Stormy Weather

“Guilt by association” when it is convenient for the Obama campaign and “she is a LIAR!” with all other stories.

I’m not so sure this will hurt Obama because the association is not as close as the Rev. Wright controversy
Clinton has not been throughly vetted
The media has yet to remind voters of the Clinton scandals in the 90s

I think that there is a recognition by the Obama campaign that you don’t put out the bad on yourself.
He knows where the pot holes are and where the bones they’re going to hit him over the head with are buried.
I look at the Wright story and note how he immediatly made the rounds that Friday and he delivered a huge speech that roadblocked the networks and basically took the sting out of the story for the time being. It’s still laying in wait; but it’s a fact that he’s done a lot to defuse the situation.
Similarly, if the Ayers’ story has video (which Rove made a point of) then he will likely have to do the same thing. But to make this a huge issue NOW is irresponsible to his campaign and stops him from driving HIS winning message.
Similarly, he has reacted the the Muslim smears and stealth email attacks through technology and his stump speeches. Never blowing them up to a point where they overwhelm the campaign’s message; but still driving his own message out there. And he has been successful in that too.
I would argue that Obama has had to deal with his issues in this primary in a way Clinton has not. Which means if she does get the nomination thorught the superdelegates; the hurt feelings of that coupled with the stacks of oppo I know the RNC has on her and he way she will motivate the base; she has issues that are not being properly represented in a primary fight at all. And won’t be; because it’d be sucidal for Obama to go there.
Overall, Obama has handled his mindfields clearly and with speed. Not as many would say typical. The Politico had a great story on how he handled the Muslim smear and how he IS Christian and drived that message through increased reachout to people of faith. He’s doing the same thing with the smears spread about him through the Jewish community.
HRC, however, has not been so nimble IMO on the huge stories she has had. The driver’s liscenes fiasco took two weeks to resolve. The Tuzla story didn’t get resolved at all. The hits she’s taken have really hit her and she has not bounced back as Obama has from his.
So that’s why I personally don’t buy the vetting argument.
Or the idea that the Obama team doesn’t know how to manage a crisis or campaign.
Sorry this got so long.

My son wanted to know what it took to be President and I told him oh..not really alot of brains ( think Bush) but you will have to ask for a background check on anyone you will ever meet,speak to , look at, or that your kids play with.I also told him he would have to check into the backgrounds of all of his family members to make sure that they had never made an insensitve remark or signed a petition that he himself may not agree with. All of this to ensure that he is fully vetted ( well not him necessarily but anyone that he has come into contact with over the course of his life)- because it is not really what he says or thinks that really matters nowadays.. Yep those are the requirements to be President.. make sure your friends, family, co-workers and perhaps even your childhood sweethearts are all politically correct, never mind the actual issues !!!
That’s what I think Jake
Since you asked

I don’t normally like your views. But you did Obama some justice. This guy ayers is well respected now. Obama was 8 years old when this guy did that. He was one of them Vietnam fighter types doesn’t excuse it but still we can’t blame obama

Thanks, Jake. Well done.
Ayres is a terrorsit. Ayres is a friend and adviser of Obama. Ayres has raised money for Obama. They talk with each other and have met with each other many times.
That is not guilt by association. That IS fact.
Wake up America. Obama often meets with terrorists like Ayres. Look at the people around Obama. Look at what Obama has said. He wants to strip us of our 2nd Amendment rights, and create a North American Union (Mexico, Canada, and the US).
What part of unconstitutional does Obama and his camapign not understand?
Obama is the anti-American, anti-2nd Amendment candidate for POTUS. The MSM should dig deeper into Obama’s connections to the two “A’s” : Ayres and Auchi.
Keep up the good work, Jake.

I think this is just grasping at straws. People want so badly to find something “wrong” with Obama that they reach. Obama ’08!

He is not a friend of Obama, nor is he a advisor nor has he raised money for Obama
How about Ala Senakreh endorsing Hillary
Guilt by Association

There’s something here I really don’t get.
Some folks here write: “Ayres is a terrorist.”
However, Ayres is Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and founder of both the Small Schools Workshop and the Center for Youth and Society.
So what’s up?
Is he… a “terrorist”…
or Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and founder of both the Small Schools Workshop and the Center for Youth and Society?
Both can’t be true, in the USA, or can it?
What’s the problem with having a Ayres is Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and founder of both the Small Schools Workshop and the Center for Youth and Society amog your supporters, if you happen to be a politician from Chicago?
Or are you folks simply gone nuts?

In the News today McCain says he will model REAGAN’S ECONOMY.LOL WE ARE GOING TO HELL ALL. People won’t for Obama because of Associations and Hillary won’t win because if she does win nom black and youth going home not because hate but her bad campaign. McCain the man to put us in the depression

WashingtonPost did a Fact check on this a long time ago. Its getting more push 2 weeks before PA so Hillary can stay in the race and win.

stock_craft
McCain has a clean background?
Look up The Keating Five scandal.

AkaDa, personally scandal if he has doesn’t matter too much because we don’t have any other better candidate. Blame ourselves and Americans for picking wrong candidate in the primary.

Since when is the Politico considered MSM?

The Republicans can barely contain their glee at the thought of running against Obama. This may not be a big deal to progressives, but it will be a big deal for some and made an even bigger deal by the Republican wrecking machine. It just adds to his un-patriotic persona.

What did bill really do for the extra 15 million that showed up on their tax return,who really contributed to the clinton library,where are their 2007 tax returns.what’s really behind the mysterious deaths of the clinton’s associates during bill’s administration. why is bill clinton so engulfed with foreign governments. Inquiring minds want to know!
Obama 08!

