Disputed 'rights' in presidential race

On Aug. 4 there were three letters that really challenge one's faith in the American public's grasp of common sense.

The first talked about the Mission Accomplished banner hung around Bush's neck like an "albatross" but a paraphrased banner serves Obama like a "magic carpet." It seems some just can't let go of that nonexistent Muslim connection.

Then there were two letters stating that Obama had no "right" to speak at the Brandenburg Gate because he is not president. Certainly he has the right to speak there or anywhere else just as the letter writers have the right.

The difference, of course, is that the letter writers would be lucky to draw a crowd of friends and family.

If you used the same reasoning as they did, McCain should not be allowed to speak at a children's hospital since he voted against children's health care.

He also should not be allowed to speak to veterans groups since he opposed the GI Bill and voted against increased funding for the Veterans Administration.

If you are creating rights, perhaps you can explain why the Disabled American Veterans rated McCain at 20 percent and Obama at 80 percent in their voting records? Other veterans organizations have also rated Obama ahead of McCain on their issues.

One of the complaints about Obama is that he is "elitist."

What would you call someone who grew up in an admiral's quarters (which are mansions and full of servants), is married to a woman with $100 million, wears $550 dollar shoes and just squeaked past one of the biggest Savings and Loan Fraud cases (Keating Five) in history? I call that person McCain.

Regardless of the respect he deserves for what he went through in North Vietnam almost 50 years ago, he spent most of those chips by subscribing to the Republican mantra of "God help the less fortunate because we sure won't."

James Prescott

Schaumburg