For the past 10+ years, I have been a digital subscriber to the Washington Post (WP). Numerous articles and opinion pieces I read in its pages challenged my perception, widened my horizon and deepened my understanding not only of world events but also what makes us tick as human beings.
It was thus
with regret that I canceled my WP subscription after its Editorial
Board, led by its publisher and CEO William Lewis, an obedient and spineless servant to his master and WP owner Jeff Bezos, chose not to endorse any
presidential candidate in the November 2024 election.
That the Post and Lewis took this path only 10 days before this most consequential election in the nation’s history revealed its hypocrisy, cowardice and “kiss the ring” subservience to Bezos.
The Board bowed
to power instead of speaking truth to it as a reputable newspaper is required
to, permanently tarnishing its image.
In his 1946 essay titled “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell warned us of the danger of doublespeak, language that deliberately obscures, disguises and distorts.
This is what the WP CEO wrote in justifying his and his master's
non-endorsement: “We
see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we
hope for in a leader: character and courage in service to the American ethic,
veneration for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its
aspects. We also see it as a statement in support of our readers’ ability to
make up their own minds on this, the most consequential of American decisions —
whom to vote for as the next president.”
Can you hear Orwell turning in his grave? I can.
Lewis’s justification, echoing Bezo's, is as full of hypocrisy and, well, doublespeak, as asserting that slavery is
freedom, racism is equality and immorality is a virtue.
What WP should
have done, as the New York Times so boldly did, was to call out Donald Trump
for what he is, a sleazy, ignorant, immoral and vindictive apology of a human
being blatantly unfit to be the President of the United States.
Instead, by not
endorsing any candidate, WP has indirectly, or maybe not so indirectly,
endorsed Trump over Kamala Harris.
Regarding the
pompous and self-righteous words of the British-born CEO Lewis, consider what WP,
under a different CEO, wrote in its 28 September 2020 Editorial endorsing Joe
Biden over Trump: “Trump is the worst president of modern times … Democracy is
at risk, at home and in the world. The nation desperately needs a president who
will respect its public servants; stand up for the rule of law; acknowledge
Congress’s constitutional role; and work for the public good, not his private
benefit.”
In selecting
Lewis as the publisher and CEO of WP on 2 January 2024, this is what Jeff Bezos said on 4 November 2023: “Ten years ago, I made a commitment
to the future of The Washington Post, inspired by its ambitious and
consequential journalism. Today, I stand confident in that future knowing it is
in the hands of Will, an exceptional, tenacious industry executive whose
background in fierce, award-winning journalism makes him the right leader at
the right time. I also want to thank Patty Stonesifer for stepping in to lead
The Post so ably over the past several months.”
Fierce Lewis?
How about a craven ass-kisser?
I will miss the
enlightening and challenging articles and opinions of the Washington Post
writers but where fundamental values are concerned, there can be no compromise.
God willing, on the morning of November 6, we Americans will wake up to a new
dawn in our history when we elect the first female President of the United States.
Afraid of
another insurrection? Don’t be. There will be none, no matter the bluster from
Trump and his cronies and sycophants. Law of the land will prevail because law-enforcement
officials will be fully prepared to deal with any obstacle to the transfer of
power since the ignominious event of 6 January 2021.
And WP
writers? You are all blessed with a unique gift, the gift of persuasive and
powerful writing. Quit WP and take your skills to other publications where they will value not only your writing but also your principles.
