i wonder why Tom Baldwin has to emphasise that Barrack`s father was a goat herder,couldn`t he say what else he did rather than herding goats only?

onis, montreal, canada

Dear Mr.Baldwin :Barack Obama's father was an Economist with a PHD in Economics. I sometimes wish writers would give credit where credit is due, and not refer to the person in question when they were trying to make a life as a young man or woman.

Jeffrey Churchill, Pierrefonds, Quebec. CANADA

Obama's message has to be measured because Americans are also going through a tough time with the economy, falling house prices etc. I think his views come from the heart unlike Mr Baldwin who clearly cannot get over the fact that Obama's father was a Harvard graduate and not a goat herder!!

Ed, London, UK

Your writer says Mr Obama was the son of a Kenyan goat herder..." Goat herder? I believe Mr. Obama's father met his mother when they were in graduate school in the US. He fell out of favor on returning home to Kenya when he chose the wrong political side and was marginalized.

Gail, Portland, US

'Double faced just like the rest'! Please contrast this verocious media attention on Zimbabwe to the total silence of the West's media on the current genocide taking place in Darfur. The Darfur's crisis is much worse than Zimbabwe. Please God help the Republicans and our Christian Brothers to win!

Simon Namnyak, London, England

Obama is a true representative of the kind of young leaders we want to build our future. And for davis know that if he could have condemned kenya his critics could have said he is doing it just because his father was born in kenya. Bravo obama, and God bless you.

Arthur, Mumias, Kenya

Obama did weigh in on Kenya. He recorded a couple of statements to be played on Kenyan radio pleading for the rioting to cease.
He also worked with the State Dept in the crisis.
It was not reported much because US media is too shallow to talk about those things.

diane lake, machesney park, USA

To show how shallow our media is, I have heard nothing about Obama's statement on this. It has not been reported here. It took reading a paper from London.
Our traditional media is worthless and this is why it is in trouble

diane lake, machesney park, USA

This statement shows that Obama has insight into global problems (HC would have probably just fanned the flames) If Obama had waded into the Kenyan crisis he would have been accused of meddling in other countries affairs both at home and by Kenya!

Dave, London,

Why Zimbabwe? Why did Obama not condemn Kenyan elections since Kenya is his father's country of birth? Obama is being double faced just like the rest.

Davis, Manchester,