Endorsement embarrassment

Endorsements have been discussed here in past postings, but I came to a realization Tuesday evening why some picks mean more than others.

While perusing the Grand Rapids Press, I noticed the daily publication endorsed four candidates for Kent County Board of Commissioners. One was of particular note, the selection of Holly Zuidema over Eric Schmidt in the 14th District. The reason for the Press picking her was, I kid you not, she is a female. That’s right.

The GRP apparently didn’t know enough about these two relatively unseasoned politicians who want to replace Tom Postmus, who is running for drain commissioner. So its editorial board took the chicken’s way out by choosing Zuidema simply because she’s a female and the GRP believes more women should serve on the County Board.

The Press didn't apply the same standard when it admitted Keith Butler and Michael Bouchard were both capable, yet they chose Bouchard who is white over Butler who is black. It could certainly be argued that there aren't enough blacks in the Senate- their editorial even admits it. So why the contradiction? And will the Press follow it's own version of Affirmative Action when Bouchard faces Debbie Stabenow for the U.S. Senate seat in November? Not likely. The Press will probably also pass over our female Governor to try to give a boost to the campaign of local billionaire Dick Devos- another white male, in case you hadn't noticed. I suspect their motives are insincere and they only support the "minority" when they don't have a dog in the fight.

The GRP has shown a disturbing trend in endorsing incumbents about 95 percent of the time and when in doubt over two or more challengers, it picks the female. I suggest it shows a lack of knowledge and understanding of the candidates and the issues. The Press back in 1994 endorsed for 87th District State Representative Cathy Williamson of Middleville, a former county commissioner who was retired by voters by a wide margin in 1988. She really didn’t bring anything to the table except she was a female. She was one of seven candidates back then and the GRP bypassed Terry Geiger, Bill Cook, Dennis McKelvey and Richard Dean — because Cathy was a female. She went on to finish way back in the pack so it's doubtful the endorsement from the GR daily had any effect on voters.

Not long ago at a candidates’ forum at Grand Valley State University for four people hoping to succeed term limited State Senator Ken Sikkema, it was said the GRP will endorse Joanne Vorhees over fellow State Rep. Mark Jansen — you guessed it, because she’s a female. My source who attended that forum called the four candidates “Tweedledee and Teeedledum Squared” because there was virtually nothing different in the candidates’ views, they all seemed to come from the same GOP School of Marching in Lockstep. They all dance to the same fiddler, so perhaps Vorhees isn’t sucha bad pick. After all, she’s a female and she and her husband, Harold, have had a lot of experience feeding at the public trough and skirting term limits laws.

With all this in mind, do not be shocked if the Press urges voters to fill in the little circle next to Susan Vlietstra for the Republican 87th District State Representative primary. It has nothing to do with whether she’s best qualified or has a solid grasp of the issues — she’s a female, that’s what counts — at least when none of the candidates are friends of the Press' editorial board.

At least the Lansing State Journal carefully examined all of the candidates and then made the difficult and correct choice in the 87th District by endorsing Brian Reynolds. Meanwhile, the Grand Rapids Press editorial page continues to be an embarrassment.