Ayers/Obama Update: My final (?) exchange with the New York Times
By Steve Diamond on October 7, 2008 at 8:00 AM in Annenberg Chicago Challenge, Barack Obama, Bill Ayers, William Ayers
As I have explained to Global Labor readers, the New York Times interviewed me for their recent story on the Ayers/Obama relationship. After the story ran I blogged on the inadequacy of the story and received an email from the reporter, Scott Shane. An exchange of emails followed and below is the most recent exchange.
There is a critical smaller point and a larger one made here.
First, the Times reporting on the story of Obama became Chairman of the Annenberg Challenge is consistent with what I found out: that Ayers appointed Obama. This is indicated by the fact that Ayers met with Obama after Obama was vetted by two foundation presidents advising Ayers, Deborah Leff and Patricia Graham. While the Times quotes some unnamed sources as saying that Ayers was not involved neither Graham nor Leff are quoted to that effect in the story.
Shane has insisted that Graham told him that Ayers was not involved and now says, for the first time, that Leff also said that. However, neither of them were quoted to that effect in the original story.
In any case, that is irrelevant because whatever Leff and Graham may think happened 14 years ago cannot trump what actually took place as documented in written letters by Ayers and Brown University President Vartan Gregorian, the national Annenberg representative, demonstrate: that Ayers had the legal authority to appoint board members — not Graham or Leff and, thus, only with Ayers’ approval could Obama have become Chairman of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.
A larger point, of course, is that the Times seems to have used Shane to make sure that the story came out the way that it did. My email to Shane below explains.
These are provided in reverse chronological order. I have decided gracefully to let Mr. Shane have the last word.
—————————————-
Email #5
[To: Steve Diamond
From: Scott Shane
10/05]
“I believe your editors and your publisher knew that you would come to the very conclusion that you did and that that was a purposeful political use of you and the New York Times.”
That’s funny. They must be able to tell the future.
The assignment was to research the Obama-Ayers relationship and write what I found. If I had discovered that Ayers and Obama met at Columbia, were buddies back in Obama’s organizing days, and secretly co-authored radical tracts calling for revol;ution, that’s what we would have written.
It’s called reporting.
Scott Shane
New York Times
Washington Bureau
Email #4
Scott,
I suggest you review your “evidence” with another lawyer or legal scholar familiar with the issues and I think that individual will confirm my conclusion that the statements you reported from Leff and Graham are not lies but are in fact consistent with what happened, including the written evidence that you chose not to report. Again, only Bill Ayers had the authority to select Barack Obama and that power was not dependent on the role played by Leff and Graham who had no authority to act for the Chicago School Reform Collaborative other than the authority granted to them, as sub-agents of Ayers, by Ayers.
As I explained again in my last email I do not think they are lying or misremembering. Your continued suggestion that I ever contended they were lying borders on slander.
If you are still reporting this issue and have any questions let me know and I will try, once again, to answer them.
I will only conclude by pointing out, first, that you chose not to report the written evidence as is your responsibility so that the public could fully understand the important issues at stake.
Second, I think you personally should ask yourself why you were assigned to this story and why it turned out as it did. I believe your editors and your publisher knew that you would come to the very conclusion that you did and that that was a purposeful political use of you and the New York Times.
I am reminded of the lawyer played by Tom Cruise in the movie A Few Good Men. You may recall, if you saw the film, that the Cruise character while very capable had a very undistinguished legal record that consisted largely of plea bargaining his cases to settlement. He was then assigned to a very controversial case that, if it reached an open trial, would be very embarrassing for the Navy. It became clear to Cruise that he, in fact, was assigned to the case so that it would be plea bargained and never see the light of day in open court.
It was at that moment of realization that Cruise became a real lawyer. He took on the case and fought it out in open court including a very moving confrontation with a senior Marine officer played by Jack Nicholson that laid bare how power had corrupted the most powerful in the military.
In light of the Times’ concern with how the current President led this nation into a senseless war with the complicity of its own reporters I would have thought you would have been particularly sensitive to once again being used by those in power. I fear now that we are once again seeing the media collapse in the face of a powerful and effective political figure. I only hope that the press finds its way if and when the next President of the United States tries to lead us into another senseless and destructive foreign adventure.
I wish you the best of luck with your work.
Steve Diamond
Email #3
On 10/6/08 1:06 PM, “Scott Shane” wrote:
Steve,
This bloggin’ business must be nice. No need to talk to the principals, no editors, just publish your thoughts….
You write in your email:
“it is nonetheless clear to me that Ayers appointed Obama to the board and thus helped Obama’s career at a very significant point –“
Maybe this is a waste of my time, but let me try once again. My reporting turned up no evidence whatsoever to support your conclusion – not indirect evidence, not partial evidence, not evidence only ablogger can understand. No evidence. To be clear, since you keep looking for loopholes, both Leff and Graham said repeatedly on the record that Ayers had nothing to do with Obama joining the board and becoming its chairman. They explained exactly what happened. If Ayers did have a role, they are both lying, not misremembering – they said they remember what happened very clearly.
