Criticism of Obama isn't linked to racism

In Monday's edition, an analysis piece on page two written an Associated Press editor and writer alleged that Sarah Palin and the John McCain were evoking the sub-context of race by commenting on and pointing out the undisputed fact that Barack Obama had ties to William Ayers.

While there might be an argument about the closeness of the association, it was Ayers who hosted a coffee for Mr. Obama's during his first run for office. Ayers has contributed a small sum to Obama's political organization. They served together on the Chicago Annenenberg Project Board until 2002 and on the Woods Fund until the same year.

That the Herald would publish this piece would seem to be an implicit endorsement of a policy by the paper that any criticism of Senator Obama is racist.

If it isn't fair to judge a man's character and judgment by those he chooses to associate with, or fail to condemn in the case of Ayers unrepentant attitude and picture of him standing on the American flag, what other avenues of criticism would the Herald take off the table?

Joe H. Heater

Palatine