Reader Responses

It is highly disturbing to read so many letters demonizing Barack Obama who is about to make history by being the first African American to be nominated by a major political party in a general election in which there is a chance he would be the first black president ever elected.

The relentless attacks are based mostly on his character and childhood associations in the past. Legitimate criticisms on his policy position on issues are natural and justified in an election. But rumors and innuendos of his past associations and teenage activities are not measures of character and leadership.

A letter by Laurie D. Jones Aug. 15 equated economic justice to a euphemism for socialism and then refers to Obama's childhood mentor up to the age of 18 as the late Frank Marshall Davis who, according to the writer, was a communist. Then "after college, where he took up Marxist professors and other socialists for inspiration and thus became a community organizer," the letter continues.

He is also accused of privately phoning Kenya's opposition Luo tribe leader Raila Odinga, who according to the writer is a communist. One of my colleagues here, Dr. Ctuenne Thuita, from Kenya tells me Raila Odinga is the Prime Minister in Kenya and he is not a communist.

Why are we involved in such deliberate character assassination and personal destruction at a time when historic celebration and rejoice are called for?

M.S.T. Namboodiri
Tyler