Why After 75 Years, Esquire Endorsed a Presidential Candidate

Two years ago, in our issue that hit newsstands a month before the midterm elections, we decided to make a statement about how important the '06 elections were (and how important it was for our readers to participate) that we endorsed a candidate in every federal election in the country, and for good measure, in gubernatorial races as well. It was an insane thing for a magazine with a small staff to do--compile dossiers on well over a thousand candidates and potential candidates and then make a choice in each of nearly 500 races and justify that choice in a few pointed words. The reaction was astounding--candidates we opposed trashed us on their sites and in their local papers; candidates we favored announced it in every way they could.

This year, in an election year in which the stakes are even higher, there was no real decision to make. We were going to reprise the "Endorsement Package." In honor of the election, the entire November issue became the "endorsement issue," stuffed with impassioned recommendations to our readers. One of those endorsements is for Barack Obama to become the next President of the United States. It's a thoughtful, lengthy, slightly intemperate piece of writing, and by no means hagiographic. The endorsement expresses our frustrations with Obama's candidacy and his campaign at least as much as it makes the case for what it is we hope he can accomplish. As much as any other factor, we made this endorsement out of a determination that a continuation of the Bush era is simply unthinkable. We do see Senator Obama as a transformational figure, but we did not recommend against John McCain lightly. Over the past two years, we've published four substantive pieces about Senator McCain, including one cover profile. He's a man we have long respected and liked, but the man running for president is a very different man from the John McCain we wrote about two years ago, or 8 months ago, or just a few weeks ago.

Comments

[shrinqrap]

"McCain changed"??

What part of "life-long, opportunistic, impulsive, intemperate gambler" dont we understand?

Has McCain "changed", or are our eyes finally opened wide enough that we finally take a close enough look at the man to see what damaged goods are there? How many 72 yeasr old folks change in a few months, or a few weeks - unless there is an issue of demetia, (which Im not suggesting)? I've about had it with this "McCain changed" business.

Try this: Lipstick = "He was a brave POW", Pig= the real McCain.

[uheardme]

well said

[anelder]

well said - I listen to many refer to McCain having changed. To many who had such respect for him in the past. I contend many are those who do not see clearly and then are then call it a change in McCain. It has always been there to see - it's many who didn't see it.

[jaslyn]

Saying that he's changed is a way of softening the message to the mccsame supporters. They know he hasn't changed, they just want to move on without taking too big a hit.

[total frizz]

He's a man we have long respected and liked, but the man running for president is a very different man from the John McCain we wrote about two years ago, or 8 months ago, or just a few weeks ago.

This could have come from my own lips. As a retired AF Senior Master Sergeant, I am deeply disappointed in John McCain. He has let his campaign become not only dishonorable, but dangerously divisive. All those in the military (especially my fellow NCOs) must look at this man and decide whether his behavior, and the behavior of those he has surrounded himself with, is even close to the values you believe in and fight for. Is this what is taught in professional military education? Unless the world has gone totally upside-down since 1993, it is most definitely not! Please look at this man -- he is not a gentleman; he may have been an officer, but he is no gentleman. And he is creating a very dangerous situation in an effort to "win" -- not in an effort to serve. Were it in an effort to serve, he would be demonstrating "a service heart" in his campaign by sharing his heretofore secret methods for catching Bin Ladin, healing the economy, and solving the health care crisis.

[anelder]

Having been married to the officer ranks for a lifetime may I offer that that term "gentleman" is a designation by Congress. As in many ways Congress has been a dud.

A gentleman does not continuously brag about his honor and bravery. His continued reference to having declined an offer to leave Hanoi before his men his true. What is not made public is that this offer was made to many, if not all, officers in the same place. It was a routine offer and routinely declined. To make of it an example of personal humility is an example of a braggat.

Any follower of his history sees character defects that do not make him a gentleman.

[PlanetKansas]

Mr. Granger

I want to personally thank you personally for an excellant and classy magazine.

My magazine tastes have always tended towards the dry and heavy, The Atlantic and The Economist, but I was so impressed by the excellant profile on the American Taliban John Walker, that I have been an Esquire subscriber ever since.

http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0706JLINDH_106


You sealed the deal last night when I read your endorsements, and have been distributing it to everyone I know. Your praise of Obama is measured, your disappointment in McCaine is justified, and the real argument for the endorsment is to eradicate the Bush virus from our court systems before it is too late. It is the most articulate case for Obama I have seen.

Oh yes, I do get fashion tips I can actually use in Kansas, a few laughs, more interviews with Jolie and Clooney than I really need, and I will never buy one of the $25,000 watches you pitch, but the quality of the writing and editing and the overall taste and class exhuded by Esquire makes it one of the small indulgences I look forward to every month.

Thank you for a great read.

[Ron1951]

To the editor of Esquire:

Good choice to make your endorsement known. It is not easy to risk antagonizing some of your readers, and I am glad to see you standing up for your beliefs.

