Thanks to Michael J. Keogh for his Aug. 13 letter, "Obama Associates," in which he attempts to impugn the Democratic candidate by past associations. The problem with choosing the low road in politics is that it invites the examination of one's own candidate.

For instance, Keogh says Tony Rezko, and I say Charles Keating.

John McCain was one of the "Keating 5" -- legislators to whom Keating contributed millions of dollars in exchange for resisting regulation of the savings and loan industry. The consequent bailout of that industry cost taxpayers $124.6 billion.

McCain was cleared of wrongdoing but was criticized for poor judgment -- much as Sen. Obama has been cleared of wrongdoing in his relationship with Tony Rezko, which cost American taxpayers nothing.

Keogh says Jeremiah Wright, and I say John Hagee.

Hagee favors the destruction of Israel, and clergyman Rod Parsley favors the destruction of Islam. In fairness to McCain, Hagee and Parsley were not McCain's regular pastors (so far as anyone knows, that person doesn't exist), but the senator did actively court their support.

Keogh says Bill Ayres, and I say that the McCain campaign has 116 lobbyists and a candidate with a 95 percent record of voting in line with the most discredited and corrupt administration in history.

Finally, Keogh goes off message to criticize Obama's concession that he might consider limited offshore drilling if it was in a compromise to produce more money for investment in alternative fuels, holding a greater potential for energy independence. He ignores McCain's blatant and complete reversal on offshore drilling.

It's not the sort of campaign that Obama wants, but attacks such as those by Michael Keogh are nothing more than an opportunity to shine a light on McCain's record.

Kevin Smith, Aberdeen