Texas is a red state (though possibly not for long), so maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that all but one of the state’s large-circulation newspapers have endorsed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for the White House.
The Texas Tribune took the time of compiling all the endorsements here.
Here in Cowtown, the Star-Telegram likes Mitt for his “consistent message.” Romney has the business experience to fix America’s economy, the editors wrote.
The Dallas Morning News, in a long, wishy-washy editorial that spends more time criticizing the mixed results of Obama’s domestic policies than praising Romney’s ideas, still chose the Mormon CEO because he “speaks the language of industry” and for his “broad skill set.”
Four years ago, The Houston Chronicle broke its 44-year record of endorsing Republicans for president by supporting Obama. Now, the paper’s editors are upset that Obama hasn’t lived up to their expectations and bitter at his “insensitivity to Texans’ feelings” by denying them a retired space shuttle. It’s “mystifying” to them why he hasn’t started drilling holes in the Arctic and elsewhere for more oil and natural gas. Mostly, they complain about the lack of funding for NASA. Hilariously, the editors say they are endorsing the Romney who ran Massachusetts as governor — a politician indistinguishable from the presidential candidate who has caved to the demands of a far-right base over the last two years.
None of the editorials make it clear how exactly Romney will improve the economy — how could they, when Romney himself hasn’t said what he will do? Obama hasn’t exactly painted a detailed picture, but he’s already had four years to prove, as all presidents do, that no single person can “get Washington working again,” as the Morning News says Romney can do. The Chronicle echoes that sentiment, calling Romney a “fix-it guy.”
Aren’t these the same unrealistic expectations that conservatives gleefully mock Obama supporters for?
The Austin American-Statesman hasn’t weighed in yet, otherwise there might be another endorsement for Obama. As it is, there’s only the San Antonio Express-News. Its editors argued that despite Obama’s shortcomings (most notably, they argue, his failure to embrace the recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles debt commission), his first term was a success. Not just in terms of a stimulus package to boost the dismal economy he inherited from his predecessor, but because of Obamacare, ending the ban on homosexuals serving in the military as well as the deportation of young immigrants.
So, do these endorsements even matter any more? At this point, is anyone in Texas undecided?
The Texas Tribune staff also has a brief discussion about that. Check it out.
So the old white people who own and read newspapers endorse the party of old white people. Color me shocked.
And “consistent message?” Haw.