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Obama/Ayers Update: New York Times’ Shane defends himself on Politico.com

Apparently the New York Times does not have enough news print to get the story right the first time so they have been emailing me and posting on the blogosphere in order to shore up their faulty story about the Ayers/Obama link. 

I responded earlier to an email from Scott Shane, author of the story, by updating my first post on this here.

This afternoon, Shane told Politico.com the following in response to my post on his story:

As for Steve, he was great in outlining his theory — that Obama and Ayers had a relationship going back many years, to the 1980s, and that Ayers therefore must have proposed Obama for the board. He looked at the same letters I’d seen showing Ayers (and one of the two co-organizers, Anne Hallett) had discussions early on with Annenberg folks about the need for a board. Unfortunately, his theory is wrong.

What Steve didn’t do was talk to the people involved. As I report, Deborah Leff and Pat Graham give a credible account of how they chose Obama, and I have no reason to think they’re lying. Moreover, if Obama only met Ayers when Obama joined the Annenberg project, it seems hardly likely that he would have pushed for Obama’s appointment. On the other hand, since Obama already served on Leff’s board, it makes perfect sense that she would propose him.

Let me explain the facts to Mr. Shane, once again, as I did in his lengthy interview with me:

1) Ayers and Obama were both active in the successful campaign in 1988 to establish a teacher/principal watchdog group, Local School Councils, in the Chicago public schools. The LSC’s have been called a form of teacher-bashing by union activists.

2) Ayers conceived of and led the process that resulted in a $49.2 million grant from the National Annenberg Challenge.

3) As the formal agent of the Chicago School Reform Collaborative (CSRC), the working group that applied for the grant, Ayers received an inquiry in November, 1994, from Vartan Gregorian, President of Brown University about the board selection process.

4) Ayers responded by describing his personal role and noted that Patricia Graham, another foundation head, had agreed already to serve.

5) Another exchange of letters between Gregorian and MacArthur Foundation President Adele Simmons also confirms Ayers personal role in the board selection process.

6) If Ayers was not involved it would have been a violation of his fiduciary obligation to the CSRC.

7) Shane says he spoke to Deborah Leff, then head of the Joyce Foundation, about the Ayers role but she did not tell him that Ayers had no involvement.

8) The board selection process for the CAC began in November of 1994, at least, and the board first formally met in March. Obama joined Leff’s Joyce Foundation in November. Even if Leff had a formal responsibility for the selection of CAC board members, which she did not, it strains credulity to suggest that in a few weeks she would have formed the basis of an opinion on Obama such that she could convince Graham that he should not just join the CAC board, but lead it, despite his youth, lack of experience in education, and lack of contacts to raise the $110 million in matching funds the CAC would have to raise. 

In addition, Leff would have had to convince Graham to join her in secretly appointing Obama to the board without discussing the idea with the individual with formal legal responsibility for the selection of the Board, Bill Ayers.

9) Of all the people Shane spoke to, only Graham, whom Ayers helped select for the CAC board, stated to Shane that Ayers had no involvement in the Obama selection. But that quote was not put in the Times story, despite its obvious importance. We do not know how Graham explains the contradiction between her recollection, 14 years later, and the written contemporaneous record of letters between Gregorian and Ayers and Gregorian and Simmons that make Ayers’ role in the board selection process clear.

In closing, let me note that I don’t want to weigh down this post with a recitation of the actual agenda carried out by the CAC.  Readers can find plenty on this blog about that, including Obama’s role in backing Ayers effort to shore up the teacher bashing Local School Councils and the hundreds of thousand of dollars doled out to Ayers and his ex-SDS comrade Mike Klonsky’s anti-teacher effort, the Small Schools Workshop. 

But suffice to say that the record of the actual work of the CAC demonstrates a consistency between the views of Ayers and those of Obama on their efforts during the “Chicago School Wars” against Mayor Daley. I have explained in my work here that I view this as a fundamentally authoritarian agenda aimed at undercutting the democratic power of elected union officials and government representatives. 

Thus, the suggestion by the Times that Ayers was an “ex-radical” is mistaken.

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Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 10:47:37

Let me explain to anyone who is missing the connection between what Steve Diamond Wrote in this excellent article and the AP article referenced in the first post:

First Read again what Mr Diamond has written above

now consider these point that Steve makes:

1) Ayers and Obama were both active in the successful campaign in 1988 to establish a teacher/principal watchdog group, Local School Councils, in the Chicago public schools. The LSC’s have been called a form of teacher-bashing by union activists.

2) Ayers conceived of and led the process that resulted in a $49.2 million grant from the National Annenberg Challenge.

3) As the formal agent of the Chicago School Reform Collaborative (CSRC), the working group that applied for the grant, Ayers received an inquiry in November, 1994, from Vartan Gregorian, President of Brown University about the board selection process.

4) Ayers responded by describing his personal role and noted that Patricia Graham, another foundation head, had agreed already to serve.

5) Another exchange of letters between Gregorian and MacArthur Foundation President Adele Simmons also confirms Ayers personal role in the board selection process.

6) If Ayers was not involved it would have been a violation of his fiduciary obligation to the CSRC.

7) Shane says he spoke to Deborah Leff, then head of the Joyce Foundation, about the Ayers role but she did not tell him that Ayers had no involvement.

8) The board selection process for the CAC began in November of 1994, at least, and the board first formally met in March. Obama joined Leff’s Joyce Foundation in November. Even if Leff had a formal responsibility for the selection of CAC board members, which she did not, it strains credulity to suggest that in a few weeks she would have formed the basis of an opinion on Obama such that she could convince Graham that he should not just join the CAC board, but lead it, despite his youth, lack of experience in education, and lack of contacts to raise the $110 million in matching funds the CAC would have to raise.

In addition, Leff would have had to convince Graham to join her in secretly appointing Obama to the board without discussing the idea with the individual with formal legal responsibility for the selection of the Board, Bill Ayers.

9) Of all the people Shane spoke to, only Graham, whom Ayers helped select for the CAC board, stated to Shane that Ayers had no involvement in the Obama selection. But that quote was not put in the Times story, despite its obvious importance. We do not know how Graham explains the contradiction between her recollection, 14 years later, and the written contemporaneous record of letters between Gregorian and Ayers and Gregorian and Simmons that make Ayers’ role in the board selection process clear.

This is DAMNING EVIDENCE AGAINST the meme being pushed that Bill Ayers was just a guy in Obama’s neighborhood.

Its is clear that Obama would have had a fair amount of involvement with Ayers.

Once the flood gates open more questions will be raised.

It is not in the interest of the Obama campaign to let this get out there.

The put the lid on this in the Debate with Hillary Clinton where he said He is Just some guy in my neighborhood who did bad stuff when i was 8 years old.

He claimed plausible deniability and then went so far as to claim non involvment with Bill Ayers.

HE LIED!

How do you get this story to die before it hurts you?

Well if you are the obama campaign you attack from both sides.

You know your opponents want this to get out.

You know that investigation is about to hit since it was just recently that you were forced to relent and let them look at the Annenburg Challenge Documents.

So WHat do you do?

You get an In the Tank News Paper aka The New York Times to write a fluff piece saying NOTHING TO SEE MOVE ALONG. But you make sure to have that paper talk to the people involved and then claim that they confirmed NOTHING TO SEE even though its a blatant LIE!


The Corner

Saturday, October 04, 2008

NYT’s Ayers-Obama Whitewash [Stanley Kurtz]

As others have noted, today’s New York Times carries a story on the relationship between Barack Obama and unrepentant Weather Underground terrorist, Bill Ayers. The piece serves as a platform for the Obama campaign and Obama’s friends and allies. Obama’s spokesman and supporters’ names are named and their versions of events are presented in detail, with quotes. Yet the article makes no serious attempt to present the views of Obama critics who have worked to uncover the true nature of the relationship. That makes this piece irresponsible journalism, and an obvious effort by the former paper of record to protect Obama from the coming McCain onslaught.

Yet instead of pursuing this opening, Shane ignores the findings of his own investigation and covers for Obama.

The New York Times in the tank for Obama? You bet. And sinking deeper every day.

Clearly disturbing. Read the whole article but put a pillow on the floor between your feet so your jaw doesn’t take damage when you read it.

SO thats the first prong, you get your friends in the Obama Media Campaign Division to Lie for you as a plausible campaign press release News Story Investigative Journalism Piece.

SO what else do you need to do?

YOu play the race card!

Why because nobody wants to be called a racist and it shuts people up.

Enter the AP with their story about how Palin and the McCain campaign are trying to stoke racial tensions by implying that Obama is a Terrorist.

ASSOCIATED PRESS ACCUSES PALIN McCAIN OF TRYING TO INCITE RACIAL HOSTILITIES

Now its pretty hard to connect them, terrorism to racism that is so follow along carefully. They spell it out for your clearly so even an r-tardpublicans understand what they are trying to say (lets not accuse the AP of being nuanced).

