The Washington Submit’s editorial web page had drafted an endorsement of Kamala Harris for president when its proprietor, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, intervened to cancel its publication, The Washington Submit stories. As a replacement, The Submit ran a weird column by its present writer (and former Rupert Murdoch henchman) Will Lewis, saying The Submit wouldn’t endorse anybody.
That is now the second American newspaper, after The Los Angeles Occasions, to kill a Harris endorsement on the proprietor’s behest
“We acknowledge that this will probably be learn in a variety of how, together with as a tacit endorsement of 1 candidate, or as a condemnation of one other, or as an abdication of accountability,” Lewis wrote. (It’s unclear who the “we” is, right here. Lewis? Lewis and Bezos? Some secret third group?) “That’s inevitable. We don’t see it that manner. We see it as per the values The Submit has all the time stood for and what we hope for in a pacesetter: character and braveness in service to the American ethic, veneration for the rule of regulation, and respect for human freedom in all its points.”
That is now the second American newspaper, after The Los Angeles Occasions, to kill a Harris endorsement on the proprietor’s behest. Occasions proprietor Patrick Quickly-Shiong equally blocked a deliberate endorsement, prompting the newspaper’s editorials editor to resign in protest.
Readers are already canceling subscriptions
The Submit’s union says it’s “deeply involved” that the paper would do that simply 11 days earlier than a “immensely consequential” election. “The message from our chief govt, Will Lewis — not from the Editorial Board itself — makes us involved that administration has interfered with the work of our members in Editorial.” Readers are already canceling subscriptions, the assertion notes. Neoconservative scholar Robert Kagan resigned his place as editor-at-large, in response to Semafor’s Max Tani.
Two Washington Submit board members, Charles Lane and Stephen W. Stromberg, wrote the Harris endorsement, in response to The Columbia Journalism Overview. David Shipley, the editorial web page director, advised employees the endorsement was “on observe, including that ‘that is clearly one thing our proprietor has an curiosity in,’” in response to The CJR. As we speak, Shipley advised the board there could be no endorsement. That was adopted by Lewis’s peculiar editorial.
“That is cowardice, a second of darkness that can go away democracy as a casualty,” stated Marty Baron, the previous Washington Submit govt editor, in a textual content message to the Submit. “Donald Trump will have fun this as an invite to additional intimidate The Submit’s proprietor, Jeff Bezos (and different media house owners). Historical past will mark a disturbing chapter of spinelessness at an establishment famed for braveness.”
