Iowa Paper's Endorsement Queried
Criticism of Des Moines Newspaper for Presidential Candidate Support
The backing of Hillary Clinton by the Des Moines Register has received quick, harsh criticism. Charges of corporate control, female bias and influence peddling thrive.
In such a tight, yet open Presidential race, it should not come as a surprise charges of bias have been levied against the Des Moines Register newspaper. The complaints appear to target the endorsement of Hillary Clinton much more than John McCain and rotate about two main points. The editorial board is not a local but a national board; not in tune with Iowa and the board members themselves are biased toward women and the Clintons.
Reactions
The AP Newswire has picked up the outrage over the Board’s decision and has cited the "overwhelmingly negative response to the Des Moines Register's endorsement of Hillary Clinton." Political Pundits point out the inconsistencies in the statements of the Register.
- The Register said…should the party place its trust in two senators, Joe Biden or Chris Dodd, who have served their nation with distinction for more than 30 years each?...The choice, then, comes down to preparedness: Who is best prepared to confront the enormous challenges the nation faces.
If the choice comes to preparedness, then isn’t the most experienced the most prepared; Ambassador Richardson, Senators Biden & Dodd? Brian Smith of Politico.Com says: “The endorsement reads as if it were written with the help of Mark Penn [chief strategist for Clinton] over those cocktails the Clintons shared with the edit board at Azalea….”
Newspaper:
The paper is owned by Gannett Corporation which is a large national organization. Although an "Iowa Edition" of the Register is distributed throughout the state, the news focuses on Des Moines. Arguments are the paper is out of touch with most of Iowa and looks at a “National Agenda.” A common sentiment is that a corporate newspaper plus the corporate Clintons equals a corporate newspaper's endorsement of Hillary Clinton!
Detractors point to the statement by the board about John Edwards. “His harsh anti-corporate rhetoric would make it difficult to work with the business community to forge change.” To many this is a sign of the pro-corporate attitude of the paper and punishment of Edwards.
- Michael Crowley of The New Republic said: “One rival campaign aide claims this is ‘the real story here.’ Edwards' disappointment….”
- Chris Bowers of The Open Left says: “If…the Register was just looking for someone with a long resume…Bill Richardson comfortably surpasses any other candidate….Beyond that, what really disturbed me [was the statement by the Register that Edwards had] harsh anti-corporate rhetoric….’”
- Justin Gardner of Donklephant wrote “Hmm, okay. I’ve heard Edwards talking about corporate responsibility, but to call that anti-corporate?”
Members:
The Register’s editorial board members, who participated in the endorsement, are listed below. Five of the six persons making the selection were women who fit the demographic profile of Clinton supporters (white, middle to upper middleclass women.)
- Laura Hollingsworth, publisher;
- Carolyn Washburn, editor;
- Carol Hunter, editorial page editor;
- Linda Lantor Fandel, deputy editorial page editor;
- Rox Laird, editorial writer; and
- Andie Dominick, editorial writer.
The December 15th issue of the New York Times said: “The other day…former President Bill Clinton held forth on a sofa in the publisher’s suite at The Des Moines Register….Ms. Hollingsworth, Carolyn Washburn and Carol Hunter have been wooed these last days by multiple members of the Clinton campaign." The Times continued: “As the board’s decision neared, efforts at persuasion peaked…. former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright...made an unsolicited call to Ms. Washburn. Calls to the board’s office were also made by former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and General Wesley Clark, each of whom had been given the task of raising a different element of Mrs. Clinton’s experience.”
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