Palin’s words avoid repulsing voters with overt racism. But is there another subtext for creating the false image of a black presidential nominee “palling around” with terrorists while assuring a predominantly white audience that he doesn’t see their America?

In a post-Sept. 11 America, terrorists are envisioned as dark-skinned radical Muslims, not the homegrown anarchists of Ayers’ day 40 years ago. With Obama a relative unknown when he began his campaign, the Internet hummed with false e-mails about ties to radical Islam of a foreign-born candidate.

Whether intended or not by the McCain campaign, portraying Obama as “not like us” is another potential appeal to racism. It suggests that the Hawaiian-born Christian is, at heart, un-American.

Most troubling, however, is how allowing racism to creep into the discussion serves McCain’s purpose so well.

See what the second Prong of the attack to quell any discussion of Ayers is attempting to do?

Palin mentions Ayers -> Terrorist -> Ameircans are so dumb they think all terrorists are Dark Skinned Muslims -> Obama is Dark Skinned -> Palin is referring to him being black!!! -> Not like WHite People -> RACISM!!!!!!!!

Thats the logic they are using.

Whats the purpose? To set up the meme so they can skip all the stuff in between and basicly shoot a connon over the McCain Campaigns bow warning them that if they bring up Ayers they are going to be accused of racism.

So Nothing to see, only racists would mention this hopefully puts this issue to rest before it gets traction because in the Obama Campaigns world, the worst thing you can be is a racist and who in their right mind wants to be called a racist?

Its the Ultimate Con Job and the MSM is In On It!!

But because the Obama Campaign has played the race card so many times, against Bill, Against Hillary Against Hillary supporters, against the McCain Campaign 3 times they cant say it themselves. McCain called em on it earlier.

And they can’t get campaign surrogates to do this because campaign surrogates then just get asked more questions.

THey need the MSM to push both sides against the middle under the guise of Investigative Journalism saying nothing to see and Racially sensitive journalism saying OMG Palin McCain Racists from Talking about those Dark Skinned Terrorists and trying to SCAREZ YOU!

Do they believe American Voters are all REALLY THAT DUMB???

Good god i hope we don’t find out that they are!

Now ask yourself again, who would the NYT and the AP push like this if they arent in the tank?

Why would they have to go and defend their work at politico if they actually did their job to begin with?

Why are they trying to desperately to cover up Ayer’s Radicalism if Obama was not so heavily involved with him and doesnt think like him?

and this brings us full circle right back to the very beginning of the excellent article written here by Mr Diamond:

Apparently the New York Times does not have enough news print to get the story right the first time so they have been emailing me and posting on the blogosphere in order to shore up their faulty story about the Ayers/Obama link.

Get it?

Comment by Shiloh | 2008-10-05 10:54:45

It was a foundation principle in the Obama campaign that any criticism would be met with charges of racism, which as we see here can be manufactured out of anything or nothing. The only reason we haven’t seen more of it before now is that Wright flipped the race card the other way. Before the election I’m counting on Wright being brought back into the picture. If not then team Obama was right and America will be too intimidated by race and will yield to it.

Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 10:56:17

Yeah but in the primaries against Hillary they atleast allowed the Surrogates to start pushing the meme first.

Now the in the tank media is starting it up before Donna Brazille and James Clyburn even get on TV!

OUTRAGEOUS!!!

Comment by tish | 2008-10-05 11:55:33

Priority: Normal

We would rather have someone like palin, then someone who is like obama and his
thugs, all the trasing of palin isnt going to work…we are going to get the
word out about obama and his plans to redistibute the white folks money to the
blacks and muslims..they will not pull off their scam…and obama , has been
known to take crack , for one he has admitted it, for two larry sinclair said
they did it together,in a press conference that no one hears about…Ill take
the risk of mccain rather than to have a known druggy, and bidens a drinker, at
the hot buttons, and this should be told,,,obama can stand with his
muslims,,,tell him he is not qualified to be a senator let alone potus, i would
like him to be drug tested by an independent source,,via his hair to see the
last time he took drugs, he often acts like he is on them

 
 

Comment by fif | 2008-10-05 18:34:10

I think the McCain Campaign should confront this head on: “The Obama Campaign has been using this ploy since the primaries to deflect any and all criticism or examination of Senator Obama’s record or associations. Watch for it. ANY challenge is met with this charge.”

 
 

Comment by Paul F. Villarreal | 2008-10-05 11:02:47

This AP writer must be called out immediately.

.

Steve, thank you so much for your hard work. I just made a video up of Sarah’s remarks yesterday that includes extensive linking to corroborate the Ayers/Obama relationship. I linked to 3 of your pieces.

I’m going to repost my introduction to that video that I posted in the last thread. Here is the full post:

Below is a link to the remarks made yesterday by Sarah Palin which connected Barack Obama with Obama’s longtime friend and mentor Bill Ayers. Ayers is an unrepentant domestic terrorist who was involved with the seditionist Weather Underground organization that bombed both the Pentagon and the US Capitol.

What makes my version of this footage both a must-see and a very valuable resource going forward is that I have inserted 5 video link annotations into the production itself and I have put 19 links into the video description section. These links provide comprehensive, detailed visual and written evidence of the longstanding and intimate relationship between Senator Obama and radical anti-American Bill Ayers.

Please take a look at the video when you get the chance. Favorite it and email it to those that you know so in the days to come all will have a one-stop location to answer the lies and half-truths coming out of the Obama campaign and its media arms as they try to innoculate Obama against his dangerous, extremist associates. These long-term mentors and friends of the Illinois pol expose Obama’s stunning lack of judgment, his willingness to become close with those who hate our great republic and Obama’s own nearly-unfathomable radicalism.

Amidst two wars and the constant threat of a second 9/11, America’s electorate deserves to know exactly what Barack Obama and his dangerous associates are all about as it prepares to vote in one of the most important elections in our country’s history.

Thank you, and here is the link to the video:

“Sarah Palin hits Obama for palling around with terrorists”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQmnRrdeXXA

Comment by Dr. Kate | 2008-10-05 11:15:10

Excellent, Paul. Both a good video and very good links to Steve’s well researched articles.

Way to go! :-)

Comment by FACTCHECK2 | 2008-10-05 11:31:49

Obama’s links with bad boys connected to the Bush Admin. are as hair-raising, if not more outrageous than the Ayers relationship. It’s strange that no one in the McCain/Palin camp is talking about these characters, because they should disqualify him from contention. The following article takes a look under the Obama carpet.

http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/OctoberSurprise.html

Comment by Soldier of Christ | 2008-10-05 13:13:22

Sorry- factcheck- but the only thing I like about this link- was Pat’s cartoon. It is old news and probably an old article updated- since it is states facts about Palin that are old. Secondly, it refers to Obama being like Bush. NO way in hell is that true. Obama is a Liberal and the most liberal in the country. Bush is a conservative and nothing less. I think this link article lacks facts!

 
 

Comment by tish | 2008-10-05 12:03:29

we also need to get the tv to start showing his supporters gaddafis videos, and the rest of the communists who support obama, not to mention larry sinclair, and the remarks obama has said that we should be have as the rest of the world tells us too, his remarks in oregon, that we eat to much and use suvs and ac,,while the porta potties are placed on the cops graves,,and also hit him hard with his bitter white gun toting speeches,,keep up the reports on how obama has voted to tax even the poor and how obama has been trying to get the white folks to pay 777 billon in slave reparations..since 2001,,and you are worried about wall st? think people better start worrying about govt st,,,with all these corrupt libs in control,,,and wanting the white middle class to pay for everything, while pretending they all of a sudden care! wake up people dodd and conrad and the rest should be brought up on charges, of not protecting the american people and knowing full well what they were doing, just in time for their campaigns…what better way to get votes? raise the price of oil and make the economy go south…

Comment by No Obama for me | 2008-10-05 13:46:50

Tish,

Yes lets do GET THE MEDIA, but how?
The NYT played into the McCain Camps hands on this white washed article.They tried to put it out and put this issue to rest but it backfired. It is all over Cable plus the internet and now it is being discussed so the truth can come out about Ayers and it will, also watch for Sarah to bring up Rezco and Alinsky and others.

Don’t hold your breath on Sinclair though,
that guy is a real nut and no one will touch him, certainly not the McCain campaign.
Lets give Larry E for effort though, can’t hurt.

Sarah is McCain’s best weapon ever, she will carry the messages and get the coverage regarding all of those questionable characters, I am holding my breath waiting for the “Whitey Tape” with Michelle alongside Louis Farrakhan bad mouthing Bill Clinton. I am told it exists and is close to being brought forth. Any of you remember the article where Michelle Obama said “I want to rip out Bill Clintons eyeballs”
I have it saved if anyone wants to see it.

Comment by Sheri rogers | 2008-10-06 01:17:30

I want to see the article about o-no-bama’s wife….

