US Paper Facing Threats For Endorsing Clinton
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published September 30, 2016 | 11:15 AM
LOS ANGELES, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Sep, 2016 ) - A conservative Arizona newspaper is facing death threats and losing subscriptions after it broke with tradition by endorsing Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump for US president, a senior editor told AFP Thursday.
The Phoenix-based Arizona Republic, the state's largest newspaper, announced in an editorial on Tuesday that it is backing a Democrat for the first time since it was founded in 1890 on the grounds that Trump is neither conservative nor qualified to be president.
The paper's editorial board said that while Clinton did not lack flaws, she was also the "superior choice" by far. The backlash began shortly after it published the endorsement, with outraged readers sending a deluge of angry emails and canceling subscriptions, said Phil Boas, who runs the paper's editorial page.
"We got a lot of angry callers and we've had quite a few cancellations," he said, adding that the editors had expected blowback and did not regret its decision. The paper also received some threatening phone calls and a death threat, he said without elaborating.
USA Today set another precedent on Thursday, when its editorial board took a side in a presidential race for the first time in its 34-year history, although without issuing a straight endorsement.
Publishing scathing criticism of Trump, the national paper urged readers to oppose a candidate it said is "dangerous" and "unfit for the presidency." It went on to call him "erratic," "ill-equipped," "reckless," someone with a "checkered" business past, and a "serial liar." - 'Authoritarian and dangerous' - ================================= Despite the threats against the Arizona Republic, its editorial board feels "very good" about endorsing Clinton, Boas said.
"We know that it's the responsible decision and choice to endorse Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump," he said, adding that he did not believe regular readers were surprised, given the numerous scathing editorials about Trump previously published.
"About a year ago, we began writing very strong editorials about Trump because of his behavior on the stump, which to us seemed authoritarian," Boas said. "We started raising the alarm about him...
cautioning that what this man is saying is dangerous." The Arizona Republic joins a growing list of conservative-leaning US newspapers to back the Democratic candidate during this year's divisive presidential campaign.
A handful of others have opted to back Libertarian Gary Johnson. The Cincinnati Enquirer, an Ohio paper that has supported Republicans for almost a century, said last week that it was backing Clinton because "Trump is a clear and present danger to our country." The Dallas Morning news -- based in the Republican-dominated state of Texas -- also broke a 75-year streak earlier this month by backing Clinton, describing her as the "only serious candidate." Both papers have also faced backlashes over their decision, with readers canceling subscriptions.
Boas, who describes himself as a lifelong Republican, said his paper's decision to back a Democrat for the presidency was an easy decision given Trump's policy proposals and behavior. "We would be shocked and horrified if our own kids, our own teenagers, behaved like him," he said, adding that he understood Republicans' mind-set but felt "a lot of them are in denial." "I think a lot of them know that this guy violates their values," Boas said.
"They are making compromises as they so dislike Hillary Clinton... and it's time for Republicans and conservatives to wake up."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 23 April 2024
Islam enlightened world with its teachings about knowledge: Dr Jamileh
More Stories From World
-
Baby delivered from dying mother's womb in Gaza 'miracle'
20 minutes ago -
Russia rejects US journalist Gershkovich's detention appeal
40 minutes ago -
Prosecutors accuse Trump of 'willful' violations of gag order
1 hour ago -
French artist JR downsizes at Venice Biennale with Orient Express
3 hours ago -
Umrah & Ziarah Forum 2024: A gateway to enhance pilgrimage services in Holy land
3 hours ago -
16 dead, 28 missing in migrant boat capsize off Djibouti: UN
3 hours ago
-
16 dead, 28 missing in migrant boat capsize off Djibouti: UN
3 hours ago -
How UK's biggest water supplier sank into crisis
3 hours ago -
EU lawmakers greenlight new rules to rein in national spending
4 hours ago -
Hamas to stay in Doha if 'useful' for Gaza war mediation: Qatar
4 hours ago -
London stock market strikes record as sentiment lifts globally
4 hours ago -
In Brazil, hopes to use AI to save wildlife from roadkill fate
5 hours ago