Washington Post refuses to endorse Kamala Harris – sparking furious boycott from readers and staff

The Washington Post has announced it will not endorse a presidential candidate, sparking anger among liberal readers who are vowing to cancel their subscriptions to the paper.

The announcement marks the first time in 36 years that the left-wing newspaper has decided not to issue a presidential endorsement.

The paper’s page editor, David Shipley, had already approved an endorsement from Harris and had reportedly told colleagues that the paper was being reviewed by Jeff Bezos, the paper’s owner, according to NPR.

But on Friday, CEO Will Lewis published an op-ed stating that the newspaper is returning to its “roots of not supporting presidential candidates.”

It comes just days after The Los Angeles Times announced it would also not endorse anyone for November’s presidential election.

The paper’s page editor, David Shipley, had already approved an endorsement of Harris

The paper’s staff learned of page editor Shipley’s decision during a “tense” meeting on Friday NPR.

Shipley told staff he owned the decision and that it was intended to create “independent space” where the newspaper doesn’t tell people how to vote.

However, The PostT himself has reported that it was Bezos who made the decision not to endorse a presidential candidate.

Columnist Robert Kagan, a conservative Trump critic, resigned from his position on the editorial board after the decision emerged.

The response from Post staff was “uniformly outraged,” according to NPR’s David Folkenflik.

Many liberals have promised to cancel their subscriptions to the newspaper on Friday

Former Post editor-in-chief Martin Baron said: “This is cowardice, a moment of darkness that will leave democracy as a casualty,” Baron said in a statement to NPR. “Donald Trump will celebrate this as an invitation to further intimidate the owner of The Post. Jeff Bezos (and other media owners).

“History will mark a disturbing chapter of spinelessness at an institution famed for its courage.”

Ashley Parker, The Post’s senior political correspondent, said simply, “Welp, that sure is a new kind of October surprise.”

The Post began supporting presidential candidates in 1976 after it broke the Watergate scandal and publicly endorsed Democrat Jimmy Carter — “for understandable reasons at the time,” the newspaper said.

The page editor reportedly told colleagues that the paper was being reviewed by Jeff Bezos, the paper’s owner. The Post itself has reported that it was Bezos who made the decision not to endorse a presidential candidate

Columnist Robert Kagan, a conservative Trump critic, resigned from his position on the editorial board after the decision emerged

However, it declined to approve an endorsement between George HW Bush and Michael Dukakis in 1988.

All her endorsements since Carter have been Democrats.

In his op-ed, CEO Lewis added: In his op-ed, CEO Lewis said, “We recognize that this will be read in a variety of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another candidate. or as an abdication of responsibility.

‘We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values ​​that The Post has always stood for and that we hope for in a leader: character and courage in the service of American ethics, reverence for the rule of law and respect for human freedom in all its aspects . ‘

Ashley Parker, The Post’s senior political correspondent, simply said, “Welp, that sure is a new kind of October surprise.”

Former Post editor-in-chief Martin Baron responded to the X decision

Democrats such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders have also expressed outrage over the Post’s decision.

“This is what oligarchy is about,” Sanders said in X.

“Jeff Bezos, the second richest person in the world and the owner of the Washington Post, is ignoring his editorial board and refusing to endorse Kamala. It’s clear he’s afraid of antagonizing Trump and losing Amazon’s federal contracts. Miserable.’

Earlier this week, LA Times billionaire owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong blocked a planned endorsement of Harris, leading to the resignation of the paper’s editor-in-chief.

Mariel Garza told the Columbia Journalism Review in an interview that she resigned because the Times remained silent on the contest during “dangerous times.”

“I’m resigning because I want to make it clear that I don’t condone our silence,” Garza said. ‘In dangerous times, honest people must stand up. This is where I stand.”

In a post on social media platform

Soon-Shiong, who bought the newspaper in 2018, said the board “chose to remain silent and I accept their decision.”