USA Today has done something I didn’t think I’d ever see in a major newspaper editorial page.
It published an editorial non-endorsement of one candidate for president while at the same time saying it could not endorse that candidate’s opponent.
I’ve read the editorial twice. I might read it again and again, looking for some nugget of justification for the USA Today editorial board’s rationale. Wish me luck.
Here is the editorial in question:
In its 34-year existence, USA Today never had opined on a presidential campaign. Until now.
It has declared Republican nominee Donald J. Trump to be patently, profoundly unfit for the office of president of the United States. It lists its reasons for reaching that consensus among its editorial board members.
The paper is categorical in its declaration. It also is correct.
Then, near the end of it, the paper says it cannot endorse Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton, who the paper states has too many flaws of her own. Still, the paper states:
“Some of us look at her command of the issues, resilience and long record of public service — as first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of State — and believe she’d serve the nation ably as its president,”
OK, what now?
USA Today says it cannot recommend a vote for Clinton. It urges voters only to withhold their vote for Trump … for the myriad reasons it declares forcefully in its editorial.
No vote for Clinton? A “hell no” vote against Trump?
Does that mean Hillary Clinton can boast of an editorial endorsement from USA Today after all?
My head is spinning.
