To the editor: At some other time, the homeowners of the Los Angeles Instances and the Washington Submit might have had good causes to discontinue presidential endorsements. By offering good, stable reporting on candidates who differ on coverage points however fall throughout the broadest definitions of normality, newspapers can inform readers, who then draw their very own conclusions.
However this election is just not between two regular candidates.
Former President Trump is precisely the sort of person who the framers of our Structure feared would rise to energy with out an electoral school in place. However the abhorrent results of their examine on the individuals is that democracy is thwarted, the minority guidelines, and the framers’ nightmare of an completely unqualified, harmful candidate coming to energy is near actuality.
The choices by L.A. Instances proprietor Dr. Patrick Quickly-Shiong and Washington Submit proprietor Jeff Bezos to withhold their editorial boards’ endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris so near the election are akin to canceling one’s hearth insurance coverage simply because the blaze is near burning down the home.
Sheldon H. Kardener, Santa Monica
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To the editor: On this election yr, publishing an endorsement would appear to be a no brainer. That The Instances and the Washington Submit would decline to endorse a candidate of apparent benefit who might save this nation from Trump’s fascism, racism and his billionaire cohorts is unconscionable.
Maybe within the election of 2028, we should always merely have a nationwide lottery, and whoever has probably the most cash buys the presidency.
God assist us all. I’ll cancel my subscription to each papers.
Barbara Brenner, Studio Metropolis
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To the editor: I briefly thought of canceling my subscription in protest, a knee-jerk response to Quickly-Shiong’s scuttling of The Instances editorial board’s endorsement of Harris.
However I assumed higher of it, partly as a result of Quickly-Shiong has helped the paper keep afloat at a time when newspaper journalism is as wanted as it’s imperiled, and partly as a result of he has allowed for protection and reporting that clearly has favored Harris in the course of the marketing campaign.
The principle motive I haven’t canceled is as a result of doing so would have a negligible impact on the life and backside line of a billionaire. Quickly-Shiong wants my subscription about as a lot as a turtle wants a library card. However when throngs of sad readers cancel in protest, it threatens the livelihoods of journalists I love.
Thomas Boyd, Diamond Bar
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To the editor: Many because of Quickly-Shiong for reinvigorating The Instances since he purchased the newspaper in 2018. Painful at instances, his efforts shine by way of to readers.
However I can be canceling my subscription to the broadsheet that I’ve learn over the previous 64 years, since being a Dodger-addicted child rising up in Arcadia.
It’s merely guileless for Quickly-Shiong’s daughter, who claims that the Biden administration’s coverage on Gaza affected the choice to withhold an endorsement, to consider that the U.S. alone can convey peace to the Center East. Evidently, she believes Trump can be higher ready than Harris to settle the Gaza tragedy.
The Quickly-Shiong household, displaying outstanding naivete, now erodes this venerable establishment they goal to reinforce, one which I’ll sorely miss.
Bruce Fuller, Berkeley
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To the editor: My brother, photojournalist Richard Cross, was working alongside L.A. Instances reporter Dial Torgerson after they each misplaced their lives in Honduras in 1983. They have been making an attempt to disclose the reality behind what turned the Iran-Contra scandal.
Richard would weep if he knew that you’re not offering an endorsement for president in 2024.
I applaud your former editorials editor Mariel Garza and writers Karin Klein and Robert Greene, who resigned in protest of the proprietor’s resolution.
Your silence speaks volumes. It doesn’t honor the journalists who gave their lives to disclose the reality. It isn’t too late to rethink and do the proper factor. Please revise your resolution — we want the help of your honorable publication.
Malia Cross, Honolulu
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To the editor: I’m a Democrat. I consider a newspaper ought to give its readers true info on the insurance policies of the 2 candidates operating for president and allow us to resolve for whom to vote in an election.
I might be upset if The Instances instructed me to vote for the candidate I used to be not going to vote for. An individual on the opposite facet of the fence would really feel the identical method.
Myra Fisher, Woodland Hills
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To the editor: I’ve been a longtime reader (basically since I might learn) and subscriber (greater than 30 years) to The Instances. I believe the choice by Quickly-Shiong to not endorse a presidential candidate was a self-serving one.
I consider a Trump presidency would current a hazard to democracy in addition to trustworthy journalism. To not name him out on that and make a stand weakens our nation. Truthful reporting on each side of the political spectrum could be performed whereas the editorial board makes its opinions recognized.
In stifling the editorial board’s presidential endorsement, Quickly-Shiong has used his energy as an proprietor to form the election. Actually, he has now turn out to be a part of the information cycle.
Whereas I’m near canceling my subscription, I fear that doing so simply takes a step towards trustworthy journalism’s demise and can be unfair to the precise staff of The Instances. However I do know of no different actual technique to voice my opposition and lack of help.
Angela Kim, Mission Viejo
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To the editor: Someplace alongside the road, journalists, editors and publishers bought it into their heads that “neutrality” is what must be practiced — that’s, the indiscriminate reporting of information and folderol side-by-side, announcing them as equal.