This story wont get too big un less BO is the nominee in that case it will blow wide open
When talking about the people Bo surrounds himself with-look no further than his wife MO
That woman is full of hate and resentment toward our country and whites

The mention of Adlai Stevenson brings to mind a pattern among Democrats, which is playing itself out in this election cycle: trashing the electable candidate in favor of the perfect candidate. Most readers of this blog will say, “Stevenson who?”, but Adlai was the darling of the Democratic party fifty years ago. He was the thinking Democrat’s candidate. He was intellectual, above the fray, correct on all of the issues, and a thorough going loser of a candidate. The Democrats loved to nominate Adlai, only to see him trounced in the general election.
When the liberal wing of the Democratic party is ascendent it loves to nominate a Stevenson-like Democrat. The Lib-Wing demands purety above all else, and a disdain for the gritty reality of winning the White House. Gore, with his massive environmental credentials, was the purest’s candidate, as was Kerry, with his history of war protest.
Gore, Kerry, and Stevenson all had one thing in common, they could not win a race for dog catcher if the opponent put up any kind of fight.
I hope history does not repeat itself with Obama, but I fear that it will.
Hillary may not be pure, and she may not be correct on all of the issues, but she can fight. She may win ugly, just like the Big Dog, but she will still win. She is our best shot at the White House.

Mack,
“the Republican wrecking machine” is a wreck itself.
And so is the Republican Bush-Cheney administration, so is the Republican economy in our country, so is the Republican war in Iraq, so is the 71 years old Republican nominee, and so is the overall Republican appetite for the GE.
Everything GOP is a wreck this year. The DNC has nothing to fear, our next President will be a Democrat.

What so their kids have played together and they know each other?
Why is that such a big deal?

I think I have seen the mass mediums and politicians, for the past year, try to discredit an excellent politican.
Politics is conflict resolution, and among the remaining candidates, Obama stands the greatest chance at resolving the pressing conflicts this country faces. But, journalism today is about suggestions and inuendos and scandel, not about conflict resolution. Let’s imagine a world where questions are not posed in an article, where assertions by people like Karl Rove are checked before an article is even conceived, before a connection or suggestion is ever offered. I would venture to guess that approximately 90% of stories resulting from Rove’s (and most other politician’s suggestions) would not make it into the mass mediums. This would go a long way towards conflict resolution. Perhaps then, we could focus on the important issues such as the economy, a failed war, and the lack of education in the U.S.

Ok… so Obama is a forgiving man….I guess he will carry this outlook when he becomes President ( as some who has written here thinks he WOULD become President )
AYERS=BOMBER!!
AS PER THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN B.BURTON SAIDS “But he was an eight-year-old child when Ayers and the Weathermen were active, and any attempt to connect Obama with events of almost 40 years ago is ridiculous.”
So the men who BOMBED NYC Twin towers will be given a second chance, the BOMBERS who has been killing our forces in Iraq are given a second chance, also the BOMBERS who bombed the Pentagon as well—?????? ( AYRES/Pentagon worth googling)
Ayers is Obama’s YUPPY (now)neighbors….when they get together for fancy cheese and crackers…. do they just talk like AYERS past didn’t exist?
DOES 911 mean anything to these folks???

How on earth does Rendell come up with such an amazingly ridiculous formula? As Rumsfeld once famously said, “you don’t know what you don’t know,” and to suggest that all but 10% of Hillary’s demons have been exposed but 50% of Barack’s have is downright crazy.
Why does the media treat this guy (Rendell) like he actually knows what he’s talking about?

Obama came out today in favor of boycotting the Olympic opening ceremonies. I wonder what took so long for the puppet-Meister’s to pull his strings.

Its going to cause problems.
I mean they are going to lob the word “terrorist” with Obama consistently and then issues-schmissues.

“Both can’t be true, in the USA, or can it?”
Sure can. There was a fellow in my hometown who was a well known drug kingpin. He also ran a car dealership, was a real-estate mogul, and contributed to all the big polticos. I asked a police investigator how this could go on with every person in town knowing about it. He replied, “Because he is a professional and knows how the game is played. The burden of proof is considerable and getting him requires a lot of resources. So unless he screws up, he gets away with it.” And he has to this very day.
What a smart person sees in Obama is a slick player. His organization understands the campaign game and they play it professionally. This doesn’t mean he has an ounce of integrity or the skills and gravitas to lead. It means he can win the Democratic nomination by never answering hard questions, leaning on feel good rhetoric, and buying lots and lots of press. It is exactly like the music business: you want a hit, don’t bribe the station manager; buy ads.
But the nomination is a sandlot game compared to the General Election where the Internet donations don’t mean much. It is easy to buy a sandlot game or any playoff, but the Super Bowl can’t be bought.

It seems to have worked for them during the last election, when Bush was running against an actual war hero. Imagine what they’ll do to someone like Obama, that is already being potrayed as being un-patriotic, and who has done nothing of note in his past to deflect any of the critism.

Anyone who uses the phrase “no surprises” in a sentence about the Clintons is clearly out of touch. There are ALWAYS surprises with the Clintons.

Jake,
What would you expect Obama to do?