 
 
 

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 12:10:08

Agree…Paul does Great work…over 64,000 hits on that one Paul…I salute You

QUI TACET CONSENTIT
HE WHO IS SILENT…CONSENTS

 
 

Comment by jangles | 2008-10-05 11:22:21

I think the NYT and others are missing a huge point. I don’t care whether Ayers personally advocated for Obama in that post or not. The fact is Obama took the post and he did interact with Ayers and he did say he “he’s just some guy in my neighborhood”. That was a brazen distortion of the truth. The fact is he was and has been involved with both Ayers and his wife most of his political career. He knew and knows their past. If he were principled, he would have refused to be involved with them or what they do and he would “be on the record throughout his career distancing himself from them”. He does not distance himself until he is called on it in this presidential race. Too little too late. If he were principled he would not have launched his political career in their living room. His associations with them are repugnant and they show a man who is willing to use whoever and whatever he can to get ahead in politics. The other part of this that NYT and others are overlooking is that the political agenda written by Ayers and embraced in this faux attempt to reform Chicago public schools wasted millions of valuable dollars on political hackery through community organizations instead of spending those dollars on truly improving student learning for kids who desperately needed that break in their lives. Does not anyone get that this kind of leadership and political manipulation is exactly why education reform for minority populations and particularly AA populations in inner city schools has gone nowhere despite millions if not billions of dollars to change things. Why? Because the money has gone to community activists paying them high salaries for little to no result. Think about the lost opportunities for those students damnit.

Comment by Maddie | 2008-10-05 12:42:43

There is no “there” there with Ayers. However if people are are going to try this tact it opens McCain up to Keating 5 and his real nefarious assocations,Liddy, Abramoff to name a few. Then we have Palin’s witch doctor/preacher and her AIP contacts. They are desperate and everyone knows it.

Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 14:00:30

Oh there is a lot more there there than you want to admit sweetie.

 

Comment by jcm | 2008-10-05 14:38:28

get your facts straight McCain was cleared in the Keating 5 thing.

 

Comment by fif | 2008-10-05 18:37:38

Abramoff? lol! McCain was key to making sure that Abramoff ended up in prison! And the Keating reference is hilarious. That’s the only thing they can use against McCain–an association from 30 years ago, and he was cleared of wrongdoing. Talk about desperate.

Yea, Ayers, Rezko, Wright, Auchi, Meeks, Pfleger–nothing to see here. Just a coincidence. Keep moving folks.

 
 

Comment by chris | 2008-10-05 13:14:44

Good old Michelle worked with Mrs. Ayers-Dohrn for heaven’s sake. The Ayers hosted a fund raising party for him. Does anybody else have casual acquaitances that do that kind of thing? Guess OB didn’t even interact with Bill while he was at the party at Bill’s house. My, my they must be mightily worried about the truth of all this to be putting these articles out there now.

 
 
 

Comment by sarainitaly | 2008-10-05 11:04:38

wow! shocking!

/snark

 

Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 11:13:54

Obama Campaign has played the Race Card first too many times this campaign season, they needed their friends in the In The Tank Main Stream Media to play it for them first this time so they could claim their hands are clean if it becomes an issue.

Barack Obama – WORST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE EVER!!!

Comment by trails | 2008-10-05 11:58:10

Oh, please. If Obama cared anything for blacks, he’d never have funned Illinois tax dollars to Rezko, while people were freezing to death in his unheated tenements. Nope, blacks and racism only matter to Obama when it benefits him and his election.

 

Comment by trails | 2008-10-05 12:19:29

Yes, I agree. I think it’s Obama’s failure to bring any improvement in these efforts that is the larger story. In fact, the school improvement effort finally became so bad and so political that Mayor Daley stepped in and put the system in his own hands. I can’t think the mayor would have done that unless there were REAL problems with the group that Obama headed,

 
 

Comment by DanO | 2008-10-05 11:14:32

AP are as bad as the Huffington post. One-sided and pathetic.

 

Comment by soldier4hillary | 2008-10-05 11:21:13

repost

Lord if they go the Palin words are racist route they will be lucky to have anyone vote for Oblahma in Nov. Actually I hope they do because it would hurt them badly in NC. I like when the MSM now goes the racist route because with NC having one of the largest military bases in there state with people from all kinds of backgrounds etc…people who just became citizens, stuff like that turns people off badly because we cant judge people solely based on “color”.

Thats the quickest way to get your rank taken, UCMJ action, and your money gone. They take things like that seriously. So believe me,to got through that and it turns out to be false and even though it eventually gets thrown out, the fact that someone accused you will RUIN your military career. That goes for any false charge. You can literally lose everything. I have seen CSM’s, E8’s get screwed over because someone made false claims. Despite it not being the truth, who wants to give you a command with a “rumor” circulating to that degree?

I hope they keep it up. Idiots think this will make people believe it. Yes, NC does have a high AA percentage. But those fools never research exactly were there at or what they do. Look at the NC primary Map between him and Clinton. Obama WILL NOT WIN NC. But its nice to watch them spend there money and try.

 

Comment by oowawa | 2008-10-05 11:41:29

I saw this AP distributed article penned by Douglass K. Daniel on Drudge, and was really perplexed by the logical leap the author takes in reaching the desired concept of “racism.” Let’s see. the author admits that Palin’s invocation of terrorists was a “reference to Obama’s relationship with William Ayers,” an aging upper middle-class white professor. But since the terrorists involved in 9-11 were dusky in hue, Daniel feels justified in characterizing Palin’s remark as racist in intent. He states that Palin’s racism is in a “racially tinged subtext”–meaning it was not actually there, but could be discerned plainly enough through his special Oborg glasses.

When a huge once impartial news agency like AP shamelessly lends its imprimatur to nonsense like this, it is clear that the MSM will provide little obstacle to the rise of fascism in the USA.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 12:04:15

Hmmmm….any scrutiny of Barky = racism…It is Gettin OLD…The good REV. Manning sees Wriiiight Through it

 

Comment by No Obama for me | 2008-10-05 13:51:21

What about the fact that William Ayers and all of the Weathermen group were white, what’s this got to do with racism.
Another batch of bullshit!!!

 
 

Comment by J. J.. (The P.U.M.A.) | 2008-10-05 11:46:14

Jerimiah, you are my favorite blogger at this site!!

Here is the political impact of the Associated Press story. Its a big help to McCain. Any day that the media or the Obama campaign is talking about anything but the economy is a good day for McCain. And now with Sarah Palin’s rehabilitation after the debate, she can dominate the headlines by being the “pitbull with lipstick” biting and holding on to Obama’s ankles.

Thank you, Associated Press, for taking the bait!!

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 12:05:43

You got5 that WRIIIGHT…McCain is in control of the subject matter…Aaaaaand Barky is spinnin…

 
 

Comment by jrterrier | 2008-10-05 12:03:18

when the head of AP wrote a piece a couple of weeks ago critical of Obama, the entire MSM came down on them. Since then, everything coming out of AP is critical of McCain/Palin.

By the way, this is the clip from Saturday Night live that you should all watch. the media is playing the Tina Fey Palin skit. But this one on the housing crisis is much better. If the media picks it up, it should be good for McC:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/c-span-bailout/727521/

 

Comment by Rose | 2008-10-05 14:32:37

I’ll see your Ayers and raise you a Joe Vogler, founder of the AIP.

Here’s a direct quote from Vogler who was murdered in a plastic explosives sale gone bad:

“The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government…and I won’t be buried under their damn flag…

I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.”

The “first dude” was a registered member of this group, AIP, from 1995 to 2002 only changing his registration when Sarah began her run for public office.
Sarah admits to attending their 2000 Convention. She, as Governor, welcomed them to their 2006 Convention with the following taped speech:

“Your party plays an important role in our state’s politics. I’ve always said that competition is so good, and that applies to political parties as well. I share your party’s vision of upholding the constitution of our great state… So I say good luck on a successful and inspiring convention. Keep up the good work, and God bless you.”

Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 15:19:04

Yes she did.

As governor she is governor of all the people in her state. Not just the people she agrees with.

Besides aren’t you left wing nutjobs saying alaska is a little forzen shithole and who cares about it and that its governor is a moron baby factory??

What do you care if some guy who was the leader of some group of people who never Blew Up our Pentagon or Capital Or NYC Police Headquarters or KILLED PEOPLE as a result of those bombs has to say about that frozen wasteland anyway?

Its not like he said GOD DAMN AMERICA or THE GOVERNEMENT CREATED AIDS TO KILL BLACK PEOPLE while sarah was sitting in his church for 20 years…DID HE????

YOU ARE A F#CKING HYPOCRIT!

 

Comment by wry | 2008-10-06 00:49:26

Oh Please. Staten Island threatens every so often to secede from NYC. We still love Staten Island. It’s got that great Ferry.
This is so silly. Who cares about Alaskan Succession? Sarah Palin is a great governor.

 
 

Comment by Diana | 2008-10-05 22:03:14

They worked together on The Woods Fund from 1993 to 2002. They worked together, ‘both’ were chairmen on The Annenburg Challenge from 1995 to 2002. He launched his campaign from Ayer’s home.

They were working together when Ayers stepped on the American flag and said what he said about not doing enough.

