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So if I'm a white person, and I stay away from the polls for an election because I'm uninspired by the candidates, but then return when moved by a particular candidate, you're okay with that. But if I'm a black person, and have a similar line of thought, I should be required to provide more substance?

There are people who voted for Bush because "he seems like the kind of guy I could have a beer with", or for Reagan because "he seems like such a nice man". Wht say you to them?

"This election has a lot of racism." Yes -- I think you've proven that point clearly.

Ms. Coble,

Can you say "ridiculous"?Your comments remind me of the fictional character "Archie Bunker.

IMO, the voting age should be raised to age 24 with exceptions for Military, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, Police and Fire rescue personnel.

This would be another hilarious example of conservative elitism were it not for the sad legacy of literacy tests being used to suppress black votes.

I was much better informed at 18 than many of my friends were at 24. Don't see how that would make any difference. And I know many uninformed or underinformed middle-agers.

"When you have 90 percent of the black people saying they will vote for Barack Obama, you know that is not serious voting."

Ms. Coble, actually, 90% of black people voting for Obama is not unusual, in fact, it is the norm. In past elections, it's normal for 90% of black people to vote for the Democrat candidate. So, this doesn't tell us anything new about black voters. It seems that voting in mass for a Democrat is business as usual. If Hillary Clinton, or even John Edwards, was the candidate, you would still see 90% of black people voting for them.

HA ha

. . . just like all those folk who justified OJ was innocent . . . a gang, ganging up on humanity . . .

I commend Boy Scout Robert Travis for taking an interest in citizenship and voting (letter, “Don’t complain if you didn’t take time to vote,” July 15).

Yes, Mr. Travis. There are a number of people who do not vote, and they should not.
There are also some who have voted and who should have stayed home.

Those who need not go to the polls are the uninformed. They never read a newspaper, listen to the news on the radio or television. And then they go to vote.

There are the ones who went to vote in the primary only because of complexion, oratory skills and gender of the person running.
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Sweetie, this is the point where I stopped understanding you. Maybe you should take a bit of your own advice and research Barack. I've heard many of his speeches, and I can only remember him using the word "black" once. His mother was a white woman from Kansas, and he was raised by his white grandparents in Hawaii. He is as black as I am, culturally and genetically, as I am. Critical thinking is key, not believing everything people who rant say is key. Make up your own mind, after doing the research.

but generally, being alarmed at Barack because white people won't be the majority anymore is arguably one of the worst reasons to vote. But thats just me.

Maybe this is the crux of the dilemma you raise--who bells the cat? Who makes the criteria, who approves it, and who enforces it? Thats a huge thing to tackle--better just to find out for your own self the record of each candidate. Which, by your evidenced knowledge on Obama, you've gotten second hand so far. Now *that,*is a problem you can solve.

Gotta love half truths.

Mrs. Coble, I agree on the basics of two of your points. 1) People have the duty to understand the candidates and the issues before voting. Voting is a responsibility as much as a right. 2) There is racism in this campaign. But it's not coming from Obama. He's tried not to make race an issue. It's coming from voters who vote on skin color--a sword that cuts both ways.

Hun, try listening to more than the ultra-conservative talk shows for your news.