There is clearly a double standard and they aren’t even hiding it anymore!
Mara Gay, a member of the New York Times editorial board, recently downplayed the notion that Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump should be held to the same standards. On Thursday’s “Morning Joe,” Gay joined host Joe Scarborough in discussing the seeming absurdity of comparing the scrutiny faced by Trump with that of Harris. Scarborough criticized the traditional separation between editorial opinions and news coverage when it comes to presidential candidates, arguing that it’s unreasonable to apply the same level of criticism to both Trump and Harris.
Gay concurred with Scarborough, stating that the choice between Trump and Harris is clear. She suggested that Trump’s actions have set a lower bar for acceptable behavior, making it necessary for journalists to push all candidates harder, but particularly emphasizing Trump’s distinct challenges.
Gay acknowledged that while it’s vital for journalists to rigorously question all candidates, the extreme nature of Trump’s presidency and his current campaign makes it challenging to hold both him and Harris to the same standards. According to Gay, Trump’s approach has been so extreme that it distorts the comparison, as one candidate is committed to democratic norms while the other is not.
In contrast, Gay noted that Harris should face scrutiny regarding her policy positions and press interactions, which would help the public understand her platform better. However, she argued that given Trump’s extreme positions, holding both candidates equally accountable might seem disproportionate.
In a related and very ironic development, the New York Times editorial board has decided to stop endorsing candidates in state and local races but will continue to make endorsements in presidential races. Kathleen Kingsbury, the Times’ opinion editor, explained that this decision aligns with the board’s mission to offer a consistent, independent perspective, though their newsroom will continue to provide in-depth reporting on local races.