CBS’s Stephen Colbert did not appreciate the Washington Post’s “extra sinister" decision to refrain from endorsing Kamala Harris. On Monday’s edition of The Late Show, Colbert railed against the paper and declared it is failing to uphold its stated commitment to democracy and warn “about a looming fascist regime.”
Colbert began, “Kamala Harris has been racking up major endorsements, but this weekend, she didn't get a big one because the Washington Post announced it will not endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election. Explains, yeah, I agree, explains why they changed their slogan from ‘democracy dies in darkness’ to “democracy dies or doesn't. We can't tell because it is so dark in here.”
He then quoted opinion editor David Shipley as saying, “The Post was no longer going to tell people how to vote, a posture that would reflect the papers independent bona fides.”
An animated Colbert ranted, “Okay, counterpoint, you are the opinion editor. Your whole job is to have an opinion about stuff like this. That would be like a movie critic writing, ‘I give Megalopolis thumbs. To say how many or which direction they’re pointing would ruin my independent bona fides. Adam Driver gives a performance.’”
Colbert then switched his ire to owner Jeff Bezos, “What’s extra sinister about this is the paper had an endorsement for Harris already written and ready to go, but at the last minute it apparently got yanked by the paper’s owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.”
After a moment of self-awareness where he pretended to buy a paper shredder from Amazon to shred his Washington Posts, Colbert turned to the reaction to the Post’s non-endorsement, “Turns out refusing to express an opinion about a looming fascist regime is unpopular among newspaper subscribers because as of this taping, more than 200,000 people have canceled digital subscriptions to the Washington Post. 200,000 gone. 200,000. You can't lose those kind of people. If this keeps up, it could destroy the Washington Post. Now, is that a good thing or a bad thing? I have no opinion.”
People like Colbert did not read previous Washington Post presidential endorsements to get informed opinions of the two candidates. Instead, they read them because cocooning oneself in an echo chamber feels good and contrary to Colbert's protests, democracy will survive the paper not endorsing Kamala Harris.
Here is a transcript for the October 28 show:
CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
10/28/2024
11:46 PM ET
STEPHEN COLBERT: Kamala Harris has been racking up major endorsements, but this weekend, she didn't get a big one because the Washington Post announced it will not endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election.
Explains, yeah, I agree, explains why they changed their slogan from “democracy dies in darkness” to “democracy dies or doesn't. We can't tell because it is so dark in here.” WaPo’s opinion editor said “The Post was no longer going to tell people how to vote, a posture that would reflect the papers independent bona fides.”
Okay, counterpoint, you are the opinion editor. Your whole job is to have an opinion about stuff like this. That would be like a movie critic writing, “I give Megalopolis thumbs. To say how many or which direction they’re pointing would ruin my independent bona fides. Adam Driver gives a performance.”
What’s extra sinister about this is the paper had an endorsement for Harris already written and ready to go, but at the last minute it apparently got yanked by the paper’s owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Well, that’s it. I'm going to shred my collection of Washington Posts. Okay. Amazon.com, paper shredders, and, ooh, two day shipping and you know what, I do need refills on the Nespresso. That is really great just one click right there. Can you make sure that gets charged up?
Turns out refusing to express an opinion about a looming fascist regime is unpopular among newspaper subscribers because as of this taping, more than 200,000 people have canceled digital subscriptions to the Washington Post. 200,000 gone. 200,000.
You can't lose those kind of people. If this keeps up, it could destroy the Washington Post. Now, is that a good thing or a bad thing? I have no opinion.
