Deconstructing the New Democratic Team

' Just the Ticket ' : Readers of our cover package on Barack Obama's background wanted more space devoted to his policies and his pick of running mate Joe Biden. "I didn't learn much about how Obama might govern—how his energy plan or tax policy might affect the country," one said. Others took issue with Jacob Weisberg's column on this election's racial politics. "Isn't it possible Obama might lose not due to racism, but because some people just didn't trust this highly talented, smart, but young and largely inexperienced man to handle the job?"

On ' An Unlikely Gambler ' : "Michelle Rhee's job as head of D.C.'s public schools is tough, but I envy her tenacity and applaud her effort. We must find a way to replace bad teachers with motivated people who can transform and energize children, parents and classrooms."
Judith P. Lavorgna, Thomasville, Ga.

' Ticket ' to the White House?
Before I read Jon Meacham's expertly crafted feature on Barack Obama ("On His Own," Sept. 1), I used to roll my eyes at the mention of Obama's name. No longer. The man I once thought a vacillating softie has proved himself to be every bit the contender: family man and fighter, academic and all-around achiever. I am sincerely impressed. Obama, you've earned my vote.
Aaron Hunt Warner
Federal Way, Wash.

Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden as his running mate seems like a letdown after all the ridiculous hype. I just can't see many young Obama supporters checking their text messages, then jumping up and down, shouting, "Yes! He picked a 65-year-old white guy!" And doesn't Biden outshine Obama on the issues? If you compare the résumés and accomplishments of both senators, exactly where does Obama come out better than Biden?
Drew Kerin
Littleton, Colo.

Your photo of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, titled "Just the Ticket," sums up my feelings exactly: Biden adds a tremendous quality of "everyman" to the campaign—a quality I observed firsthand in Scranton, Pa., at a grass-roots meeting in 1976 attended by Senator Biden. Even though it was pouring rain, he talked to each of us for several minutes. When he found out that we shared the same birthday, university and heritage, he made a big deal out of it and made it a memorable event for me. Now he will be doing that all over the country.
Anne Mahoney Robbins
Rockville, Md.

I utterly reject Jacob Weisberg's flawed logic that we should vote for Barack Obama to demonstrate our political maturity to the rest of the world ("What Will the Neighbors Think?" Sept. 1). In condemning the racist remnant that remains in the country, Weisberg totally ignores the fact that significant numbers of whites in many states voted to give Obama a chance—a fact that alone illustrates our political evolution. Now it's time for us to decide what we know of the candidates' judgment, experience and overall qualifications. The silly argument that we should elect a candidate on the basis of race to prove anything to our neighbors is almost as bad as those who might reject him on that basis.
John Siedlarz
Easton, Md.

Jacob Weisberg makes an interesting point: George W. Bush has wreaked havoc both at home and abroad, and the GOP nominee promises more of the same. The nation is reeling. Barack Obama would be soaring in the polls if it weren't for prejudice, but in that regard he has two strikes against him. Not only are some Americans reluctant to vote for a person of color, some also seem suspicious of anyone intelligent enough to actually lead. How else to account for having to endure a second term of Bush? God spare us from a third.
Michael Steely
Medford, Ore.

Jacob Weisberg asks us to "Do the Math," and concludes that "12 percent of the white Pennsylvania primary electorate acknowledged that they didn't vote for Barack Obama in part because he was African-American." But Weisberg should have asked us to "do the logic" instead. The poll data indicating that "race was a factor" is not the same as what he concludes. Pennsylvanians may have voted for, rather than against, Obama because of his race.
Dan Guzy
Mercersburg, Pa.

Fixing D.C. ' s Public Schools
After 20 years of teaching in public schools, I know Michelle Rhee deserves praise for having the courage to defy the political and bureaucratic nonsense that is destroying our education system ("An Unlikely Gambler," Sept. 1). She deserves support in her efforts to get rid of teachers who are not doing their jobs. But she is dead wrong on two other issues. We don't have quality teachers in our classrooms because there are too few who choose education as a career. Better pay is a start, but more must be done to improve working conditions so we can attract not just more and better but the best and the brightest to our classrooms. When Rhee downplays the role of parents in academic success, she perpetuates the insane idea that schools can do a parent's job. And I cannot see that telling potential teachers they will work 70 to 80 hours a week and therefore be unable to have any other interests or responsibilities is going to attract quality people to our classrooms.
Bennye C. Scown
Odessa, Texas

Witnessing the Wounds of War
It is easy to get caught up in our routines and frustrations and forget about the daily reality of the men and women serving in the U.S. military. We think in terms of numbers in a news report rather than individuals caught up in events that are incomprehensible to most of us. Jason Cohen's "The Tragic Bonds of War" (MY TURN, Sept. 1) shatters that mind-set, reminding us of the humanity of both the soldiers and their caregivers in the tragedy of this war. Our country is fortunate to have soldiers committed to protecting the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Our soldiers are blessed to have people like Cohen to care for them if they are injured. He and the many others who tend to our wounded deserve our gratitude for their lifesaving efforts. As a nation, we cannot have too many reminders of these patriotic and compassionate people. God bless them all.
Anita R. Saurer
Novi, Mich.