'No inherit value': Philly newspaper breaks down its adamant refusal to back any GOP candidates

The Philadelphia Inquirer has made its disapproval of the Republican Party quite clear as the newspaper has announced its refusal to support any of the party's candidates ahead of the state's midterm elections.

"With abortion rights at stake and right-leaning candidates who can’t agree on who won the 2020 election, The Inquirer Editorial Board has chosen not to endorse a Republican for senate or governor,” the newspaper highlighted.

In a blistering op-ed published on Friday, May 13, the newspaper's editorial board criticized Republicans' as it noted the distinctive shift in the party's priorities after the 2020 presidential election.

"On the Republican side there was a palpable shift, one that seems to have happened between the presidential election on Nov. 3, 2020, and the insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021," the newspaper wrote.

The newspaper also shed light on a survey sent to Republican candidates; one those most candidates had nearly the same reaction to.

"When we sent a survey to Republican candidates in the Senate race to ascertain their positions on a range of issues," the newspaper wrote, "we learned that nearly everyone in the field felt our questions were biased and unfair."

In addition to the "biased complaints," it also noted other issues with responses. "In their view, among the most problematic queries that we asked was: Who won the 2020 presidential election? The only two options in the multiple-choice format were Joe Biden or Donald Trump" it explained. "Only one candidate — Jeff Bartos — agreed to acknowledge reality."

Although Republican candidates believe the survey was biased, the newspaper explained the significance of it. The Inquirer also noted that its refusal to back any Republican candidates its more than just a political jab but rather "a sad state of affairs."

"There is no pleasure in coming to this conclusion. In fact, it is a sad state of affairs," it wrote.

"There is no inherent virtue in supporting the policies that this board supports — but that’s not the point. The question isn’t how can more people agree with us, but how can this nation come to a place where we reach different conclusions and hold different opinions while operating from the same commonly shared set of facts? We don’t have an answer."

The Inquirer explained that it “wanted to help provide guidance to Inquirer readers with an endorsement in the Republican primaries this year — but we couldn’t.” In conclusion, the board wrote, “Nevertheless, we will not stop engaging in free argument and debate until truth prevails.”