Well, I'll be damned

[ksmith]

The Chicago Tribune endorsed Barack Obama for President. This is the first time the paper has endorsed a Democrat.

Obama is deeply grounded in the best aspirations of this country, and we need to return to those aspirations. He has had the character and the will to achieve great things despite the obstacles that he faced as an unprivileged black man in the U.S.

He has risen with his honor, grace and civility intact. He has the intelligence to understand the grave economic and national security risks that face us, to listen to good advice and make careful decisions.

Comments

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

I was shocked. I never thought I would see the day that the Tribune endorsed a Democrat for President.

Of course, this is just more proof for Palin that the cities and suburbs are anti-American. ;)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I thought for sure that they would find a way to endorse McCain, especially given the opinions I've read by Chapman and Kass's snide columns. I was wrong.

I have no words for Palin, beyond GO HOME!

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

I was also expecting a McCain endorsement, especially with the way WGN television and radio were acting over the last couple of weeks.

After reading the Tribune's endorsement, I really believe that Palin was the tipping point. I think it's hard for educated conservatives to see her pick as anything other than grossly irresponsible.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Over 1100 comments. Some readers are upset. Obama is a socialist--who knew? I always thought he was center-left, like Clinton.

[mithriltabby]

I’d say pragmatic centrist. From a global perspective, the Democratic Party is center-right anyway; Political Compass provides interesting perspective. (Neil Gaiman has the better bon mot, describing the parties as right-wing and super-size right-wing with extra fries.)

Holy crap.

[romsfuulynn.livejournal.com]

Just wow.

I momentarily was convinced that you had somehow fallen for a hoax.

Re: Holy crap.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I saw it first on Daily Kos, then followed the link back to the source.

Apparently one of the commenters to the online article posted that hell had indeed frozen over.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

I also was expecting them to go for McCain since their rhetoric had shifted slightly in the last few months.

However This is the first time the paper has endorsed a Democrat. is not quite true.

In 1872, the Tribune endorsed Horace Greeley, who was running as a Liberal Republican against U.S. Grant. The Democrats also nominated Greeley, so he was officially, the Democratic nominee.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

This endorsement makes some history for the Chicago Tribune. This is the first time the newspaper has endorsed the Democratic Party's nominee for president.

Pulled that right off the endorsement.

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Yup I know.

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

They addressed the Greeley issue in the article.

[scbutler.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is about the coolest thing I ever saw. Not just an endorsement, but a ringing endorsement and a complete condemnation of McCain's campaign. My Indiana grandparents were staunch conservatives who took the Tribune every day their whole lives - I wish they had lived to see this.