The News & Observer’s endorsements this month have been a source of great amusement for me, as their leftist editors have tried to portray their support for liberals as “sensible” and “middle of the road.” Today’s endorsements of three Democrats for U.S. Congressional races are a perfect illustration.

Bob R. Etheridge, 63, a Democrat from Lillington, is a pragmatic middle-of-the roader who reflects his constituents’ range of interests and viewpoints. For example, he is a reliable backer of sensible transit and environmental policies in a district that stretches from cityscape to rolling farmland.

The former state schools superintendent, first elected to Congress in 1996, thinks and acts practically about education. A prime example is his bill requiring full funding of the No Child Left Behind law, which promises effective schools but will fail without enough money to carry it out.

A “middle-of-the-roader” who back boondoggle transit and environmental junk science policies, And reads from the John Kerry playbook on education. Smack dab in the middle — ha!

Democrat David E. Price of Chapel Hill is a solid choice for a ninth term (he was first elected in 1986, defeated in 1994 and re-elected in 1996). The 64-year-old former political science professor at Duke University is hard-working and thoughtful. Price’s tenure on the House Appropriations Committee has given this region an important voice in congressional funding decisions. When a regional rail line welcomes its first customer in a few years, the Triangle can thank him for steady backing.

There they go again!

Shortly before U.S. troops marched in Iraq, Democrat Brad Miller wrote to constituents, “Military action against Iraq may well exacerbate the resentment, the hatred that many in the region now feel toward the United States, giving more support to terrorist groups like al Qaeda.” That kind of perceptive analysis, which also marked Miller’s eight years in the General Assembly, is one reason he deserves a second term on Capitol Hill.

How “perceptive,” that our enemies would be further galvanized once we started pummeling them, justifying a second term for Miller?

Meanwhile, look what the “middle-of-the-road” N&O editors said about their three endorsees’ opponents:

Etheridge’s Republican challenger is Billy J. Creech, 61, an eight-term member of the state House and owner of a Clayton grading business. Creech says he would cut taxes and regulations on small businesses, but he hasn’t offered a convincing reason to oust a well-regarded and capable incumbent.

The Republican candidate in the district is Todd Batchelor, 34, of Holly Springs, a bid administrator for a local company who is a former GOP precinct chairman. He campaigns for lower taxes and against wasteful spending, but simply doesn’t measure up to Price.

Virginia Johnson, 45, a lawyer from Greensboro, is Miller’s Republican opponent. A former counsel for the House Ethics and Armed Services committees, she has well-informed views on many issues and has run a vigorous campaign. But she is up against a congressman who is doing a fine job.

Did The N&O even bother to review, or interview the candidates, on their agendas? They seem to take the stereotypical GOP stances on cutting taxes, regulations, and wasteful spending, and then dismiss them. Of course, that’s because those political themes are outside of the mainstream.