Again, even though you’re a lawyer, give them a call and, if you’re embarrassed to be acting like a reporter, say I suggested that you call. Get their account. See if it has any holes in it. Compare notes with Stanley Kurtz and whoever else believes this theory. Talk with Hallett (which I did) and Rolling (which I did) and other board members.
You’ll discover, I think, that your conclusion quoted above is wrong. Even if it’s too embarrassing to climb down publicly on your blog, at least you’ll know the facts, you can stop criticizing the NYT for reporting the facts, and you can move on to other topics.
Scott
Scott Shane
From: Stephen Diamond
Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 10:03 PM
To: Scott Shane
Subject: Re: Hello
Scott,
I think the problem here is that I think about this as a lawyer not as a journalist. Let me try to explain what I have been trying to get at:
Your interviews do not contradict what the Gregorian/Ayers letters say. They are consistent with it. I do not think Leff and Graham are lying and do not recall telling you they did. I do think that at least Graham may not understand what happened and that is why I wanted to know if you had discussed the letters with her. It is clear to me now that if she still said after you showed her the letters that Ayers was not involved she does not understand the operative legal principles controlling this situation.
Leff as a lawyer likely understands the principles of agency law that are operative here and thus has not stated anywhere that Ayers was not involved. You tell me privately Graham says Ayers was not involved but you reported in your story that Ayers met with Obama after Graham did, so that contradicts your private statement about Graham’s contention that Ayers was not involved.
That ex post Graham/Leff involvement by Ayers is important.
Ayers was the formal legal representative of the Collaborative and as such submitted the grant application to Gregorian on its behalf. Gregorian contacted him directly as the representative of the Collaborative and asked Ayers to commit to form a board that reflected the racial and ethnic diversity of Chicago. Ayers agreed in writing. As a result Gregorian agreed to submit the final proposal to Annenberg and the money was successfully secured for the Collaborative.
Then Ayers proceeded to carry out his commitment. As the letters indicate Ayers met with Simmons, Leff and Graham to discuss the board selection. Those three then, apparently, separately came up with Obama’s name (but see my blog today for my discussion of that as there are numerous ways that Ayers could still have made sure they considered Obama). After that Ayers met with Obama and then Ayers attended the first board meeting with Obama.
Ayers was the only individual (let’s leave Hallett out for simplicity) with legal authority to select board members. He relied on advice from Leff, Graham and Simmons but only he had the legal authority to approve board members. Thus, legally, Ayers approved the selection of Obama as a result of meeting with him prior to the board meeting (in fact, even if they had not met or first met at the board meeting Ayers’ silence would be deemed approval). Thus, Ayers was “involved” and in fact had to have been given his role as the legal agent of the Collaborative.
If Ayers objected to Obama, Obama could not have become a member of the CAC board because no one else had the legal authority to approve his selection. If Ayers had come out of that lunch with Obama and expressed an objection Leff, Simmons and Graham would have had to go back to the drawing board.
While I have speculated that Ayers and Obama knew each other before the CAC, it is nonetheless clear to me that Ayers appointed Obama to the board and thus helped Obama’s career at a very significant point – just in advance of his first political campaign which as we know was launched at Ayers’ house a few months after these events. That impact stands apart from whether they shared a pre-95 history.
Let me know if you have any questions about this or if any of your editors, lawyers or other reporters do. 
Best,
Steve Diamond
Email #1
On 10/5/08 6:24 PM, “Scott Shane” … wrote:
Steve, The letters you sent me are the same as the ones in the Chicago archive — from your description I thought they might have something more. Since they don’t mention Obama, it’s hard to see how they prove that Ayers was responsible for his appointment, especially in the face of explanations by Leff and Graham to the contrary. I understand that it must be tough to let go of your theory, but I can’t simply ignore what they told me. Their explanations (and those of others both on the record and on background) were consistent and logical and did not change after I showed them the letters you cite.
I’d suggest that you give them a call (Leff is in DC now at a foundation, Graham is at Harvard). If you talk to them and still believe afterward that they’re both lying about this, I’ll be surprised. But perhaps it’s better to start with evidence and work toward a conclusion than the other way around?
Scott Shane
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
thank you for trying but it sounds like it was pointless. These journalists now have no credibility and no morals or ethics. This is part of a new generation. Many are offspring of the 60’s kooks.
this is why there is now U tube!
And MaNNING says RUN FOR THE BORDER! if Obama is President!
LOL
there may be some hidden truth in there somewhere!
Love to watch him.
Steve,
Its clear you are not engaging in discussion with a journalist but with another surrogate for the Obama campaign.
Let me be the first to say
REVOLT AGAINST THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA AKA PROPAGANDA COVER UP ARM OF THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN!!!
