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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The endorsement in many ways is spot on:
"He could have defined change as a rejection of preemptive war, of torture, of black prisons, of warrantless surveillance, as a renewed embrace of our founding documents. He could have defined change as a condemnation of crony government..."
The choice is obviously a no-brainer, and Obama will probably be our next president, but I can't help but wonder if he's the one that will ultimately be changed the most.
With Michelle there to keep him straight, it's like getting two incredibly talented and hard working people for the price of one.
What do we get with McCain? One dangerously violent Alaskan no-load and a wife that will resume the polishing of her million dollar wardrobe after the election, regardless of the outcome.
I will buy it also but they could have been more up beat its not like Obama is the lesser of two evils here he has clearly defined his policies and laid them out better than Mcbush has.
But he's still waffling a lot in a very John Kerry like manner. A little more pizzaz, but not much. He's acting very much like a left-wing Republican. He represents the wealthy class. He has a Harvard pedigree. Is he really going to halt the gravy train to Korporate Amerika?
Take a moment to study the fine art of pragmatism. Obama doesn't want to reinvent the wheel; he wants to fix the one we have.
Unlike Kerry, Obama earned his wealth fair and square. Kerry and McCain inherited theirs.
McCain couldn't make it even after constantly using his father's reputation as a crutch.
Senator Obama became "wealthy" in the last two years, after the publication and rising sales of his books, unlike McCain and others on the political landscape who have lived in wealth most of their life. Obama is a "Harvard pedigree" as a result of scholarships, student loans, discipline and a brilliant mind. Unlike Bush, for example, he was not a Harvard legacy. In every other respect however, except for his rich background, Obama has lived much of his life in America as an ordinary American, including the unique challenges that black Americans face in this country. Michelle's story is also that of an ordinary American, coming from a background of a hard working father, a stay-at-home Mom, sacrifice, student loans and scholarships that afforded her an extraordinary education which laid the foundation for her career in law. It's apparent that neither Barack nor Michelle have drifted away from their roots and are quite conscious of the struggles of lower middle class and poor Americans. Their political journey has infused them into the world of corporate America, but it has not blinded them to the cause that has driven Obama's campaign.
a banana republic...we need the 527's....this McCain guy is out of control and downright frightening...
IF MOST PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED IN 2000 AND 2004 AND WHERE WE ARE NOW WE ARE HEADED TOWARD A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE WORD BUT ALOT OF THESE COMMENTATORS AND TRYING TO TAKE THIS COUNTRY DOWN
HEADED? WE ARE ALREADY THERE!
Good GOD, now its the fault of the commentators?
I suggest that we all do what we can. It seems that the REBUBS are looking for loopholes to discount registered voters in several battle ground states. All the polls might be favorable , if they tear down any new voters . Then we may have a problem.
Endorse CFR puppets all day! Does it really matter? People like me? Don't listen to anyone. We vote third party. Knowing that people will blame us for their puppet losing. Fact is? Elections are rigged. Or stolen. Look at Ohio in 2004. Florida in 2000. Only a fair election system will stop this crooked election system.
I'm still waiting...
In my state we have paper ballots. To see if yours does go to http://www.verifiedvoting.org. Also, for some states if you vote early you do so by paper ballot so that may be the best way to go. All states need a paper trail for elections so contact your representatives to make this happen if you're still using Diebold machines.
I don't agree with voting 3rd party this year but you have to do what's right for you. I do endorse the idea of a viable 3rd party system and hope that happens in the future.
Fortunately, Michigan led the way with paper ballots. Our Secretaries of State, from both parties, are now and have been vigilant concerning accurate election results. It's one of the few things I'm grateful for being a Michigan resident.
Strange you should mention Florida. Where people like you "who don't listen to anybody" elected W over a great Nobel prize winner. At that time economy was good, no preemptive wars. Still like Buchanan? Oh, you really don't listen. Still like Nader? Oh my -- try to wise up somehow without listening.
Floridians can vote early this year and we should all take advantage of that. Early voting starts Oct. 20th. Some counties seem to be making it easier than others (no surprise there), but we will be able to cast our votes before Nov. 4 and therefore make sure they are cast and counted.
