Denver Post Faces Reader Backlash Over Melat Kiros Endorsement

Readers of The Denver Post are challenging the newspaper's decision to back Melat Kiros in the congressional race for Colorado's 2nd District. The criticism, published in the October 29 letters page, centers on two main points: Kiros's characterization of the 2024 Boulder firebombing and her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

The controversy began after the paper published an editorial on October 25 recommending voters choose Kiros. The letter writers argue that her public comments undermine the credibility of that recommendation. In a recent interview with Denver7, Kiros addressed the nature of the attack on a Jewish community center in Boulder. She stated that while many viewed the impact of the bombing as antisemitic, she believed the attack was specifically targeted at Zionism and Israel. She added that the ongoing war and genocide in Palestine are currently endangering Jewish and Muslim populations globally.

Sara Zessar, a Denver resident, wrote that Kiros's refusal to explicitly label the Boulder firebombing as antisemitic should have disqualified her from receiving the endorsement. Zessar argued that Kiros's comments imply that the war in Israel is the primary cause of danger for Jews. Zessar noted that most Jews in America and Israel do not control Israeli government policy, so they should not face penalties for those actions. She compared the situation to the 2015 Charleston, South Carolina, church shooting, asking if a major paper would endorse a candidate in that state who refused to call the crime racist. Zessar identified Shimon Blau as the only reasonable choice in this election.

Other letters focused on Kiros's ideological alignment. Hank Bootz, also of Denver, questioned how The Post could endorse a DSA candidate when the organization seeks to abolish capitalism. Bootz suggested that if the paper is supporting socialism, it might consider becoming a "universal newspaper for all" that eliminates subscription fees and advertising charges.

Scott Newell of Denver pointed out a contradiction in the editorial board's history. He noted that the same publication had championed the release of Tina Peters, a rightist election-denier convicted of a felony, and is now supporting a left-wing socialist. Newell described the move as resembling schizophrenia. He argued that while definitions of socialism vary, a common thread is the belief that a welfare state reduces crime, which supports the idea of defunding police. Newell stated that mainstream America wants security and sober-minded candidates, and that the Democratic Party's leverage from war and high inflation is being negated by candidates like Kiros.

Marc Wasserman from Highlands Ranch raised a constitutional concern. He noted that The Post defends the freedom of the press but is endorsing a candidate who, in the paper's own words, wants to restructure society and end America's capitalist economy. Wasserman argued that while complicated policy conversations are American, supporting a candidate whose solution is to end the United States is not. He expressed hope that a newspaper organization would understand this distinction.

The letters reflect a divide among the paper's readership regarding how to weigh specific policy positions against broader ideological commitments. The endorsement stands as the official recommendation of the editorial board for the upcoming vote.