THERE SHOULD BE LAWS AGAINST ANY NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT IS LICENSED BY THE FCC TO BROADCAST AS A NEWS ORGANIZATION COVERING FACTS THAT WILLFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY AND KNOWINGLY DISTORTING THE TRUTH TO PROTECT A CANDIDATE AND DECEIVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC!
PUTTING FORTH CAMPAIGN TALKING POINTS AND THEN TRYING TO WALK IT BACK WHILE CLAIMING THERE IS STILL NOTHING TO SEE WHEN THE EVIDENCE YOU DO NOT WANT TO COVER CLEARLY IMPEACHES YOUR CREDIBILITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM, IT IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROPAGANDA PUT FORTH BY A CAMPAIGN LACKEY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF A RESPONSIBLE PRESS CORP!
BURN THESE BASTARDS AT THE STAKE OF JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY!
THEN SUE THEIR ASSES OFF IN A COURT OF LAW!
THEY ARE VIOLATING THE TRUST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
Yes Just a little pissed.
I CAN SMELL THE STINK OFF THE ROTTING CORPSE OF YOUR JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY SHANE!
CHANGE THE N to M
SHAME ON YOU YOU PARTISAN HACK
I agree totally, Amen.
Somehow people for some reason, and I am included, need to fail before they learn to succeed. Not all, but Catholism and religion makes that too important.
A few people are taught to succeed before failing, but most are taught the scientific way.
Some of our failures today, Bush, the economy, etc. are actually in lieu of success.
It is what passes as education.
The Father no longer exists.
that sgould be a toy=ugh LAW, for all those, who in their pass ,now are having any corruption,connections, not just as common groungd, as acctivities “good for USA”, but by any connections, not just beying a good neighbor, but connection with corrupted bisness people like REZKO ACRON!!!, but having Friendly connection with a such people as AYERS!!!. Just came on news, Kenia deported some jurnalist who wrote a book-negative one, about OBAMA!!! Is Sarah Palin statement on Obama “terrorist connections”??? and if She is, were are those with common sense americans. Somehow, people are not listen, not paying attention . Now Obama is attacking McCain for Keating5 connections. 13 minutes video, witch was planned a long time ego, not just pop up, and Obama calling McCain as He called Hillary”discrimination,racism,dirty campain)now who is continuing dirty campain??? OBAMA, and people still not listening . Blaming McCain on this affair, well what about Obamas dirty PASS, and still beying cover up, by Media, and Press. What we call on…. McCain is not defending Himself, He is attacking Obama, his lies and dirty pass. McCain dont scare me, but Obamas pass affected His personality His ideology toward all those, who are so much against HIM, and we can see this very clearly!!!, and McCain is so right, and I hope tonight will be McCain night. Tonight will prove if McCain do right. McCains is sending to all of US a clear message, it is up to US to listen and judge!!!
THERE SHOULD BE LAWS AGAINST ANY NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT IS LICENSED BY THE FCC TO BROADCAST AS A NEWS ORGANIZATION COVERING FACTS THAT WILLFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY AND KNOWINGLY DISTORTING THE TRUTH TO PROTECT A CANDIDATE AND DECEIVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC!
YES! In fact, I’m starting to think that all newslets should have to carry a warning, on the bottom of the screen (just like cigarette boxes), that says,
“Warning: Viewers have been known to come away from this program thinking that all the information presented here is factual. Please understand that this news show is just for entertainment purposes. Any other purpose than entertainment constitutes fraud”
Larry-I got involved with this from a feminist point of view. I saw this last night and haven’t been able to sleep.
Background - Muslim sharia law is horrific and brutal. Women have suffered under this in certain Muslim countries. There is a Kenyan, Raila Odinga, who made an agreement with Muslims there to institute sharia law, in exchange for their support.
Now the story begins…
http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/why-did-obama-campaign-for-a-pro-islam-candidate-in-kenya/
Larry-I got involved with this from a feminist point of view. I saw this last night and haven’t been able to sleep.
Background - Muslim sharia law is horrific and brutal. Women have suffered under this in certain Muslim countries. There is a Kenya, Raila Odinga, who made an agreement with Muslims there to institute sharia law, in exchange for their support.
Now the story begins…
http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/why-did-obama-campaign-for-a-pro-islam-candidate-in-kenya/
Sorry to start off topic but Fox reporting Corsi who wrote Obamanation has been deported from Kenya.
They say he didn’t have proper papers but publisher said everything was in order.
I guess he was there to do more research and meet with BO’s brother!
He better watch his back the truth squad is after him!!!!
so form now in all those african countries, were Obama has Friends and bloody once, people who are openly against Obama, will be in a such denger as death ???
How in the hell , Obama has a such power outside USA. Now people will loose their life , because they want US to know the real Obama??? Well, does any one know more about this affair in 1999 in Chicago. Where are those ,who know so much about???
