean-spirited attacks on those who hold views opposite to our own.
Some papers choose not to endorse. That's the safest path, and one that ensures that no one gets angry at the newspaper. But I believe we have a responsibility to share our beliefs with our readers and give them our best possible recommendation on the candidates. Readers also should understand that our editorial is simply that - our belief about this race, as subjective as that may be. It doesn't make us right; it doesn't make us wrong. Our endorsement is our best possible assessment of who we believe is the right person for the job.
I hope that's how each of you will go into this election, through a process of evaluating the candidates, making the choice that feels right in your heart and then respecting the opinions of those who may disagree.
When it comes right down to it, we all have to do what we think is right and then be gracious enough to allow others to do the same.