Ironic that Obama would not denounce and reject Ayres especially after the statement “I don’t regret setting bombs… I feel we should have done more.”
Does Obama have this same tolerence and understanding for young black kids charged with drug offenses in Illinois? No way. Here is a list of the legislation he supported while in the IL senate, all mandating increased sentences for drug offenses:
In an August 19, 2004 entry on Obama’s website he bragged about being tough on drugs:
During 8 years in the state senate, Senator Obama has repeatedly voted for tougher penalties for drug offenders. [HB 3387, 5/13/03; P.A. 93-0546; SB 1793, 3/21/03; P.A. 93-0223; HB 2347, 5/6/99; P.A. 91-0336; HB 3170, 5/7/98; P.A. 90-0674; HB 1278, 5/14/99; P.A. 91-0403; SB 0105, 3/23/99; P.A. 91-0263; HB 2843, 5/20/03; P.A. 93-0596; 93rd GA, SB 2447, 3/25/04; P.A. 93-0884; SB 1578, 3/24/03; P.A. 93-0297; SB1028, 4/2/98; SB 1028, 5/19/98, SC HA1,4; P.A. 90-0775; HB 0070, 5/16/97; P.A. 90-0382; HB 2844, 5/13/03; P.A. 93-0340; HB 3073, 4/4/00; P.A. 91-0802; HB 0252, 5/7/99; P.A. 91-0366; HB 5652, 5/9/02; SB 1332, 2/24/00; P.A. 91-0899; HB 4245, 5/7/02; P.A. 92-0698; SB 0014, 5/20/97, SC HA1; P.A. 90-0397; SB 0003, 4/6/01; HB 2015, 5/9/97; P.A. 90-0164; SB 1011, 4/5/01; SB 1224, 3/24/98; HB 2030, 5/15/97; P.A. 90-0557]
Ayres is definitely fodder for the Republican attack machine and will not play well with most Americans. It feeds into Wright’s anti-American ravings and also Obama’s communist mentor back in Hawaii.
Does Obama like or respect anyone “normal”? Why does his coterie of friends look like a political freak show??
He is a hypocrit; he consistently voted to increase drug sentences in IL and also voted to try children as adults there. I guess in his warped view, political crimes get a free pass, but if you are a kid and commit a crime you go to adult prison and if you use drugs, you should do hard time.

I think you are a Sean Hannity wannabe. Nice job at “cutting edge” news reporting.

Maritza wrote: “Jake, What would you expect Obama to do? “
I am not Jake but I will answer this question. For the sake of our nation and the benefit of Dem party, Obama should drop out the race and support Hillary to win back the White House. At the meantime, he should concentrate more on public service works and clean up his Church. Then there is a chance for him to be the US President for the next 12-16 years.

TDH,
Thanks for the instructive post. Interesting observation on possible connection between TUCC and Weathermen.

OBOMBER lovers….
First of all….
GOV.Rendell is a great guy ( was Mayor of Phila, and before that District Attrny who got elected without using other peoples words (Patrick Deval)
This is part of being VETTED BY THE PUBLIC for anyone who is running for President——– must face —————->>>>>>
OVER AND OVER AGAIN
….. tired of it?….don’t get online…. or stick with the huffington post…..they are ga ga over this Obomber

Thanks Jake and abc. You are the only network that informs us concerning Obama’s history. We don’t need all the biased reporting – we need facts. I just hope it won’t be too late. People need to hear this. So many of the networks are in the tank for Obama. Do people dislike Hillary so much that they would go with Obama – not knowing who is really is.

I wonder why Jake keeps silent about the fact that Ben Smith at Politico had a long story this two weeks or so ago; Drudge linked to it of course, but it went nowhere, for obvious reasons. Is it because Jake ‘lends’ at LOT of Ben Smith’s stories; the last one about Bill in Colombia as well?
Anyway, there’s no future for this ridiculous smear attempt; everytime it sticks to the ones that run it.

“Perhaps you think this is all a silly political smear.” You betcha.
It must be a comforting thought for the Republican attack machine that you are out there, Jake Tapper, doing their dirty job for them.
How unselfish of you to take on the heavy burden of thoroughly vetting Obama before the moron voter audience. As you suggest, they will believe anything, so you might as well give it to them right away.
You are a fine man, Tapper.
Now, go on and censor me as usual. Do your thing.

Obama keeps very interesting and worrisome company.
Of course, it should give voters pause, enough time to think how much of Senator Obama’s appeal is in the vague, dreamy promise of “change” and “hope.” The idea that voters and the press shouldn’t demand asnwers to tough lines of questioning is ludicrous. These candidates aren’t running for the Safety Patrol. This is the Presidency of the United States.
BO needs vetting just like every other candidate. It’s hard to imagine McCain or Clinton not brought to task on these realtionships: Wright, Ayers and Rezko. The press would be all over it. It’s a matter of judgement. If you can’t choose your friends with care, what can you do judiciously?
I know, I know, I’m just nonbeliever, a political crank. But then, I haven’t been drinking the Obama juice either. You guys ever watch the Invasion of the Body Snatchers?

If Obama gets the nomination, then even pedophiles will start running for office of the POTUS. According to some, everything is allowed.
This is unacceptable.

Jake, do you really not think that Hillary ties to Doug Coe’s The Family are much more relevant for the way power will be used in this country?
It is still a highly active secretive group that jokingly calls itself the “Christian Maffia”, and it is all about a Christian conservative variety of Scientology’s world power fantasies. Coe’s favorite example of organising power is Adolf Hitler, who he compares to Jesus Christ. Hillary, in her Living History book, calls him a spiritual adviser and a friend.
No, the GOP wouldn’t jump this because many Christian conservative Republicans have ties to Coe as well. Which only makes the issue MORE important and interesting for a journalist to investigate, I would think.
But well, if bashing Obama is the mission, I guess The Family will be covered in silence?

But Joan – The point is she is running on a “Two for one” platform, she is running using Bill’s experience..that is why people bring it up.. that and the fact that if you are going to sling mud some of it is going to stick to you too, and the Clinton campaign hasn’t figured out that they need to fact check their stories and their own pasts before they open their mouths…

NOBAMA wrote: “HEY HILLARY SUPPORTERS…SEND THIS STORY TO PELOSI, DEAN, AND THE SUPERDELEGATES IN YOUR STATE.
THIS GUY IS NEVER GOING TO WIN AND THE SUPERDELEGATES NEED TO KNOW HOW BAD THIS IS FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD BY THEM….”
Are those Dem Leaders blind or deaf? Someone think they are deaf because they don’t want to hear the voices of Florida and Michigan voters. But I think they are selfish more likely. They don’t want to make the black voters angry. Welcome for your comment.

