Barack Obama

HAGERSTOWN -- The Maryland attorney general on Wednesday slammed Republican presidential candidate John McCain for selecting Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Douglas F. Gansler, speaking during the Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council dinner at Hagerstown's BPO Elks Lodge, said McCain's choice was irresponsible, and he questioned Palin's intelligence. The biennial dinner is a fundraiser for the Labor Council, president Teresa Griffin said. Gansler, an early Barack Obama supporter, called the upcoming presidential election the most important one in a lifetime, and he predicted an easy Obama victory.

HAGERSTOWN -- Washington County voters bucked the state and national voting trends Tuesday that propelled Barack Obama into the White House. Republican John McCain garnered 31,715 votes in Washington County, compared to Obama's 23,953 votes, according to unofficial results from the Washington County Board of Elections. Other presidential candidates on Maryland's ballot included Independent Ralph Nader, with 438 votes in Washington County, and Libertarian Bob Barr, who received 240 votes.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama lost half his crowd and half his presenters in the hour and a half that passed after the scheduled start of Tuesday's rally at the Capitol Theatre on South Main Street. Among the attendees to leave before the featured speaker arrived was Jenn Hill, who did so grudgingly. Jenn didn't have much of a choice in the matter, seeing as she's not yet old enough to drive - let alone vote. Jenn, 11, and her younger brother donned Obama pins and spoke with great knowledge about the candidate's positions, including the war in Iraq.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Natalie Bonner Snyder, one of 380 Jefferson High School seniors who graduated Saturday in Shepherd University's Butcher Center, remembered her class' early days as freshmen. "Days and weeks went by and, before we knew it, we started to forget who was from Charles Town, Shepherdstown or Harpers Ferry and we simply became the Cougars of Jefferson High School," she said. Snyder, one of 134 seniors to graduate with honors, said in remarks to her class, "During our four years walking those halls, sitting in those classrooms and being with each other, we have had many accomplishments that have reflected the group we are and the individuals we have become.

Last week, Sen. Barack Obama was sworn in as our 44th president. We all know what the adults of America thought, but what are the young people of our community thinking about this historic event? "President Obama's goals are well for this country. Obama has the right mind set to help the people not just the government," said Bernard Cabatit, 14, a ninth-grader at North Hagerstown High School. "He had a great way to show that he was ready to lead before he was even elected, because the day before he was out painting a house for the homeless and poor.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Hillary Clinton drew a long round of applause Wednesday when she told a crowd gathered at Shepherd University that she was worried about gas prices. "Me, too," said one woman standing only a few yards from Clinton. Nicole Boggs, 22, said she liked everything Clinton said during the campaign stop, but she wasn't sure whether Clinton would actually deliver on her promises. So the Shepherd University student had a question for the Democratic presidential candidate as Clinton made her way around the crowd, shaking hands and signing autographs.

McCain vs. Obama To the editor: John McCain claims to be an "outsider," and yet the GOP touts McCain's 30 years of experience in government as being greater than Barack Obama's. But Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago for 12 years. And that, my friends, is really, really important. Oh, to actually have a president who knows and has respect for what's in the Constitution. A great day for true patriots is dawning for all real Americans.

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Craig MacLean watched election returns Tuesday night with a feeling of gratification for the reactions of African-Americans at the election of Barack Obama as the nation's next president. "Clearly, there were many who never believed it would happen in their lifetime," said MacLean, executive director of Horizon Goodwill Industries in Hagerstown. MacLean said he feels strongly that the election of a black president is a partial fulfillment of the Rev. Martin Luther King's dream, which was spelled out in a 1963 speech in Washington, D.C. "For all of us, this is an affirmation," MacLean said, no matter a person's race.

To the editor: Rise up, Americans! Maybe it is time for another Boston Tea Party? No, not Wayne and Garth, not that kind of party. Sadly, it seems Saturday Night Live (SNL) is the only unabashed TV entity to name names in our economic meltdown fiasco. And yes, the U.S. is really askew no, upsidedown, when Ralph Nader starts to make sense. In a recent interview, Nader rightfully said of the Wall Street crooks who took down our economy with the help of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.

It seems as if conversation, friendly debate and even controversial debate regarding this year's Democratic presidential primaries waits around every corner. The Democratic primary race between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has generated more interest, regardless of whether the person is Democrat, Republican, Green, or Independent, than any other primary race in the last two or more decades. It is almost surreal, the high level and diverse inquisitiveness into this year's presidential campaign.