Columbian's Idea of Stimulating Conversation

On the morning of Election Day, the Columbian placed on their Opinion page the following a notice:

Columbian endorsements on the Web:
For individual endorsement editorials and other information about the Nov. 4 election, visit:
www.columbian.com/section/opinion

If the Columbian's endorsement editorials were really "offered to stimulate conversation than to change minds" as was stated in their editorial endorsing Barak Obama for President[1] (see post Columbian endorsed Barak Obama) then why does the Columbian direct readers to their endorsements on the morning of the election?

The time for discussion was over. The only reason to supply the endorsements at this point is that an individual may not have formed their decision yet and could go to the endorsements to see who the Columbian endorsed.

To claim that an editorial board writing an opinion distributed to thousands of readers won't influence anyone is naive enough. But then to direct said readers to those very opinions once the conversation is over and a decision needs to be rendered stretches incredulity.

If the Columbian doesn't believe their opinions are weighty enough "to change minds" than why should anyone believe those opinions are weighty enough "to stimulate conversation"?



[1] "In Our View: Obama for President", The Columbian, Oct. 16,2008.http://www.columbian.com/article/20081016/OPINION02/710169982/-1/opinion