Editor, Gazette-Journal:

This election, we will have two people, an incumbent and a challenger, running for president, vying for our vote.

The incumbent, President Obama, was born biracial—the first strike against him. The challenger, Mr. Romney, was born into an affluent family—a plus for him.

The incumbent lived on food stamps for a while and traveled around with a single mother until, as a teen, he chose to stay in America and live with his grandparents. The challenger grew up in the same place, with two parents, and then off to prep school.

The incumbent was too young to be drafted and sent to Vietnam. The challenger was able to avoid military duty altogether.

The incumbent pulled himself up by those boot straps we hear people talking about so much, and worked hard and grasped for opportunities. The challenger laced up his imported shoes while opportunities were handed to him.

The incumbent showed 10 years of his tax returns. The challenger showed two years.

The incumbent’s wife said if you do well and are successful, don’t close the door behind you, but help those that come after you. The challenger’s wife said it’s her husband’s turn to be president.

Well, people, this is not a game. Just because someone wants the title of president doesn’t mean they are deserving of it. Which one of these two men do you believe understands the middle class issues and struggles? Which one do you believe cares for the working poor? I think it is someone who has lived it.

Just because someone says they love their country doesn’t make them presidential. It’s like saying, "I love my country, but I’m going to invest in some other country. I love my country, but I’ll have a bank in another country. I love my country, but I’ll try not to pay any taxes here. Yes, I love my country."

God gave us all a soul. I believe our soul and our conscience are one in the same. I believe someone could be so desperate to have something—wealth, power and a title—that they would give their soul for it all. When we pass from this life to the next, we return our soul to God. Pity the person who has no soul to return to his maker. God bless our country and all of its people. And vote on Nov. 6.

Joe Mereness

Gloucester, Va.