The Obamas shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the White House…I don’t even think he is fit for the Senate. Since when do we want anti-American radicals being cogs in the governmental wheel? BO’s cabinet will be made up with a group of radical anti-American, anti-Semitic, racist nut cases…yeah, that will do a lot for America’s image abroad. As it is they think we are the stupidest people on earth for electing Bush twice.
Hillary is the only sane choice in this contest. Please, PA, vote Hillary…let’s end the crazy Michelle and Barack go to Washington story.

“Maria, I have a shocker for you. Obama went to Coe’s prayer meetings too.”
I knew that, I follow the news as well. Makes the Coe figure and the Family even more interesting, doesn’t it?
My point however is that Hillary calls Coe her spiritual adviser and friend (in Living History) and that her ties to Coe are particularly strong and personal.
Bill Clinton invited Rev. Wright, remember, as one of the church leaders to confess his Monica sins to. That doesn’t make Wright Bill’s pastor yet.
The existence of The Family in Washington, the heart of our democracy, is a disturbing phenomenon. It amazes me that political journalists like Jake pay no attention to it, certainly if we consider that the scary Doug Coe is Hillary’s friend and spiritual adviser.

The key to this story is to look into how Ayers and Dohrn were able to avoid prison time. All I’ve been able to find out is that “most charges were dropped because of prosecutorial misconduct during the long search for the fugitives.” I think that in fact both Ayers and Dohrn were from very well-off family. This relationship is pertinent to the discussion because Ayers and Dohrn helped Obama get into politics in Chicago.

LOL! It is thanks to Bill Clinton that Ayres is a Professor these days.
And it is thanks to the former likes of war monger McCain that Ayres 40 years ago became so desperate that he decided to go underground.
America, America, land of the brave.

I full agree with Buck who wrote>>>
While there have been stories written about why Edwards hasn’t endorsed either candidate.. this have never been one of the reasons. Where did this come from? He hasn’t stated this publicly. How do you know this to be fact? If it is, maybe a source would be appropriate.

What so their kids have played together and they know each other?
Why is that such a big deal?
It’s a big deal because it is another lie by the Obama camp, Ayers’ “kids” are adults and haven’t gone to that school for at least a decade.
Obama’s camp said they are “friendly” It doesn’t matter Obama was 8 when Ayers was blowing up places in America, since 9/11 he said the only thing he regrets is that he didn’t do more bombing. He said this while Freinds with Obama. Now I hope to hear the truth about Obam’s good friend Rezko and his friendship with Auchi, the guys that made money being friends With Saddam, no wonder Obama was agaisnt the war, his friend Rezko/Auchi made alot of money as long as Saddam was in charge.

Comet,
I’m guessing you are probably not old enough to remember the “Weathermen”.
========================================
Obama, OK to hang with a “Weatherman”.
That is presidential.
========================================

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
This is quite a stretch…….After all, cynics need something to chew on because they’re starving right now.
Hillary is down to the bone marrow.

WestCoast I was responding to Posted by: maritza | Apr 10, 2008 11:37:59 AM
who said it was no big deal.
I personally have a BIG problems with Obam’s friendship with Ayers, Rezko, Auchi, and people that hate America.
As for how old I am , it’s funny I’m close in age to Obama, who is considerred Young, but since I can see thru his lies, I fall in the Old Women group

Comet,
My apologies. You are no old woman. You are a wise woman.
========================================
Obama, the wise can see what you are about!
========================================

From Jerusalem:Sen. Barack Obama was paid to serve on the Board of Directors for The Woods Fund alongside confessed domestic terrorist William C. Ayers, a member of the Weathermen terrorist group which sought to overthrow of the U.S. government and took responsibility for bombing the U.S. Capitol in 1971.
While Obama served on the board, The Woods Fund granted funding ($40,000 in 2001 and $35,000 in 2002) to a controversial Arab group (Arab American Action Network) that mourns the establishment of Israel as a “catastrophe” and supports intense immigration reform, including providing drivers licenses and education to illegal aliens.
The co-founder of the Arab group in question, Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi, also has held a fundraiser for Obama. Khalidi’s wife Mona, is president of AAAN or Arab American Action Network. Khalidi is a harsh critic of Israel, has made statements supportive of Palestinian terror and reportedly has worked on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization while it was involved in anti-Western terrorism and was labeled by the State Department as a terror group. The group co-sponsored a Palestinian art exhibit, titled, “The Subject of Palestine,” that featured works related to what some Palestinians call the “Nakba” or “catastrophe” of Israel’s founding in 1948.
To those who say Obama’s connections are “not a big deal”, they are a BIG DEAL to Americans who value Democracy and the safety of our children. Obama reveals to us the man he truly is by the company he keeps and associates with.

common sense and whatever,so its ok or obama to have associated since childhood with many different antiamerican marxist people and this does not trouble you in the least?what bothers some of us is what if what he says now in the election are just words,but thease words are not his core beleifs,what if his core beleifs are antiamerican marxist claptrap and he hides it really well because he has been groomed and is a great actor.this is a not so far from reality senario and even if its a little off its not worth taking a chance of putting someone in the oval office that is even just a little sympathatic to antiamerican views.

Don- BOTH of the candidates bother me in their own special way..what bothers me the most is when they throw mud at each other and think that the American people are too dumb to look up the past. When they lie outright and think we are so spoon fed from the media that we will never find out about it. Facts are this is going to be one or the other of them and this kind of media and rumors that are set out here for us to lap up make me sick. If it weren’t for the whole McCain thing I would have turned the channel on this a long time ago- but people need to know the truth about things ( both of the candidates) so McCain never has a chance. Anyone looked at HIS healthplan proposal lately? Elizabeth Edwards spoke about that too- she bascially says it scares the heck out her and the American people aren’t being told about it.

