Plain Dealer reverses no-endorsement policy to back Acton, condemning Ramaswamy ad
Ohio's largest newspaper, The Plain Dealer, abandoned its policy against endorsing in governor's races to back Democrat Amy Acton, saying Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring her mother weaponizes her childhood abuse. Trump and Vance have defended the ad.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1The Plain Dealer, described by Newsweek as Ohio's largest newspaper, reversed a policy it announced a few months earlier of no longer endorsing in races for governor, U.S. Senate and president, and endorsed Democrat Amy Acton for governor. NewsweekN “Ohio's largest newspaper has reversed its policy against endorsing candidates in major races to back Democrat Amy Acton for governor” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1In an editorial, the paper condemned Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for a campaign advert featuring Acton's mother calling her a "liar", saying it "weaponizes the sexual abuse his opponent, Amy Acton, suffered as a child" and crosses "a line that Ohioans should defend, whatever their party." NewsweekN “has produced a campaign advertisement that weaponizes the sexual abuse his opponent, Amy Acton, suffered as a child”“a line that Ohioans should defend, whatever their party.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1The paper said its endorsement policy was meant to serve readers and "cannot become a reason to remain silent" when Ohio faces a consequential choice. NewsweekN “We cannot let it become a reason to remain silent when we believe Ohio faces a choice this consequential” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Acton has said she was sexually abused as a child by her stepfather, who was charged with rape before he fled the state, and that she had not seen her mother since she was 12. NewsweekN “The Democratic candidate said she had not seen her mother since the events took place when she was 12.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Left · 1The ad was released online the previous week and is set for a television run through the election; LA Times columnist Anita Chabria, who disclosed a relative advises Ramaswamy, called it "repugnant" and said it drew condemnation from some Republicans. Los Angeles TimesLC “The ad, released last week on the internet and set for a television blitz through the election, has sparked condemnation even from Republicans.”“One of my relatives is an advisor of Ramaswamy.” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ Left · 1President Trump called the material "very much fair game" and Vice President JD Vance told critics to "stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days." Trump and Ramaswamy say the ad is about whether Acton is truthful, not about sexual abuse. Los Angeles TimesLC “"Why shouldn't somebody use that?" Trump said Friday. "To me, that's something that's very much fair game."”“Trump and Ramaswamy are claiming that the ad isn't about sexual abuse, but only about whether Acton is truthful” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗
Left · 1Republican Gov. Mike DeWine called the ad "deeply troubling" and urged Ramaswamy to stop airing it while still supporting him; Trump then attacked DeWine as disloyal. Los Angeles TimesLC “Mike DeWine called for Ramaswamy to stop airing the spot, labeling it "deeply troubling,"” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗ Left · 1Chabria argues the ad is unlikely to change the outcome, citing a Cook poll with Acton ahead 49% to 44%, and expects Trump to rally in Ohio with Ramaswamy this week. Los Angeles TimesLC “A reliable Cook’s poll put Acton ahead 49% to 44%”“Trump will rally in Ohio this week with Ramaswamy” Read at Los Angeles Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion column treating the ad as repugnant but arguing outrage will not shift Republican voters and that the episode serves Trump as a loyalty test.
- Emphasis
- Trump's and Vance's defence, MAGA base loyalty, and the political consequences for dissenting Republicans.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Plain Dealer's endorsement reversal.
- Charged language
- “repugnant”“Trump regime”
- For example
-
“The ad was repugnant.” — Los Angeles Times
“These voters are clear that the Trump regime presents a real opportunity” — Los Angeles Times
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Brief news report leading on the newspaper breaking its endorsement policy to condemn the ad.
- Emphasis
- The Plain Dealer's editorial wording and policy reversal.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No response from Ramaswamy's campaign or Trump's defence of the ad in the available report.
- Charged language
- “weaponizes”“slam”
- For example
-
“Ohio's Biggest Newspaper Breaks Endorsement Policy To Slam Vivek Ramaswamy” — Newsweek
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Ramaswamy's campaign ad features Amy Acton's mother and has drawn condemnation.
- Acton says she was sexually abused as a child by her stepfather.
Where accounts differ
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What the ad is about
- Left
- Columnist calls it exploiting a victim of childhood abuse.
- Centre
- Plain Dealer says it weaponizes the abuse.
- Right
- No right-leaning coverage; Trump and Ramaswamy say it concerns Acton's truthfulness (as relayed by the LA Times).
Vivek Ramaswamy person
Ramaswamy and Trump say the ad is about whether Acton is truthful, not about sexual abuse; Trump called it fair game.
“Trump and Ramaswamy are claiming that the ad isn't about sexual abuse, but only about whether Acton is truthful” — Los Angeles Times
Left1 article
-
Los Angeles TimesLC · · Opinion
Chabria: What decent people get wrong about the Amy Acton ad
Critical Opinion piece condemning the ad while arguing it will not hurt Ramaswamy among Republicans and benefits Trump.
Centre1 article
-
Ohio's Biggest Newspaper Breaks Endorsement Policy To Slam Vivek Ramaswamy
Neutral Short news report relaying the Plain Dealer editorial and its policy reversal.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 25 Oct 10:00 First Los Angeles TimesLC Chabria: What decent people get wrong about the Amy Acton ad Opinion
- 26 Oct 07:46 +21h 47m NewsweekN Ohio's Biggest Newspaper Breaks Endorsement Policy To Slam Vivek Ramaswamy
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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