More Newspaper Endorsement Craziness

Today the Seattle PI endorsed Luke Esser for the 48th District Senate seat.

Their reasoning?

We've been at odds with the incumbent 48th District Republican senator's votes and views on a list of issues, including simple majority passage of local school measures, gay rights, stem cell research and a woman's right to choose.

That's a substantial list, and if there were a Democratic challenger in the race we believed brought reasoned ideas and a thoroughly progressive approach, that candidate would get the nod.

But the Democratic candidate, former Republican Rodney Tom, doesn't seem to offer that solidly progressive alternative.

So they go for the extreme righty?

I mean WTF!

Why even bother endorsing anyone in that case?

And what of their assessment back in March when Rodney Tom announced he was switching to the Democratic Party?

Tom, one of the most progressive members of the House Republican caucus, has announced he will leave the GOP to pursue, as a Democrat, the district's Senate seat, now held by Republican Luke Esser.

Esser has left himself ripe for challenge with a voting record increasingly discordant with much of his district. He has been a regular vote against gay rights, against abortion rights, against a simple majority for school funding measures and -- in particular contradiction to his district's interests -- against increases in transportation funding.

...

It would seem in the best interest of the Democratic Party and the 48th District for Tom, the experienced representative, to go after Esser and for Golden and Eddy to vie for his House position.

I mean one cannot help but wonder if this is some kind of joke.

Meanwhile the Seattle Times endorsed Rodney Tom:

The newly minted Democrat, Rep. Rodney Tom, is our choice for state Senate. Tom offers the right blend of progressive politics — pro-choice and stem-cell research supporter — with fiscal conservatism that is in sync with his district.

Sen. Luke Esser opposes abortion rights and gay rights. His hard-line stance against tax increases without voter approval puts him on the wrong side of the transportation issues critical to the Eastside. When Esser voted against improving Highway 520 and Interstate 405, he no longer fit the 48th.

So the Times believes Tom is the right blend of progressive politics and fiscal conservatism, and the PI would rather endorse an extreme right candidate such as Esser because Tom isn't progressive enough?

Truly baffling!

BTW, also receiving endorsements from the Times are Deb Eddy and Ross Hunter for the 48th District House, both running against less than credible candidates.