In the past few days, I have heard Barack Obama accused of being "arrogant."

It gave me an uncomfortable feeling, and I finally figured out why. I grew up as a white person in Richmond, Va., in the 1960s.

My grandmother, rest her soul, was very fond of many black people – her long-time cook, the elevator operators and the ladies who would carry her tray at the Hot Shoppes cafeterias for a nickel tip.

But as soon as she had to deal with black people who saw themselves as equal to her – nurses who cared for her in the hospital or the black politicians who began to take part in the Richmond government – they were given the label of "uppity."

Is this what people really mean about Obama when they say he is "arrogant"?

Why is the mainstream media so willing to assign the arrogance label to Obama, who seems calm and consistent as he pursues his campaign?

John McCain has a standard speech in which he sums up what he will have accomplished by the end of his first term. Bin Laden captured, the war won, the budget balanced, taxes cut.

Isn't this "presumptious"? He is absolutely sure that he is right about everything, as he confuses Sunnis and Shiites, Czechoslovakia with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and "the border between Iraq and Afghanistan," which turns out the be country of Iran.

I'd rather have calm and confident than convinced but confused.

Christine Carter

Falmouth

Lately we have heard John McCain soften his stance on Iraq, yet it is clear he intends to stay until he can declare victory.

Older voters heard this kind of thing for years during the Vietnam War – projections that we can leave in a year or two. The foundation of these projections is simple, unspoken and foolish – "We will be able to leave because the enemy will give up!"

"We will win and leave" is what McCain means. How many trillions do you want to bet on that?

Ted Arnold

Portland

I would like to know who is running for president: Sen. John McCain or his wife? We don't need another wife in the White House leading the president around by his nose, like we had in the '80s.

The only thing on Sen. McCain's mind is Iraq, like the president we have now! None of the ones running this time are wrapped too tight. My vote in November will be for Otto the Maine Moose.

Albert W. Wilkes

South Portland