Hanging chads and confusing ballots aside, part of the problem in 2000 was long lines at some polling places that disenfranchised people of their right to cast a vote. Interestingly it tended to happen in minority areas, (not a coincidence I'm afraid).
If as many people as possible cast their votes early, it will alleviate some of the long lines and will also free us up to help with taking elderly voters and those without transportation to and from their polling places.
There are things we can do as concerned voters to try and make sure that the fraud is kept to a minimum and that as many people are able to cast their votes as possible.
ps. If it hadn't been for Nader's candidacy in 2000 siphoning away votes from Gore we wouldn't be in the predicament we currently find ourselves in with Iraq. If Nader truly cared about the country he would have dropped out of that race.
Gave us food for thought without emotion. This will appeal to many...not all.
I will pass it on to those who like to analyze everything! Great endorsement!
Hey everyone,
The Republicans are at it again. They won a Federal suit concerning ACORN in all the swing states.
They are trying to steal this election too.
Exactly!!! They did their dirt in Michigan and all other swing states then ran out like the criminals they are!!
I believe they may have infiltrated ACORN with one of their own to file the questionable registrations in each area.
Oh, no doubt they did. The bad registrations were ridiculously bad, with things like the exact same fake individual listed on all three forms on a single sheet with identical handwriting. If someone had faked registrations for any reason other than Republican-directed sabotage, they would've likely been trying to meet a quota or something, and wouldn't have done such a bad job of it.
If you think about it -- they are taking new registrations and throwing them out! While it sucks, my son just registered this year, and we checked and double checked and made sure the registration was entered and good -- he had to try 3 times to get it entered)
But Obama is up in the polls. The people the pollsters are calling are not newly registered. These are people who have voted in the last elections and people with only landlines. When they say likely voters, there is a cause for concern, but before this year, democrats had more people registered than rethugs any way.
There is no way we're letting them get away with taking this one. America will not think for one minute McCain should win!!! There are a few people that might vote for him, but everyone I talk to everywhere loves Obama! I really don't think they would be talking about Ayers if they were so sure they could just steal the election. They are scared!
I think alot of those states that they thought were bright red that will turn out to be true blue and they didn't prepare for that! It's too late now for them to steal it! And I read that the bogus registrations at ACORN were the product of a few contractors who have been arrested and that it was not the responsibility of ACORN. Remember, those rethugs don't want poor people to vote, because they know they will lose!
I had this discussion yesterday. The goal is a ground game that gives us a big enough lead going into election night that a theft of the election is implausible, at best. A demonstration of voting corruption at worst. And don't think that Barack Obama's another Gore. I don't think it will be a down to the wire propostion. Hence the TV buytime coming up.
No, if the GOP try to say the election, the Bradley effect, all that, they're going to have it stuffed down their throats. Additionally, if they are exposed as having rigged the election (clearly) that will be the end of the GOP brand and they will end up some fringe group in Alaska.
It's also been suggested that some of the bogus registrations are Republicans trying to defame ACORN.
How dare they investigate ACORN! Just because they're helping people to register and vote 100 times, helping the Dallas Cowboys to vote in Las Vegas, and helping the homeless to vote doesn't mean they're commiting fraud!
Thank you Esquire for your endorsement.
I have to say, I'm not all that impressed with this article of theirs.
I went in expecting a shining endorsement of Obama but ended up reading a lukewarm (at best) "ya might as well vote for Obama since he's going up against THAT GUY" half-endorsement.
I'm underwhelmed by their recommendation, despite the fact that I support Barack + was, admittedly, more of a fan of their magazine before reading this.
Animal Humane Society also endorsed Obama/Biden!
John McSame is like the weather, if you don't like what you see, wait a few minutes.
And, it sure will get worse. But, wait! In weather, there is usually a silver lining after a bad weather. So, not quite an appropriate analogy?
you don't need a weatherman to know which way McCain blows
"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."
...or even just yesterday.
Esquire....one fine a$$ magazine. I've loved it since the Halle Berry cover! But this will now be my favorite.
Right on Esquire!
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