However it’s objectivity, a weighing of data and expertise to focus on reality and actuality, that must be a information outlet’s goal.
Quickly-Shiong says he spiked the editorial board’s endorsement of Harris in an effort to cut back political division and since he trusts readers to make up their very own minds. Poppycock! If that have been true, why has the newspaper endorsed in most different essential races?
Right here’s a undeniable fact that must be reported: By each measure, Trump is totally and demonstrably unfit for the presidency — a profound understatement within the curiosity of time and house.
Joshua Gershick, North Hollywood
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To the editor: I’m curious if the proprietor nonetheless feels good about his resolution to dam the editorial board’s endorsement of Harris after the parade of racist and xenophobic ethnic slurs placed on at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York on Sunday.
Actually, remaining “impartial” within the face of such hate and bigotry is definitely taking a facet — the incorrect facet.
Mona Lynch, Laguna Seashore
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To the editor: I’ve been a subscriber to The Instances my whole grownup life. I’m now in my 60s. I’m extraordinarily disenchanted with the possession’s resolution to squash an endorsement of Harris.
My first response was to contemplate canceling my subscription out of protest. Upon additional reflection, I made a decision to proceed my subscription in an effort to proceed supporting the great reporting that your employees does.
It’s crystal clear to me that Trump is uniquely unqualified to carry any elective workplace, not to mention the presidency. The explanations for this are extra quite a few than I need to take the time for, however amongst them are his felony conviction, pending federal expenses, adjudicated sexual abuse, paying off a porn star for an extramarital affair, stoking racism and malignant narcissism.
Any one among these must be disqualifying. The phrases from a number of of his former Cupboard members echo all this.
Disgrace on Quickly-Shiong for tarnishing the popularity of your nice newspaper by failing to see the apparent. However I’ll proceed to help the great work of your paper with my subscription.
Frank Nemiroff, Venice Seashore
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To the editor: I’ve been studying the L.A. Instances each day since I used to be 6 years outdated. I’m now 71. It’s one among my “constructive” addictions.
So I’m penning this letter with a heavy coronary heart. By no means in one million years did I think about canceling my subscription. However I swore to family and friends I might get out of my consolation zone in my efforts to help Harris and defeat Trump.
Once I heard that The Instances’ proprietor refused to publish an endorsement of Harris for president, I spotted I needed to take this step.
I’m so unhappy. I’ll miss “my” L.A. Instances.
However much more so I’m scared and livid that so many People are unable to confess that one other Trump presidency can be a direct risk to our democracy.
Peter Getoff, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Once I first heard that The Instances was not going to endorse a candidate for president, I used to be disenchanted and indignant. With a lot at stake for our democracy, I might have preferred the paper to have endorsed Harris.
But, after contemplating why I learn the paper, I believe it’s extra essential that The Instances give attention to reaching the biggest viewers potential, retaining us knowledgeable and amused and presenting factual and balanced reporting, not on telling us tips on how to assume.
Martie Levy, Santa Barbara
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To the editor: Quickly-Shiong was quoted in The Instances as saying, “I hope [subscribers] perceive by not subscribing that it simply provides to the demise of democracy.”
He apparently doesn’t perceive that his resolution to not endorse a candidate for president simply provides to the demise of our democracy.
Accordingly, he doesn’t deserve my subscription to the paper. The Instances’ refusal to endorse Harris, the one pro-democracy candidate, is unforgivable. I’m canceling.
Ray McKown, Torrance
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To the editor: Whereas I perceive in concept why Quickly-Shiong won’t need to affect readers, that is no atypical election.
By no means earlier than have we had an unqualified, unhinged, vindictive, fascist felon decided to destroy democracy in search of the presidency — and primarily to keep away from going to jail.
In Germany earlier than World Warfare II, individuals mentioned they “didn’t know.” They did. My mom was there. They didn’t need to know.
That is an unprecedented time in our nation’s historical past. Saying journalists ought to simply current the professionals and cons of each candidates is like saying Hitler did some good issues.
The one motive I’m not canceling my subscription is as a result of I need to help the devoted journalists who work exhausting to current the information.
Margie Friedman, Santa Monica
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To the editor: Due to Quickly-Shiong for his resolution to not endorse a presidential candidate. I consider that this must be commonplace coverage for all elections.
In an period the place clear biases are showing in non-editorial items even in high quality newspapers, extra articles nowadays must be flagged as opinion.
For higher or worse, I believe that most individuals don’t must obtain further training on this presidential election. Until one thing is unearthed about one of many candidates that’s unknown and shocking, there’s nothing else that voters must know.
An endorsement is nothing greater than benefiting from your pedestal to share your opinion. Particularly for this election, endorsing won’t change anybody’s thoughts and simply perpetuate the lack of belief in journalism.
Persons are greatest served when they’re given info that helps them kind their very own opinion, not when they’re instructed what their opinion must be. The Instances’ proprietor made the proper resolution.
Cory Benjamin, Dutton, Mt.
