The Arizona Republic was first published in 1890. Over its entire history it has never endorsed a Democrat — until September 2016, when it gave a strong endorsement of Hillary over Trump. www.dailykos.com/…
The blow back was irrational, predictable and vile.
The Arizona Republic is not backing down. To the contrary, through an opinion piece, it's pushing back hard against the deadenders who seem to have no understanding of the principles upon which this country was founded. The piece is entitled:
How do we respond to threats after our endorsement? This is how
www.azcentral.com/...
Their defense of the First Amendment and the love of this country are to be applauded. Below I have gathered a few snippets of their response. Please read the whole article. You won't regret it.
Firet they set up the piece:
What is the correct response, really, to this?
YOU'RE DEAD. WATCH YOUR BACK.
WE WILL BURN YOU DOWN.
YOU SHOULD BE PUT IN FRONT OF A FIRING SQUAD AS A TRAITOR.
A sample of their response:
To the anonymous caller who invoked the name of Don Bolles — he’s the Republic reporter who was assassinated by a car bomb 40 years ago — and threatened that more of our reporters would be blown up because of the endorsement, I give you Kimberly. She is the young woman who answered the phone when you called. She sat in my office and calmly told three Phoenix police detectives what you had said. She told them that later, she walked to church and prayed for you. Prayed for patience, for forgiveness. Kimberly knows free speech requires compassion.
To those of you who have said that someone who disagrees with you deserves to be punished, I give you Phil. Our editorial page editor is a lifelong Republican, a conservative and a patriot. He was an early voice of reason, arguing calmly that Donald Trump didn't represent the values of the party he loves. Phil understands that free speech sometimes requires bravery.
But the journalists I introduced you to here walk into the newsroom every day to do their jobs.
When they do, they pass by an inscription that fills an entire wall, floor to ceiling. It is 45 words long. It is an idea that is in my thoughts a lot these days.
It is the First Amendment.
Please read the whole thing. When I finished I had a lump in my throat.