Obama's Weaknesses

To the Editor:

Michael Gorman in his latest missive (July 11 letter) sounds like he was on the Obama vice-presidential selection committee. The last time I looked, Senator Obama had named three people to this task and Mike, you weren't one of them. However I hope that Senator Obama reads The Chief and takes your suggestions under consideration.

As someone from the other side of the aisle and speaking not for Senator McCain, I would like to respond and take issue with some of the things you have said. I won't pretend to know whether a military type will or will not help Senator Obama's chances come the November election, but I know his recent flip-flopping won't. First he was for public financing of campaigns and even went so far as to sign a pledge with John McCain on the issue. Now that he has raised millions of dollars, public financing will have to wait for some future candidate. What about Obama's pledge - where are his ethics in reneging on a signed promise?

His staunch campaign rhetoric about the timetable of removal of the troops from Iraq has also come up for reconsideration. On and on Obama has become a new man since becoming the designated candidate. Is there anything he now says that you can trust or believe? I suppose Mr. Gorman finds no fault with any of these apparent ethical lapses or lies.

Mr. Gorman should have kept his remarks to advising Mr. Obama on his running mate, Instead he chose the opportunity to personally attack Senator John McCain.

Mr. Gorman brings up the Keating Five Scandal, for which Senator McCain has publicly apologized for his role in it. When we speak of ethical lapses, I would like to ask Mr. Gorman if he has heard the name Anton "Tony" Rezko. Rezko was accused of, among other thing in his sleazy career, setting up a bogus minority-owned company with none other than the son of the late Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad. This recently convicted con man was Senator Obama's Daddy Warbucks for years.

When a business deal Senator Obama had with Rezko became public, and not before, Senator Obama spoke publicly and said "There is no doubt that this was a mistake on my part. "Boneheaded" would be accurate. Leaders of Chicago's watchdog organization The Campaign for Political Reform, said of Mr. Rezko and Senator Obama's business relationship, "It's disappointing because there has been speculation about Tony Rezko, and whether he was crossing ethical lines for a number of years." So when it comes to ethical lapses, McCain does not stand alone, does he?

I will agree with Mr. Gorman that the economy is the number one issue right now. I believe it will stay that way through the election. However, I disagree that there is any evidence that shows that Senator Obama's credentials on the economy are any stronger than Senator McCain's. Sure Senator McCain was forthright with the American voter when he said economics was not one of his strong suits, but how does that make Senator Obama's credentials better? I don't understand the analytical process that allows Mr. Gorman to make this assertion, and I don't think Gorman does either.

WILLIAM L. McKECHNIE, Former President, NYC Transit PBA