For the first time in nearly a century, The Cincinnati Enquirer has endorsed a Democrat for president

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published 23 September 2016

The Cincinnati Enquirer broke its longstanding conservative tradition by backing Hillary Clinton on Friday. "The Enquirer has supported Republicans for president for almost a century — a tradition this editorial board doesn't take lightly. But this is not a traditional race, and these are not traditional times," The Enquirer explained.

Presidential elections should be about who's the best candidate, not who's the least flawed. Unfortunately, that's not the case this year […] Trump is a clear and present danger to our country. He has no history of governance that should engender any confidence from voters. Trump has no foreign policy experience, and the fact that he doesn't recognize it — instead insisting that, "I know more about ISIS than the generals do" — is even more troubling. His wild threats to blow Iranian ships out of the water if they make rude gestures at U.S. ships is just the type of reckless, cowboy diplomacy Americans should fear from a Trump presidency. Clinton has been criticized for being overly cautious when it comes to sending our troops into battle, but there is a measured way to react to the world's problems. Do we really want someone in charge of our military and nuclear codes who has an impulse control problem? [The Cincinnati Enquirer]

"In these uncertain times," The Enquirer concludes, "America needs a brave leader, not bravado. Real solutions, not paper-thin promises. A clear eye toward the future, not a cynical appeal to the good old days." In the RealClearPolitics average, Trump leads Clinton in the battleground state of Ohio 45 percent to 43 percent in a two-way race and 42 percent to 40 percent when third-party candidates are considered.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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