As an independent voter that looks at fundamentals, I am alarmed and offended at the criteria that will be used to select our president. And, the media are encouraging this miscarriage of objectivity in the pursuit of sensationalism and liberalism instead of journalism.

Astonishingly, abortion, religion, misrepresentations, handouts, environmentalism, gay rights, and union coddling will probably determine who occupies the White House instead of character, management skills, political orientation, economics, or courage to do/say what we voters do not want to hear, but need to hear and accept.

The result will probably be a continued economic downward spiral of America with more giveaways, unaffordable pensions, mediocrity, unemployment, political correctness, congressional incompetence, and financial collapse with suffocating debt.

This sounds more like an election in Venezuela or a third world country than America.

Harvey Gillis, Bellevue