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.
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I'm so glad folks are finally seeing through the bull and recognize that this country needs a change of direction. I'm sitting here watching the world's economy going down the drain. Bush has bankrupted everything he's touched. He's broken the world now and Obama has to fix it.
Time to buy the Esquire issue!
Time to subscribe
Thank you ESQUIRE. Now, THAT'S REAL PATRIOTISM.
THANK YOU!!!!
I think the John McCain of October 10, 2008 is the real one. Desperate. Will do anything to win election.
But not to worry Repubs, there'll be yet another, even crazier John McCain next week, and another the week after that, etc.
yes, that's it -- maybe we never really knew him at all (when we liked him, for example, during the McCain Feingold cooperation on campaign finance reform, or the affable man that was popular with the media), this may be the real John McCain now, in a corner he has revealed his true colors -- ugh!
On another note, "Where is Colin Powell?? This guy to somewhat undo, and only somewhat - his involvement in the horrific fraud made to the American people to get us into the Iraq war will always be with him. Powell, should, right now-this minute, publicly endorse Barrack Obama. He needs to take this action not just for Obama and the country but for himself. Why self? To start to amen a very tarnished public image. Because he (Powell) did what he did at the UN to get us into war with "open eyes, a lot of vanity and posturing!" America will forgive him, but he has to start taking those steps for Americans to overtime forgive!
I totally agree. A Powell endorsement of Obama will be good for Powell, and good for this nation. On another note, why have we not heard a word from Republicans such as Dick Luger? Or have I missed something? Of course I wouldn't expect him to endorse Barack - but I'd like to hear what he thinks of the Palin pick and the McCain campaign's sleaze. Not much from Kaye Bailey Hutchinson, either.
yes, to endorse Obama would be/could be Powell's road to political redemption, taking himself back to the man of integrity he always was, before he lied for Bush at the UN; at least, if he can't support Obama all the way, he should publicly give McCain-Palin a cautionary note and strong rebuke about their race-baiting, crowd-inciting tactics, and refusal to debate policy on a level playing field
a former general could perhaps temper the temper of a raging, desparate soldier
Colin Powell, the man who might have been our first black president
I just have a few questions to ask those who believe McCain was such a great war heroe and former POW that he deserves to be rewarded with the presidency: Was McCain not a war heroe in 2000? 2004? Was he not a former POW in 2000? 2004? If you Republicans did not think that being a war heroe and a former POW qualified him to be President in 2000 and 2004, what did he do between your ejection of him in 2004 and today?
"heroe" + "potatoe" = Dan Quayle.
Gov Palin makes Dan Quayle look like an elder statesman of highest regard
The only area where I see Obama having problems is with older voters. Case in point: My father's cousin (72 yrs old) won't vote for Obama because A.)He's black (sadly, she is very racist. I love her but it is true) and B.)She refuses to investigate any of the claims she sees in her email inbox, instead, letting her paranoia convince her that they are all true. I have tried numerous times to talk to her, to appeal to her with facts, but she refuses to listen. That's something I hope isn't being repeated around the country.
Another thing I hope someone can answer for me: My mother says she was told by one of her doctors that he won't vote for Obama because his wife Michelle is "anti-American and racist". (A doctor trying to influence his patients vote is highly unethical IMO, but that's another story) Is this something that anyone else has heard? I have looked for information about this claim and have found nothing. I tried to convince my mother not to believe everything she hears and reads in an email (most of the stuff that lands in my inbox is anti-Obama propaganda and unsubstantiated rhetoric circulated by republicans), but I don't know if I have gotten through to her. It amazes me sometimes, how the older generation has come to see email as incontrovertible fact and undisputed gospel. It scares me too. Has anyone else heard anything like that about Michelle Obama?
Yeah, that rumor was going around back during the primaries. It was rather thoroughly squashed, but then so was the story about Ayers, and it's still being flogged by the McCain campaign. They clearly feel that if they keep saying it some people will believe it even though it's been proven a lie over and over again, and they know it. And with some people, they're right. Hopefully only a small minority.
I live in Chicago and am very proud to say Barack Obama is my senator. I followed his campaign for the senate closely and read a great deal about both him and his wife. So I believe that I can say with the authority given to most armchair quarterbacks that the scurrilous rumors being circulated about Michele Obama are just that... scurrilous rumors. Michele is a Chicago girl who was raised by hard working lower middle-class parents who wanted the best for her and her brother. They gave her a strong work ethic and moral center. The rumor mongers who are spreading the lies currently circulating on the internet are basing their filth on one unfortunate misstatement made by Mrs. Obama at an early campaign rally. Otherwise, there is ABSOLUTELY NO TRUTH to any of it!
Not all "older voters' are racist.
My husband (68) and I (63) are fervent Obama fans in a highly Republican area (Houston area).
