My Endorsement Letter

[Laelth]

In all likelihood, my local paper, The Macon Telegraph, will announce its endorsement for President tomorrow. Today, I sent them a last-ditch letter more-or-less begging them to be reasonable. I thought I'd share the letter here. This is what I wrote:

THIS LETTER IS NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION

Dear Editorial Board of the Macon Telegraph:

I am a Macon resident and a Telegraph subscriber. I suspect that on Sunday, October 23, 2004, you will endorse a candidate for President of the United States. I also suspect (indeed, I hope) that you struggled with the decision of whom to endorse. At the very least, I hope you were given the opportunity to struggle over it. I have heard a number of rumors that many editorial boards across the country were not given that option this time. In some cases, it seems, the papers’ owners compelled a given endorsement. This is tragic, and I hope you felt no such pressure.

Provided that you were not compelled by your employer to endorse a given candidate, I write you to suggest that you do what you feel is right—and not what you feel will make you popular in this community. I understand that you’re running a business, and I suspect you believe that your business will be hurt unless you endorse George W. Bush. Indeed, in the short run, your business may be hurt if you endorse Bush. It’s also possible that your business might improve. I feel I should remind you that 1988 was the last time that a plurality of Bibb county’s voters supported the Republican candidate for President. For at least twelve years, this community has been solidly Democratic, and you are likely to alienate the community with a Bush endorsement.

Ultimately, though, I would hope that business interests would not sway your decision. I would hope you felt free to endorse the candidate that a majority of your editorial staff (or board) thought could best lead our nation. While I am admittedly a partisan Democrat, I am writing to say that I feel it would be terribly irresponsible of you to endorse George W. Bush. I feel no need to list the horrors the President has unleashed upon us as a nation. I’m sure you’re well aware of them. What frightens me is the dictatorial style of George W. Bush and the further horrors he could unleash upon us in the next four years. I feel it’s important for every American who dabbles in politics to read Ron Suskind’s recent essay, “Beyond a Doubt,” which appeared in New York Times Magazine about a week ago. Suskind produced a thorough investigation of the inner workings of the Bush administration, and he tells a frightening tale, indeed. If you have not read this piece, please do. If you can still endorse Bush after having read it, then there’s little I can or would say to try to change your mind.

Obviously, I hope you endorse John Kerry, but even if you can’t endorse Kerry, for whatever reason, I would hope that you would choose to endorse neither candidate. Your credibility with me, and very likely many others, will be utterly destroyed if you endorse Bush. I don’t think that the America I know and love will survive another four years under our current President. The thought of Bush appointing up to four new Supreme Court justices is truly terrifying to anyone who values civil rights, women’s rights, and an independent judiciary.

In all likelihood this letter will reach you too late to make any difference. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to write you, and I thank you for taking the time to consider my thoughts on this issue. I am available to discuss these issues with you if you are so inclined.

Sincerely,

Don't know that it will do any good. This paper regularly endorses Republicans, but I felt compelled to do something.

Thanks for reading. :)

-Laelth

[Tesibria]

1. awesome pre-emptive, proactive letter

kudos !!!!

it's terrific.

[Cerridwen]

2. Well done. Well said. Thank you for sharing. - n/t

[Laelth]

3. Thanks. :)

Glad you liked it. Hope it does some good. Made me feel better, anyway.

:dem:

-Laelth