The Washington Post Bends the Knee to Trump

The Washington Post has decided not to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2016 election.

David Gergen says the paper's editorial board has been stripped of its authority to endorse presidential candidates.

Gergen : The paper is a group of bold, pro-democracy intellectuals who have traditionally taken courageous stands about democracy and human rights.

David Gergen : First time the Post has sat out a presidential endorsement since 1988 .

He says the decision to forgo the already-drafted endorsement “undercuts [their] work” Gergen says it's a failure not of the Post editorial board but of ownership towards the board.

Gergen writes: Ownership of the Washington Post is a sacred trust, treasuring its autonomy.

David Rothkopf : The Washington Post editorial page was a formative institution that valued political pluralism, modeled democratic dialogue and consensus.

He says if the editorial page editor was complicit in this, he should resign in protest.

He also says if he played a willing role in this episode, he need not resign.

Rothkapf: Democracy can't rest on the shoulders of oligarchs, and journalism can't rely on them.