Our political system really needs straight talk. With each passing election, candidates show less and less respect for truth. Because of this I was very happy when Sen. John McCain became a candidate for president. But the past few weeks have been sadly disappointing.

Listening to McCain say Sen. Barack Obama was willing to “lose a war in order to win a campaign” is a President Bush tactic — basically paint anyone who disagrees with your policies as unpatriotic [“McCain: U.S. can win, not go back to Iraq,” Times, July 24].

But it gets worse. Asked about his statement, McCain said he was not questioning Obama’s patriotism. This level of disdain for the U.S. public attention is another aspect of today’s politics. When you say someone is willing to put their self-interest above our country and then claim you are not questioning their patriotism, guess what — you are not “talking straight.”

Sen. McCain, I had a great deal of respect for your candidacy and hope you get back to straight talk. You tell Obama he should go to Iraq and Afghanistan, then call him presumptuous when he goes and visits the same world leaders you have. You claim he is naive for questioning the surge in Iraq. Surging troops in Iraq limits us from surging troops in Afghanistan, something you say is needed.

Both you and Obama want to win a war, but you disagree on whether that requires emphasizing Afghanistan or Iraq. True naivety is not recognizing trade-offs — even a tactic yielding benefits may not be the right choice.

A Madman has spoken…