Jackt51,
The heart of the story is that Obama has not been vetted. The press has given him a pass. I think they’re assuming that Obama gets the nomination, at which time it will turn ugly, and the fall contest will be extremely interesting. I guarantee the R’s will spare no mercy in vetting come that time.
At this point, given the press’s behavior, and a public that has been clearly defined by the phrase attributed to P.T. Barnum in the 1800′s, the by all means let’s run Obama through the grindstone at that time.
I’ll be more than happy to support Hillary in a run against McCain in four years if it turns out that way.
=======================================
Obama, why vet him? He has a golden ticket?
=======================================

Whatever,
They got mine too, probably that bad word I mentioned. OK, back to the issues for Kevin’s sake. Does Obama have a spine or not? Does the press need to vet him for that? The constitution does not require a spine in order to be president!
=======================================
Obama, no vetting, no spine needed!
=======================================

WCM and Dogsoldier-The issue at hand should be that both of them ( whether it is them or their family ) have ties to undesireable people… there will always be stories about this kind of garbage- Hopefully you can tell I am a rational person and that I check the facts on the candidates- I voted for Obama I respect him..I will vote for Hillary if that is my choice.. it just boggles my mind that any rational human being can think that this constant bickering between the campaigns can do any body (but McCain) any good! We should end our posts with things like this. To me this is the real enemy ( nice old man or not)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
McCains Healthplan doesn’t cover pre existing conditions.. not even asthma

WestCoastMessenger
Obama has been vetted. If he wasn’t vetted, we wouldn’t be hearing all this stupid things about who he knows and who’s hand he shook, or who’s church he attended or whatever. But they just don’t have the punch Hillary’s problem have because we do not crucify people in this country based on guilt by association. Regarding Bosnia, it was Hillary herself that lied, not someone associated with her. When a man commits a terrible crime, do we go and arrest his mother and father and lock them in jail? No. Some people like you care about issues like these. But i can assure you that not enough people care for it to have an impact. People like you are in the minority because, unlike most Americans, you are LOOKING for a reason to hate Obama. I don’t care if someone is the Pope or Saint Peter, if you want to hate them, you will find good reasons to hate them. But look at the polls. The fact remains that not one single person has managed to show that Obama shares these views. Everything the man has said and done his entire life shows that he doesn’t. But people like you want us to discount everything the man has said and done, and instead crucify him by association. That is incredibly flawed logic.

I read previously that Obama had ties to Ayres, and underhanded underground crook in his day. And he still has ties to Ayers and Ayres. I don’t know of any candidate that ran for office of the presidency had a past like Obama. He hides the fact that he is racial and uses the white people for his own advantage. Going for 20 years to a racist church with a racist pastor tells me he is not fit to be our president. I am glad that Hillary is leading in PA 49% – 41% and just picked up three new superdelegates. Things are starting to look up for a change and maybe he won’t be so arrogant when that happens.

In summary: Obama sucks and is a liar

“Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are”
This saying speaks to the kind of company Obama keeps >> Wright, Michelle, Ayres, Rezko, etc.

Dogsoldier- It is starting to seriously frighten me that people may vote for the other party out of spite..or not vote at all. It is hard to come on these and feel like your candidate is being attacked , when you truly believe in something it feels like a personal attack..I feel it sometimes too- but there has to be a way to make it work ( see there is my Obama dreamer like self I am sure you are thinking). I think the candidates need to address it ..TOGETHER.
McCain’s plan for oil costs to go down is to ask us to sacrifice and go without- yep that’s a plan

S- the proof is listed on his Website under his issues and policies, not to mention an interview where Elizabeth Edwards basically begs the people to demand more answers..she did the ground work for us…now it is up to us to start asking for the truth about John McCain

dogsoldier: The Obama camp is just upset because Hillary got the jump ahead of them regarding the boycotting. Now Obama wants to join Hillary. Obama’s camp is nothing but a bumch of punks that think they own the world. And they are the no nothing kind but think they do. They need to get a grip on life and grow up.

Kevin: Years ago people judged you by the company you kept. Obama kept company with anti-american’s and that’s why some people will still judge him by that. Ayres and Ayers are not the people he should have been associating with, he knew exactly what and who they were. But being a boozer and drugger himself while in college I am suprised he graduated unless they pushed him thru to get rid of him. He is not as bright as people think he is. He is a make believe. Copies everything in sight. Adds other presidents words to his speeches. All Obama is looking for is to make history first the presidency is second. Hopefully he never makes it.

carpenter.nyc
Even if we believe your story, what’s wrong with giving money to a church that ahs a very broad, very generous community outreach program?

kevin
By your logic, what’s wrong wish mosques forwarding their money to terrorists?

I feel sorry for the Obama family. I know there is no way i can stand for this sort of abuse. Now i see clearly why blacks are still in the gutter in this country. All this Obama criticism isn’t rooted in any type of logic. It’s all hate. That’s the only explanation for this anger and vitriol.

Kevin
You have apparently ignored the Obama follows hate directed at Clinton. Like different rules for for your guy, huh?

As a Whiteman in this great country, it saddens me that people cannot discuss the issues. Sean Hannity and people like him intentionally ignore the serious issues that separate Republicans from Democrats, and instead choose to demonize a man and tear him down. Demonize his wife and tear her down. They do not want to discuss the issues because they know they will lose that battle. They claim to be Conservatives and claim their ideology is superior, but they will rahter discuss anything but that ideology. Sean Hannity has made his entire show for the last two months an Obama bashing festival. In this great country, in this day and age, such public lynching occurs to a man that has committed no crime. A man that has always strived to do public good at every turn. In this day and age. In this great country. What a shame. I adre you peopel to discuss the issues. Discuss the bloody issues. The world is watching America. We say we are the greatest nation on earth. This is our time to prove that we can treat a minority striving for the highest office in the land, fairly. History will remember this day. If Obama loses, let him lose on the issues. Let him lose on the issues for heavensakes.

