Cultural and social commentator Lyz Bly gets vocal about current media political wavering with an unabashedly feminist lens, discussing the facts behind local media's questionable agenda toward the Kerry/Bush endorsement and the message it sends to Clevelanders.

It comes as no surprise to me to learn that The Plain Dealer's editorial board voted 5-2 to endorse Senator Kerry for President. Further, it was not surprising to hear that Cleveland's only daily newspaper was taking the endorsement "under consideration" on Monday (just eight days before the election). However, I was incensed at the 10/26/04 op-ed [here], which stated that the PD was not going to endorse either candidate. The publisher and editorial staff have attempted to mislead readers. Their decision "…not to add one more potentially polarizing voice to a poisoned debate," is spineless, lame, and, frankly, embarrassing.

One wonders what went on behind closed doors as the editorial board voted to endorse Kerry, while their boss, publisher Alex Machaskee, put his privileged Bush-supporting foot down, overriding their decision. Did editor Douglas Clifton threaten to walk out if Machaskee wielded his power to endorse Bush in the PD? Apparently not, as his name appeared on the op-ed page masthead right underneath his venerable boss'.

As an unapologetic liberal, feminist, Kerry-supporter, it seems to me that the current state of affairs - deciding not to decide - is just as bad. Perhaps it's even worse. Ultimately, it's shameful.

While the daily newspapers of most major U.S. cities have been announcing their endorsements over the last three weeks, the PD waited until the last possible moment and then the editorial staff buckled under the pressure.

Why must the PD be a continual embarrassment to our city? I told myself that I would cancel my subscription if the paper endorsed Bush. I never thought that I would need to cancel my subscription because the paper wouldn't endorse either candidate. But I do, and I will.

Alex Machaskee - get a clue. To Doug Clifton and the other five men who voted to endorse Kerry - you're no better than your boss...get a spine. If I had been in Doug Clifton's shoes yesterday, I would've told Mr. Machaskee to start looking for another editor. The whole scenario is so old-school, white male Cleveland. Will things ever change?
By Cool Cleveland columnist Lyz Bly lyzbly@ameritech.net (:divend:)