L: Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo; R: AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File
A major Ohio newspaper went back on its decision to withhold political endorsements in response to Vivek Ramaswamy’s controversial ad.
Ramaswamy, the Republican candidate for governor of the state, has been under fire since his campaign aired an ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton. In the ad, Acton’s mother called her a liar and insisted that she was unfit to serve as governor. Acton later revealed she hadn’t spoken to her mother since she was a child. She also claimed her stepfather sexually assaulted her when she was younger, for which he was charged and later fled from prosecution.
The ad was met with widespread criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. President Donald Trump’s administration, however, has continued to stand with Ramaswamy. The president said the ad was only received backlash because it was “so good,” and Vice President JD Vance said he was “disgusted” by Republicans calling out Ramaswamy over the ad.
On Monday, The Plain Dealer released a column endorsing Acton for governor. In the piece, the newspaper’s editorial board accused Ramaswamy of “weaponizing the sexual abuse his opponent.”
“A candidate who uses childhood sexual abuse as a weapon against the person who endured it has crossed a line that Ohioans should defend, whatever their party,” the board said.
The editorial continued:
Today, we endorse Democrat Amy Acton for governor.
This reverses a policy we announced just months ago. Readers told us they did not need our guidance in races for governor, U.S. Senate and president. They wanted us to devote our attention to down-ballot races, especially those for judge, where reliable information can be harder to find. We listened, and we have done that work.
Now, a wave of readers is asking us to recognize another obligation. They want their chief news source to take a stand on what this community and its institutions will accept from those who seek to lead us.
They are right. We made our endorsement policy to serve our readers. We cannot let it become a reason to remain silent when we believe Ohio faces a choice this consequential.
The Plain Dealer added that the endorsement was about more than the ad, saying Acton “has earned consideration on her own record” and that she has “has kept showing up.” The board pointed to Acton’s previous service as health director under Gov. Mike DeWine (R).
“Ramaswamy has offered Ohioans far less reason to trust him,” The Plain Dealer said. “He has focused much of his attention on wealthy donors while steadfastly refusing to explain what he would do about many of the issues he would face as governor. When our readers identified the questions they wanted answered, we devoted a 15-part series to seeking those answers. Acton participated. So did Libertarian Don Kissick.
“Ramaswamy refused.”
The post Major Ohio Newspaper Reverses Policy On Endorsements to Condemn Ramaswamy Ad: ‘We Are Better Than This’ first appeared on Mediaite.
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