So now we’re supposed to believe two chairmen never talked? Did any work together? And just how do they explain that Obama doled out money to the Annenburg Challenge from the Woods Fund? He just gave money to a stranger that he happened to work with…

The Real Barack Obama has it all tied in together along with other’s he’s tied too. The used his own resume to put it all together.
http://tinyurl.com/3wsvut

 
 

Comment by Not Your sweetie | 2008-10-05 10:48:31

fascinating how much effort they put into clearing their boy.
But who is holding NYT’s leash?
I have one theory
http://edgeoforever.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/whos-holding-the-medias-leash/

 

Comment by mrt721 | 2008-10-05 10:53:10

Any one else see this?
I’m flipping through channels and
see Donkey Brazile on CNN.
She said, and I quote,
“Barack Obama has absolutely NO
connection with William Ayers.”
WHAT????
This was about 8:45am pst if you
look for it.
Unbelievable.

Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 10:56:58

Now that LYING YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!!!

Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 11:10:59

I wonder what her MAMA taught her about that just like i wondered what her MAMA taught her about Stealing Delegates Votes in the primaries.

 
 

Comment by missE | 2008-10-05 11:19:48

It appears the Obama campaign’s strategy is to lie about Ayers and dismiss it at “swiftboating” because they know the MSM will cover for them.

San Francisco Chronicle:

Sanchez, the Obama spokesman, said the Annenberg public-private partnership was founded with the help of a Republican governor to improve Chicago schools, and that Obama and Ayers were never associates in that work.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/4jqx62

 
 

Comment by Typical Bitter Whitey Woman | 2008-10-05 10:55:52

Steve, why don’t you ask Politico if you can publish this story there?

 

Comment by Typical Bitter Whitey Woman | 2008-10-05 10:59:53

2 other points:

Mayor Daley said they were “friends.” Someone gave that link in a comment here yesterday.

And Michelle Obama and Dohrn were friends and colleagues back in the 80s.

Comment by deadenders | 2008-10-05 11:42:39

Don’t forget that Axelrod said their kids go to the same schools and that’s how they know each other.

Ayers kids in their late 20’s and barky’s 6 & 9 yr olds go to the same schools.

Comment by kat in your hat | 2008-10-05 12:20:55

 
 

Comment by Diana | 2008-10-05 22:18:26

Michelle worked at Sidley Austin and so did Bernardine Dohrn. Dohrn worked there till ‘88. Michelle did her summer interns there in 86 and 87. Barack also worked there, that’s how he and Michelle met. Isn’t it funn that he worked with Dohrn then went on to chair two different foundations with Ayers, but he’s just some guy in the neighborhood.

I don’t know if either of these link are what you’re looking for, but they’re two I saved on it.
http://tinyurl.com/3hwrnj
http://theproblemwithobama.com/?tag=dohrn

 
 

Comment by Shiloh | 2008-10-05 11:00:05

Maybe I’m too confident in America. Maybe those gloom and doomers among you are right. Either voters will pause at some point and say, “wait a minute here, I need to take a closer look at this guy before I pull the lever,” or they don’t and they buy the scam.

We get the government we deserve. If we as a nation let Obama have it then so be it. Things like this happen periodically in the course of history, I just hoped I wouldn’t have to see it in my lifetime. The last ten years or so I’ve been feeling sorry I never had children. If Obama wins I will be glad I didn’t.

Comment by obamaphobe | 2008-10-05 11:52:47

Shiloh….I’m sorry you have been feeling regret for not having children. Children can be a joy, but they ain’t everything they’re cracked up to be. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my kids, but after the terrible twos and testy teens, they’ve just put gray in my hair and sucked all the life outta me. There, feel better.

 
 

Comment by Mrwirez | 2008-10-05 11:10:11

Obama is sooo corrupt and no one will cover it. I just fired off hate mail to CNN for not doing its job. Has anyone seen what is going on in OHIO with A.C.O.R.N….? Why did the DNC file a motion to block the lawsuit against Obama regarding his Birth certificate? Who the FU*K is this guy??

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 11:35:40

The DNC do NOT want anyone to look into their records…Discovery is a bitch…and Dean the UberPutz has already got one lawsuit he’s fighting over dicrimination/hiring…He certainly does’nt want another that forces a looksie into DNC shenanigans during the primaries…Barky doesn’t want ANY SCRUTINY AT ALL..Fascists rarely do…I’m just sayin’

It was a stupid mistake for the joint filing between DNC & Barky…imho…Dean will go down with Barry & I hope Pelosi and Reid/Kerry/Brazeal all of them are on the first row of that sinking ship

 
 

Comment by nancyjoe | 2008-10-05 11:10:58

I wrote two emails to AP. Does anyone have that reporter’s email address too? Isn’t there some way we can start class action suits against the media? I mean, the DAMAGES are the fact that they are lying about Obama and convincing idiots who vote for him to hand this very precious country over to a dangerous criminal. Come ON. There has to be SOME WAY to stop these lunatics.

Comment by Democrat | 2008-10-05 11:23:29

What a grasp you have of constitutional and legal principles. A class action suit against AP?

Funny!

Comment by Dr. Kate | 2008-10-05 11:42:41

Racketeering between DNC, obama campaign and media is more like it.

Its the RICO statute. I think it applies, and a class action lawsuit against the DNC as well.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 12:00:05

I think that’s part of Berg’s Lawsuit against the DNC…Hmmm….Discovery is a Bitch

 
 
 
 

Comment by Hank | 2008-10-05 11:13:20

What a great relationship between a guy running for POTUS who goes around bad mouthing our troops that Fight For Our Freedom and doesn’t bother to drop by and visit with the injured soldiers because he couldn’t bring his entourage with him, and a guy known as a self admitted domestic TERRORIST that didn’t do enough.

McCain needs to ask BO why he never mentions his EXECUTIVE experience at CAC that managed $100 million. Followed by why can’t you produce your Birth Certificate to the court in Pennsylvania. I thought you were transparent?

 

Comment by scottymac54 | 2008-10-05 11:13:40

“Maybe I’m too confident in America. Maybe those gloom and doomers among you are right.”

I keep going back from “gloom and doom” into a state of shock that this sham candidate could have hoodwinked as many people as he has, that’s all.

It seems as though the same scoundrels who had a vested interest in absolving the last loser president from all accountability are suspending all judgment in promoting an even more malevolent one…

It’s not time to give up, by any means, but it is about to get very ugly and I think we all have to brace ourselves for that.

Better an end with horror, than horror without end.

And Barky at the helm is horror without end, no question about it.

 

Comment by DanL | 2008-10-05 11:16:11

Fox News: Asking for E-Mail NOW..Do you think the Ayers connection to Obama is IMPORTANT or not…Please contact the with your thoughts now…I did…..TY

Comment by Hank | 2008-10-05 11:17:42

what address?

Comment by Kal | 2008-10-05 11:34:04

Here is the email I just sent yourcomments@foxnews.com:

I am writing to thank you for covering this story. The connection between Ayers and Obama is of crucial importance, because the biographical record makes it very clear that Ayers and others connected to both the Weather Underground and to radical politics in the US have groomed Obama from his days at Occidental College until he finished Harvard Law School to become a political candidate who is actually deeply identified with their movements.

Steve Diamond and Stanley Kurtz have developed all of the relevant information on their own, with no help from mainstream media journalists, and now it is time for the media to take a look for themselves.

For example, did Michelle Obama, who finished Harvard Law School just ahead of Obama, really meet him for the very first time when he got a summer job working at Sidley Austin in Chicago — a law firm that had Ayers’ Weather Underground wife on staff even though her criminal record precluded her from being admitted to the Illinois bar?

Consider this possibility: If Obama’s and his wife’s connections to Ayers and Doehrn go back to Obama’s most formative years — when he transferred to Columbia, suddenly traveled in areas of the world nurturing international terrorists, and then received Al-Monsour’s help in getting into and paying for his Harvard legal education — isn’t it just possible that Obama is actually just a little bit (pick one) tolerant of or even sympathetic to domestic terrorism?

And if that is even possible, is it a good idea to choose someone like that to lead the US during a time of protracted global conflict with international terrorists who want to harm the US?

Please do your due diligence with this issue. It is your duty as journalists to investigate and report on this, regardless of what you conclude.

 
 

Comment by PhxNickD | 2008-10-05 11:35:19

where’s the link to the vote, can’t find it?

 

Comment by DanL | 2008-10-05 11:43:48

Addy: weekendlive/foxnews.com

Comment by kat in your hat | 2008-10-05 12:46:34

I emailed both the weekendlive address and yourcomments addresses with my Obama-Ayers opinion.

 
 

Comment by Postmaster | 2008-10-05 13:58:03

 
 

Comment by don tufts | 2008-10-05 11:17:05

well besides the press i beleive the major polls are rigged ,tell me if im wrong but rassmussen and battleground both have 5 to 6 percent more dems than repubs in their sample.both have the dems at close to 40 percent of the voters please tell me am i wrong or is this a correct percentage.

Comment by Democrat | 2008-10-05 11:22:05

Yes, they do have more Democrats than Republicans in their samples.