Kevin- people tend to go to another blog when people start making sense and agreeing- don’t take it personally it is hard for people to fight the good fight nowadays..it is easier to just tear people apart then concentrate on what a failure our government is. Have faith though- the numbers would not be where they are at if everyone felt the way they do on these blogs :)

whatever – From some remarks people like us are not human. I can handle whatever comes my way. My fear, if and when we pull out of Iraq, that is unless McCain wins, Iran will get their nukes. The fundamentalists will take over in Iraq. Which in turn can set off a whole new cascade in other middle east states. Oil will shoot through the roof. And if Iran were to threaten Israel with nukes, with Israel sitting on 300+ according to best estimates then we could be the first human beings who witness a nuke war the likes none of us can imagine. Dear God I hope not. If we pull our troops the best we can then do is sit back and watch from the sidelines. That is waiting for the new president whether we like it or not.

Dogsoldier- We ARE humans- working a job to pay the bills and not sucking off of society. I am so frightened by the inevitable war that we are being prepped for with the middle east right now- my boys are young but not young enough that one day they may be called upon to defend a war we have no place in and never have. I saw an old video of Cheney from ’94 I think talking about how going to war with Iraq is a “quagmire” that we would never be able to win.. it made me sick inside. He knew..this whole time he knew and chose to do the wrong thing -for money. And now? Infighting between candidates and parties that may tighten the noose around America’s neck for decades to come. Sends shivers down my spine, I mean can you feel it? From Canada to China to Iran tension building up and all eyes on us. And here we sit arguing about who’s friends with who and who may have been un-PC today.

Why would Obama appoint Daniel Kurtzer as his foreign relations advisor?

Whatever – A man with a family like you does indeed have a whole heck of worries I do not. Even though we are on opposite sides here I do feel for the family man and their sons and daughters. Perhaps the world was always this way and only now with the 24 hour news cycle and the internet we are thrust into the madness inside our homes. Perhaps the crusader world may have seemed like ours. I sometimes thing we need to study the crusades in order to understand where we are right now. And even how they talked with each other. Perhaps there is something to that, who knows? Because we are right now where they were back then.

This culled from the Chicago Tribune:
“A close examination of Obama’s first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career: The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it.
One of the candidates he eliminated, long-shot contender Gha-is Askia, now says that Obama’s petition challenges belied his image as a champion of the little guy and crusader for voter rights.
“Why say you’re for a new tomorrow, then do old-style Chicago politics to remove legitimate candidates?” Askia said. “He talks about honor and democracy, but what honor is there in getting rid of every other candidate so you can run scot-free? Why not let the people decide?”
In a recent interview, Obama granted that “there’s a legitimate argument to be made that you shouldn’t create barriers to people getting on the ballot.”
But the unsparing legal tactics were justified, he said, by obvious flaws in his opponents’ signature sheets. “To my mind, we were just abiding by the rules that had been set up,” Obama recalled.’
He stole that election!
Don’t let him steal this one!
GIVE ‘EM HELL, HILLARY!

By any objective measure there’s nothing serious about this story.
Obama was a child when the Weathermen were active. Decades later when Ayers had become a local activist Obama ended up at an activist meet and greet at his home. So what? Aspiring politicians do lots of meet and greets — often with local activists. They don’t imply any actual connection. Ayers’s children went to the same school Obama’s children attend and Ayers evidently remains active in that school. Big deal. So someone assembled a speaking panel and put both Obama and Ayers on it. So what? Obama and Ayers, both local activists in their own way, end up serving on a board for a local organization. Whatever. Ayers once gave Obama a $200 dollar campaign contribution. A local activist donating (at a quite modest level) to a local politician — truly shocking.
The point is this: each of these instances amounts to a big fat zero. Some people want to add all those big fat zeros together thinking they’ll add up to something substantial. But the reality is you can add a billion zeros together and at the end of the day you’ve still got a zero.

William Ayers, people…William Ayers!
Someone aspiring to the Presidency of the United States does not nurture an ongoing personal and professional relationship with a known and unrepentant domestic terrorist. Let alone sit in that church listening to that garbage for 20 years. He’s unfit to command and will bring ruin to our party in November.

why is it abc get’s it’s storys about obama from sean hannity? does george want a job with clinton or does he owe them something? i would rather a president who can talk with others without approving of all of there actions. the republicans only talk with like minded people thats why this country is hated all over the world. we wont talk with iran and syria but they are the only ones that can help in iraq–we also won’t talk to cuba but we have no problem with china–sean hannity and hal turner look it up

Thank you for reporting this – I am sure this is something that MSNBC will not even come close to covering. I am sick of them and even called my cable company to try to have it removed from my cable channels.
As soon as the media plays some old footage of the bombings of the Weathermen this will have legs.
Maybe all those guys who were wounded and served in Vietnam might have something to say about Obama’s visit to Ayers house to get his “blessing” to go into politics.
I have never voted republican in my life. My whole family will vote McCain if Obama is the nominee. My father (a Navy Seal) my brother (a Marine in Vietnam) and my entire family are outraged that Obama can associate with not only Ayers, Wright but the PLO.
The media is NOT covering Obama fairly. Chris Matthews wishes it was Obama going up his leg and not just the feeling he gets when he hears him speak. MSNBC with Mika (just a mouthpiece for her father and brother who work for Obama’s campaign) , Tim Russert, Chris Matthews and yes, so sorry to say, Keith all need to stop drinking the Kool-aid and report the news with the obvious love fest for Obama going on.
People say the democrats will come together and vote Obama if he is the nominee. I am here to tell you that will not happen.

Ayers? Terrorists? Money? Rezko? Auchi? Khalidi?
Perhaps that Laundry List Of Lies of mine has a few bits of truth?
Google every name and find out for yourselves. Don’t let ABC or CNN or Fox tell you your truth. Find it. And then spread the word.
It’s all savage but true politics . com
:)
click the nick and see for yourselves.

