READERS WRITE

Repugnant remarks

Responses to “It’s time for John Lewis to rein in the shrill rhetoric,” @issue, Oct. 15

McCain engineers negative campaign

Edward Lindsey’s claim that John McCain is demonstrating some sort of integrity by rebuking supporters who have “gone too far” in attacks on Barack Obama is misleading. First and foremost, McCain’s campaign has been just as negative as any of his supporters, and he’s the conductor of that train. He and his top advisers set the agenda.

So when his commercials turn nearly 100 percent negative, as they have in recent weeks, it’s not without his knowledge.

Secondly, McCain’s reproach is purely political. Recent polls have shown that Americans are not reacting well to the negative tactics of McCain’s campaign, so he’s trying to change the perception. As the campaigns heat up in the final days before the election, distinguishing between what is a legitimate position and what is being said or done strictly for votes is one of the most important responsibilities voters carry.

DAN HANLON

Atlanta

Terrifying words put Obama at risk

In response to Rep. Edward Lindsey’s opinion column, personal attacks on candidates make us all smaller.

However, the pretend hurt suggested in his recent column is ludicrous. The hateful rhetoric being routinely spoken by the McCain-Palin campaign is terrifying. To suggest that McCain immediately renounced the actions of these crowds is dishonest.

McCain began to respond to the hate-filled crowds only after he received withering criticism. Only then did McCain admonish his supporters, yet Gov. Palin continues the attacks, albeit more subtly.

Sadly, in American politics, campaigns too often turn to attacks rather than issues, but not until this year have I found myself terrified that the words of one candidate would potentially put the safety of the other at risk. McCain promised an honorable campaign. Instead he is leading many to a very dark place.

ROBIN HEMPHILL

Decatur

Barr right on target in opposing bailouts

I’m one of the millions of Americans who opposed all of the bailouts we’ve had lately. Unfortunately, both John McCain and Barack Obama have supported the BOMBs (Bush-Obama-McCain Bailouts) and the media haven’t done a good job of highlighting former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr’s opposition to these bills.

Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay the price for poor decisions made by corporate CEOs and bad government regulations. I’m casting my vote for fiscal sanity by supporting Barr for president.

CAROLE HEBEISEN

Griffin

Calculus provides invaluable lessons

Like Nancy Lee, I have never actually “used” the calculus I studied in high school, yet I’ve found that taking the course was very useful (“Calculus should be an elective,” @issue, Oct. 11).

When I occasionally was able to solve one of the problems assigned as homework, I was struck by the sheer elegance of calculus. Furthermore, struggling with the class made clear to me that I shouldn’t be a math major. I wasn’t as smart as I thought, and that was an invaluable lesson to learn before I headed off to college and to life.

Over the years, I’ve occasionally tried to analyze something and then thought, “Aha, that’s a calculus problem.” And I’ve sat back in awe of people who might actually be able to solve such a problem.

ELEANOR EDMONDSON

Atlanta

Wooten should check own pals

Jim Wooten’s column “Democrats’ tactics frighten” (@issue, Oct. 14) really is a hoot. For major-league examples of tactics designed to “scare the ignorant,” as he puts it, he needs look no further than his own party.

First, the John McCain campaign runs ads saying Barack Obama is in league with terrorists, while the Virginia GOP chairman [Jeffrey M. Frederick] instructs campaign volunteers on how to link Obama and Osama when talking to voters.

Then Sarah Palin runs around saying Obama is “palling around with terrorists” in her speeches. These evil seeds bear their poisonous fruit at McCain-Palin rallies where frenzied crowds scream “terrorist,” “treason,” “off with his head” and “kill him” when Obama’s name is mentioned. Exploiting voters’ fears with lies to frighten them into supporting your side is exactly the type of “appeal to the inattentive” that Wooten laments in his article. Scarier still is McCain’s embrace of this strategy.

DAVID LEEDLE

Atlanta

Why suppress voting rights?

Is Eric Johnson of Savannah, the ranking Republican in the state Senate, for real?

He actually wants to limit voter turnout by eliminating or curtailing early voting (“GOP contracts voter fraud paranoia,” Metro, Oct. 13).

Is he proud that Georgia has one of the lowest participation rates in the country? That only half of those eligible to vote actually did in 2004?

He criticizes Democrats for working to expand the voter files.

Does he really want to limit voting to the privileged few?

He engages in class and maybe race warfare when he wants to deny the homeless and eligible prisoners the right to vote.

He may not approve of them or their lifestyles, but if they are citizens, they deserve a say in electing those who will govern them.

We live in a democracy, Mr. Johnson. You should be embarrassed.

MICHELLE MALONEY

Blairsville