For those that know, the Chicago Tribune is very much a conservative newspaper, editorially speaking. In fact, they have never endorsed a Democratic nominee for President in the history of their publication. Keep in mind for those that do not read it or live outside of Chicago, this is no upstart paper. The Tribune made its first Presidential endorsement for Horace Greeley, who ran against Ulysses S. Grant in his re-election campaign of 1872. In fact, the founders of the paper fought the Democrats as Whigs and Free Soil members, before the Republican party got off the ground.
Now of course, they have good reason to stand behind Obama, because McCain is so far off kilter they cannot stand him to be the leader of the free world in good conscience.
From The Chicago Tribune:
So why in their opinion is McCain not up to fulfilling the promises (cough, cough) of conservatism?
Many Americans say they're uneasy about Obama. He's pretty new to them.
We can provide some assurance. We have known Obama since he entered politics a dozen years ago. We have watched him, worked with him, argued with him as he rose from an effective state senator to an inspiring U.S. senator to the Democratic Party's nominee for president.
We have tremendous confidence in his intellectual rigor, his moral compass and his ability to make sound, thoughtful, careful decisions. He is ready.
The change that Obama talks about so much is not simply a change in this policy or that one. It is not fundamentally about lobbyists or Washington insiders. Obama envisions a change in the way we deal with one another in politics and government. His opponents may say this is empty, abstract rhetoric. In fact, it is hard to imagine how we are going to deal with the grave domestic and foreign crises we face without an end to the savagery and a return to civility in politics.
Ouch.
We might have counted on John McCain to correct his party's course. We like McCain. We endorsed him in the Republican primary in Illinois. In part because of his persuasion and resolve, the U.S. stands to win an unconditional victory in Iraq.
It is, though, hard to figure John McCain these days. He argued that President Bush's tax cuts were fiscally irresponsible, but he now supports them. He promises a balanced budget by the end of his first term, but his tax cut plan would add an estimated $4.2 trillion in debt over 10 years. He has responded to the economic crisis with an angry, populist message and a misguided, $300 billion proposal to buy up bad mortgages.
McCain failed in his most important executive decision. Give him credit for choosing a female running mate--but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served. Having called Obama not ready to lead, McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin's exposure to the public. But it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country.
Liberals may not agree with the editorial ranks of the Tribune in many respects, but on the crucial matter of who will be our next President, we are united as one.
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