Obama can not come clean he is so deep in this . I just hope, that He stop appologies, and we stop listen to it.What happend to honest and dedicated jurnalists, what truly happend to Obama???Now we can see one thing; Obama wants US to blame Him what happend in his lats 20 years of His life, but He is brutaly attacking others, starting from;Hillary,Bill,Geraldino even Kucinich came to light 2 weeks ago, now is Sarah and McCain, who will be next???. Their pass must come to light, but not OBAMA. I just want the truth!!!!!! I wont vote for Obama untill He becomes clean. Time for investigation on highest level.If Obama is clean, than I will vote for HIM, and He has only 3 weeks left to do it!!!
2+2=5 in NYT world…Thankyou Mr. Diamond…You Rock!
Will shane do a follow up story about where all of the money went?? not likely and if there is proof found on Ayers”s DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN OBAMAS APPOINTMENT? Yep, same thing….no follow up from shane will be forthcoming.
Steve,
Who hired Ayers? Who sent Ayers to UICC? Who benefits?
http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/2008/10/obama-raw-rezkoayers-wright-who-sent.html
He wanted to give the poor brother of Obama $1000. Got him out of the country before this could happen. Obama thugs at work again.
Is something brewing in Kenya?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77268
Good article.
Obama is using the same anti-democratic tactics he advised Odinga to use. This is so clear, only the ethically blind (Obama and his supporters) could deny it.
The STUPID Lillypants Effete Liberal Misogynistic Media does not understand WHY being friends with a domestic terrorist that BOMBED the Pentagon should DISQUALIFY your candidacy for President and makes you ineligible to be respected as CIC!
Isn’t it ludicrous that this is even being debated? Especially in light of all of his other examples of terrible judgment (Wright, Meeks, Pfleger, Rezko, Khalidi etc.). I heard a special ops person interviewed and he said that Obama wouldn’t even be given clearance to be an FBI or Secret Service agent, and he qualifies to be CIC?
Question: How much vetting does a Senator get? Does a Senator or Representative even get a limited security clearance?
I know when my son had to have security clearance for the Navy, the FBI interviewed neighbors, his dad and stepdad, brothers, former employers, obtained school transcripts, investigated any clubs/organizations he might have been even remotely connected to. I found out about all this after the fact because the FBI didn’t interview me. I guess they thought a mother’s view woud be prejudicial in favor of her son.
So I am looking for an answer to how extensively Obama was vetted, if indeed he has been by the FBI. Chuckle, did they interview Ayers? That would have been an interesting interview.
As if my paranoia button needed pushing even more, this question has been wracking my brain since the beginning.
When I got cleared and vetted years ago, the Feebs did their usual work on me just like anyone else.
I refuse to believe that the FBI and now Homeland are not still keeping tabs on Bill Ayers… he’s still too much in the game not to be watched. Toss in Klonsky’s degree of cell phone separation and baddaboom, the Feebs should be on this like flies on bullshit, but there is nothing from them.
What conclusions may one draw from this?
Well, we can decide first whether or not the Feebs have vetted Obama… I say yes
Now, since even our most mundane efforts online allow us to vet and discover evidence which place Obama’s eligibility in question for umpteen different reasons, place him in close proximity and in political harmony with an attempted murderer/terrorist and still nothing from the Feds? (Not to mention the strong probability that this is a generational relationship which interlinks Obama, Dunham, Ayers and Davis to the world communist movement of the fifties.)
I kinda gulp as I say this, but what are Homeland and the Feebs up to?
Go Steve!
Steve, any juicy info on where the money went? And did any kids actually benefit from this largesse?
H/T to Hot Air for a story CNN did on Ayers and Obama. http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/07/cnn-obamas-lying-about-william-ayers/
I tried to be objective when watching the tape — and while the piece could have been stronger I felt it damned Obama pretty badly.
Here’s a You Tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvROBLortBQ (I think people are more receptive sometimes to seeing a tape right off You Tube than getting a description beforehand from a blog)
katmandu
Maybe someone needs to email this article to the “VIEW” ladies and educate them. I think they need to pick up the paper and read sometimes.
noo kiddin I never thought I’d see the day when the BLONDE is more enlightened on the view then any of the others!
Shock!
I stop watching View, as I stop watching Operah!!!
A bunch fanatics!!! This show is another polirtical agenda, controll by Barbra Walters and I can not believe what I see on TV lately??? View and Operah is not funny anymore, and I wonderWHO IS BEHIND THIS!!! WI thought that those shows are for good time, fun .laugh,friendship, what View is doing is a porody and tasteless!!!I am done with them, and they are so hateful, This BLONDIE is only ONE who is using HER brain, the rest sucks!!!
I’ve watched that show a handful of times, and I despair at their low level of discourse
Thanks for the link. I agree that the CNN piece was pretty damning (it also shows Cooper being willfully obtuse).
