After going all in on former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s presidential run, the Sun Sentinel can’t find enough redeeming qualities in any of the remaining GOP candidates to make an endorsement:
The Sun Sentinel, a major South Florida newspaper, is refusing to make an endorsement in the Republican presidential primary because “the kind of person who should be running is not in the race.”
In an editorial published Friday, the paper’s editorial board argues that businessman Donald Trump, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are unqualified to be president of the United States. Though Ohio Gov. John Kasich would be the best of the remaining candidates, the editorial continued, he does not have a chance of securing the party’s nod.
Wha? Not Donald Trump?
“Trump would shake up Washington, no question,” the board wrote. “He might even unite Republicans and Democrats against a common enemy — himself. But given his smug, erratic, often petulant demeanor, do you really trust him with the keys to our nuclear arsenal?”
But what about ‘favorite son’, Senator Marco Rubio (R – FL)?
Rubio, it continued, has incredible political skills, knowledge of the issues beyond talking points and a great life story, but has almost no experience beyond running for office and doesn’t show up to work much.
“Because Rubio has failed to do his job as a senator, broken the promises he made to Floridians and backed away from his lone signature piece of legislation on immigration, we cannot endorse him for president,” the board wrote.
Then there’s Senator Ted Cruz (R – TX):
The Sun Sentinel said that Cruz is anti-Washington, makes decisions based on the Bible, does not compromise on social issues and was willing to shut down the government for 16 days, “America’s economy be damned.”
“Cruz scares us. He also should scare Republicans who want to win in November. Cruz has not earned your vote,” the board said.
And the last candidate still in the race, Governor John Kasich of Ohio:
“Perhaps in a more-rational election year, the Sun Sentinel would endorse John Kasich. But we can’t urge you to vote for someone who doesn’t have a chance of winning the nomination.”
Welp…that’s it…oh wait a minute it’s not…for all of you Sandernistas out there:
The Sun Sentinel did not experience the same difficulty choosing a Democratic candidate, strongly endorsing Clinton over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. The paper says she may be too cozy with Wall Street and too secretive but is also the most qualified candidate for the Oval Office in years.
Go figure!
Oh. By ‘not endorsing’, I thought you meant they would say they weren’t endorsing anyone and then endorse someone without even interviewing the other candidate(s). Or that they said they were not endorsing anyone and then endorse someone by expressing hand-wringing, vapors-having reservations about the opponent(s).
But it sounds like they’re really not endorsing anyone! As you say, go figure.