In an op-ed essay in these pages, my colleague Ron Brownstein writes about Colorado's perhaps pivotal role in the presidential election equation, and quotes sundry Coloradans on what's going into the making of their choices.

The one that got to me was a fellow who only offered one name -- Matt -- who said something we've been hearing here and there across the country: ``I can't vote for a guy whose middle name is Hussein.''

Enough, already. Did Obama choose his own name at birth? How many other men or women who drag around arguably clunky or outdated handles -- Floyd? Herman? Winifred, like my grandmother? -- actually selected those names for themselves? QED.

So give the ''Hussein'' a rest. How many parents have stuck their firstborn sons with a father's or grandfather's awkward-sounding name, just for the sake of family pride? If you've got a problem with Obama, be sure it's HIS problem -- like his FISA vote -- not his parents'.

-- Patt Hepzibah Murgatroyd Morrison