I’ve been a frequent critic of the Plain Dealer’s documented right-wing slant. I spent two years once clipping items that proved it, mostly in what they covered and how much, where they placed the articles, what the headlines said, and occasionally even by occasional “weasel words” in ostensible “news” articles. Its long history of allowing now-retired far-right columnist Kevin O’Brien to write columns based on name-calling and untruths, which no other columnist was allowed to get away with, was a constant irritation.
But the paper’s endorsement of Jim Jordan for reelection to Congress was a new low. It likes to make a great show of encouraging comity, often praising elected officials who “work across the aisle” and get things done for the good of all. Jordan’s record as part of the extremist Freedom Caucus, whose main motivation is to dig in its heels and make sure government does as little as possible for ordinary working people, is bad enough. He’s an avowed opponent of health care reform at a time when access to affordable health care is polling as Americans’ health concern.
The editorial even says, “We are not fans of Jordan’s ideological rigidity, which gets in the way of congressional compromises on matters of urgent national interest, such as health care reform.” No kidding. Jordan has been one of the main drivers of Congress’s intransigence and inaction; his rigidity in pushing unpopular, fringe positions has caused much of the stalemate and lack of bipartisanship news outlets like the Plain Dealer constantly bewail. His “ideological rigidity” is the sum of who he is.
But I had to wonder if I was reading parody — or perhaps the secret return of O’Brien — when this endorsement FINALLY got around at the very end to referring to the accusations by multiple former students that Jordan was aware of long-term sexual abuse of students going on at The Ohio State University when he was an assistant wrestling coach there. It laughably contended that Jordan “should be more forthcoming” and “examine his conscience” over the matter.
Jordan has made clear that he has no intention of doing so. And he HAS been “forthcoming” in a way: he called the ex-students liars bent on destroying his political career. And incredibly, he has launched a run for Speaker of the House (or minority leader, if Democrats take charge next year) when most congresspeople would instead be resigning, despite the fact that he would likely be the most divisive congressional party leader in modern history. Newt Gingrich, step aside.
The editorial makes a half-hearted effort to justify the endorsement by saying that Jordan’s opponent Janet Garrett “appears out of her depth on issues.” But it seems like the main reason for this endorsement is to go with a winner, as the editorial asserts that she has little chance of winning this radically gerrymandered district.
That’s probably true. But it’s insulting to readers and voters to then endorse someone you’ve admitted is on the extremist fringe of Congress, is opposed to helping his constituents with the very thing people are most concerned about, and dealt with charges that he was aware of sexual abuse by attacking the accusers. That alone is reason enough to vote for Garrett if you live in this district.
But there are positive reasons as well. Garrett was a public school teacher for more than three decades, whereas Jordan came out of the privileged hot house of big-time university sports. She supports access to health care for all, women’s rights, labor rights, properly funding education, rebuilding infrastructure and protecting the right to vote — in short, using government productively for the welfare of all, not destroying it as Jordan proposes.
I’ve met and talked with Garrett on several occasions. She seems like a decent, sincere person of more than average intelligence who could easily get up to speed about issues if elected. Turning a morally compromised partisan attack dog into a decent person who will do what’s best for his constituents and the country is a much longer shot. In the case of Jordan, it’s just not going to happen.
Learn more about Garrett here: