A “serial liar,” a “dangerous demagogue” and “ill-equipped to be commander in chief” are some of the strong terms being used by USA Today, as the editorial board took a stand Thursday night against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The paper declared him “unfit” to serve in the White House next year.
In its 34 years, the national newspaper has never endorsed a candidate for president. And while USA Today stopped short of endorsing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton or Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, the paper issued a scathing takedown of the billionaire businessman.
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“This year, the choice isn’t between two capable major party nominees who happen to have significant ideological differences. This year, one of the candidates — Republican nominee Donald Trump — is, by unanimous consensus of the Editorial Board, unfit for the presidency,” USA Today wrote.
“From the day he declared his candidacy 15 months ago through this week’s first presidential debate, Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs from its presidents.”
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The editorial board continued to assail the GOP nominee calling him “erratic,” “ill-equipped to be commander in chief,” a “serial liar” and said he “traffics in prejudice.”
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“From the very beginning, Trump has built his campaign on appeals to bigotry and xenophobia, whipping up resentment against Mexicans, Muslims and migrants. His proposals for mass deportations and religious tests are unworkable and contrary to America’s ideals,” the board wrote.
“Trump has stirred racist sentiments in ways that can’t be erased by his belated and clumsy outreach to African Americans.”
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The paper also clarified that the op-ed is not an endorsement of Clinton, but adds she would be “far less likely to threaten national security or lead to a constitutional crisis.”
Also late Thursday, Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, defended the GOP nominee in an op-ed for the paper saying that “Donald Trump is ready to lead.”
“By electing Donald Trump, the American people have the opportunity to choose a bold leader. In a political world often reserved for talkers, Donald Trump is a doer,” Pence wrote.
With less than 40 days before Americans head to the polls to decide the next president, several other editorial boards from traditionally conservative media outlets have voiced their opposition to Trump.
The Arizona Republic endorsed Clinton, marking the first time it had backed a Democrat for president in its 126-year history, while the The Cincinnati Enquirer, Dallas Morning News, and the Houston Chronicle also backed the Democratic nominee. And breaking with 143 years of tradition, the Detroit News chose to endorse Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson over a Republican candidate.
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