Linking Obama and Ayers: Legitimate or Not? (Man-up Obama and admit you and Ayers were friends)

wall street journal ^ | 10/7/2008 | Sara Murray and Gerald F. Seib

[tobyhill]

Sen. John McCain’s ad tying Sen. Barack Obama to 1960s radical William Ayers has set off a debate over whether that kind of casual acquaintance should matter or not. Matthew Yglesias of the Atlantic argues decidedly in the negative. “If there were reason to believe that Obama harbored intentions of appointing Ayers to a national security post, or of using the powers of the presidency to orchestrate a bombing of the Pentagon, then there would be important questions to raise during a political campaign. But the idea that merely knowing somebody who has radical opinions ought to constitute a devastating objection to someone’s political career is both wrongheaded and dangerous.” Yglesias says that “guilt by association can apply to just about anyone, and heading down that slippery slope would have perverse consequences.” Just as Ayers is “an extreme figure,” so is former Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy. Yet McCain has appeared on Liddy’s radio show and said nice things about him. “Are we supposed to hold McCain accountable for this association?”

But Lisa Schiffren, writing on National Review Online, cheers on the Ayers attack. “At this point, the McCain campaign’s goal should be to raise doubts about Obama’s trustworthiness, and thus ability to lead. This will require a strategy and a tactic. The campaign’s strategy should be to attack from all directions: character, past associations, political practice in Chicago, ‘present’ votes, lack of a record of accomplishment.” While arguing his case on the economy, taxes and spending, Schiffren writes, McCain also should raise questions about “Bill Ayers and other close friends. Discuss the details of domestic terrorist Bill Ayers’ long-term relationship with Obama. Ayers served with the candidate on the Woods Fund board, and Obama was handsomely paid for that work.

[johnny7]

Ayers's wife and closest collaborator was Bernardine Dohrn, whose views were so extreme that they seemed to cross a line from ultra-leftism to Satanism.

At a meeting of the Weather Underground, she hailed the murders then recently committed by Charles Manson's demented followers. "Dig it, first they killed those pigs, then they ate dinner in the same room with them, they even shoved a fork into a victim's stomach!" she exulted, giving a three-fingered salute to signify a fork.

[vietvet67]

McCain should be using this Ayers quote from 1995:

“I am a radical, Leftist, small ‘c’ communist ... [Laughs] Maybe I’m the last communist who is willing to admit it. ... The ethics of Communism still appeal to me. I don’t like Lenin as much as the early Marx.”

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/sowing_acorns_to_reap_the_bigg.html

[no_go_lie]

There is nothing casual about Obama knowing Ayers. If he were not the liar that he is, Obama should say: “I knew this man ever since he started my career in politics. He and I share the same ideals, that is to radicalize this country and bring the benefits of socialism, dare I say Marxism, to benefit the American people. He may have had a hand in blowing up a few buildings, yes, even to get some people killed. But, I am the Messiah, and I forgive him for those trivial sins.”

[AmericaUnited]

Wait till it is revealed that Ayers ghost wrote Barry’s book.

[alicewonders]

Here’s the problem - the flaming liberals I know that are so enamoured with Obama - are IMPRESSED that Obama has ties to Ayers! They think that is a GOOD thing! They hate America and think it is time for our come-uppance. I don’t care what McCain or Palin says about Barack, it won’t matter to them. The hope is that it will matter to the independents - but I fear that this late in the game - anyone who is still undecided is a slobbering idiot.

[downwdims]

The press and his Chicago friends so carefully hid Ayers so that there are no pictures of these two together? I mean seriously press. Are there no pictures of Annenberg Project starts?

I guess it’s just these two operating in the Chicago Machine stealing money from a foundation meant to improve education for radical means and that doesn’t mention a comment or an article in the paper about whatever project they are kicking off? Not fund an algebra project, yet fund Afrocentric studies? How does that help education?

Did they not send out press releases? A project to improve scholastic performance in historically terrible schools doesn’t warrant a mention in the paper? Or was the stuff just that radical?

/sarc

[Travis McGee]

The new rumor is that English prof Ayers ghost-wrote Obama’s books. There is some early forensic/style evidence pointing strongly in this direction. If this can be nailed down by comparing other Ayers work to Obama’s (?) books, Obama is finished.

(Obama was noted for NOT writing, neither as editor of the Harvard law review, nor as a lecturer on con-law. The man just didn't write, in positions where most folks write like crazy.)

Then he pops out with two fantastically well written books that become best sellers? And this has nothing to do with his freindship with political mentor and English prof Bill Ayers?

The forensic work has to be done super fast to have any effect on the election.

[jackv]

Yyglesias says “merely knowing and casual acquaintance”.
Uh-huh. There's your clue. The relationship is much more substantial and they are hoping we won't catch on.

[sarasota]

Make or break time folks. We need to keep this conversation going and encourage McCain to fire with both barrels.

[wiseprince]

I said it before and I’ll say it again. we need pictures. They have got to have pictures together to make the case...Just link Obama and Odinga.

Who will be the first to bring up Odinga to the MSM?

Who is the real Barack Obama?

[downwdims]

If you want some real beef on how much of a Light weight the Obama was in his Harvard Law Review days, go Listen to the Extension 720 episode with Stanley Kurtz. After Stanley’s interview they brought on a fellow Harvard Law Professor and he had some really interesting comments about the Obama’s time at the Law Review.

[igoramus08]

It is 100% relevant. The bottom line on the relationship is that both Ayers and Obama share similar far left radical views.

Obama had 20 years of Marxist Black Liberation Theology involvement. To Obama, Ayers was not controversial. They both supported and funded the same radical education agenda and partnered on the same weak on crime policy. Despite what he might be saying now to get elected, his past actions prove he is FAR LEFT.

[sarasota]

This needs to be added to the pile of offensive acts Obama has committed. He is going to lose, but it will hasten the process to get this out.

[popdonnelly]

Ayers and Dohrn are two vile, disgusting little twerps. It’s a sign of the decline of American culture that they are treated by parts of academia as some kind of brilliant heroes.

[tobyhill]

McCain needs to make sure everyone knows that Obama is no real man. A real man would have yanked his family out of that so-called church that was ranting about hating America. A real man would have told his family to stay away from that radical that “lives in the neighborhood”. A real man would have said to Rezko that I don't need your dirty money.

[beagleone]

Yeah, I had a girlfriend like that once.

[Travis McGee]

Then this non-writing editor later pops forth with two best sellers, brimming with Ayers’ English prof elocution?Doesn't pass the smell test that Obama wrote them alone.

[sarasota]

Obama did not publish one single piece for the Harvard Law Review which, I understand, is unheard of. A lightweight indeed.

[Philly Nomad]

The problem is independents don’t care about this nonsense. They see the economy imploding and they see the GOP spouting this nonsense. By going this route, we are conceding the issues to Obama.

All politics are financial politics.