Buyer’s remorse

In its own words, “with keen reservations,” The Detroit Free Press editorial board on Sunday published an endorsement thick with excuses but ultimately, I think, coming out for Gov. Rick Snyder.

This endorsement waffles more than any endorsement I’ve read or written.

The Free Press, simply put, said Snyder is more likely to get the job done than his competitor, Democrat Mark Schauer. But it pulls punches, whines and misses the point of an endorsement.

I was fortunate to have good editors at most of the newspapers I worked for. While there was room for discussion during candidate season, I don’t remember anyone taking a vote, as The Detroit Free Press said it did, to decide on Snyder.

My editors, individually and collectively, said if you’re going to endorse someone, then get behind them and do so. Make your pick and support that pick with the many good reasons why you've chosen your candidate.

Newspapers, at least when I worked at them, understood their community value. They were there to lead, not half-endorse someone with a snivel and an implied, “I’m sorry we have to do this.”

There was never any democracy in any newsroom I ever worked in. During candidate season, candidates for office were invited in for interviews. Very often the editorial board sat in on interviews.

After the interviews, there was always lively discussion from members of the editorial board. But they knew no vote would be taken. The discussion was an attempt to persuade the editor, who wrote the endorsement, to go with one candidate or another. It was understood that ultimately, this was the editor’s call.

That was because editorials were not supposed to reflect a house divided. Editorials were supposed to clearly lead, which The Detroit Free Press seems afraid to do.

The other clear rule I learned about endorsements is that once a decision has been made, the editor writes the editorial without sniping at the candidate not selected. The Free Press doesn’t snipe at Schauer – far from it. It lauds him for several reasons, but then seems to grudgingly get around to the fact that they chose the other guy.

At least The Detroit News came out with a clear, uncluttered, unremorseful endorsement for Snyder.

You should demand more of your opinion makers. They, in the case of The Free Press, need readers. You, as a member of the community, should tell The Free Press to go about the business of doing its job well and not delivering to your doorstep an almost split-decision on the governor’s race.

That’s not leading.