In response to “Obama, Romney clash on economic progress” (Oct. 4) and related articles:

Romney won debate and Observer soft-pedaled it

President Obama “got beat.” They said as much on MSNBC Wednesday night. The Observer/McClatchy front-page story soft-pedaled the outcome and was very generous.

On “Debate Tweets” could the sentiment have been anymore slanted?

Even huge Obama supporters like Bill Maher and Ed Schultz of MSNBC tweeted that Obama got hammered.

The press has a privilege and responsibility. You should just try to report – not sway.

John McGarvey

Waxhaw

Romney must think we’ll forget those jobs that went overseas

Gov. Mitt Romney believes we’ll be better off if our economy is in the hands of private interests while the role of the federal government is diminished.

Does he think we’ll forget who sent, and continues to send, working-class jobs overseas and who was responsible for the financial collapse that cost middle-class families their health care and retirement plans?

It is the federal government we turn to for the guarantee of our civil rights and economic security because only there can the voice of the little person be equal to that of the rich and powerful.

P.R. Hundley

Salisbury

Debate convinced this Dem that Romney is right for the job

Mitt Romney was clearly the winner of the first debate.

He had his A-game and the president was overmatched. Had the debate been a boxing match, the Obama corner would have thrown in the towel.

I’m a Democrat and my vote will be cast for Romney! We need a smart businessman in the White House.

Gary Sweeney

Charlotte

Like the debate format, it allowed for deeper discussion

Irrespective of which candidate you think “won” the presidential debate, I think most people will agree the format worked.

The discussion was free-flowing and informative with respect to the candidates’ philosophies and positions.

This was the first time the directed discussion format has been used in a presidential debate. The debate’s success was due in no small part to Jim Lehrer’s performance as a moderator. The debate commission should consider adopting this approach for future debates.

Steven P. Nesbit

Charlotte

Editor’s note: The Oct. 16 debate will be town hall-style. The final debate Oct. 22 will follow the same format as the first but focus on foreign policy.

No balance in those debate tweets Observer published

Thursday’s front-page report on the presidential debate was, for the most part, an accurate reflection of the debate content.

However, reading the “Debate Tweets” featured one would think that Obama bested Romney.

Your bias in selecting the 13 tweets was glaring and your low regard for the readers’ intelligence should be an embarrassment to you.

Alan O’Regan

Charlotte

In response to “Romney now says he’d honor immigrants’ visas” (Oct. 3):

Romney hopes flip-flop on

visas will boost him in polls

This goes right along with every other flip-flop Mitt Romney has done.

Earlier in the primaries, he wanted to deport immigrants. Now, he wants to follow Obama’s visa standard for young illegal immigrants.

He’s certainly not doing it for the benefit of the immigrants. He’s doing it for his own benefit in the polls. That alone speaks to his underlying character.

Lorraine Stark

Matthews

Noticed something about some of former Charlotte mayor’s ads

After viewing three different television ads for gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory, including one in which McCrory himself appears, I’ve noticed the ads that I saw state that McCrory was “mayor” but never mention he was mayor of Charlotte.

He must hope that voters in the eastern third of North Carolina think he was mayor of Raleigh.

Donald Latham

Charlotte

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In response to “Recent news making me question U.S. support of Israel” (Sept. 30 Forum):

When it comes to Middle East, U.S wise to invest in Israel

Every few decades the uninformed are willing to throw the Jewish culture under the bus. They fail to realize Israel is our best investment in foreign aid.

It goes to a people who value life; do not bring up their children to hate America, or train as suicide bombers. They provide a stable military base for us in the Middle East. They share much needed intelligence. Their world-renowned research facilities have contributed mightily in medicine and science.

They are our only ally in the region. Seems like a good investment to me.

Chuck Baumohl

Denver, N.C.

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To keep fiscal house in order, don’t vote for Pittenger

I encourage all true fiscal conservatives in the 9th District to vote for Libertarian candidate Curtis Campbell. If it means Jennifer Roberts gets in for one term, so be it.

It is long past time to tell self-serving, pompous politicians that enough is enough.

Robert Pittenger is out for personal financial gain; nothing else matters. Conservatism means a lot more than thumping a Bible. It means keeping our financial house in order. That is not Pittenger.

Rockne C. Blackshear

Charlotte