And that’s because there are more Democrats than Republicans in the US right now. The Republicans have been losing party members and the Democrats have gained them. Just look at voter registration numbers in virtually every state.

Comment by don tufts | 2008-10-05 11:24:45

thats possible but i dont beleive that 40 percent of the voters in this country are dems or that independants are only 25 percent

Comment by Democrat | 2008-10-05 11:29:01

Ah, a faith based approach to public opinion analysis. Look at multiple, independent data — both polls and voter registration figures.

 
 

Comment by YES HRC | 2008-10-05 11:38:14

You minimize the number of Dems who have gone to McCain because BO is an insufferable egomaniac and UNQUALIFIED to run this country.

You’re relying on polls that are skewed for reasons that I’m sure you can take a wild guess at.

Comment by don tufts | 2008-10-05 11:45:35

yes hrc thats what i was getting at plus this troll says check voter registration percentages ,well please tell me how you do that other than biased news reports.

Comment by YES HRC | 2008-10-05 11:59:42

Right. This troll still doesn’t get the concept of “managed news.” If he/she doesn’t get it after this year, there’s no hope.

 
 
 

Comment by Diana | 2008-10-05 22:40:16

That may be true, but not every state has a majority of Democrats. You have to look at the breakdowns and call accordingly. If I know there are 20 people in a group. 4 are from one group. 10 are from thesecond group. 6 are from a third group. It makes no sense/ is awfully skewed to call all 4 of the first group. 2 of the second group and 2 from the third. Which is exactly what they’re doing.

It also makes no sense if I have a group of 20, 4 of them are African American and 16 of them are caucasian to call all 4 African Americans and 2 of the Caucasians which is also what they’re doing.

The only good thing is it isn’t going to discourage people as it’s set up to do this year, it will bring them out in force which will prove how skewed the polls this year were. The good thing is that may put an end to all the ones that were skewed, no one will trust/finance/sponser/support them anymore.

 
 

Comment by John Smith | 2008-10-05 11:23:45

I thought Rasmussen has a 9+ percent in the favor of the democrats. It also is important to know if they are polling conservative republicans or moderate republicans. There is so many ways to have a poll say what you want to say that it is completely meaningless what they are saying. This also goes for the places that McCain is ahead. The most important thing is that as many people as possible turn out for McCain on Nov 4th.

 

Comment by Shiloh | 2008-10-05 11:36:33

The main way polls are rigges is with so-called independents who aren’t really independent at all and the pollsters know that.

 
 

Comment by DanL | 2008-10-05 11:17:06

FOXNEWS.com…

Comment by Hank | 2008-10-05 11:29:53

 

Comment by Hank | 2008-10-05 11:30:19

 
 

Comment by Democrat | 2008-10-05 11:20:24

So, no whitey tape yet?

You folks are gol’darn pathetic.

Comment by Hank | 2008-10-05 11:25:20

Dude, please check your feet or take off your shoes before you come blog, YOU SMELL.

 

Comment by YES HRC | 2008-10-05 11:25:41

Don’t need it. Seems BO’s background/resume is sufficiently smarmy that the tape has been rendered unnecessary. But thanks for asking.

Comment by Danny | 2008-10-05 11:37:43

Yeah, that Obama is doing just TERRIBLE right now.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14294.html

Rove writes on Rove.com: “39 new state polls released in the first three days of October have given Barack Obama his first lead over the magic number of 270 since mid-July. Minnesota (10 EV) and New Hampshire (4 EV) both moved from toss-up to Obama, giving him 273 electoral votes to McCain’s 163, with 102 votes remaining as a toss-up.

“If the election were held today, Obama would win every state John Kerry won in 2004, while adding New Mexico (5 EV), Iowa (7 EV), and Colorado (9 EV) to his coalition. Remember, though, that these state polls are a lagging indicator and most do not include any surveying done after the vice-presidential debate on Thursday night.”

Rove cautioned on “Fox News Sunday”: “Remember, the campaign ebbs and flows. What we’re seeing here is a result of the focus of the American people, voters, on the economic problems that have dominated the news the last several weeks. What’s happened then is a shift to Obama.

Comment by YES HRC | 2008-10-05 11:41:12

You’re so naive. If you can’t figure out why BO is shown as up in the polls, well, I can’t help you.

Comment by Danny | 2008-10-05 11:44:21

Oh I forgot, it’s all part of the mass media conspiracy to control our Democratic process, right?

Grassy knoll, anyone?

Comment by YES HRC | 2008-10-05 11:50:06

Nope, not what I meant. Keep thinking.

 

Comment by kgirl1028 | 2008-10-05 13:00:26

when was the last time you opened up a history book? people manipulating people through the media goes way back even before the invention of the printing press. If you countrol the knowlege that people intake you can control what you believe.

People dont’ realize how transpartent they are. Tv is actually quite hypnotic, it lowers you metablizm it’s flashing lights. Plus most americans like your self while intelligent are weak minded so they can tell you anything they want and you will believe it.

 

Comment by Newly Independent | 2008-10-05 13:35:00

Oh I forgot, it’s all part of the mass media conspiracy to control our Democratic process, right?

What’s this? A light coming on in the empty head of an Obamabrat?

 
 
 
 
 

Comment by candymarl | 2008-10-05 11:32:00

No original Birth Certificate yet produced, in front of the media, as McCain did? How pathetic.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 11:57:22

telling isn’t it…YOU BETCHA! ~

 
 

Comment by Shiloh | 2008-10-05 11:34:12

If I had the whitey tape I wouldn’t release it just yet. I’m sure whoever has it is thinking the same thing.

Comment by Danny | 2008-10-05 11:38:38

You’re the kind of person who still believes in the tooth fairy because no one has ever proven to you that she DOESN’T exist.

Comment by Ben | 2008-10-05 14:31:45

Then why is the campaign have her underwraps? They know it’s coming and want to cry FOUL when it hits.

Not quite time yet, more to do on the Birth Certificate and Ayers front first.

 
 

Comment by tbww | 2008-10-05 11:42:40

Right. If you review all the “whitey” stories on No Quarter, Larry J. very clearly stated that it would be used in the Fall, when needed. He said they were saving it for October. He also said it was in the hands of more than one McCain backer, including Rove. Larry quoted a Hillbuzz story that provided context for the Whitey tape: Michelle at a luncheon with Farrakhan, and she goes off on Bill Clinton for neglecting Africa. It was specific.

Larry said that he had confirmation from FIVE sources close to the GOP, and some of those people told him the tape was “shocking.”

I can’t wait until they unload it. I bet it will be mid October, after they’ve set the stage by tying Obama to anti-American figures.

No Quarter published a LOT of stories about the Whitey tape by various authors, not just Larry J. I doubt they’d put their credibility on the line if there were any question of the story’s validity.

Just stay tuned.

Comment by Danny | 2008-10-05 11:48:26

Comment by tbww | 2008-10-05 11:54:36

That was reporting news from other sources. That was not what Larry J. himself said was going to happen. You are intentionally distorting the record. But I guess you learned that trick from your master.

Larry J. stated many times that the tape would be held by the GOP and 527s until it was needed IN OCTOBER.

 
 
 
 
 

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 11:28:20

Steve I think you make excellent points and I appreciate your diligence…
obfuscate v.t, 1. to confuse 2. to darken WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY

Obfuscation It’s for Dinner…At Obama Camp

Comment by Galt, Master Thrall of Planet Triskelion | 2008-10-05 11:40:33

Steve is indeed a thorn in Obama’s ass.

I was thinking from now on we could address all trolls as “Racist” since they are racists for supporting the racist Obama and falsely accusing us as racists all the time. What do you think?

I am your Drill Thrall.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 11:51:04

Just wink~ and say YOU BETCHA!

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 11:54:28

MEANING BY THAT…IT WON’T WORK…
O-Bots have been calling us Racists for months…
If your a cracker and don’t vote for Barky = Racist
If your AA and won’t vote for Barky = Race Traitor

It’s is gettin OLD & won’t work with the GOP

I just say keep winkin at everything they say and say You Betcha!…Drives em’ crazy

 
 
 
 

Comment by Jay | 2008-10-05 11:29:52

Why is right change running ads in New York… It’s a waste of money.

 

Comment by Tuppence 411 | 2008-10-05 11:34:20

I am wondering what folk think of Jack Cashill’s hypothesis that Ayers edited and was the ghost writer for Obama’s book? The styles are very similar. And it is suspicious that Obama never wrote before, was tanking on the contract and his monetary advancement was called back- then lo and behold he got another advancement and ended up with a best seller! Google Cashill Obama Ayers to read more.

Comment by Kal | 2008-10-05 11:37:14

Can you provide links for these points re the advances?

Comment by Tuppence 411 | 2008-10-05 11:42:54

I am going to try… not good at linking.
http://www.cashill.com/natl_general/did_bill_ayers_write_1.htm

“With advance in hand, Obama repaired to Chicago where the University of Chicago offered him an office and stipend to help him write. Obama dithered.

