In 2000, the Plain Dealer endorsed Bush. In 2004, it couldn't bring itself to endorse him again, but unable to admit that a democrat could lead the country, it refused to endorse Kerry and made no endorsement. According to friends of mine who work at the paper, that decision caused a lot of anger among the staff.
My, how things have changed. http://blog.cleveland.com/...
The Plain Dealer is ready to admit what we in Cleveland have known for a long time:
After eight years of George W. Bush, America needs a change in direction and a change in tone.
It needs a president who understands that, yes, the world can be dangerous, but it is also complex. That the United States cannot defend its freedom by abandoning its principles. That it cannot ignore its allies one day and demand their help the next.
And amazingly, the PD realizes that John McCain is not that president. As with so many other endorsements, the selection of Palin seems to have been the tipping point for the Plain Dealer.
In their first debate, McCain haughtily said that Obama did not understand the difference between strategy and tactics. His campaign suggests that he doesn't, either.
Take his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. McCain seemed too caught up in the game-changing possibilities of teaming with a woman reformer to scratch the smiling surface. Had he, McCain might have realized that Palin is utterly unprepared for the job he offered -- let alone the one that might fall to her. His trust in her undermines our trust in him.
But the editorial board went beyond that, and points out that while Obama has shown that he understands the problems facing this country, and has plans to address them, while McCain does not.
We salute McCain as an exemplary citizen and a Washington rebel. But as a presidential nominee, McCain has been a disappointment. He was late to understand the primacy of economic pain. He has failed even to define a rationale for a McCain presidency. Experience is useful, but it's not vision.
I know endorsements aren't game changers, and this doesn't eliminate the need to GOTV, GOTV, GOTV. Still, after major Plain Dealer endorsement missteps in 2000 and 2004, this is very welcome news.