A letter by Rodney Webb of Newport (BDN, Oct. 13) cites, as reasons not to vote for Barack Obama for president, “his proposed liberal policies, his personal and political associations and his life choices.” These, the letter continues, “go to his character, his lack of judgment and the absence of leadership skills.”

Having read Sen. Obama’s first book, “Dreams of My Father,” and followed his campaign, those are among the reasons I will vote for him.

His life choices, for example, include turning down lucrative corporate jobs in favor of helping poor people on the South Side of Chicago organize to speak with a strong voice to slumlords and city managers about such vital needs as heat and absence of toxic materials in their apartments.

His leadership skills are hardly absent. Rather than leading from the top down, he has learned to lead from the bottom up, empowering many people in the process. Certainly, seeking and finding how he can strengthen and help individuals is a way of serving them and in the process the country.

The Republican propaganda machine has repeatedly attacked Sen. Obama about three of his former associates. Each of these men, undoubtedly, also has positive aspects to his character, which the propaganda never acknowledges. By contrast, we have seen Obama’s strength of character in his and his staff’s refusal to make personal attacks on his opponents.

Ann Fogg

Monroe