LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Judge Obama by the content of his character

Tom Harper, Henderson

Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 | 2:09 a.m.

I agreed with Charles Long’s Thursday letter, headlined “Specter of voting booth racism not exorcised,” on how sad it is that we’re still having a dialogue about race when Barack Obama is eminently more qualified than his opponent.

I’ve supported Obama since I read his books, “The Audacity of Hope” and “Dreams From My Father.” These books gave me the insight that Obama is a dynamic thinker, a dynamic writer and a dynamic speaker and has the life experiences that would give him the empathy and firsthand knowledge of the needs of common Americans, unlike George W. Bush, whose “silver spoon” and “boy in the bubble” life experiences ill-suited him for the presidency.

I also support Obama because of his sound judgment, temperament, vision and understanding in 2002 of the grave consequences of going to war in Iraq; he made the uncanny and accurate assessment that the invasion would only “fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst, rather than the best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaida.”

I watched Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday and as I expected, it was extraordinary. He referred to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s address at the march on Washington of Aug. 28, 1963. I believe it is important to remember that more than 45 years ago Dr. King spoke of the “fierce urgency of now” and said, “Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God’s children. Now is the time to lift our nation from ... racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”

After all these years, isn’t it time for all of us to put issues of race behind us and recognize our common bonds of brotherhood (and sisterhood) and vote not because of the color of a man or a woman but because someone is unquestionably more qualified to be president of the United States? I believe this is the time and Barack Obama is the candidate.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By jfnance32

8/31/08 at 8:13 a.m.

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I the writer is saying Obama is more qualified because he wrote two books and gave a speech.

Wow....that sure is a very high standard.
By neiman1

8/31/08 at 9:58 a.m.

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The letters from the Obama camp, and campaign staff attacking Palin from minute one amaze me. They already have judged her character apparently. I think I will judge Obama's character on his actions instead of his words. I will use things like his embracement of liberation theology as a mantra to live by, until this electtion. I will judge Obama's character by the dirty felon he not only worked with but relied on for political and financial support, until midway through this election. I will judge Obama's character by his book when I see he found his historical roots. His trip to Africa helped him find out who he was, where his other family is. I will judge him by having a brother living in a 20x20 metal shack in a Kenyan slum on $10.00 a month, one he met twice in his life and felt no need to reach out to with even the amount equal to a waitress' tip on a dinner to help sustain him. Yes, lets judge character, and character flaws.
By News1950

8/31/08 at 12:04 p.m.

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"...Barack Obama is eminently more qualified than his opponent" - WOW! I don't know what cloud you're living on, but I hope you enjoy the view. The only positive aspect of the Illinois neophyte's campaign is his absence from regular attendance in the Senate, so he could not do as much damage.
By Oliver07

8/31/08 at 2:52 p.m.

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News1950....thanks for my laugh for the day! The sad fact, though, is that neither one of them is really qualified. No senator is really qualified to run a country. Governor's or CEO's generally would be better qualified to run a country.......although I have to admit George W is trying the refute that fact the best he can!
By News1950

8/31/08 at 4:03 p.m.

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Hi Oliver07 -Your point is generally valid as an example, Franklin D. Roosevelt was an ex-governor of New York. Then, Jimmy Carter (ex-governor of Georgia) balances that argument.
I suppose that places George W. Bush in the middle of the equation. LOL...
By Doug_Rodrigues

9/1/08 at 11:50 a.m.

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If Barack Obama was a true conservative, I'd vote for him. "The content of his character" is Marxist/Socialist idiology inspiration from his youth. That's why I'd never vote for him. His mixed race has nothing to do with it.
By GrandmasMad

9/1/08 at 3:47 p.m.

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I do judge by his character..and the people he has as mentors and friends...A U.S HATING reverend comes to mind....Rezco comes to mind.....Ayers...the bomber of the U.S. (and says we should have bombed more of the U.S.) comes to mind...the fact that he got millions of dollars of Pork for the hospital his wife works for...and then her salary goes up by $200,000/yr..yes I do judge people by their associations...I am tired of this newspaper and their pages upon pages of gooey lovey articles...doesn't anyone go on the net (alipac.us) and find out all the stuff the newspapers conveniently forget to tell you