The reliably liberal editorial board of the Los Angeles Times has endorsed Hillary Clinton, calling her "an experienced, thoughtful and deeply knowledgeable public servant" in a lengthy editorial.
The paper lambasted Donald Trump, by contrast, as a "thin-skinned demagogue who is unqualified and unsuited to be president."
Echoing criticisms leveled by Clinton and her allies, the editorial
attacks the billionaire businessman as someone who "has never held
elected office and has shown himself temperamentally unfit to do so.
"He has run a divisive, belligerent, dishonest campaign, repeatedly
aligning himself with racists, strongmen and thugs while maligning or
dismissing large segments of the American public. Electing Trump could
be catastrophic for the nation," the board writes.
The editorial then goes on detail Clinton's perceived strengths and attack Trump's record at length.
But it also wrestles with the former secretary of state's perceived
shortcomings, noting her "penchant for secrecy" and dinging her "for
adjusting her positions to match popular opinion and for being a little
too comfortable with the use of military force."
Ultimately, the board concludes: "To be a great president, she will
have to struggle to overcome her own weaknesses. But compared with
Trump’s infirmities as a candidate, her failings are insignificant. It’s
absurd — and perilous — to portray this election, as so many are doing,
as a choice of the 'lesser of two evils' or to suggest that her flaws
are in any way on a level with his."
The LA Times also endorsed Clinton ahead of the California Democratic
primary. It also endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 "without hesitation,"
and again in 2012, hailing his "steady leadership."