[margardner]

I feel "Change" is coming and I can't wait!

Obama/Biden 08'

[justice58]

Co-Sign!

[HAWKEYEHORNET]

Barack Obama would not be in the position to win this thing if a lot of whites were not supporting him. He is clearly the better canidate and all types of people who are fair and open minded are supporting him.

[Hirudin]

Sorry, I came to HP looking to comment on the Newsweek cover "story"...

Can anyone believe the intense sense of martyrdom the right has? How can an undoctored, well lit, posed PHOTO be possibly be considered a "smear"?

"Oh no! They DIDN'T edit the photo! They're ATTACKING Sarah Palin!"

Amazing the controversy over the photo is that it IS NOT edited...

[Iam4thiscountry]

I believe the controversy about the photo is that they did not touch it up at all so it shows here face as it really is instead of perfect.

[UWorlds1]

She's in her 40's...what is perfect? She's running for VP...not beauty queen. We are the leaders of the free world. Would Margaret Thacher be touched up? We must be the laughing stock of the world.

[Rossan]

Smart choice. Obama 08

[genetiks]

yes, I'm waiting for Joe Biden to stand up and say, "Senator, I knew John McCain, I know John McCain, and Senator McCain, you're no John McCain!!"

[Brandij]

funny!

[The Lorax]

Yeah, I can see him doing that.

Too funny.

[JohnShank]

Yes, let's all cheer for the brave stand that Esquire has taken with Obama leading by some 11+ points and most of the MSM in the tank for him, not to mention McCain / Palin self-destructing like Kerry / Edwards in '04. Bravo Esquire, you've taken a principaled stand. I am sure that once Barack Obama is elected our lives will improve 100% overnight.

[Hirudin]

It is a little late isn't it?

[bogues]

Life will not improve over night no matter who the President is. It is clear to me that the hateful division in this country will continue to grow if McCain is the President. This kind of hate is truly a cancer, the most deadly kind and America better get a grip soon or we will no longer be the United States.

[kathy001]

Is the McCain camp sending out little cards to all their supporters with these insane little talking points or do you guys just all watch FOX and repeat everything that's said on there? Most of the MSM is in the tank for Obama? Please, for pity's sake, get some new lies. We are so tired of hearing the same ones over and over and over again.

[henrythefifth]

Does anyone really think it matters if the NewYorker and Esquire endorse someone for President? I doubt it.

[Shabba]

Individually, no. But as more and more publications endorse Obama you start to get a roller coaster affect.

[mograph]

What a ridiculous comment. Of course they can endorse somebody. They're just expressing an editorial opinion. It's just sour grapes on your part because they didn't endorse your boy.

Obama is the better candidate this time, pure and simple. The GOP should get its act together and divorce itself from those who've hijacked the party if it wants some respect the next time.

[SecondBase]

The GOP has no "act" left to "get together."

The lies are no longer working.

The truth is that the republican party's successes came by feeding hate to the ignorant in order to buy votes for the party of the rich. It worked, for about forty years.

Now that the truth is unraveling the republican rich are one their way to the Riviera to bask in the sun until this thing cools off, and the rest of us are left here in this failed state to deal with the hatreds and violence of the ignorant extremists the republican rich are leaving behind.

Welcome to failed-state America.

[Provit2me]

I believe the GOP can be or get better. They need to drop the extreme right religious block. Then they can rebuild with the constitutional basic of separation of church and state. They have been pulled down by the 'righteous' that even some of the Christians don't want to be associated with them. "Right wing" is becoming a bad word like 'liberal' used to be associated with 'hippy'. Remember the GOP used to be liberals.

[Truthfighter1]

Welcome to the winning and civil team.

Thanks.

[Whinger]

Esquire putting the country first by endorsing Barack Obama and Joe Biden!

[SirLance]

The Esquire has no business endorsing either candidate. It's supposed to be an entertainment magazine. What a way to show the true way on how this love affair with THE ONE is going way over board.

[ColPash]

Those who live by trashing the media, die by getting trashed by the media. Seriously, there may not be anyone left in this country who reads, who truly knows how to read, who would cast a vote for the anti-intellectuals at the top of the Republican Party ticket. And if you don't believe me, take a peak at David Brooks' column in this morning's New York Times. Even conservatives understand how truly venal those two are.

[apduncan1]

Esquire entertainment?

I recall reading an article a while back in Esquire anticipating the current "commercial paper" crisis due to change of our economy from manufacturing to "service".

Too bad nobody heeded the advice...

[kasv]

Ummmm, it's a magazine. Bet you support the right for your church to endorse, eh?

[GenXer]

Hannity has no business calling himself a journalist, but does. Does anyone know the difference between News, journalism, News commentary and editorializing? They are not the same. Be a smart consumer and realize there are differences.

[Hirudin]

Hmmm... From the little I know about Esquire I'm surprised that they would choose to endorse either candidate either. I wouldn't expect an official endorsement from AutoWeek either.

[Hirudin]

P.S. either