As you watch news reports about the presidential race you hear about those newspaper endorsements. This is normal during the last few weeks before an election. The two newspapers in my area have already offered their opinions on the various measures on our ballots.
Here in Los Angeles the ballot is seven pages long and includes various state county, school, and city measures. Those measures are either called referendums or initiatives in California.
The purpose is usually for raising bond money or raising taxes. Sometimes there are proposals to modify the law. The famous Proposition 13 in California limited the amount property taxes could be increased annually. The most conspicuous question on the year’s ballot is one proposing to make marriage between two people of the same sex illegal.
A PBS item dated October 26, 2004 disproves the value of those newspaper position pieces. 128 newspapers’ editorial pages had endorsed Senator Kerry, while 105 newspapers supported President Bush for a second term. So while the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times have endorsed Barack Obama there is no reason to get excited. I do not know anyone who is voting for an issue or candidate based on an endorsement. Even if Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama the impact will be minimal. Still it will be fun to learn about his endorsement and his reasoning.
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