Rather than focus on Ayers’ past as a terrorist, I’d like to see attention focus more on who and what received that $160M (I think this is the correct figure - not $100M) that the Chicago Annenberg Challenge doled out (like those alternative schools). Obama, as head of the board, was ultimately responsible for where this money went. As I understand it, a 2003 report showed that there was no difference in test scores between students who attended an Annenberg school and those who did not. Why did it take $160M before it was discovered that the programs didn’t work?
It wasn’t intended to work. It was intended to “indoctrinate” students in their way of thinking. If students actually acquire some academic skills, they move up in the system, become middle class or highter, and then they no longer want to be foot soldiers in a revolution.
This bloggin’ business must be nice. No need to talk to the principals, no editors, just publish your thoughts….
Several times during his letters he displays the elitist, condescending attitude that exemplifies the NY Times, Obama, and the “superior ones” who think they know best who should be our president. His letters drip with a patronizing attitude. He works for the NY Times, Steve–how DARE you think you actually have facts that he has not examined? His letters clearly demonstrate that they are ignoring evidence (as he accuses you) and arranging it any way they need to to arrive at the conclusion that Obama is beyond fault. What else is knew? They been doing that for months. It’s particularly disturbing, as you point out, given their history with Judith Miller and the build up to the war. BTW: I have a friend who is Judith Miller’s relative–tell Shane that she is now writing for Reader’s Digest, and he better be careful or his illustrious career will end up the same…
Oh c’mon Scotty! Why the hell would Oblowme travel from Hawaii to LA to Chi town - the crappy weather?
Just so that Oblowme doesn’t miss any other terrorist training sites (childhoold in Indonesia) let’s throw in NY - Columbia where nobody remembers him, but Ayers is down the street.
Here’s the kicker for me - Spring Break in communist dictatorship Pakistan!
What non-terrorist goes to Pakistan on Spring Break?
There’s Padre Island, Cancun, Daytona Beach -
Oh yeah and for you terrorists who don’t care much for the ladies - there’s Pakistan.
Oh Look someone wrote a piece about how Pakistan was such a hot spring break spot for College Kids from Columbia.
http://www.colony14.net/id40.html
Forget it folks there is nothing to see here about pakistan and Baracks spring trip.
So disappointed.
Everyone go read that link so you can understand why the barack obama campaign is not worried about pakistan.
Whoopsie! I lied Just Like Barack Obama!!!
Good thing to, cause i am sure the Missouri Obama Gestapo was on the way to arrest me if i hadn’t admitted to lieing about Barack Obama.
In Fact there are plenty of reasons for Barack to not want the american people to know about columbia U his associations while there and his spring break journey of faith.
Steve:
The Ayers stuff seems to be hitting the media fan now, e.g., the CNN piece I referred to above. Recent polls have been terrible for McCain, but suddenly there are two national polls, CBS, and this one this morning from Zogby for Reuters and CSpan, showing the Obama lead back down to 3. http://www.reuters.com/article/sarahPalin/idUSTRE4961BK20081007?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10112
Do you think the Ayers news items are having an effect?
Obama has not been vetted at all. People do not even know who he is–they have been fed a glowing portrayal by the media. It’s just now that people are starting to make up their minds, and the information is coming out. They will feel as we do once they start to put the pieces together. It is not just the Ayers story–it is very clear pattern of poor judgment and an extremely radical philosophy that will frighten mainstream America.
not yet. the polls are 3-4 days behind events.
These polls changes reflect the VP debate.
Ayers wont come up till friday in the polls and if will be cloudy because the day after ayers monday is debate tuesday.
Man Bites Dog
This is from Anderson Cooper 360, but you might swear that you were listening to Rush Limbaugh tear Obama to shreds for flat out lying about his connection with Ayers. You are gonna love this.
That CNN report was still tame. They gloss over the educational reform work they did together in Chicago. Ayers vision of reform was to radicalize children to fight back against authority, including their teachers and the principals. If schools did not comply, and wanted to use the funds for math or science, their grant requests were rejected. Ayers was trying to indoctrinate children in his radical philosophy and build a new generation of Weather Underground-like citizens.
Thank Goodness!
I guess CNN realized they couldn’t run from this story anymore without looking biased!!!!
WoW! Thank You doc99!!
That is the most hard hitting piece on BO I’ve seen in a long time. CNN will have to scrub that from thier history soon. NQ posters should read!
Ayers and Resco are just warm ups for Wright, and eventually - Michelle!
Please let them release the Whitey Tape and soon !!
But I guess not too soon - we don’t want Ohblahblah making a speech to weasel his way out.
I hope McCain rips Barky a new one tonight !!
McCain / Palin 2008
I noticed Shane not once mentioned the continually repeated point that Ayers was the only person who could actually ‘hire’ or ‘fire’ Obama. I would imagine that if he merely acknowledged that point he then would have to make the only logical conclusion that Ayers hired/approved of the hiring/appointing/requisitioning/installation/’did the solid’ of Obama to get on the Board. That, of course, would result in the canceling of his Kool-Aid refill card.
