May 17--Life is full of unpleasant but inescapable obligations: Paying your taxes. Laughing at your boss' jokes. Waiting for the cable guy. Some tasks are even more unpleasant but, thankfully, optional. For Republican officeholders and candidates, endorsing Donald Trump for president falls into the latter category.
Having been around for 169 years, we at the Chicago Tribune know something about the rewards and risks of making endorsements for office. We spend a lot of time each election compiling questionnaires for candidates, evaluating their answers, interviewing them and debating their merits. Then, in almost every race, we give one candidate our imprimatur.
We can point with unequivocal pride to one we made early on, for Abraham Lincoln when he ran for president. None since then has been quite so satisfying, but we continue to provide recommendations to voters. We think most of those were justified, but there have been a few we'd like to do over.
The dilemma for Republicans arises because they have a stake in Trump's candidacy, whether they like it or not. If their voters stay home, Democrats will benefit. A landslide defeat could pull down a lot of GOP candidates lower on the ballot. However unappealing they find Trump, Republican politicians may be appalled by the prospect of Hillary Clinton in the Oval Office.
Voting for someone is not the same thing as endorsing him: The latter is a bigger commitment. One thing we can attest is that it's also permanent. You can qualify it; you can make it tepid; you can say it's merely the least bad of the options. But the decision is like getting a tattoo: No matter your motives or explanations or second thoughts, some vestige of it will adhere forever.
Many of those facing this choice have figured this out. Some have indicated they won't support Trump -- a group that includes the two former Presidents Bush, Mitt Romney and Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska. Mayor Tomas Regalado of Miami, asked if he would support Trump, replied, "Of course not." Former New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman even plans to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Some Republicans are filing for conscientious objector status. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan explained his position: "I said I was not going to get involved, and I would not endorse any candidate and that I was going to stay focused on Maryland. And I'm not going to take any more stupid questions about Donald Trump." Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder takes a similar position.
Others are biding their time. Ted Cruz hasn't said what he'll do. House Speaker Paul Ryan has met with Trump but hasn't endorsed him so far. Rep. Steve Knight of California said, "He still hasn't gotten enough delegates. So until that happens, I think this is a moot point."
Many elected officials say they will support their nominee, though some won't utter his name. "Six of the 14 California GOP lawmakers will not say outright that they are backing Trump," reported the Los Angeles Times. Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama says only that he plans to vote for "all of the Republicans on the ballot in November."
Former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal no doubt expressed what many feel when he wrote that "electing Donald Trump would be the second-worst thing we could do this November, better only than electing Hillary Clinton."
