In a recent letter to the editor headlined “Political Pandering is Defying Logic” (The World, June 8), the author stated a few truisms while postulating that if you are black and vote for Obama because he is black, it is racist. In the real world, as we all know, a racist, no matter what color, would indeed be more likely to vote for the candidate with like complexion. But most folks aren’t racist or sexist by nature. People vote for many reasons.

People sometimes vote based on perceptions of shared experience; blacks vote for other candidates who have shared the African-American experience, women for other women and retired military for candidates with like experiences. Despite not-too-distant history, most blacks don’t withhold votes from white politicians because they’re white. Most women don’t hate men. Most retired military aren’t against people who haven’t served their country in uniform. No racism, no sexism, no animus, nothing against the other person; just that “connection” with a particular candidate, sometimes even where the other realities of policy stances are too easily tossed to the wayside. But those voters who choose to consider other criteria might base their vote on the Iraq war, the economy, energy policies, their smile, whether they would like to be at a barbecue with them, etc.

I believe that McCain is a good man. I just won’t vote for him. No, I’m not an ageist. His life story, while compelling, is just not enough to have me ignore his radical one-eighties in policy in the last few years. Flip-flops may be comfortable at those barbecues, but McCain’s recent conversion to Bush’s disastrous economic policies and his embrace of the war adventure in Iraq that continues to stretch our military to the breaking point are just two of several reasons for casting my vote elsewhere. It’s not bias, my friend. It’s the last seven years.

Obama is a good man and has a compelling life story, also. I am voting for Obama because he’s the right person to be president. He was right about Iraq from day one and wants to pursue the people who actually attacked us on September 11. His more realistic world-view, which promotes social justice and strong diplomacy, will serve as a model for other countries, aiding in intelligence gathering and restoring valuable traditional alliances that will lead to a more stable and secure world. His economic policies will promote sound international trade, rebuild our country’s military and infrastructure and promote energy independence. The restoration of our Constitution is what America needs, and is why so many Republicans and Independents voted for Obama in the open primaries.

You know what?

Sometimes it’s just nice to know that you’re voting for the smartest person in the race. That’s the change we should all believe in.

And there’s something else that the author and I believe in: No matter who your candidate is, please vote.

David Ford

Charleston