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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

Give The Country Credit

Regarding "Obama's Race May Be Decider" (Other Views, Sept. 10):

The writer reasons that Obama is locked in a tight race rather than "easily outdistancing his opponent" because he is black. It is suggested the election could be decided by white people, especially blue-collar whites, who won't vote for Obama because of race.

Of course there are white voters who will not vote for Obama because he is black. The majority of African Americans - 12.8 percent of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau - will vote for Obama. He also has over 60 percent of the Hispanic (14.8 percent of the population) vote and a majority of the Asian (4.4 percent of the population) vote. This is almost a third of the U.S. population. Are all these people racists?

I am a Republican who will not vote for Obama. I am, however, proud that America has an African-American candidate running for the highest office in the land! Surely this would be difficult if not impossible any place else in today's world.

Race is one of many issues, but it is not the deciding issue in this election. Please, give the country credit!

LOU GRECO

Tampa

Despises Negative Ads
I am a 71-year-old white man who grew up in the Deep South and served in the Army, including two years behind the Iron Curtain at the height of the Cold War. Today, I am ashamed of the fact that probably at least 10 percent of the white voting population is not likely to vote for Obama for the simple reason that he is black, and most of them cannot even admit that. Rather, they find it convenient to believe malicious gossip and misinformation dished out by former presidential advisor Karl Rove's staff who are now on the McCain campaign staff.

I will not vote for McCain, as I have little respect for a man who uses and condones such dirty and unethical campaign tactics. He should be raising the standards for politics and government, not lowering them to benefit himself and his campaign.

WALT MICKLER

Tampa

Double Standard?

Dick Polman's article "Obama's Race May Be Decider" infers that Barack Obama is not faring better in the polls because of the racism of certain whites who simply will not vote for a black man. Yet he says nothing of the racism of the estimated 90 percent of the black voters who are voting for Obama simply because he's black. Why is that?

JERRY GARCIA

Tampa

Ticket Has A Ring

Is it just me or does the Obama-Biden ticket look a lot like the name Osama bin Laden?

DEBRA DEFRANCO

Tampa

McCain's Bad Decision

Now that I've come to the realization that Gov. Sarah Palin is actually John McCain's running mate and not someone's idea of a hilarious new sitcom, I find myself appalled and insulted.

This woman is just a few years beyond her term as city councilwoman and mayor of her hometown - less than one-tenth the size of Brandon - and has served for less than two years as governor of Alaska, population slightly less than Jacksonville. To make the selection even more bizarre, she is currently under investigation by her own Republican legislature for abuse of power.

Oh, wait a minute, I see now - she's the perfect replacement for Dick Cheney. Way to go, Sen. McCain; you've now proven the case for your administration looking just like the previous one.

JACKIE GAVRIAN

Brandon

Apathy Is Setting In

I'm tired. I find myself considering, for the first time since I came of age, not voting. This is a big deal for me because I believe that if you don't vote, you don't get to complain about the government. I like to complain, so I vote.

This year's candidates are an interesting bunch, with a mixed bag of ideas - some good and some bad. I pay attention to the ads, watch the news and even read some of the campaign fliers. Both sides are portraying the opposite side as evil and bent on destroying America. And some of you are agreeing with that statement. You say to yourself, "They are. They want to drill. Or tax. Or whatever."

What is so wrong with recognizing that both candidates love their country and want to do what they think is best for it? Why does there have to be some vast right-wing (or left-wing) conspiracy? I've watched events unfold, and then be reported differently by both sides. Your opponent has good ideas? Distract from them. And then wonder why people don't vote.

I want to have a stake in my country. I want to have a voice. But if the politicians do nothing but sound bites, whose voice is heard?

DENNIS SOPONYAI

Brooksville

What Would Jesus Do?

Regarding "Jews Offered Moving Bonus" (Nation/World, Sept. 9):

I read with interest the article regarding the efforts of the members of Temple Emanu-El to revitalize their congregation by offering a financial incentive to Jewish families to move to Dothan, Ala. What did not interest me and appalled me was hearing the vile, anti-Semitic tripe on a local radio station on my way into downtown Tampa.

Fear and ignorance remain two of the deadliest enemies of decency. Join them together and you have a very strong, very scary enemy to confront. It is difficult to reason with these narrow-minded fools as their grasp of anything resembling logic and common sense is limited at best.

For those who called in and offered to help Jewish families pack up and move to Alabama, I have one thing to say: "What Would Jesus Do?" You do remember Him, don't you?

PATRICIA LEE-LUCARDIE

Tampa

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