For Chicago Tribune Endorsements, It's a Democratic Sweep

Some people still think of the Chicago Tribune as the voice of conservative Republicanism. The truth is that it hasn't been for many years.

Today's editorial endorsements by the newspaper provide fresh evidence of how the once mighty Tribune has fallen. The Tribune endorsed seven Illinois candidates for Congress; every one of them is a liberal Democrat.

Moreover, the incumbent Democrats the Tribune recommends include some of the most liberal representatives in Congress:

Bobby Rush, according to the nonpartisan National Journal, in 2005 voted more liberal on social policy issues than 96 percent of the Representatives.

Jesse Jackson, Jr., according to the same index, in 2005 voted more liberal on social policy issues than 86 percent of his colleagues.

Luis Gutierrez checked in at 86 percent.

Danny Davis was at 93 percent.

Rahm Emanuel, who also spearheads the efforts to elect Democrats to Congress, was rated at 73 percent.

The conservative of the group was Dan Lipinski, who in 2005 voted more liberal on social policy issues than 57 percent of the Representatives. "Only" 57 percent, imagine that.

Most newspaper endorsements don't have a great deal of influence with voters. Seeing how the Chicago Tribune handled these endorsements, it's easy to understand why.