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Journalism Today

Political campaigns and newspapers themselves think the latter's editorial endorsements of candidates are a big deal. No one else pays them the slightest heed, nor should they. Anyone who reads the paper, any paper, down to the editorials is well-informed enough to make their own decision in the voting booth. Those citizens feeble enough to be swayed by the opinion of an authority figure don't read newspapers in the first place.

Besides, informed citizens already know which paper is going to endorse which candidate. The Globe picked Deval Patrick for governor, and the Herald picked Kerry Healey. Nobody in the state thought anything else was possible, so no one read either endorsement.

Men DO bite dogs every so often, however, and the Herald, staunchly conservative 364 out of 365 days a year, raised eyebrows by endorsing Edward Kennedy for re-election to the Senate.

Ted Kennedy. Liberal icon. Arch-villian of generations of Republican direct-mail fundraising appeals. Butt of Howie Carr's nastiest (and it must be added, funniest) Herald columns. Something does not compute.

Upon reflection, there's a simple explanation for the Herald's decision, one any Massachusetts resident can understand. The editorial board gathered to choose between Kennedy and his Republican opponent and came to a swift if embarrassing realization.

They couldn't remember the other guy's name either.

posted by Michael Gee @ 2:11 PM