Bingo!
CORSI HAS BEEN “DETAINED” IN KENYA! (he went there because he found important incriminating information about Obama - and now cannot get out - find Megan Kelly interview this morning)SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE “PULLS” SKIT FROM LAST WEEKEND, WHERE IT MENTIONS SORO’S, USING PELOSI/FRANK AS EXCUSE!(this was the best, unbiased part of the show - and it was a SHOCKER that Soro’s was even named in it - SNL had to pull it from internet)MOVIE THEATERS CHEAT “AMERICAN CAROL” OUT OF CREDIT ! (bizaare!!)McCain/Palin - for best description of Obama’s radical connections, FIND INTERVIEW BETWEEN MEGAN KELLEY AND STANLEY KURTZ THIS MORNING ON FOX. GREAT “CONNECT THE DOTS” FROM OBAMA, AYER’S, ACORN, FANNIE/FREDDIE AND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS!
If anyone wants to place a bet, I will bet heavily that this becomes a tie again shortly. At that point all these polls up till now mean zilch. Everything is back to zero and we start from there. Who has the most fresh ammo?
I was polled last night and I just hit the “undecided” button time after time. It was an automated caller, and I don’t know the source of the phone call.
(I’m not about to divulge any info to an unidentified caller.)
I wonder how many who are telling the polls they are undecided, really aren’t…
Have everyone noticed the complete absence of Michelle on the campaign trail???
She is praying with Mentor Wright” and hate America even more. She is a just bad news as Obama and all their dengerous Friends. Hope America wake up, before will be to late!!!Enyone who knowingly has great realationship with people like:Rezko,Ayers,ACRON,Pelosi,Reid,Richardson,Dean, are not good people anymore.
Bail OUT 700 billion, and 160 billiond Pork programs for Congress people like Pelosi who gets money in over 100 millions for their business Pelosi and Her husband, are tiefh and liars. How there Congress approve all those PORK programs and addedd to Bailout. How this could happend, under OUR watch???How any honest congressman and woman can vote “YES”!!!!Thay betray us again, and what we are doing!!! NOTHING!!!
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZjRjYzE0YmQxNzU4MDJjYWE5MjIzMTMxMmNhZWQ1MTA=
National Review Online - excellent article by Stanley Kurtz - long but well worth a lookski.
Planting Seeds of Disaster
My reaction to this election can be summed up in one word-revulsion!
There have always been hard fought campaigns, with skewed positions.
However, for the media to actively participate in deception, on behalf of one candidate is more than troubling…
it is undermining our democracy!
And the useful MSM idiots don’t comprehend that if the 0bama is elected, they’re the first ones he’ll shut out.
Even during the Euro tour, some of the MSMers were complaining about lack of access.
Dual citizenship DISQUALIFIES anyone from holding a high level security clearance. Having anti-American associates and friends DISQUALIFIES anyone from holding a security clearance. This would DISQUALIFY anyone from being CIC for same reasons but the lame brain lillypants media are too STUPID to figure it out. And yes, everyone working at the NYT - you are STUPID!
Unfortunately it isn’t that clear. The courts would have to decide whether a dual citizenship was a violation of Article II. I doubt they would, especially one held in the past by a minor. The security clearance thing is not relevant.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP AT ANY TIME…is POTUS disqualification…I think Judah n TD Blog puts forth a compelling argument….
Berg v Obama & the DNC is heating up…Now he’s added PA to the list…DNC terrorist lawyer is gonna be busy….The more they fight the worse it looks for Barry….Aaaaaand Dean the UberPutz…
BERG IS AN AMERICAN HERO…COUNTRY FIRST!
Yeah the anonymous Judah puts forth “an argument.” But that’s where it ends. There is no precedent. Courts would have to decide what natural born citizen means. I’d love to see Barky disqualified by I think at most a court would say that a candidate simply had to renounce the other citizenship.
Time for a Judah primer. All his stuff is listed at the end of this article on Odinga, and he’s STILL writing new stuff at TD:
http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/why-did-obama-campaign-for-a-pro-islam-candidate-in-kenya/
Not talking about the distraction of the expired Kenyan citizenship…OBAMA IS STILL AND IS ONLY AN INDONESIAN CITIZEN
That is the crux of the matter
The goal of the Berg case is to force out documents, mainly the record copy of the birth certificate. If it doesn’t exist then that’s it. If it exists but has other embarrassing info on it, then that’s a help. The dual citizenship thing is going nowhere.
Just to clarify:
We (Judah and I) believe that there is a compelling constitutional case to make against dual citizenship.
However, what appears to be emerging at this time is a different issue, which is the status of Obama’s US citizenship. Berg is now speculating that Obama is illegal. It’s somewhat complicated but…IF Obama acquired Indonesian citizenship and did not renounce it properly and in a timely manner, under certain provisions he could have lost his US citizenship status, which would mean he’s either naturalized or illegal now.
