In a surprising turn of events, the Washington Post, a traditionally left-leaning publication, has yet to publicly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race.
This unexpected delay has reportedly caused a stir among the paper's staff, who are left wondering about the reasons behind this unusual silence.
As reported by the Gateway Pundit, the hesitation in expressing public support for Harris is believed to be linked to the paper's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos. With the rising popularity of former President Donald Trump, speculation is rife that Bezos, also the founder of Amazon, is exercising caution to avoid alienating Trump and his supporters. As Trump's potential return to the White House looms, Bezos's reluctance to endorse Harris could be seen as a strategic move to avoid the potential repercussions of backing the Democratic candidate.
This delay has reportedly led to frustration within the Washington Post newsroom. Sources claim that the paper's editorial board has already prepared its endorsement for Harris, but Bezos and editor-in-chief Will Lewis have yet to give the go-ahead for its publication. This information was revealed by Oliver Darcy, a former CNN journalist and advocate for media censorship, who now runs the Status newsletter.
The Washington Post's editorial board has a history of supporting Democratic candidates, having endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and Joe Biden in 2020. The New York Post reports that the Washington Post's staff are puzzled by the paper's silence, particularly given that 20 million voters have already cast their ballots and Election Day is less than two weeks away.
The Washington Post is not the only left-leaning publication facing internal backlash over its lack of endorsement for Harris. The Los Angeles Times, another traditionally liberal outlet, has also declined to endorse Harris, despite her being a candidate from their home state. The paper's billionaire owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, is believed to have blocked the endorsement, a move that has shocked the liberal stronghold of California and led to the resignation of editorial page editor Mariel Garza.
Dr. Soon-Shiong defended his decision, stating that the editorial board was given an opportunity to present a balanced analysis of both candidates' policies but chose to remain silent. This incident, along with the Washington Post's hesitation, could be indicative of a broader trend. According to Fox News, endorsements for Democratic candidates from U.S. newspapers have decreased by more than 60% compared to previous election cycles.
In 2016, over 240 newspapers endorsed Hillary Clinton, while Trump received only 20 endorsements. In 2020, Trump's endorsements slightly increased to 14, while 120 newspapers endorsed Biden. However, in 2024, Harris has received fewer than 80 endorsements, a stark contrast to the robust support previously given to Democratic candidates. This shift could signal a changing landscape in the media's approach to political endorsements, reflecting the growing influence of conservative viewpoints and the potential resurgence of Trump's popularity.
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