Letters to TIME

[question everything]

Compared to Newsweek, I consider TIME to be more balanced in covering the campaigns. I also found the cover story, from several weeks ago of Obama's mother, of interest. The only thing that stood out was about his book: "Before her death, Ann read a draft of her son's memoir, which is almost entirely about his father. Some of her friends were surprised at the focus, but she didn't seem obviously bothered."

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524-7,00.html

But it appears that many TIME readers were really upset. I have never seen a similar reaction to Newsweek coronation and adoration Obama stories. Perhaps different people read each, or, perhaps, Newsweek tosses such letters.

Here are the comments:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1734833,00.html

Anointing Obama

I hope you will delve deeper than this glossed-over fairy tale about Barack Obama's upbringing and take up his invitation to address the substantive issues presented in his biography . The article neglects to mention that Obama's father had children by four women and that he abandoned each of them in succession. Its odd statement that S. Ann Soetoro "decided not to follow" Obama's father back to Kenya neatly overlooks the fact that he was returning to Kenya (and his Kenyan wife and children) with an American wife whom he had married in Massachusetts after he left Ann and Barack in Hawaii. Had you set out all the facts, you might have meaningfully addressed some important issues related to race and culture. But such a study would require a frank discussion. Who will take up Obama's invitation to have one? S.J. Hangartner, PITTSFORD, N.Y.

I suggest TIME give up the charade and change the name of the magazine to Obama Weekly. The timing and tone of your cover story on Obama's mother made your April 21 issue look more like a campaign p.r. piece than legitimate news story. Something tells me I shouldn't hold my breath waiting for soft-focus, warm-and-fuzzy cover stories about the mothers of Hillary Clinton and John McCain. Katherine Whan, DECATUR, GA.

TIME's pro-Obama slant is so transparent that it seriously calls into question your objectivity in reporting the news. The picture on your March 10 cover with a halo of light around Obama's head looks like something out of a campaign flyer. Inside, there was the contrived photo of the Senator's well-worn soles, with a copy of his book in view, that looks like a modern-day version of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The icing on the cake is your recent cover story "A Mother's Story," which serves as a convenient valentine to the Obama campaign just weeks before the Pennsylvania primary. Craig Garshelis, SAN FRANCISCO

Your April 21 cover story should have been titled "Raising Obama: A Grandmother's Story." It would have resonated more had there been more focus on Obama's life with the grandparents who raised him and less delicate tiptoeing around his mother's often unfortunate choices and impetuous decisions. Linda Dahlheimer, ST. LOUIS, MO.

Sure, you'll receive criticism for doing a feature article on Obama's mother. But we have all heard in detail about the lives of Clinton and McCain, including McCain's having been a pow. Thank you for giving us Obama's fascinating history. Guy C. Taylor, WAIPAHU, HAWAII

The article on Obama's mother--one of the best I have read--drags you into the complex worlds of poverty, biracial living, racism and the pursuit of knowledge. Obama knows these issues better than many or all of the other, born-with-a-golden-spoon candidates. Prabhduev Konana, AUSTIN, TEXAS