This is a huge story – and the commercials of the Weather bombings, etc. can be imagined already.
Typical Obama arrogance to assume that real voters are immune to these kinds of associations and the doubts they raise.
Obama’s been living in the primary bubble for too long, with the hands-off media.

The GOP will crush Obama under the weight of his associations. His entire adult life is filled with nefarious characters. Hillary cannot bring this up, but the reason she has vowed to stay in the race until the convention is so that the Democratic party has a viable candidate should all of this come out before Obama is the nominee. God Bless Hillary for staying in the race! There is still hope.

The Clinton campaign will not bring this up. You see, this opens up a BIG OL can of worms for the Clintons. Bill Clinton PARDONED several Weathermen during his presidency. Again, the Clintons knew ALL of these OBAMA supporters before Obama. We’ve all seen photos of the Clintons with Rezko, Rev. Wright, and now William Bill Ayers.
And by the way, McCain isn’t as clean as you think. Just wait until about July. I can’t wait…..
Obama/Zinni 2008

FOX is starting some in depth coverage on William Ayers. Including some interesing video of recent speeches by Ayers. Barack Obama and William Ayers issue needs to be totally vetted. FOX is the only place I’ve seen coverage of it. Ayers was a danagerous dude.

That interview with the NYT came out on SEPT 11, 2001.

Do you think this will be mentioned elsewhere as well — can we NOW have some vetting please?
If every other news station had bothered to do its job a couple of months ago and reported any of this and the Rev. Wright 20-year relationship, this primary would be over by now and Hillary Clinton would be our nominee.
Think to yourselves, who benefits from sitting on this all this time? The media narrative that was sold to the voter with a big shovel was that Sen. Obama would be the tougher candidate in the fall — oh really? Then why would the corporate owned media being beating the drum so loudly for Hillary to get out and keep hitting her with everything they’ve got and fawning over him for no good reason?
Gee, could the real reason be that they knowe SHE is more formidable so they play divide and conquer to get her out first — knowing the repubs. have all this stuff waiting in a vault — ready to go when they need it.
Senator Obama should have been more prudent in all his assocations (so much for the sterling judgment he claims to have) if he planned run for president. He is not running for president of far left-wing extremist America — he is running to be President of all America — most of whom live more in the center and have big problems with his associations with the divisive Rev. Wright, the crook Antonin Rezko and Ayers.
Are there any more? Can we please let America know now — before PA or any other states vote so we can save this situation.

As the organizer behind Dr. Ayers’s recent visit to North Dakota let me say that the latest version of the smear campaign using video footage taken by the young republican group in the audience is just as dishonest as the supposed quote that Ayers has no regrets of the past “taken” from the NYT. IN FACT — Ayers discussed that misquote that night in some detail and explained what he really said, which was not that he had no regrets. Moreover, his message (which he iterated at UND as well) was that he was asked “Do you have any regrets?” and his position was “I’m 63 years old — I have LOT’S of regrets. You don’t get to be my age without many regrets.” He then went on to say that while his political stance has become more nuanced than in his youth, one has to understand what he did then in its historical context — which was that some 2000 young men were dying each week in the name of a war founded on a Big Lie. All this of course was edited out of the Fox News/Karl Rove interview. It’s also missing from this ABC news piece as well as almost every piece of coverage that I’ve seen on this issue. Lastly, it should be pointed out that Ayers did not endorse Obama at UND or any other candidate. He does admit that they live essentially on the same block, but he points out that he lives on the same block (in the other direction) as Louis Farrakhan too. This doesn’t make them close or neighborly.

What he really meant to say was, “just say no to bombs”. It was all just youthful indiscretion.

I am from Chicago, and to all of you fools out there, Bill Ayers has done wonders with his programs on School Reform. In Fact, he has worked with that noted radical Mayor Daley. The Foundation in question, The Woods, works with kids and Health Care. I know that Health Care for kids, The CHIPS Program, is something you right-wingers can’t get behind, let the little buggers die, but Ayers is a friendly open man who has more than made up for any past wrongs. In fact, I find it disgusting that you people never mention the horror of the Vietnam War. Ayers is a much finer person than any of you guys.

CNN can’t compare Obama’s past with McCain’s past. We know NOTHING about Obama, OBAMA DOES NOT HAVE A TRACK RECORD. There fore people are comparing apples to oranges when it comes to THE candidate’s PASTS!
McCain has already proven himself, and yes he has made mistakes. BUT – OBAMA HAS NOT PROVEN himself – therefore his association with Ayres is MORE IMPORTANT than any of Mccain’s past associations. CNN just reported 10/06/08 on the Rick Sanchez Show, that Ayres did not start Obama’s campaign. It depends upon which campaign you are talking about. AYRES LAUNCHED HIS WHOLE ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER, in Chicago, he held his very first fund raiser at his house. The Sun Times is prejudiced for the democratic party and everybody HERE knows that – sourcing them is biased. They are twisting words around to make it look good for Obama.

Brilliant Obama strategist Axelrod said that Obama and Ayres’ children went to school together. He said that was how they knew each other.

This doesn’t even address the Annenberg issue which is appearing to be entirely scandalous. Why won’t ABC (or the others) approach that issue?

Ayers will most likely have a lot to do with Obama’s decision making if he becomes President. I fear that if Obama is elected as our leader, we will become a Third world country by the time he is out of Office. I’m supposed to clap now that he wears the American Flag pin, right?

