Readers respond to Reed.

• Position: Letters to the Editor - Letter to the editor

The column by Adolph Reed on the Obama phenomenon was excellent ("Obama: Vacuous Opportunist," May issue). Reed concisely summed up the reasons why progressives have been so mesmerized by the prospect of a black man being the Democratic nominee. But he did leave out one other big factor.

The use of misogyny in this campaign is overwhelming. If even a tenth as much calumny were cast at a Jewish or black person as is directed at a woman, there would be major complaints from progressives. I have always thought that sexism was not a progressive value, but it seems to be endemic among white male progressives. There has been a major split among "progressive" blogs over this issue, and it has affected much of our media, such as progressive favorite Keith Olbermann.

This whole lesson shows the sad decline of the left in this country, where symbolic actions now take the place of any real accomplishments or substance.

Doug Kellogg

Ashland, Oregon

While I appreciated Reed's critique, I will take my chances with Senator Obama over the mendacious Senator Clinton. There is no other possible option, given the field of candidates. I'd rather not vote than vote for Clinton. Enough with the lesser of two evils argument.

She irrevocably disqualified herself for President when she voted for the Iraq War. For now, I will live with Obama's promise of hope and change. It is better than the BS served up by the Clinton campaign on a daily basis.

Gregory Berry

Seattle, Washington

We reacted negatively before we even opened the May issue, since Obama's whole philosophy is "work together--our strength is in unity."

We did not need a con-Obama article after reading Edwidge Danticat's views ("Why I Support Obama").

Surely, you could have found another person more well versed in Senator Obama's strengths to contribute to this issue. Danticat attempted to make trivia "dramatic" and thus degraded the Senator's abundant talents.

Cancel our subscription. Your brand of "progressive" we do not need.

Paul and Doris Schreiber

Withee, Wisconsin

Hillary is who we have been waiting for--a street-savvy broad with brains, backbone, and bruises from failure to change the health insurance industry long ago. She has worked for vets destroyed by the greedy Cheney/ Bush cabal and succeeded in surviving onslaughts ad nauseam; she seeks consensus and earns the respect of her enemies. Were she tall, male, black, and Kansas-corn-fed, she'd be a shoo-in.

A woman is needed at this juncture to...