Dear Editor:

I wholeheartedly agree with the GLT’s endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. She has, in my opinion, the knowledge and experience to make her the most qualified candidate. She is not, however, the first woman to take a “run for the White House”. The first woman to run for president was Victoria Woodhull in 1872, which of course was before women themselves could even vote. Several other women have also run for president including Shirley Chisholm in 1972, Pat Schroeder in 1988, and Carol Mosley-Braun in 2004. Senator Clinton has the most name recognition and has received the most media attention of any woman presidential candidate ever. And Hillary, hopefully, will be the first woman elected president.

Gloria Johnson

[Editor’s note: The reader, Gloria Johnson, is correct. Hillary Clinton is not the first woman to run for president. She is, however, the most viable, high-profile woman to run for the office. The Gay & Lesbian Times apologizes for the error.]

Dear Editor:

I have attended two Democratic Conventions, the first in 1976 in NYC when Carter and Mondale were nominated and the second in 1984 in San Francisco when Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro were nominated. I was emboldened by Carter’s win in ‘76 and was stunned when he lost a second term to President Reagan, who began the destruction of the middle class, decapitated Carter’s plans for energy independence, and breathed life into the religious schisms that now divide our country and paralyze our political process. I was enthusiastic in ‘84 with Mondale and especially Ferraro on the ticket. (I was a boy when JFK was elected then shot and killed and a teenager when RFK was shot and killed but I remember the emotions – unbridled joy at their existence, palpable grief at their deaths.)

At last, I’m proud to announce my support for Barack Obama. His inspiration is sorely needed after the past 28 years; the post-Carter policies and presidents have kept us dependent on foreign oil and divided us along economic, racial and religious lines. We need Obama, young and old alike, no matter the hue of our skin, no matter our sexual orientation. We need a president who will awaken our best inclinations, a leader who inhabits the ability to excite and grow our goals. I am disturbed by the racism I witness in the gay community. Listen to Obama. Accept or reject him but do neither because of his race. Divisiveness is destroying our country. You bet I’m a dreamer and I’m proud of it. Our country needs to shed fear mongering. Our country needs Obama. I will do everything I can to turn that dream into a reality.

David Harrington Campbell

Dear Editor:

While I certainly loved the 8 years of Bill Clinton being our president, I have to respectfully disagree with your editorial piece in this week’s GLT endorsing Hilary for president. While Hilary may represent a dramatic change for GLT rights, she is far too ingrained into the establishment in Washinton DC to be able to enact any real change in this country. I believe that Obama represents a fresh voice in government, and we need younger politicians who haven’t been so deeply influenced by lobbyists and the establishment in Washington. For once, I would like to see the GLBT community look past the simple issue of GLBT rights in America and look at ALL the issues that are effecting this country. We are guilty of the same narrow mindedness that we accuse Republicans of if we fail to look past a single issue when we are voting for a candidate. Obama represents the hope that this country needs to get out of this rut that we’ve been in for so long, and I strongly urge all GLBT voters on February 5 to take a good look at Obama before you blindsightedly cast your vote for Hillary.

Rob Klaproth