Oh, the locals:

Obama would sell us out, letter to the editor

Barack Obama is a slick, eloquent, elitist black politician. If he wins, it will because he is black and projects a messianic personality to those who are too ignorant to see the truth. It would be a shame on the Negro race if the first black elected president sold out America wholesale. This is what I believe Obama would do.

President Bush has gotten a bum wrap from the media and the public. The man has kept us free and safe and returned us to the position as the leader of the free world. He has also led us incrementally, as much as a president probably can, as a nation under God.

I am not a racist, though I believe in talking plainly. I could vote for a man like Clarence Thomas or perhaps Bill Cosby, if I knew more of his political views. I could vote for Condi Rice. But just to vote for someone because he's black and has an eloquent charisma and promises change (what kind of change do you think he's going to bring?) - this is just wrong.

Many will vote just for these reasons. Don't let it be you.

I could find a lot to complain about in John McCain, yet this I see: He loves his country more than political power, and he stands for what he believes even when it is not popular.

He looks pretty presidential to me. No façade.

JOHN DEMAKOWSKI

Franklin

[Concord Monitor]

I have submitted a response we'll see if it gets printed.