Last year, the Houston Chronicle endorsed Ted Cruz in the General Election to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Today, they informed the world that they really, really regretted that decision:
Sen. Ted Cruz’ hometown newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, wishes it could take back its endorsement.
The Chronicle’s editorial board, which endorsed Cruz, R-Texas, in his 2012 race, now says it misses his predecessor, former Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
“When we endorsed Ted Cruz in last November’s general election, we did so with many reservations and at least one specific recommendation – that he follow Hutchison’s example in his conduct as a senator,” The Chronicle said. ”Obviously, he has not done so.
“Cruz has been part of the problem in specific situations where Hutchison would have been part of the solution,” the board added.
From the un-endorsement:
Does anyone else miss Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison?
We’re not sure how much difference one person could make in the toxic, chaotic, hyperpartisan atmosphere in Washington, but if we could choose just one it would be Hutchison, whose years of service in the Senate were marked by two things sorely lacking in her successor, Ted Cruz.
For one thing, Hutchison had an unswerving commitment to the highest and best interests of Texas at all times. This revealed itself in a thousand different ways. Hereabouts, we miss her advocacy for NASA, the Port of Houston and the energy industry. And we know she worked just as hard for Dallas, San Antonio and a hundred smaller Texas cities and towns.
(…)
One reason we particularly believe that Hutchison would make a difference in these hectic days is that if she had kept her seat, Cruz would not be in the Senate.
When we endorsed Ted Cruz in last November’s general election, we did so with many reservations and at least one specific recommendation – that he follow Hutchison’s example in his conduct as a senator.
Obviously, he has not done so. Cruz has been part of the problem in specific situations where Hutchison would have been part of the solution.
We feel certain she would have worked shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in crafting a workable solution that likely would have avoided the government shutdown altogether.
But we’ll never know.
It’s worth noting that, in the primary the Chronicle had endorsed Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, who was considered the moderate in the race. Now, Dewhurst is traveling the state calling for President Obama’s impeachment. I’m not sure what that says, but in any case I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever actually seen an un-endorsement.