We have a lot of research at my blog.
NYT-they not stupid, they are covering up what CNN<MSNBC,Progressive Radio with ED Shultz are doing. I watch Ed Shultz on CNN, and He did some dirty job on Palin, He went to Alaska to dig , and He is so hateful, the most hateful and lying jurnalist I ever saw!!! He is a huge supporter of Organisation”MOVE ON” He addmited on His Radio Show!!!
Rush Limbaugh usualy is using His knowlage on proof He gets , and He does great job. Now He is so angry, and He is going all the way. I believe, that Republicans must get united behind McCain, we must have a balance of power in White House!!! We have a bed 8 years, because We have Republican Cingress, Denat and President, We should know better. If we have democratic Congress,Senat and President we all are in a big trouble!!!
Proffesor Diamond,
It appears that the writer is “content” with the “appearance” and not what lies beneath.
Thanks for all your great efforts.
The Liberal CBS Poll only has Obama by 3! Was up by 9 last week! Things could be changing folks!!!!
Seems you guys have all the answers. Maybe you should contact the McCain campaign directly and offer up all your scoop. McCain doesn’t know what he’s missing out on. He’d surely win if his team was as smart as the bunch that hangs out here.
His team is much smarter and they know what they have ready to spring while we are just guessing.
Scott Shane is willfully ignorant and purposefully obtuse. He speaks as if the NYT is omniscient instead of a very large dictaphone.
I am becoming more puzzled by the Ayers/Obama relationship as this election proceeds. No Quarter has been digging for information on Ayers/Obama for months now…which suggests, at least, that political enemies and opponents and conservative action groups etc have not already dredged up any incriminating information.
And that is what puzzles me. Did the FBI suddenly lose interest in Ayers when he was acquitted on a technicality of his Weatherman-related charges? That doesn’t seem very smart, if that is not the case. I would think the FBI or some law enforcement entity would know quite a bit about Ayers and his activities up to the present time. If so, why hasn’t this information leaked out? If not, why not?
I am certainly inclined to think the Ayers/Obama relationship goes back beyond 1995. If some clear demonstration of this is not publically available, then I see two possibilities: (1) The Bush/Cheney admininstration is sitting on it because their power brokers are the same as Obama’s power brokers and we will see Obama as the next president; (2) Obama had some government ties during this whole period from Columbia to this day that precludes the release of that information based on some secrecy statutes. I don’t know of any other reason that the Democrats would support Obama except sheer stupidity.
I know there have always been rumors that the first George Bush was some kind of undercover operative for the CIA before he was elected to Congress and later appointed Director of the CIA. I don’t think people in that situation should be allowed to run for political office without divulging those ties.
How about 3) the strategically right time for releasing such info isn’t yet here?
Right on the Money Mercedes!
This is where the information in Tarpley’s new book
Barack H. Obama: The Unauthorized Biography is so important. Buy it at Amazon rush..
What Tarpley examines is precisely this that Ayers and the Weather Underground are and were agent provacateurs, Cointelpro operatives receiving funding through back channels like the Ford Foundation. Their operation was successful in destroying SDS and the peaceful peace movement, creating the intended backlash of Nixon etc. These dumb kids had fallen into the trap and were then conveniently bailed out by there families connections to get cushy university jobs and work for Foundations like the Annenberg. Ayers father was highly connected politically and with the defense industry.
These terrorists wanted, who were very racist in defense of violent black nationalism and exultant in the racist provocations of Manson, had a visceral hatred of the working classes of America. They were used to destroy what Martin Luther King Jr. was working to bring together, the civil Rights movement, with the peace movement with the labor movement.
Look the FBI should just come out and arrest Ayers, Dorhn and Obama preemptively.
Remember Wright, Ayers etc, all celebrate 9/11, but they are opposed to 9/11 truth especially as Tarpley demonstrates the fact that 9/11 was an inside job as documented in his book 9/11 Synthetic Terror: Made in the USA!
Obama is an operation pure and simple, a smooth talking patsy with eyes like Mohammed Atta’s..
Ob
and Michelle use excuse for not beying in NY for celebration og 9/11. She said, that She has to stay with their doughters, no one to watch(were was Her MOM???), but at the same time, He has enough time to go to some celebration(4 thousand people) and prise Mentor Wright there.
Having a friend, close associate and fellow board member who BOMBED the Pentagon should DISQUALIFY anyone from CIC. Why doesn’t Rasmussen poll the brave men and women of our armed forces and ask them if Obama’s friendship with Ayers matters, or if his dual citizenship matters, or if his anti-american, the National Anthem is racist song and I won’t repsect it opinion matters? CIC means in charge of our armed forces. The STUPID lillypants media can’t seem to figure this out, especially the really, really STUPID NYT propagandists.