At one point, in order to finish without interruption, he and wife Michelle decamped to Bali. Obama was supposed to have finished the book within a year. Bali or not, advance or no, he could not. He was surely in way over his head.

According to Osnos, Simon & Schuster canceled the contract and likely asked that Obama return at least some of the advance.

Dystel did not give up. She solicited Times Book, the division of Random House at which Osnos was publisher. He met with Obama, took his word that he could finish the book, and authorized a new advance of $40,000.”

 
 

Comment by Mercedes | 2008-10-05 11:57:41

Cashill’s theory makes a lot of sense to me. Obama has one example of atrocious poetry, but claims to write soaring poetic prose just like Mr Ayers. Both Ayers and Obama’s books have similar references to nautical metaphors or scenes. Mr Ayers spent some time at sea. We know Obama likes to run on the beach, but I don’t think that is quite the same thing.

I hope Mr Cashill continues his interesting comments and compares the style of Obama’s second book to what very, very little we otherwise know of this very, very non-transparent presidential candidate.

 
 

Comment by blog force one | 2008-10-05 11:35:47

Steve, great follow up! Any expose’ on where the 160 million went? I’d LOVE TO SEE AN ACCOUNTING OF WHERE THESE FUNDS WERE SQUANDERED ! Then the case could be made that Sen. Obama is fiscally completely irresponsible! Thanks!

 

Comment by LIsabona | 2008-10-05 11:36:17

I also wrote two E-mail to NYT,they ask me If want my comment to be published. My answear was, PLEASE, I would be delighted if the American people would have a chance to read it.Sure,after they read,what I wrote,they won’t publishe it. What I found interesting, a site; GlenFord@BlackAgendaReport.com, I find the reading very incouraging.

Comment by wry | 2008-10-06 00:58:32

They asked if I wanted my comment published too. They won’t publish it.
Black Agenda Report is radical and fearless. Good writing too.

 
 

Comment by jrterrier | 2008-10-05 11:37:05

If anyone has ties to the McCain campaign, they need to persuade them to focus NOT on the association per se but in the fact that the association leads to no good.

I am a Hillary Democrat, who has always respected John McCain and am disgusted with the rampant sexism and pro-Obama bias in my party and the media.

Rather than attack Obama merely for his ties to shady people, I would hope that McCain/Palin point out that (1) Obama’s ventures with Ayers did not result in any positive educational improvements; (2)Obama’s ties and legislative support and $ to the now-convicted slum lord Rezko and some of the others who are now Obama’s campaign finance boosters, did not result in more (not less) slum housing in Obama’s very district; (3) that his ties to Frannie/Freddie and receipt of campaign contributions from them and a number of Wall Street investment bankers is partly to blame for our financial crisis; and (4) that Obama’s ties to ACORN (and its history of voter fraud, including the campaign’s current payment of more than $800K to ACORN is just wrong.

So, the issue is that Obama’s associations lead to no good not that he associates with questionable people.

Otherwise, the McCain/Palin campaign is going to turn off people like me, who is a life-long DEM that respects McCain and wants to register a protest vote against the current state of the DEM party.

Comment by missE | 2008-10-05 11:45:02

I agree. I emailed the McCain campaign urging them to
ask Sen McCain to question Obama about his disinterest
and lack of oversight when millions in taxpayer money were funneled to his friends Rezko, Davis, Jarrett and
Butler. Result, slums and rich friends.

 
 

Comment by Mel | 2008-10-05 11:39:47

Ever think by asking people in Chicago involved you will get the truth?

4 people claim to have hired Obama visa vie the Woods Fund and DSP, when reality is Thomas Ayers hired Obama on a visit to NYC.

Now two people are laying claim to hiring Obama as Chair of the CAC, when Thomas Ayers was close friends with Annenburg from the Nixon days.

Nothing in the 1980’s or 1990’s and early 2000’s happened in Chicago without Thomas Ayers finger being in the pie!

Comment by Danny | 2008-10-05 11:42:55

That’s great.

Just one question Mel.

What the HELL does Bill Ayer’s father, Thomas, have to do with any of this?

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 11:48:24

DUH!…You are lazy dannyboy…

 

Comment by Mel | 2008-10-05 11:48:45

Bill Ayers father controlled Chicago for more than 25 years, has plenty to do with it right to the point of anyone else in America who was a fugitive and a home grown terrorist wouldn’t live as Bill did, in Hyde Park in the home of a Tribune reporter for years living and working without a single law enforcement officer doing anything.

Thomas Ayers was the money behind all that is Chicago!

 
 
 

Comment by Danny | 2008-10-05 11:41:01

29 Days until the election.

Still waiting for you “game changing moment”

Man, this map looks AWESOME. THAT’s what a 50 state strategy looks like.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/

Comment by Mel | 2008-10-05 12:03:00

Do you have a clue as to Real Clear Politics and who they are?
RCP is a chicago based company and its lead person is John McIntyre, a writer for Time magazine and contributor to ABC. So don’t go taking anything from the sewers of Chicago as any sort of gospel or truth!

 
 

Comment by InsightAnalytical-GRL | 2008-10-05 11:41:24

Fantastic post on the Ayers/Obama connection…I agree with jrterrier…I heard Palin doing the association thing..but it has to hit the CONSEQUENCES of this association! We all have association of some sort and this approach could bite them…

On to the roundup…

The Past Week: Recaps & Random Thoughts, September 28-October 4 (Treasury “Bill”; Sec. of Defense Robert Gates & Obama?; Sir Nigel Analyzes; Pimiento Power)

http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/the-past-week-recaps-random-thoughts-september-28-october-4-treasury-bill-sec-of-defense-robert-gates-obama-sir-nigel-analyzes-pimiento-power/

 

Comment by Andy | 2008-10-05 11:42:12

Steve Diamond:

It seems the missing link here is when did exactly Ayers met Obama for the first time ?

If memory serves me Khalid and Ayres knew each other (?)

There are statements by Khalid that he his wife, Michelle and Barack shared many nights at his dinner table in NY. Barack and Michelle met in 1989 (Michelle was working at the Sidley Austin law firm in Chicago and assigned the role of advisor to a summer associate from Harvard, Barack Obama). They married in 1992.

So, when was that Khalid and the Obamas spent so much time together How and when did Obama meet Khalid and where Ayres sit in here?

Comment by Andy | 2008-10-05 11:45:41

PS: In an interview, Khalid al-Mansour confirmed that he frequently spoke on university campuses, including Columbia, where Percy Sutton suggested he met Obama in the late 1980s.

Maybe the years of Obama at Columbia would explain a lot….

When and how did Ayres hear about Obama first? New York? Through Khalid?

Comment by Kal | 2008-10-05 11:51:07

Probably through Edward Said, or rallies, or conferences there — they were in schools just a few blocks from each other.

 
 
 

Comment by politicsIsdirty | 2008-10-05 11:42:21

Did you guys watched the discussion between Lyn De Rothchilds and Debbie Wasserman Shultz?

Lynn asked Debbie, who keeps on interrupting her, if she has a “polite decency”

Comment by Soldier of Christ | 2008-10-05 11:50:46

Debbie is losing her seat here in Florida- we are doing everything down here to make sure her “big mouth” is not heard anymore by us Floridians. A boycott has started against her by the senior citizens and the ex-hillary supporters that are voting for Country first. She better campaign hard if she wants to win here again.

 
 

Comment by InsightAnalytical-GRL | 2008-10-05 11:42:30

Lisabona…great news about the NY Times…did you get my private email to you last week about my posting your long comments on the blog as a special post?

GRL

 

Comment by kat in your hat | 2008-10-05 11:43:44

Everyone knows Steve Diamond is the real expert here. The NYT goes to the Obama camp to get their “authority” to cite as if it is the pure truth above all else. That is ridiculous. NYT (Scott Shane) should write an article that allows the readers (and voters) to decide on this issue. Whatever happened to genuine curiosity and truth reporting? This is an important issue.

Comment by Galt, Master Thrall of Planet Triskelion | 2008-10-05 11:47:18

Whatever happened to genuine curiosity and truth reporting?

It has been declining for decades and practically nonexistent in the MSM on certain issues like this election.

 

Comment by kat in your hat | 2008-10-05 11:53:58

I DO need to say, I am still thankful that Scott Shane tried to really look into this matter, but if the sole purpose was an effort to cover up or debunk any sort of true relationship between Obama and Ayers, I consider it unethical.

Time and time again Obama and his camp have evaded and flat out lied about Obama’s relationship with Ayers.

Why would Scott Shane think they are not lying now?

 
 

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-10-05 11:45:49

I think the GOP is doin a bang up job…All thi gets tied togther in the minds of GROWNUPS…and it looks like change is not what we need Barky’s way…chuckle…
radical…corrupt…chicago…secretive…
By comparison people run to apple pie

 

Comment by sarainitaly | 2008-10-05 11:47:20

Love all the info on this. You have been doing a great job. Sad that the MSM chooses not to do their job.

