The Washington Post’s decision to abstain from endorsing a presidential candidate for the first time in 36 years has incited a powerful reaction among its readership. The revelation has caused subscribers, especially liberal readers, who are known for their left-leaning editorial positions, to threaten to withdraw their subscriptions in protest. Despite being portrayed as a reversion to the paper's long-standing position of non-endorsement, the decision—which CEO Will Lewis revealed in an opinion piece—has sparked debate and conjecture over the ownership of the publication.
Historic Shift in Endorsement PolicyThe change in the Washington Post's endorsement stance represents a major break from the publication's long-standing sponsorship of Democratic presidential candidates, which dates back to 1976. The decision's timing—just 11 days before the November election—has increased its impact in the present electoral context and sparked considerable criticism from both staff and readers.A statement from Post Guild leadership on the Washington Post's decision to not endorse a presidential candidate pic.twitter.com/fYU7hkr79K
— Washington Post Guild (@PostGuild) October 25, 2024
Boycott Amazon
— Jon Marcus 🪐 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🇺🇸 (@ThusSpokeJon) October 26, 2024
A simply One Day #Amazon #Boycott might at least send a message. A week before Election Day? #OneDayAmazonBoycott
— Peter Brady (@Ronnie_Mombacho) October 26, 2024
Believe me, you’ll survive.
When the Post refused to support either Michael Dukakis or George H.W. Bush in 1988, it was the last time it did so. The publication has continuously supported Democratic candidates since then, so the sudden change is all the more remarkable. Decision-Making and Ownership InfluenceTime to boycott Amazon.
— Alice LaRocca ✍🏻🇺🇦☮️ (@laroccaa) October 26, 2024
Hit Bezos in the pocketbook. https://t.co/kryioZwL2P
Absolutely boycott Amazon. Bezos almost certainly knew the Post would lose revenue and doesn’t care. It didn’t make much in the first place. Amazon is where he makes his money. Amazon taking a stock hit on Monday would get his attention.
— Count Shmuckula (@shmuckula) October 26, 2024
Reports have indicated a different storyline, despite CEO Lewis' op-ed framing the decision as a step toward creating "independent space" free from electoral interference. NPR reports that David Shipley, the editorial page editor, had first given his approval to a draft endorsement for Kamala Harris. Before the decision to withhold it was made, Jeff Bezos, the owner of the Post, apparently reviewed this endorsement. The Post's own reporting raised concerns about possible corporate and financial influences by implying that Bezos himself had a crucial role in preventing the endorsement. Staff and Guild OutcryWe really need to boycott Amazon.
— EAF820 (@eaf820) October 26, 2024
The newsroom at the Post has been shaken by the development. Shipley allegedly told the workers at a heated meeting that he made the decision not to support in order to promote journalistic freedom. In spite of this claim, Post reporters and the Washington Post Guild have united in their opposition, releasing comments condemning the ruling as detrimental to their job and undermined reader confidence.10 Washington Post columnists publish dissent to Bezos decision not to endorse in presidential race https://t.co/nLfNvJbWn6
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) October 25, 2024
I can live w/o Amazon, especially since I bought a “100% cotton blanket from Amazon and it literally fell apart when I washed it the 1st time!
— Mary Kay M (@MaryKayMarrell1) October 26, 2024
Sign me up for a boycott!
It happens to be true, but a boycott of Amazon would cause it to lose more money
— Sam E. Antar (@SamAntar) October 26, 2024
“We are deeply concerned that The Washington Post would make this decision,” stated the Washington Post Guild, adding that the move could harm readership during a critical electoral moment. Staff members have reportedly expressed frustration and disappointment, with senior political correspondent Ashley Parker describing it as an unexpected “October Surprise.” Public Figures and Political Reactions@JeffBezos feck you Jeff. Not just cancelling the Post subscription but gonna boycott Amazon, too... https://t.co/YpJ4Kmo8nA
— Cob Carlson (@autofreethrows) October 26, 2024
‘Star Trek’ Star George Takei Calls for Amazon Boycott After WaPo Owner Jeff Bezos Blocks the Paper’s Harris Endorsementhttps://t.co/B4akRCkiIo🤣🤣🤣
— JD Trulove (@JdTrulove) October 26, 2024
Bezos wouldn't have fought to publish the Pentagon Papers, the way Ben Bradlee and Kay Graham did. He would have tried to peddle them on Amazon. https://t.co/JbQiOq9AiB
— Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) October 25, 2024
Prominent public personalities, such as Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, have also expressed their disapproval of the decision. Sanders attacked Bezos on social networking site X, characterizing the choice as an example of oligarchic control and implying that Bezos refrained from supporting a candidate who opposed Donald Trump in order to protect Amazon's government contracts. Resignations and Restructuring Amid Growing FrustrationsRobert Kagan, a conservative writer and Trump skeptic, resigned from the Post's editorial board following the decision, citing the reversal of the support. The internal conflicts and dissatisfaction the decision has caused inside the company are highlighted by Kagan's resignation. Similar problems have also been experienced by the Los Angeles Times, which declared it will not seek a presidential endorsement this time. The editorial page editor resigned last week when it was revealed that Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the paper's owner, rejected an endorsement for Harris. A Controversial Move for the Washington Post’s LegacyMartin Baron, a former executive editor of the Washington Post, vehemently denounced the move, calling it "cowardice" and cautioning that it may strengthen outside pressure on media ownership. He pointed to the effect on democratic integrity when he stated, "History will mark a disturbing chapter of spinelessness." In his statement, CEO Lewis justified the choice, highlighting a dedication to freedom and the rule of law, as being in line with the principles of "character and courage in service to the American ethic."An endorsement was written and killed by the owner. https://t.co/djFGvkIpzN
— Lois Romano (@loisromano) October 25, 2024
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