I applaud the Post-Gazette's coverage of the irony behind GOP criticisms of Barack Obama's acceptance of earmark funding when Alaska's earmarks amounted to 10 times the amount per citizen ("McCain, Palin Criticize Earmarks," Sept. 9), but I worry about a frighteningly revealing mistake made by the Republican vice presidential candidate in Colorado Springs and its lack of coverage.

The saga of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has been a top story in light of the massive impact the mortgage industry's collapse has been having on the country and the world. Much of the coverage has offered an overview of what the government's role in these businesses has been, and the government takeover has caused interest rates to drop, which could put more financial power back into the hands of ordinary citizens.

But Sarah Palin does not seem to understand the most basic elements of the government's relationship with these companies, saying they had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers." The statement was criticized by economists and analysts on both sides of the fence. These companies were not funded with taxpayer money, though with the takeover, there may be taxpayer liability.

When 80 percent of the country's mortgage guarantees are at stake, that's where the people representing this country need some expertise, or at least an informed position. The story may not be as interesting as the Mommy Wars or Hillary's unwillingness to engage in a political catfight with the opposition, but they're playing political games with our homes, our families and our livelihoods; if we're not looking at the real issues with these candidates, we, the people, will come out as the losers.

AMY RINSEMA
Swissvale

Privacy for them

All the news media, print as well as broadcast, seemed so anxious to tell the world that the Republican vice-presidential nominee's daughter, 17-year-old Bristol, was with child and unmarried. What business is this of theirs? This is, and should be, strictly a family matter! If anything, I think Gov. Sarah Palin and her daughter deserve a public apology from the media.

American voters should only be concerned about electing people they believe to be the best and most qualified to serve as president and vice president of this great country, as well as how they plan to address the issues that affect all Americans such as foreclosures on homes, gasoline prices, cutting taxes, health-care costs and many other like areas that truly need to be focused on. Leave all the candidates' personal lives private.

ANNA MARIE O'BRIEN
Lawrenceville

The 'anti' candidate

Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter's pregnancy is, indeed, a private matter and should be respected as such. Furthermore, I would like to assume that Bristol was consulted about the fact that her pregnancy would become the focus of national attention while the scrupulously careful "vetting" process was taking place, and that she is equipped for what is happening now.

That being said, I do believe that the disconnect between Gov. Palin's advocacy of abstinence-only sex education and a 17-year-old daughter who was the beneficiary of that approach is a legitimate subject for discussion.

It would seem that her decision to carry the baby to term and marry the father (who by now has also been carefully vetted) outweigh any consideration of the failure of abstinence-only sex education to realistically contend with actual sexual behavior among teens.

It would seem that being anti-choice, anti-evolution, anti-gun control and anti-informed decision-making about how to prevent an unwanted pregnancy trump all other considerations for one's readiness to be one heartbeat away from the presidency.

DIANNE DIEBOLD
Point Breeze

Noble work, but ...

It is maddening. Every time someone criticizes Barack Obama, the Obama robots play the sympathy card. People are not saying that community work is not worthwhile. They are just saying that a $13,000-a-year job absolutely, without question, does not prepare one to be president. There are thousands of jobs that entail noble work, but they still do not prepare one to be president.

Mr. Obama mocked Ms. Palin's role of mayor one day after she was announced as the vice-presidential candidate. He said the town employed only 25 people while he administered 2,500 people in his campaign. Let's compare: Mr. Obama has been running a campaign that has a budget of $350 million and employs 2,500 people for 19 months; for 19 months, Ms. Palin has been administering a budget of $11 billion and employs 15,000 people. Neither one has enough administrative experience to be president!

We are now forced to compare the evidence of leadership between what Joe Biden and John McCain have produced over their careers. That reminds me of a scoreless football game where all the action is provided by the cheerleaders.

Neither team can change the country. The people must change. They must stop demonizing people of the other party, of different social strata, of different genders and of different races. We must focus our energies on making the real America match the one on paper.

TOM CIMINO
Green Tree

Palin power drink

In Dennis Roddy's article "Plotting a Sober Strategy Against Obama's Glitz" (Sept. 5), Republican political consultant John Brabender compares Barack Obama to "one of these new energy drinks with all the caffeine in it. The packaging looks really cool, but in due time there might be some questions about whether you should be drinking that stuff."

What does that make Sarah Palin? A Red Bull? With lipstick?

DANA CASALE
Ben Avon

Fantastic crew

I had the privilege of being part of the organization of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's Summer Celebration. Over the last 35 years of being in business, I have had the opportunity to work with many companies and groups of people. I can honestly say my experience working with city personnel was second to none.

David, Kevin, Joe, Sonny, Dodi and Dwayne were just a few of the names. They are part of the Executive Office of the Mayor, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Pittsburgh Redd-Up Crew.

If we would have needed a pink elephant, they would have asked me, with enthusiasm, "Where do you want it and at what time!" The Ravenstahl administration should be commended for its efforts in assembling such a great group. The city is in good hands.

JOHN GAGETTA
Wilkins

The recently concluded Republican National Convention has left me with two overwhelming impressions -- disdain for the average people of the country and a disregard of our nation's own history.