Here is a video with Stabley Kurtz, on FOX, discussing the article, and all the holes in it.

http://tinyurl.com/47e3sy

Comment by sarainitaly | 2008-10-05 12:12:41

oops, i think i linked wrong video. here is the Kurtz vid

http://tinyurl.com/52hltf

 
 

Comment by Mary | 2008-10-05 11:47:32

Okay, I had a brilliant idea. What if we all write the Presidents of Columbia University, Occidental and Harvard and ask them to check their files to see if Obama applied as a “Kenyan” citizen? I already emailed President Bollinger of Columbia to say “if he is a true patriot, and cares about America, he should look at Obama’s file and divulge what he knows”. His email address is: officeofthepresident@columbia.edu
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET AN EMAIL OUT TO THESE THREE COLLEGES IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS, DEMANDING THAT THEY VIEW OBAMA’S FILE TO SEE WHAT HIS CITIZENSHIP IS. I stated that if they found he put any other citizenship, other than American on the application, he has a legal and moral obligation to let the proper authorities in the US government know.

Comment by Shiloh | 2008-10-05 11:55:23

this is stupid, you think those far left institutions are going to torpedo their boy?

Comment by Galt, Master Thrall of Planet Triskelion | 2008-10-05 12:01:55

It won’t hurt to ask. You never know maybe Obama or one of his zealots pissed off someone at the school. Something could be leaked.

Comment by kat in your hat | 2008-10-05 13:02:16

Shiloh, it is not stupid at all. All of us need to start putting pressure on everyone and everything to get to the truth.

 
 
 
 

Comment by pm317 | 2008-10-05 11:48:08

The more important question now is why does not Obama talk about CAC at all. Is it because of Ayers? Is it because it accomplished nothing? McCain should make an ad showing Obama’s involvement in CAC with Ayers in the picture and what they failed to accomplish and also the fact that Obama does not talk about it at all. What is he hiding, right?

Comment by jbjd | 2008-10-05 12:38:56

This has always been the most important question, that is, given that BO is facing a barrage of complaints he lacks any experience qualifying him for the office of POTUS, why does he withhold not only the fact that he worked on the CAC, doling out millions of dollars to improve education in Chicago but also the fact he was the Chair of the Board? Unfortunately, raising this issue a year ago would have undermined his credibility more than it seems to now that he has gained some semblance of what passes for legitimacy by having campaigned for POTUS for so long.

 

Comment by Deep Truths | 2008-10-05 12:48:23

Gosh darn it, you betcha.

Chairman of a $100+ million dollar foundation and you can’t add it to your very slim resume. Hmmm.

 
 

Comment by sjc-tx | 2008-10-05 11:49:55

Even Hillary, in one of their “debates” hit oblahblah with something about him working on the ‘Woods Fund’ etc… Wonder what she says now…

Comment by Soldier of Christ | 2008-10-05 11:57:40

I still have a place in my heart for her- but her answer about the woods fund right about this time is ” did I say that?- well..I am sure Obama just sat with him with others too. Oh…I didn’t mean to say it that way…..BS…politician are just that…politicians…..when I see Bill Clinton saying how great Obama is and what a great President he will be….it has made me lose my respect for the Clintons. I use to really love and admire them. I don’t like liars and right about this time…Biden, Hillary and Bill are the biggest liars that have ever walked on this planet. And this is painful for me to say but it is the truth.

Comment by sarainitaly | 2008-10-05 12:03:27

Obama on Ayers in Debate, with follow up by Hillary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlnoXZWRjgE

Comment by MEchelle Hates America! | 2008-10-05 12:12:21

Thanks Sara!! Great work from the land of love you lucky lady.

Can you friggin believe that it took Hillary during a debate to bring out the Rezko connection?!

Oblowme = Bush 3 – The MSM Darlings!

 
 
 
 

Comment by Hank | 2008-10-05 11:56:51

Foxnews just reported 1400 emails

 

Comment by Agust304 | 2008-10-05 11:58:43

What is missing in the Ayers conversation? Facts.

One of the more compelling arguments that Obama uses to brush off the negative impact an association with Ayres should have on his judgment demonstrated by his inability to properly vet his associates is one line: “Ayres was already a trusted advisor to Mayor Daley.” So, by 1988 Ayres was already forgiven for his past indiscretions.

Here is the problem with that argument. In 1988 the Mayor of Chicago was Harold Washington. Daley, at that time, was in a heated battle for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office against Terry Gainer. William Ayres was no friend of Daley the prosecutor.

But then again. I guess we should not let little things like historical facts mess with the Obama narrative.

 

Comment by Sassy | 2008-10-05 12:00:08

Steve, thank you for fighting the good fight! You have shown a great deal of insight into this issue! Keep standing your ground!
In my neck of the woods, Ayers would be a pariah, and anyone with character would run away from him…of course, things are different in Chicago! The mob thrived there!
If all terrorists are of a different “hue”, then Timothy McVeigh should have been pardoned…not!

 

Comment by DanL | 2008-10-05 12:00:44

Fox reports 1400 e-mails in the past hour..YESSSS!!!

 

Comment by Nomoredem | 2008-10-05 12:02:01

Several things occur to me as I look at this election. I live in a very blue state, all Obama has to do is to carry three areas and he wins.

Even though the Ayers matter tells us who Obama is. A majority of the people that care about that are voting for McCain already. We know the media wants Obama to win badly, why else would they look at the things he has been involved in, his own words and past and not investigate.

Most folks now are focusing in on things now. McCain in my opinion has to do two things. First he has to point out that Obama has no experience at anything. Point out what a lack of differnce he has made in the lives of his own folks in Illinois, the price of gas in the city in Chicago a couple of weeks ago was 4.13 per gallon. Second, and I beleive to be most important is to tell avergae folks, how he, McCain, will solve this economic mess, lower taxes and get the ecoomy running again. He needs to show how we can all win if he wins.

I think the Ayers stuff, won’t bring home any votes to McCain, although, if I read it for the first time yesterday, I would be checking it out.

 

Comment by 30yrdem-not any more | 2008-10-05 12:02:47

I put this link up at RCP. vote it up please.

Obama/Ayers Update: New York Times’ Shane defends himself on Politico.com

Apparently the New York Times does not have enough news print to get the story right the first time so they have been emailing me and posting on the blogosphere in order to shore up their faulty story about the Ayers/Obama link.
Submitted By 30yrdem – Oct 5, 11:18 am 4 votes | VOTE

 

Comment by standard | 2008-10-05 12:04:00

Awesome! You’ve got the NY Ho’ nervous.

 

Comment by Deb | 2008-10-05 12:04:47

Steve Diamond and Stanley Kurtz- are on opposite sides in politics. Yet they are BOTH so alarmed by the prospect of an Obama presidency they’ve worked endlessly to research the connections between Obama and his associations. They’ve been harrassed, intimidated and scorned by the far left and ignored or lied about by the MSM.

We owe them a debt of gratitude.

Just came across this tidbit- but as we all know- Ayers and Obama have/had no connection.

http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/971106/justice.shtml

~snip~

Ayers will be joined by Sen. Barack Obama, Senior Lecturer in the Law School, who is working to combat legislation that would put more juvenile offenders into the adult system; Randolph Stone, Director of the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic

~snip~

Comment by Kal | 2008-10-05 12:35:21

Another snippet from this same article — and note that the event was organized and hosted by the University [of Chicago] Community Service Center:

‘Michelle Obama, Associate Dean of Student Services and Director of the University Community Service Center, hopes bringing issues like this to campus will open a dialogue between members of the University community and the broader community.’

BO also wrote at least one glowing review of Ayers’ book on juvenile crime.

 
 

Comment by Lester | 2008-10-05 12:05:00

my question is this….how come no one ever ask
Obama what church he attended on Dec.25th 2007
because the first time the Rev.Wright tape was aired,
it clearly had a time stamp of Dec.25th 2007…and=20
every time it was shown after that, the time stamp
is missing

Comment by Merry | 2008-10-05 12:44:23

Read this article from 2004. Obama says he was in church ‘every week at 11:00am’

http://falsani.blogspot.com/2008/04/barack-obama-2004-god-factor-interview.html

Comment by Jeremiah God Damn Barack Amerikkka Wright | 2008-10-05 15:23:26

WHOOPS!!!!!

THATS NOT THE SUNDAY 11;00 AM THAT I THOUGHT I KNEW!!!

 
 
 

Comment by MEchelle Hates America! | 2008-10-05 12:05:26

Ayers’ and his evil wife’s mission was to kill Americans.

Tony “The Fixer” Rezko is a convicted felon for 16 counts of public corruption.

Ayers, Dohrn and Rezko are Oblowme’s closest associates,

well next to “Uncles”/ communist Frank Marshall Davis and fellow white hater Rev. Wright.

Throw in his America hating MEchelle and WTF!!

Bring on a Mac attack!

Comment by Kal | 2008-10-05 12:36:20

I’m thinking MO was a panther there somewhere, somehow.

