‘Ready for Obama … ‘

John McWhorter ends his piece with the following statement: “I, for one, am still ready for a black president. I wonder if the rest of America is.” [Oped, “Ready for Obama … ” March 19, 2008]

Does this mean that it has to be Barack Obama, with whom I disagree on political grounds?

And, by the way, I feel equally in disagreement, for similar reasons, with Hillary Clinton.

I oppose premature withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

I also disagree with polices that amount to surrender to terrorism and appeasement, which, in my view, characterizes both of these candidates. Mr. Obama is clever at avoiding specifics about what he actually stands for or against vis a vis his minister’s comments.

Instead of reassuring Americans, he lectures us as if we were children.

What he should have done was simply to state however he feels about the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, and what exactly he agrees and disagrees with, and let the chips fall as they will.

MARTIN SMITH
New York, N.Y.

‘Post-Smoking Ban, City Gains 10 Million Lbs.’

People who quit smoking are vastly healthier for it, even if some gain a few pounds temporarily in the process [New York, “Post-Smoking Ban, City Gains 10 Million Lbs.,” March 27, 2008].

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable sickness and death in New York City, and quitting is the single most important thing a smoker can do to live a longer and healthier life.

Obesity has increased both in smokers and in nonsmokers — and regions with high smoking rates have not escaped the national trend.

SARAH PERL
Assistant Commissioner For Tobacco Control
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
New York, N.Y.

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