His Country Beneath His Feet, A Terrorist Holds Fast His Violent Visions (With Comment from Larry)

About Barack Obama’s longtime employer, political contributor, and fellow board member, from a blog article, “Kill the Pigs“:

      Ayers once described the Weathermen as “an American Red Army” whose mission was, “Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, Kill your parents.” In his book, “Fugitive Days,” Ayers boasts that he “participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, of the Capitol building in 1971, and the Pentagon in 1972.” Bombing the Pentagon was particularly dreamy for Ayers, “Everything was absolutely ideal. … The sky was blue. The birds were singing. And the bastards were finally going to get what was coming to them.” Osama Bin Laden could not have said it better on September 11.

From “Charming Bombers, But What of Victims?,” a letter to the editor in the Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2008:

      Elizabeth Wurtzel (“Obama’s Other Radical Friends,” op-ed, May 2) can be forgiven her youthful fascination with radical bomber Bernardine Dohrn. We all have ideas at 15 that seem silly from the perspective of middle age. Barack Obama’s reported close relationship with Ms. Dohrn and Bill Ayers is much more troubling and raises legitimate questions about his judgment and maturity.

      In a 33-year law-enforcement career I had occasion to arrest many charming criminals. One of the most engaging was a California radical, rapist and prison escapee associated with the Symbionese Liberation Army (remember them?) who was living in Louisiana. When, after an intensive undercover investigation, I confronted him with his true name, he stuck out his hand and said “You must have talked to them in Oakland.” Indeed I had, and what I learned was chilling. …

Here is the conclusion of “Charming Bombers, But What of Victims?,” a letter to the editor in the Wall Street Journal, May 5, 2008:

      From all accounts, Mr. Ayers and Ms. Dohrn are equally charming. That does not nullify their crimes. Placing a bomb is one of the most evil of acts because the effects of a bomb are totally indiscriminate and incredibly devastating. Just ask a young Iraq War veteran who will live the rest of his or her life minus body parts. Just ask the families of those killed by Timothy McVeigh in the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

      There is little moral difference between Mr. Ayers and Ms. Dohrn and McVeigh. Timothy McVeigh was simply a less charming individual and a more successful bomber. He received just punishment for his crime. Mr. Ayers and Ms. Dohrn did not.

            Greg Phares
            Baton Rouge, La.

UPDATE AND COMMENT BY LARRY JOHNSON: We are not talking “guilt by association” here. If I go to the new Washington National’s Stadium the same night that Lewis Farrakhan or David Duke attend a game, that does not mean I endorse or support their views. Accusing me of such is classic guilt by association. We just happened to occupy the same space at the same time.

But Barack Obama is not just “associated” with Bill Ayers. They have a relationship. Bill Ayers co-founded a foundation in Chicago and named Barack the Chairman. That is more than an association. It is a relationship that started in 1995 and Barack stayed in that job for eight years. Bill Ayers and his wife helped Barack plot how to oust a longstanding state Senator, Alice Palmer. That is more than just stumbling into each other at Starbucks. Bill Ayers helped raise money for Barack’s campaign. And then Barack and Bill Ayers sat together on the Woods Fund board. More threads in the fabric of their relationship.

Barack has some explaining to do. Why would he knowingly maintain a relationship with a man who continues to take pride in the bombs he planted and exploded in America? Why Barack? This ain’t guilt by association. Nope. You are guilty of lousy judgment and obfuscation. But you cannot hide from this question. Just as happened with Reverend Wright, the truth will come out. And when it does Barack’s magical balloon tour will be over. It is just a matter of time.

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The new color photograph of William Ayers comes from the August 1, 2001 issue of Chicago Magazine, which features a three-page article about Mr. Ayers and his life. It is well worth reading.