Have HOPE..!!
Being older is not excuse for being racist! Ignorance comes in all ages.
excellent comment!
(I miss Houston! )
I saw today a Jaguar with an Obama '08 sticker pulling out of a driveway in Bellaire (Houston).
Things are looking good.
I have. I was at a family dinner when I heard an older woman of German extraction say that she wouldn't vote for Obama because he's a Muslim.
've heard of that kind of sentiment a few other times and there is a very limited number of older women whose views I would hear of even indirectly. It makes me think there is a significant undercurrent of this kind of sentiment.
I don't think there's anything that Obama can do about it. Especially now that Fox News has become a 24/7 shill for McCain. Fox News has a large audience of older people I think and the continuous sliming of Obama over there is at part designed to exacerbate his problems with the older somewhat racist demographic.
my grandmother is 92 and for Obama. My aunt Susan is 68 and my mother is 65 and both for Obama.
I have never read or heard anything to substantiate a claim that Michelle Obama is a racist. The idea that she is anti-American all stems from the much-talked-about statement she made about being really proud of her country for the first time. Well, aren't we all? With all the hatemongering going on, I'm still very proud to see how much Obama has been able to unite people and how people from all different races and backgrounds have embraced his message. Despite the ugliness of the ignorance some people in our country have, I don't think I've ever been more proud to be an American.
It should be an informative, interesting read. I wonder if Palin has even heard of Esquire.
What a ringing endorsement for Not John McCain.
The real John McCain has finally stood up. He is no longer pretending to be the nice guy. He has made to many promises and has much to lose with this election.
Read the Rolling Stone article. McCain is a bully. I have never tolerated bullies and neither should the American Public.
Resistanceisfutile is correct - the Rolling Stone article by Tim Dickinson is an in-depth, well researched article by a reputable reporter. I keep hearing how the John McCain of this campaign is not the John McCain of the past, as if the past McCain was a man of honor and integrity and unassailable character. That is definitely not the case, he was always a man of limited intelligence and scruples and was always an opportunistic, ambitious punk/jerk. And doesn't that remind you of the man who illegally got into the White House!
Everyone keeps talking about the changed McCain. In truth, I believe that we are now seeing the real John McCain. He has stood up.
McCain, if elected, and this is a scary thought, will make the present president (Bush - our Neo), the worse president in American history, look like Solomon!! See if you can digust that???.
I have great hopes for Obama (and very little hope for McCain) but I don't expect him to walk on water. He has yet to talk about the Taliban in an intelligent fashion. He has yet to talk about Social Security in a way that appeals to me. Basically, while instilling confidence, he is also a question mark.
Until I learn otherwise, I will think of him as the lesser of two evils.
You are correct there is no hope for McCain because he has proposed nothing more than what the Bush policies have been for the past 8 years. The truth is if he didn't follow the Bush policies he couldn't be the conservative candidate because what Bush has done is what the Republicans believe in doing.
yes, little hope for McCain -- an unfortunate combination of impulsiveness, bad judgment, bad temperament, and total lack of policy platform in his campaign
When Barack Obama takes the oath of office on January 20, he will likely face the worst economy in America and the world since FDR took office in 1933. His presidency will either be undone by this because of inaction or bad policy, or he will be remembered, as FDR is, as the man who brought America out of a very black period. I fully expect the latter. The day after his election, Obama should read every book he can on FDR and the New Deal, because a lot of what FDR did may well work today.
I bet he has already done that... he has a brilliant mind and politics is his arena. It will be wonderful having an intellectual person in the WH.
A-MEN
FDR did not get us out of the depression, WWII did. Everything he tried to do to end the depression failed. Only a world war ended the depression. I really hope that is not the solution this time around.
The Economy will help get Barack elected president and the economic recovery will assure the people of America and their selection of him for president. The USA will and has always bounced back from hard times. With proper guidance and regulations, we will eventually be economically stronger. Come election time in 2012, Obamie will be considered BATMAN.
Good to see a media organization that clearly sees the "maverick" nonsense as old narrative! The question we ought to be asking seriously now is: Who is the real John McCain?
Granger has raised a most puzzling thing, " ... 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."
I have to agree ~ McCains actions and statements are not in line with the John McCain may people thought he was! It could be the meds or he simply could be losing his mind. These thing would account for his erratic behavior.
He was always erratic. Read the cover story on him in the current Rolling Stone. What you're seeing now in McCain is nothing new. I can't believe anyone EVER found him an attractive human being. He's even a bogus w.arr hero". He got into Annapolis, got into Navy flight school, got promotions, etc. because of his father's influence. There are old video clips of him reading his w.ar cr.imes "con.fessi
Amen
Where in the world are these video clips, and why haven't they been playing on TV as a trailer for the endless Reverend Wright Show?
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