LA Times editorial board endorses McCain and Obama

The Editorial Board of The Los Angeles Times has just announced that it will endorse Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama for the Republican and Democratic party nominations, respectively.

The editorials making the announcements will be published in Sunday's editions of the newspaper, the first copies of which become available Saturday.

In its editorial on McCain, the Board, which is headed by Publisher David Hiller and is a totally separate body from the news-gathering side of the newspaper, said it did not agree with McCain on several important issues, such as gay rights and abortion. But it added, "the Arizona senator's conservatism is, if not always to our liking, at least genuine. It reflects his fundamental individualism, spanning his distrust of big government, his support for immigration reform and his insistence on a sound American foreign policy."

It also noted its disagreement with McCain on soldiering on in Iraq. But noted: "we welcome his insistence that America's military posture be matched by its moral purpose. Alone among the Republican candidates, he would close the detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which has become an international symbol of American U.S. arrogance. He has waged a principled and persistent effort to end the Bush administration's embrace of torture as a weapon of war, a frightening concession to terrorism and an abdication of basic American values."

The editorial praised his commitment to free trade, combating legislative earmarks and pushing his party to accept and combat global warming. It said he is "clear-eyed" about the imperiled futures of Social Security and Medicare. But it added that McCain is not the only impressive Republican in the race and went on to praise Mitt Romney "as a vigorous and articulate alternative."

"We appreciate his analytical skills," the editorial notes, "as well as his distinguished record as governor of Massachusetts, where he pioneered healthcare reform and demonstrated leadership with his willingness to cross party lines for progress. But Romney has spent so much effort to convince Republicans he's one of them that he has called his most basic values into question."

It called Mike Huckabee "a good-natured man with an admirable record as governor of Arkansas" who has allowed his Christian fundamentalism to so infuse "his secular views that he has drifted to the margins of the campaign."

Concluding, the editorial adds, "We do not agree with John McCain on every issue. But we admire his conviction and stand with him on those that matter most right now."

On the Democratic side the editorial board "strongly endorsed" Obama, admitting there are two strong candidates but adding it's not difficult to choose between them.

It calls Obama "an inspiring leader who cuts through typical internecine campaign bickering and appeals to Americans long weary of divisive and destructive politics." It notes that Hillary Clinton is "an accomplished public servant" whose election would provide familiarity but that she failed a test of judgment and leadership by voting for the iraq war and then accusing President Bush of abusing the authority she helped give him.

Obama, the editorial says, "demonstrates as well that he is open-eyed about the terrorist threat posed to the nation, and would not shrink from military action where it is warranted. He does not oppose all wars, he has famously stated, but rather dumb wars. He also has the edge in economic policy, less because of particular planks in his platform than in his understanding that some liberal orthodoxies developed over the last 40 years have been overtaken by history. He offers leadership on education, technology policy and environmental protection unfettered by positions taken by previous administrations."

The editorial concludes: "Obama's candidacy offers the Democrats the best hope of leading America into the future, and gives Californians the opportunity to cast their most exciting and consequential ballot in a generation. Clinton would be a valuable and competent understudy, but Obama matches her in substance and adds something that the nation has been missing for far too long -- a sense of aspiration."

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credits:
John McCain: Kathy Willens / Associated Press
Barack Obama: Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press

Comments

[Azi]

Please, LA Times, stop calling me to beg for subscription. I have cancelled my subscription and will tell all my friends to do same! It is shameful that you would endorse Obama who has no US Senate experience.

(Not us calling ou. Not us endorsing anyone. Pls direct your complaints elsewhere as suggested at the top. Thanks for stopping by.)

[rochelle]

They are my top two, too. Although I'm voting as a Democrat...and I'm a first time voter at the age of 35. I would have voted for Clinton the first time around but in due time, as an Economics major I realized that he's taking credit for the results of the Republican's (yes, Bush Sr's) tax increases. If Hillary loved the US so much and was so concerned about the budget then why did she vote to give the not so bright Bush power to bring our country into war with a blank check? And, did she consult with Bill before she placed her vote?

[Harvey]

And how does the newspaper which has fired more of its newsroom staff than any other paper in California expect us to respect its endorsements?

NOBAMA
NOOPRAH
NOMCCAIN

(And still has more newsroom folks than any other including us turning out this indispensable blog and not endorsing anyone. Plus we're free. And worth every penny.)

[rochelle]

as far as past experience goes...look back at the early days of the presidency before it was bogged down with rich candidates with mobility...did they all have the same degree of experience? i'm not a fan of sadam but in one of his interviews he laughed at how we chose our leaders. he said it takes more than 4 years to learn that job. but, look at how the recent second term presidents ran their presidencies. i said bush 2 wasn't so bright but i have to admit that if he hadn't staged a war then he wouldn't have been elected (by electoral college) the second time around.

[Uhhhhh]

Not to sorta beat people with the "obvious" stick but,

The reason McCain is being picked (even if he supported the war), is that because the LA Times decided on endorsements for the primary election - THEY HAD TO PICK ONE OF EACH PARTY, see. Then in the general election, they pick just one, see.

