Morris newspapers endorse Trump for president

Morris Communications-owned newspapers this weekend became some of the few newspapers in the country to endorse Donald Trump for president.

Many newspapers this year opted to either not endorse a candidate or endorsed Hillary Clinton, including publications that have traditionally endorsed Republicans. Morris, an Augusta, Ga.-based company, apparently directed its newspapers — including the Athens Banner-Herald, the newspaper of record for the liberal enclave of Athens, Ga. — to endorse Trump.

In its op-ed, the Florida Times-Union of Jacksonville, Fla., notes:

America needs a major shake-up. There is only one presidential candidate with the will and ability to do it.

Donald Trump, despite all of his faults, is best suited to blow up the inbred corruption of the Washington-New York elites.

While this is anything but a comfortable call, it is in keeping with the Times-Union’s center-right tradition and with the conservative Republican philosophy of our family ownership.

Republicans, Democrats, they are all part of an establishment that didn’t even recognize the voters that Trump was appealing to.

This is the kind of political revolution that was foreseen by the Founding Fathers. Throw out the rascals.

Click here to read the full op-ed. Click here to read the op-ed in The Augusta Chronicle. Click here to read the op-ed in the Athens Banner-Herald.

Will Morris IV, president and CEO of Morris Communications, explained the decision to endorse Trump in a separate note:

While this endorsement reflects our opinion, we want readers to know that this does not influence our news coverage. Newsrooms run independently from our editorial pages.

Many newspapers throughout the country have chosen not to make endorsements this year due to the mercurial candidates. I believe that it is a mistake, and it is our responsibility to have the courage to voice an opinion and to lead civil discourse.

More voices and opinions make our country strong, even when we are not in agreement. But we can all agree it’s crucial that everyone exercise their right to vote.