The Philadelphia Inquirer, a formerly respectable paper turned right-wing rag, has endorsed two Republicans for the PA Primary on May 18th. On the republican side they've endorsed Pat Toomey. And on the Democratic side the Inky has endorsed 30-year Republican Arlen Specter. While he currently has a D behind his name, he is best described Inquirer's Karen Hellar as a
political mood ring.
While I am a volunteer for the Sestak for Senate campaign, the opinions are my own and I am not being paid by the campaign. Besides, I'm still mad at Clarence Thomas for being incompetant and the Senators who confirmed him.
Sunday's endorsements aren't surprising considering the Inquirer has trended to the right since it was bought by Brian Tierney in 2006. Tierney has since targeted a wealthier and more conservative audience. He also hired as columnists, 2 right-wingers; John Yoo and defeated former senator Rick Santorum. Another Philadelphia paper (wish I could remember which one, I saw it while waiting for the trolley) described the Santorum hire this way
The Inquirer hopes to attract the readership of all eight Philadelphians who voted for him.
The endorsement of Dem-turned Republican-turned Democrat Arlen Specter give Tierney's Inquirer a Republican trifecta. Never mind that stalwart Democratic and Liberal groups such as AFL-CIO have rated Joe Sestak at 97% and Arlen Specter at 61%. The Inquirer also fails to mention that Republican Arlen's cuts to stimulus bill included aid to the states, resulting in (among other things) significant cuts to Pennsylvania libraries and cuts in hours.