Sooooo, ergo, even if McCain did support the war, the LA Times listed the other qualifications they used to pick him, which are listed in the endorsement.

Please *read* the actual endorsements, before posting something like "OMG YOU VOTED 4 MUSLIM SATAN! U H8 GIRLZ!"

It just makes the rest of us look stupid.

[Stephen Dolle]

I applaud the Times' support of Obama over the Clinton franchise. Obama may need it in California as the LA mayor is secretly brokering a deal to get a big Hispanic turnout for Clinton. My question for the mayor is: What do you get out of it? The Clintons never do anthing that isn't generously self-selving. The mayor should know this by now. I guess this says a lot about the mayor!

[chris]

LA Times used to be a good nepspaper before arab petrodollars bought it!

How can LA Times support someone that is an international superterrorist like osama obama?

osama obama's and his family involment in terrorist activities in Kenya, indonesia and Darfur should warrant an arrest and not an endorsment!

osama obama is not black, he is an arab like gaddafi!

osama obama is no christian,but a muslim spying openly on christians. barack is a muslim name!

Burning of churches and black people by his family in Kenya shows what kind of change USA is in for!

[maxwell]

Oh Jennifer, Azi, and all HRC fans for that matter:

John McCain has more experience than Hillary, so would you then vote for McCain in a match-up against HRC? I didn't think so. And why not? Because so-called "experience" isn't all that matters, right? I thought not. Try to come up with some other excuse for not voting for Obama.

And don't think McCain and the Republicans wouldn't turn around and use Hillary's "experience" fixation against her. How short-sighted of her and you. Obama has a clear, consistent message of change, principle, and pragmatism that can't be used against him, unlike HRC. She would be a disaster for the Democrats.

[smokey]

Is there anywhere you can legally bet on super Tuesdays results? If so, bet you're (rapidly declining in value) house on Hillary. When it comes time to cast the votes (in the PRIVACY of a voting booth), Clinton wins big. The only states that will support Obama are in flyover country and the deep south.

[Jocee]

Oh wow - like am I seeing what I am seeing? I so thought you guys were going to go for Hillary. Well done, right decision - there will be no regrets. I've got a feeling that Barack is going to be one of the greatest Presidents the US has seen. Him being African American will be a small side note to the sheer intelligence, judgment, wisdom and inspiration that he will give America as a leader. What a way to follow on from one of the worst Presidents eh?

[melody, Snohomish, wa]

IT IS TO BAD YOU ENDORSED OBAMA, HILLARY IS THE BEST CANDIDATE. OBAMA HAVING TIES TO REZKO, AND HELP FROM THE MAN BUYING HIS HOUSE MAKES HIM NO DIFFERENT THEN CLINTON. HILLARY IS PREPARED TO LEAD FROM DAY ONE. WOMEN UNITE THERE ARE MORE OF US THEN MEN. WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR CANDIDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AS FOR THE COMMENT ABOVE, IF YOU ARE HERE ILLEGALLY NO MATTER WHAT NATIONALALITY THEN YOU ARE A CRIMINAL. THAT IS WHAT ILLEGAL MEANS. YOU MAY NEED SOME MORE EDUCATION. HILLARY WANTS ALL ILLEGALS TO BE LEGAL. HAVING A DRIVERS LISCENSE IS ILLEGAL FOR AND ILLEGAL TO HAVE. DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGDE. OBAMA STAMMERED AND STUDDERED LAST NIGHT. HE IS GETTING WORSE AT EVERY DEBATE HE IS IN. HE FAILS ON HEALTH CARE. ALL HE CAN SAY IS CHANGE. IM A LIFE LONG DEMOCRAT AND IF HE GETS THE NOMINATION I WONT BE VOTING FOR HIM. HE'S A LOSER. GO HILLARY GO WOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Victotia]

VIVA HILLARY!!!!!!! SI SE PUEDE!!!!!!!VIVA LAS MUJERES!!!!!!!

[Jenna]

SeniorMoreno: Turn off the caps. We can hear you without all the yelling. You can say a lot of things about HRC, but one of the things you cannot truthfully say is that her immigration plan would block a path to citizenship for people that were not granted a drivers license. HRC believes in comprehensive immigration reform and providing a path the citizenship.

Also, I notice you used the phrase "si se puede." As most of us know that chant is the battle cry of the UFW. You might like to know that HRC was endorsed by Dolores Huerta and the UFW. Certainly she would never have gotten those endorsements or many others if she wasn't a friend of Latinos.

[Paul]

I do not think HIllary has handled her campaign gracefully. In the beginning I was torn between Obama and Hillary. Both are great candidates and I admit I think it would be great to have the first minority president, be it a racial or gender minority. Then the criticism came. Hillary attacked Obama because of his experience, when his 11 years in public office as an Illinois and then U.S. Senator beats her 7 years as a U.S. Senator. It was said way back in 2000 that the whole reason she decided to run for the senate was because she had to get some legitimate experience in public office in order to have a chance at the presidency. Then Bill Clinton started attacking Obama and his experience, and my opinion of her sunk lower. Is Hillary running for president, or is Bill? Has Obama used his wife to attack Hillary?

