I never thought I’d reprint anything from the Arizona Republic (in entirety) but odd and strange things happen during political campaigns. With a sudden case of cognitive dissonance on the mind, I’m not sure if I should congratulate or console David Schweikert for his endorsement by the Republic’s editorial board but since political campaigns are mathematically a process of addition, I’ll assume this helps swell his ranks of voters. Here’s the endorsement reprinted:

SEND SCHWEIKERT TO WASHINGTON

Ignore all that mud smeared across your television screen and splattered in your mailbox. Rep. Harry Mitchell and David Schweikert are honorable men who want the best for this country. They simply have different ideas about what that means.

The two face off for the second time to represent Congressional District 5, which stretches from Fountain Hills and Scottsdale through Tempe, west Mesa and parts of Chandler to Ahwatukee Foothills. Mitchell won in 2008, boosted by the Obama wave.

The Democrat has built an admirable record, particularly on veterans’ issues. He has resisted the partisan upmanship that paralyzes Congress, with a Republican co-sponsor on every bill he introduced. Mitchell’s voting record is moderate, however much Schweikert wants to paint him as a Nancy Pelosi-lapdog liberal. (Mitchell won the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, no friend of the Obama administration.)

Mitchell was the right person to represent this district for the past four years. But to confront the challenges ahead, a change is needed. Schweikert, a Republican, has the talents and outlook that will be needed in the next Congress.

Schweikert, a former Maricopa County treasurer, is a financial guy. He enjoys poring over a spreadsheet the way most people dive into a good novel. What’s more, he’s a deficit hawk. After the budget excesses of the past 10 years, we need people in Congress who will challenge every penny of spending.

Schweikert also is willing to consider new approaches to longstanding problems. Social Security, for instance, continues to stumble toward insolvency because re-election-minded politicians are afraid to make tough decisions.

Mitchell says the system is just fine. Schweikert recognizes that unpopular changes will be necessary to save it.

And then there is the health-care bill. Mitchell, in talks around the district while the bill was being debated, displayed conflicting feelings about the bill and opposition to some portions of it. District residents mostly opposed it. Still, Mitchell voted for the bill, a vote he continues to defend.

That puts him at odds with the district. Schweikert, who vows to join Republican efforts to defund the law, is more in line with where voters stand. And he suggests common-sense, market-driven reforms that would accomplish the same ends with less bureaucracy.

Mitchell is likeable. He’s a grandfatherly figure, the kind of guy you wouldn’t mind spending a day with. He’s also at the end of a distinguished political career, with no illusions or ambition to be more than the 5th District congressman. While he dedicates himself to the job, he’s not a dynamic presence on Capitol Hill.

Schweikert is far more likely to bring energy to the office. It takes drive to pick yourself up from a bruising defeat for another campaign against the same opponent. The ambition that has carried Schweikert this far will serve the district’s residents well in Washington.

Voters have two good and honorable men to choose from. But for all these reasons, we recommend Schweikert.