With dripping sarcasm, they maligned the work of those who help give a voice to the common, everyday American. With biting mockery, powerful Republicans like Sarah Palin, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain belittled the efforts of dedicated patriots like Martin Luther King, Susan Anthony and even founders such as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine. These great pillars of our nation were "community organizers" themselves and helped galvanize average people into a force to be reckoned with, much to the dismay of the powerful of their own day.

They gave voice to the people's needs and made the nation richer and stronger for it. Without them, there is little doubt that America would be less free, less fair and less likely to be the wonderful land the bitter Republican cynics boasted of from St. Paul.

We need more patriots who are willing to help give voice to ordinary citizens. They may face the wrath of the powerful, but in the long run, they will help make a better America for all.

REV. TOM BARNICOTT
Green Tree

I am really sorry that the Republican convention became a personalities party. It left undecided voters with little to go on in order to decide how to vote in this election.

Instead the Republicans play up personality: John McCain is feisty. Sarah Palin is a great mom. All good and fine, but what does it mean for our country?

No Republican is saying what he or she plans to do about failing schools, falling bridges, increasing joblessness, families without health care, the war in Iraq, global climate change or the high price of gas.

Instead the Republicans have taken to whining: The media are "liberal." Washington is "liberal." Everyone is picking on them. It is sad the Republicans have nothing more to offer than complaints! There are too many thoughtful and intelligent Republican politicians in this country for them to be putting on this whine-fest. Let's see someone get up there and discuss what the GOP plans to do!

Moaning and groaning does not make Sen. McCain or Gov. Palin look particularly presidential.

CLAUDIA NEELY
Churchill

It's nice that the Republicans have chosen a woman to run for vice president of the United States. Sarah Palin is following the path of the Democrats' Geraldine Ferraro nomination for the post 25 years ago and the path of Hillary Clinton's bid for the presidential nomination.

As a woman voter, I believe we need to make sure that whoever the "first" woman is (be she president or vice president) that she represents us well as a strong leader, a smart woman and an advocate for America. If we don't, we risk a fierce reaction against women holding high political office. It'd be very difficult for women to strive for the highest offices in our land because of the negative effects of that "first" woman.

Looking at her record, she doesn't meet any of the above criteria and could set us back. She has no vision on an energy-independent future, but advocates staying a course on finite fossil fuel resources. She appears to support children, but she doesn't care what kind of environment surrounds them. She fails to consider whether our children will be able to breathe clean air. Most important, she is unproven for the important issues of 2008 and beyond: education, health care and foreign policy.

For these reasons, I am a woman who is not swayed. I will vote for the ticket that has the viable passion and now the experience with respect to the most important issues facing our nation: Obama-Biden this November.

TESS ZANGRILLI
Oakland

For weeks, I could not for the life of me decipher John McCain's approved-of advertisement featuring appearances by Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. Now I wonder: Could it be that Sen. McCain was simply preparing us for his vice-presidential pick?

The very notion that Gov. Sarah Palin will lure disaffected Hillary voters not only insults Sen. Clinton but also affronts the intelligence of her supporters. With hardly more than a year and a half at governing a state with the population equivalent of Little Rock, Ark., and presiding for two years over a town with considerably fewer residents than the attendance at Pitt basketball games, Gov. Palin is obviously no Hillary Clinton.

How can a 72-year-old survivor of three battles with deadly melanoma maintain that he's putting "America First" by choosing someone so unqualified to be a heartbeat away from becoming our president?

As a Catholic, I might respect her decision to carry a child to term after learning of his Down syndrome, but being a parent entails follow-through responsibilities. Ms. Palin's 17-year-old unwed daughter's pregnancy and her own unavailability (if elected vice president) to care for infant son Trig's special needs provoke serious doubts about her commitments in this respect.

Withal, the McCain ticket looks "Pal-in" contrast with Obama/Biden. The question is whether this will be considered a good thing by a meaningful segment of the voting public that remains afraid of the dark. I sincerely hope not.

WILLIAM J. BROWN
Squirrel Hill

After watching 26 minutes of Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, I turned it off because he did not have anything to say but praise for his Democratic friends while pointing out all the bad of Republicans. (There was no mention of any future policy in the first 26 minutes of the speech, and being a Republican, I was getting tired of being told how evil I was.)

One thing I did notice about the convention is Pittsburgh needs a Democratic National Convention in the future. We the people of the Greater Pittsburgh area have voted Democratic for as long as I can remember. Here's what we have to show for it: an obsolete interstate system around the city that cannot handle the area's population, a declining population (if it gets small enough maybe our highways can handle it); a tunnel underneath the Allegheny River instead of high-speed mass transit to our airport, which is no longer a hub for any carrier; and the right to buy millionaires a place for their sports to be played.

We did have someone who was going to buy us an arena and casino just for the right to take our money at the casino, but we did not -- or should I say our civic leaders did not -- want that. They wanted someone without the money or credit to put it together. I think the Democrats owe us. The area supports them; they need to support us.

Millions of dollars went to Denver. I would like someday to see that money come here. I feel the Democrats truly owe this region a big thank you and this could be a start.

We are to get a new arena. We already have a new convention center and two new stadiums. We have the facilities. We need to fill them with national events. We need to get other people's money in here as well as our own. A year and a half ago when they decided we were going to get the arena no matter what, I wrote the Post-Gazette saying we need big-ticket national events here, and it still holds true today.

WILLIAM GEISLER
Carrick

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