Obama's criticism of Hillary is that she supported the Iraq War in the beginning and then criticized the president for using the very power she gave him, just like McCain! Obama publicly opposed the Iraq War from the very beginning, just as I did. How can I support someone who not only has less experience in public office, but supported the Iraq War when I did not?

[Jose']

Mr. Obama will help the all of the poor and middle class - his economic plan is proposing tax cuts for people making less than $100,000 and tax increases for people making more than $200,000.

He also cares about latinos - on May 1, 2006, only 2 senators marched for immigrants' rights - Ted Kennedy in Washington, and Barack Obama in Chicago. Mr. Obama stood up for the latino community when others were afraid.

Some people try to say he has no specifics, but if you want to read specifics of his economic plan for example, go to the link below, and you will see that in the 8 pages there is as more details there than for any other candidate.
http://obama.3cdn.net/738d0e804dc3e21efc_xzvomvy 89.pdf

Vote for the candidate who is for ALL of the people, Barack Obama!

[Mona]

As usual the LA Times gets it wrong. What do we expect when all we've been getting is one sided anti Clinton reporting since the whole primary process began. What ever happened to unbiased reporting and real journalism. Seems Senator Clinton can do nothing right but Senator Obama can do nothing wrong.

Give us a break - change and anti-establishment - look who's endorsing our "golden" boy - Kennedy et al - could you get anymore establishment, "good old boys" politicos. Why is everyone so afraid of the woman? Afraid of the new ideas a woman might bring to the political scene? She certainly couldn't mess it up as much as you "old boys" have.

[Iggy]

I just canceled this subscription. This endorsement is coming from an editorial board that refused to face reality within it's own cost structure.
Poems don't solve problems, they are read by those with the luxury to do so. Essays provides us with answers and realistic solutions.

The LA Times has done Los Angeles a disservice by supporting lofty unrealistic rhetoric over the opportunity to provide this country with the solution it needs at this point in time.

[Nancy Herman]

I am disappointed to see the Times regurgitate the standard drivel on Obama. I think it is imperative that we compare our candidates rhetoric with their records. Obama's soaring, abstract message or post-partisan, unifying politics could not be more at odds with his record. In its annual evaluation of congressional voting records the National Journal just determined that Obama had THE MOST LIBERAL voting record in the Senate in 2007. John Kerry had that distinction in 2004. The last thing that we need is to nominate someone with less than a term in office who voted straight party line and tries to sell himself as something he clearly is not---an independent minded unifer. The coalition that is buying his soaring rhetoric will crumble when they start to evaluate his record. Come on folks, let's get serious!

Senator Clinton's smart policy prescritions reflect her intelligence, experience and hard work.(Obama missed twice as many votes as she did last year). Clinton is campaigning to run a well prepared, competent government---something that is completely aligned with her record. She is the better candidate and that is why she has my vote.

[Henry Alvaradp]

Hillary Clinton President of the United States of America

[Suan Connolly]

McCain is NOT going to unify the Republican Party. he is a liar!
He has gone on national tv and lied. He has been quoted in the papers and lied.
He can not be trusted.
WE WILL NOT SUPPORT MCCAIN< GOT THAT RNC???

My contacts in the international community think this is hillarious! Here is McCain, a liar, an outspoken liar, being supported by the media, the liberals of his party, and some dems.

Our country has a difficult time in the views of the world, and now, McCain is seeking the Presidency!! What a joke! A liar being supported in the USA!

Don't blame those of us in the Rep. Party for moving over to the Dem side to vote. We want a conservative, moralistic President! When is the RNC going to get it!! We will NOT support McCain.

[IdiotParade]

Hey Chris...

If you have proof that Obama and his family are terrorists and religious/ethnic cleansers - I'm talking more than "oh like his name is like Muslim like so sure!" .....then turn it over to the government and save our country.

Otherwise, shut it.

[patrick]

Hey, MrUNPC, my first name is "Patrick," a name from early Roman times (Patricus), which means "nobleman" in Latin. Yet, I don't speak latin!?!?!?! And, I don't worship Apollo and Jupiter!!!

And though I am Christian, I've never even thought of changing my name. You know why not?

Because it would be incredibly stupid, you a**hat.

[Stephen Dolle]

Which candidate would best pass a "lie detector" test? Clinton or Obama? Why guess, when we could know who is the best candidate - for sure. The one with the most honest answers and score would be the nominee.

[KDH55]

On Tuesday, when Hillary wins big in CA and else where, the LA Times editorial board are all going to say to themselves... OMG...WHAT WERE WE THINKING???!!! And then the finger pointing shall begin.

[Dave]

Let's look at who the Active Military in the USA supports in this election. Donations are from active US Military, Quarter ending Dec. 31, 2007 Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

Anti-Iraq War Candidates:
Ron Paul: $249k
Barack Obama: $76k

Pro-War Candidates
John “Manchurian Candidate” McCain: $83k
Mike “Gomer Pyle” Huckabee: $37k
Mitt “Silver Spoon” Romney: $24k
Hillary “Whitewater” Clinton: $41k

Warmongers aren’t supported by the troops, so why should you support them? Bring all of our troops home now!