Our readers' view on our pick for president

• We invited readers to call or e-mail us with their feelings about our endorsement for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for president over Republican Sen. John McCain. This is a sampling of the edited responses.

I think your endorsement of Obama is absolutely ridiculous. Just because he is a smooth talker, this is going to make him a wonderful President? I don't see where you can possibly think he has the experience or anything else going for him. I am tired of "Obama, Obama, Obama." That he is so wonderful. What? He is not running against George Bush. He is running against McCain. I think your endorsement is ridiculous.

Nancy Vancura, unincorporated Mundelein

I totally disagree with your endorsement and I am particularly interested in Obama offering another kind of politics that breaks down the old partisan walls. Have you not been watching what he has done in these few years he has been in the Senate? He very rarely, if ever, crosses the aisle to work with Republicans. He is the most liberal in the Senate, Joe Biden being number three.

Have you considered his stand on partial birth abortion? Have you considered that he will be in a position to possibly nominate one if not two Supreme Court justices? I am totally, absolutely astounded, shocked, disappointed and blown away by your endorsement of Senator Obama of Illinois.

Dorothy Connors, Libertyville

I have just one question ... What took you so long? Your endorsement of Sen. Obama is right on. Your eloquent editorial in Sunday's newspaper made a complete and through case for why Sen. Obama is the one leader most suited in every way to take on the truly Herculean tasks that await the next president of the United States. I was very impressed with the systematic and complete rationale you cited for your choice of Sen. Obama. You offered more than mere opinion for your choice - you gave great reasons. He has shown an understanding of the problems and concerns of the average person in our country, the economic hardships, as people struggle with loss of jobs, loss of their homes and inability to secure even basic health care for themselves and their families. Moreover, he has proposed workable and creative solutions.

Sen. McCain, while a good and well-intentioned public servant, has not presented any new or workable solutions. Moreover, he has proposed many of the same untenable programs that have made the Bush presidency so disastrous. Furthermore, he has shown questionable judgment in the selection of his running mate, Gov. Palin of Alaska (a State w/a population close to that of Island Lake). Obviously, his vice presidential choice is an extremely important one, that he seems to have not taken seriously. What does this say about his judgment and fitness to be President? He seemed to think she would help him secure the votes of both many undecided women, as well as appease the right wing element of his party. But a choice this important has to be about more than appeasement to special interests.

Sen. Obama will inherit an problems, most due to the past eight years of mismanagement of George Bush, a man who squandered American lives and treasure in a completely unnecessary war, in Iraq, while sidestepping the real threat to our National security in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Al-Qaida was/is based and active.

Our children, grandchildren. great. and great grandchildren will inherit the huge debt that he ran up as President. So, with challenges of this magnitude, it will take someone with a unique vision, commitment and understanding of our country's needs. That man is Sen. Barack Obama, as more and more Americans are coming to realize! He has shown, more than any other candidate, that he is up to the great challenges that await him as President of the United States!

The Daily Herald has made a wise and well-thought out endorsement in support of this true "man of destiny", a leader we need now more than ever before!

Carol S. Roach, Lake Zurich

I am very, very almost physically ill since Oct. 4 when the Bill Ayers story made The New York Times and the Daily Herald has not seen fit to cover one word of it deliberately. We're supposed to be so stupid to not pay attention. But there are other sources of information and Chicago has known about ACORN, Bill Ayers, Franklin Davis, all of it, for so long. Again you disappoint. I don't care about your nomination. I know people don't pay attention anyway. It is just disheartening to think you have to withhold news that might be harmful to your nomination.

Carol Schultz, Mundelein

I read your opinion on backing Obama for President and I strongly disagree with it, here's why.

Previously I had sent in a comment to Fence Post about my personal experience with Obama and this was never published.

Here is what I wrote. I am a retired Cook County Deputy Sheriff, the county pension is really bad. A Cook County/Chicago State Representative proposed a bill (HB5581) which would have given me and the rest of the retired Sheriffs, past and future, a really good pension. the order was given to keep the bill in committee and not let it out.

I called Obama and asked that he talk to his downstate friends and see if HB5581 could be called out of committee and sent to the floor for a vote. His words to me were "That's not something that I want to get involved with."

How can this attitude give hope or bring people together?

He seems to be concerned with the pensions of other people in other states, why does he ignore pension concerns of people here in Illinois?

Gregory S. Jacobs, Mundelein

I totally disagree with your endorsement, yes I'm a Republican and would probably not vote for a Democrat do to my personal beliefs, but Barack is the least qualified candidate I have seen in my 25 years of voting. You have endorsed an extreme liberal over a moderate; should he win, the House, Senate and presidency will be controlled by the most extreme liberals of the Democratic Party, this will not be good for the Country.

You missed a key issue and chose style over substance. To discount John McCain's over 40 years of experience, service and more importantly accomplishment; and instead get sucked into the myth of Barack Obama you have done a disservice to your readers. John McCain has a record of accomplishment in everything he says he will do as President, he is a leader and not a follower like Barack. Barack Obama is a great storyteller and fence sitter, but he has no history of accomplishment. He came through the ranks in the most politically corrupt city in the most politically corrupt State. He has never challenged that status quo in Illinois, he has never challenged his party, he has accomplished nothing other than getting elected to his next office.

You made no salient points of qualifications in your endorsement of Barack, it was all flowery stuff about what he can "offer", but nothing on accomplishments. I judge a man based on what he says he will do and whether he does it, by that measure John McCain has earned my vote. Your own endorsement never lists any accomplishments of Barack's, as he has very little to show in his limited time of public service. Again, you chose style over substance, I'm very disappointed in you.

Rich Conley, Gurnee

Your endorsement of Barack Obama is irresponsible and puts this nation at danger. You have endorsed the least experienced and most liberal candidate for president in the last 100 years. At a time when the world faces the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and the highest probability of intercontinental war since the Cold War, the people put their trust in you to make a critical and rational endorsement based on facts and data. To make your endorsement even worse, there are serious unanswered questions about Obama's character based on his close associations with dangerous radicals and criminals such as Reverend Wright, William Ayers, and Tony Rezko which you have not done you job of investigating for the people. Instead of recommending a true American hero, John McCain, with a 30 plus year track record of honesty, independence, responsibility, and getting things done, The Herald went with the popular buzz based on irrational, emotional, and unfounded hope based on empty words, not actions from Obama. You have recommended a shoot in which our welfare would depend on luck, not facts or data. Never has our nation seen such a total collapse of honest and responsible journalism as it is seeing now. We expected and deserved more from the Herald. You asked for feedback, well here it is.

Randy Rossi, Grayslake