Steve,
You are performing a dual service to the people: 1) Exposing the truth about Obama-Ayers and 2) exposing the truth about the New York Times.
Keep going.
Bottom line is Obama lied about everything having to do with Ayers. Why would he feel the need to lie if everything was innocent.
After reading this post, it is clear that in regards to Obama, Scott Shane sees no evil, hears no evil, writes no evil.
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSN0549712920081007?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=10112
Disgusting “Doodad Pro” giving $11,000 to Nobama!!!!
Obama and Acorn: Planting the Seeds of Disaster.
‘You’ve got only a couple thousand bucks in the bank. Your job pays you dog-food wages. Your credit history has been bent, stapled, and mutilated. You declared bankruptcy in 1989. Don’t despair: You can still buy a house.” So began an April 1995 article in the Chicago Sun-Times that went on to direct prospective home-buyers fitting this profile to a group of far-left “community organizers” called ACORN, for assistance. In retrospect, of course, encouraging customers like this to buy homes seems little short of madness.
Read the whole thing …
Wow, you just described most of the people in the military, my husband and I included. I guess we didn’t deserve to have a shot at homeownership because we had a medical emergency and we only made E-6 pay. By the way, we’ll have been in our home five years this year and haven’t missed a payment yet. AND hubby just got his MBA with a 3.8 GPA, we have three kids, one with autism, all on honour roll, and I started flight school. Your disdain for the poor is what pisses me off. Most poor people are poor, not because they’re lazy but because of shit beyond their control. Goodbye No Quarter, I love you Larry, but the influx of people like this doc person has just thrown me over the edge. I can’t stand Obama, I know he’s just another rich, thug trying to hog the American pie for himself but this hatred for all things poor and middle class is more than I can stand.
Strawberry, please read closer:
doc99 was quoting from “Planting the Seeds of Disaster” by Stanley Kurtz.
INVESTOR’S BUISNESS DAILY has a comprehensive 19 part series entitled “The Audacity of Socialism”. Required reading for anyone interested in the ideology Obama shares with Will Ayers.
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/series8.aspx
I dont understand. If Ayers was the only person who has legal authority to appoint Obama then how is it that this reporter does not even respond to the assertion.
Why not cite the law that supports the assertion that only Ayers had authority or that the other could only act as Ayers agent and with his consent rather than just going back and forth.
Good suggestion! I will work on that.
Scott Shane seems like an ass.
Well folks, I’m sitting here at my laptop listening to Rush Limbaugh and guess what! He has just dropped another bombshell regarding the Obama/Ayers connection: Obama wrote a rave review on Ayers’ book in the Chicago Tribue 2007. Below is the quote and the link:
(Emphasis mine)
http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/blog/2008/10/video_obama_didnt_know_about_a.html
I have been hearing the commentary from the Obma campaign for two days now that Obama did not know the Ayers was a domestic terrorist. Now this is just my take on it, but Obama was in colleg at Columbia when the weather underground pulled the brinks job. bernadine Dohrn was arrested because she refused to give information to the FBI about the people who pulled this off, she wsa still considered the leader of the group. How, knowing the way college students gossip about things that are happenening was Obama not able, supposedly years later to connect the woman he was introduced to with the woman who was arrested in this horrible crime? Trust me he knew all about it and was attracted to them because of it. There is no other explanation.
And Chicago Magazine Aug2001 (as if Ayers knew 9-11 was coming) has a picture of him stomping on the American flag……didn’t bother Bozo one bit insofar as their relationship
Shanes emails are demeaning and sarcastic, while Steve’s are polite. Reminds me of my trying to converse with obots on Huffpo last spring. Obots seem to have one tone…aggressive & sarcastic. Like their dear messiah. I am so DONE with nyt.
I agree socalannie,
The tone was dripping with kool-aid logic and derision. I am disgusted with the way the so called “journalist” responded to Mr. Diamond. Scott Shane knows no shame in his “journalistic ethics”…
Following Obama’s recent dumb comment about small town Americans clinging to guns and religion, he defended himself by claiming that the notion of elitist is absurd because of his poor upbringing. He said that his mother was on food stamps, so how could he be an elitist in his upbringing?
Here is the Time article written by Joe Klein in 2006, long before Obama decided to run for president. Back then, he was seen as the rising star within Democratic Party, and he didn’t worry about critics breathing down his neck.
Here is the key excerpt from the article:
“For example, I was going to a fancy prep school, and my mother was on food stamps while she was getting her Ph.D.”
That is what Obama said. He went to a fancy private school that today costs $15,000 per — and his mother was studying for a Ph.D.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1546302,00.html
Students often receive food stamps as part of the educational-financial-government-money package — doesn’t mean “they are poor.”
Re-reading the above, it occurred to me that a double-divorcee and her son, in these circumstances, were doing quite well — doing some dancin’ — but doing well — they certainly had futures.