 
 

Comment by SJ | 2008-10-05 12:08:19

Ok am racist to hell with Obama I am not voting for a black candidate there I said it now sue me geez.

Comment by wry | 2008-10-06 01:11:11

You’re a loser, too.

 
 

Comment by Linda OKC | 2008-10-05 12:11:16

sigh…it’s going to be an ugly 4 years… if there is a country left

 

Comment by 30yrdem-not any more | 2008-10-05 12:12:27

Obama friends:

Wright, Pfleger, Farrakhan, Ayers

What do all these people have in common?
Anti American, Anti White among other things and Obama chose these people for his spiritual guidance and they have had rolls in Obama’s life. He even wrote a book on one of Rev. Wright’s sermons. He endorsed or spoke well of Ayers book there for one can assume he agrees with it.

Ayers views on education

While attending Columbia University Teachers College in 1984 he had an epiphany. He adopted the views of one of his professors, Maxine Greene-a leader in the “critical pedagogy” movement. What did he take away from the course? An ideology that he has promoted throughout his career — and one that has very little to do with education but has a great deal to do with radicalism. Stern writes:

As Ayers wrote later, he took fire from Greene’s lectures on how the “oppressive hegemony” of the capitalist social order “reproduces” itself through the traditional practice of public schooling-critical pedagogy’s fancy way of saying that the evil corporations exercise thought control through the schools.

Greene told future teachers that they could help change this bleak landscape by developing a “transformative” vision of social justice and democracy in their classrooms. Her vision, though, was a far cry from the democratic optimism of the Founding Fathers, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr., which most parents would endorse. Instead, critical pedagogy theorists nurse a rancorous view of an America in which it is always two minutes to midnight and a knock on the door by the thought police is imminent. The education professors feel themselves anointed to use the nation’s K-12 classrooms to resist this oppressive system. Thus Maxine Greene urged teachers not to mince words with children about the evils of the existing social
order.

They should portray “homelessness as a consequence of the private dealings of landlords, an arms buildup as a consequence of corporate decisions, racial exclusion as a consequence of a private property-holder’s choice.” In other words, they should turn the little ones into young socialists and critical theorists.

All music to Bill Ayers’s ears. The ex-Weatherman glimpsed a new radical vocation. He dreamed of bringing the revolution from the streets to the schools. And that’s exactly what he has managed to do.

 

Comment by b mathews | 2008-10-05 12:12:32

PLEASE GOOGLE “THIZZLE THUG” ON UTUBE AND SEE JUST WHO WILL BE DECIDING THIS ELECTION FOR THE REST OF US. VERY, VERY SCARY.

 

Comment by jyotinc | 2008-10-05 12:12:51

Somebody needs to stand up, that’s Palin to me. Go and get them Sarah!

 

Comment by fluffy bunny | 2008-10-05 12:15:19

Comment by jangles | 2008-10-05 11:22:21

I think the NYT and others are missing a huge point. I don’t care whether Ayers personally advocated for Obama in that post or not. The fact is Obama took the post and he did interact with Ayers and he did say he “he’s just some guy in my neighborhood”. That was a brazen distortion of the truth. The fact is he was and has been involved with both Ayers and his wife most of his political career. He knew and knows their past. If he were principled, he would have refused to be involved with them or what they do and he would “be on the record throughout his career distancing himself from them”. He does not distance himself until he is called on it in this presidential race. Too little too late. If he were principled he would not have launched his political career in their living room. His associations with them are repugnant and they show a man who is willing to use whoever and whatever he can to get ahead in politics. The other part of this that NYT and others are overlooking is that the political agenda written by Ayers and embraced in this faux attempt to reform Chicago public schools wasted millions of valuable dollars on political hackery through community organizations instead of spending those dollars on truly improving student learning for kids who desperately needed that break in their lives. Does not anyone get that this kind of leadership and political manipulation is exactly why education reform for minority populations and particularly AA populations in inner city schools has gone nowhere despite millions if not billions of dollars to change things. Why? Because the money has gone to community activists paying them high salaries for little to no result. Think about the lost opportunities for those students damnit.

outstanding

 

Comment by MEchelle Hates America! | 2008-10-05 12:18:36

You don’t lie about something if it’s innocent.

Oblowme on Ayers:

Just some guy in my boneheaded Rezko mistake of a neighborhood, where I send my kids to private schools.

 

Comment by Cooney | 2008-10-05 12:30:14

It has to be racism, it can’t be that Obama is a repulsive lying communist sympathizer. I hope to hell McCain or Palin go after them for this.

 

Comment by 30yrdem-not any more | 2008-10-05 12:31:57

 

Comment by IronMan | 2008-10-05 12:36:07

Obama’s MO is to play the race card when criticism comes his way. He’s done it time and time again. And people like Daniel, the AP reporter cheerleader for Obama, insults America with hsi BS “news” article accusing Palin of racism.

WTF??

Hey Barry and Associated Press, bring it on!

Your race card playings days will be over on Nov. 4 when America sends your race card playing ass back to Chicago where it belongs!

Danel can then get the “exclusive” interviews with the likes of Obama and Ayers in Chicago. Maybe they can have a three way (discussion) and spin how Obama lost the election in the Tony Rezko pay for play mansion.

 

Comment by NCgirl | 2008-10-05 12:48:03

Great article! Obama knew from the start that Ayers would create a problem for him, ergo the “he’s just a guy in my neighborhood” statement. Thanks to some very diligent people, i.e. Steve Diamond, Stanley Kurtz, etc., we know this is a great big lie. I am glad Gov. Palin is talking about this out on the campaign trail. Sadly, she is now being called a racist because of it.

 

Comment by MEchelle Hates America! | 2008-10-05 12:48:12

Why did Oblowme go to Chi town in the first place?

Hawaii and LA weren’t cold and gray enough?

Or was it the radical Black Supremacist bullshit?

And Oblowme’s mystery history including the anonymous Columbia years with Ayers next door and a “well-built” Pakistani roomie, who has since died homeless on the streets?

HERE’S YOUR SIGN!

 

Comment by Artemis | 2008-10-05 12:53:05

Mr. Diamond, excellent post. It seems to me if Scott Shane doesn’t connect the dots, it’s because he doesn’t want to. As Benjamin Franklin once observed- “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”

 

Comment by Steven | 2008-10-05 14:28:30

Our fine Saudi prince also owns shares in Times-Warner/AOL/CNN, which he first acquired in 2002. According to Forbes, the London Guardian, and other media outlets, in 2002 the Prince “claimed to own 1.4 billion in AOL stock…in 2003 he bought another 450 million of AOL stock.” God knows what he owns now. (Yes, he’s the very Prince whom Presidential hopeful Rudy Guiliani humiliated when he refused to accept his ten million dollar donation for humanitarian aid immediately following 9/11).

O my god this is huge…this is the same guy who helped Obama into Harvard…we are in very very big trouble,we must get this news out somehow.The dots are being connected at a rapid pace even as the media tries to keep the public uninformed.We as a nation should be on red alert and Obama needs to be in cuffs.

 

Comment by maud gonne | 2008-10-05 14:39:14

Fannie Mae was created in 1938 to help people buy homes who wouldn’t have been able to without Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae’s capital comes from the sale of government guaranteed bonds. This is a system that has worked very well for decades. Franklin Raines and other executives realized that the way to get huge bonuses for themselves (Raines got 90 million himself) was to make MORE loans. There were only so many lower-income people who needed a loan and could afford to make payments.
Raines came up with an innovative approach: Fannie Mae abandoned income verification because this process was restricting the number of loans (and, therefore, Raines’s bonuses). He created a series of clever new loans where homeowners’ payments doubled after just a few years. Many unsophisticated home buyers were unaware that their loan payments would increase, and drastically, fatally.
Federal regulators recognized the threat to Fannie Mae, the taxpayer, and the economy, and warned Congress. In 2005 Congress initiated reform, Senator McCain sponsored the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005. Had this bill become law, the abuses would have been illegal, the present crisis would never have occurred.

Fannie Mae fought reform very effectively with large cash payments to those who would oppose reform, Senator Obama and Senator Dodd took the lead in opposition and got the most cash of anyone. Republicans also took cash to oppose reform, but Senator McCain did not, and led the reformers. (He did take contributions from Fannie Mae employees who supported him, but none from the corporation).

Rep. Barney Frank strongly opposed Fannie Mae reform, took lots of cash, and even had an extended romantic relationship with a Fannie Mae executive. Under his leadership Congress required Fannie Mae to greatly increase lending to those who could never repay their loans. The US government knew years in advance of the abuses and that these abuses would result in the crisis we now have. Fannie Mae effectively traded cash (and sex) to avoid needed changes.

As Senator McCain warned in 2006: “For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs–and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO’s report this week does nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO’s report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay. I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.”
Google: Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005

http://www.economist.com/

 

Comment by PewL | 2008-10-05 17:42:49

Someone should send this to CNN..They just had a true False report on what Palin’s statements about Obama and Ayers,were not true and misleading..It’s about time that station,started to tell the truth about Obama.imo

 

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