Here is the fact check from CNN:
The McCain campaign did not respond Saturday to a request for elaboration on Palin’s use of the plural “terrorists.”
Verdict: False. There is no indication that Ayers and Obama are now “palling around,” or that they have had an ongoing relationship in the past three years. Also, there is nothing to suggest that Ayers is now involved in terrorist activity or that other Obama associates are.
_______________________________________
False: Can we get on to issues of substance now. Please republicans stop weaseling out of debate on the real issues Americans care about like the economy, the occupation, health, education for our kids etc… What’s that John is proposing $300 billion dollar bailout to the mortgage industry that conservatives hate and liberals see right through? Anything else???

Posted by: voicofrsn
Obama and his people keep avoiding the truth.
You are absolutely delusional. Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.
________________________________________
The McCain campaign did not respond Saturday to a request for elaboration on Palin’s use of the plural “terrorists.”
Verdict: False. There is no indication that Ayers and Obama are now “palling around,” or that they have had an ongoing relationship in the past three years. Also, there is nothing to suggest that Ayers is now involved in terrorist activity or that other Obama associates are.
_______________________________________
Keep trying to distract and throw mud in your opponent’s eye. Especially when you look at the slime that you are trying to defend. Your parties candidate is a loser and the only way you can defend him is to attack the other guy. After all its the republican way.

I did some research…Obama and Ayres go back 20 years. Michelle went to work for a law firm where Bernadine Dohrn(Ayres wife) worked and Dohrn was her contempory!!!This was back in the 1980′s….Obama was appointed by Ayres to be the executive chairman of the board of the group “Chicago Annenberg Challenge” to distribute $50 million for education which Obama gave to radical groups like ACORN. Acorn is now being investigated by the FBI for voter fraud. Obama started off by training the people who work there and was also their attorney before he ran for office. Obama’s campaign also donated several hundred thousand to this organization all over America. Guess where all of this voter fraud is happening? All swing states….No concerns for associations??? So much info to report and no room to write….

Good Grief! The Dixie Chicks?? That is a group full of disrespect who uses their celebrity status as a means to degrade the USA! Even when Clinton was in office and did those deplorable things in the Oval Office, I gave him respect because he was our President, Our Commander in Chief. Anyone who would take on such a huge task for so little money shouldn’t be critized until you have walked in his or her shoes… I believe the hatred all started with the Dixie Chicks!! And that saddens me because I was one of their biggest fans. You’re better off to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re stupid then to open it and remove all doubt!!!

Lisa, You said Obama has faced many issues that those of us whom are middle class and low income are facing and that he as fought through oppression, low income,ailing family, minority. Well, I have been poor and too, upper middle class, and myself, husband or not one of our 4 now grown children(all who have high paying jobs now) were ever able to go to the finest schools that Obama has gone to. Where in the heck did he get the money?? Never heard if it came from grants or scholorships and he himself said he wasted time doing cocaine and not caring to do anything when he was in high school so you can imagine his grades upon graduating, so that would mean no scholorships, or grants and shouldn’t have been let in from merit so explain, how does this education work?? My boys who are now engineers, one a chemical and the other electrical(who got his masters from UCLA in just one year)worked their behinds off, never got into prestigious schools as Obama who was a goof…Too many unaswered questions about him, sorry, and that has nothing to do with the fact that he is black..I do not object to a black man being our president, he just has to be the one that is deserving. Why not Colin Powell? He would have my vote tomorrow!!! Obama has no experience..He only served in the Senate a year before he was on the campaign trail for president… Catering to leftwing radical groups do not make you good presidential material. Check out Acorn and all his ties to this group who is now being investigated by the FBI and how much money his campaign has donated to this group that has been committing voter fraud and just so happens in mainly the swing vote states. I know alot of people say you shouldn’t judge someone by association with others but hey, there are too many in his life that have turned out to be America haters(Bill Ayres who is a domestic terrorist and not 20 years ago, as late as 2006 standing on the flag on the cover of Time magazine), Reverend Wright (G–Damn America and his hatrd for white people! Would that be racist?), Farhacan,(don’t even know and don’t care that I can’t spell his name correctly, who call Obama the next Mesiah)Rezko(dirty realestate deals),and the priest who spews hatred once again towards America. SCAREY

Mr. Mueller, Ayers probably is friendly but not open or he would step forward and fess us to his wrong doing. He injured serveral people when he bombed the Capitol, Pentagon and the NY Police Dept. He is an unrepentant domestic terrorist that never apologized for his actions, only said he was sorry he didn’t do more. Stood on the American Flag in 2006 on the front of Time Magazine. And yes you are right about the Vietnam War, it was horror. Horror that John McCain had had every bone in his body broken to protect our freedom back home!! Yeah, The freedom of speech you just had, bad mouthing him, he paid the price for you to have it!!! And please, The Woods Organiztion funnels money to Acorn and they are both supposed to be a non partisan group which support Obama and some of our tax dollars go into those groups and so they should be non partisan. But, why wouldn’t they support Obama? The Obama camp only donated $800,000.00 to Project Vote which is affiliated with ACORN who is now being investigated by the FBI for voter fraud. Obama’s association is a problem but it’s the participation with Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko, Flager, Acorn, Do you see a pattern here????? That is called POOR JUDGEMENT and when he makes excuses or lies about his connections, which he has, that is called CAN’T TRUST!

HopingForABetterWorld said: False: Can we get on to issues of substance now. Please republicans stop weaseling out of debate on the real issues Americans care about like the economy, the occupation, health, education for our kids etc… What’s that John is proposing $300 billion dollar bailout to the mortgage industry that conservatives hate and liberals see right through? Anything else???
Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid today, asked for another 300 billion goodie bag. The 300 billion Mr.McCain proposed, would come from the 700 billion already allocated, a few weeks ago. Mr.McCain also stated that he would rather see it for mortgages, then to the big boys in the big corporations.
I agree….this whole bail out isn’t good….but we must remember, if we blame Bush for this…more Democrats signed onto it, then did Republicans. Why? We also need to keep in mind…Obama signed on, as well as McCain.

The character of the person is no longer important ot the Americans. There are pieces to a puzzle, and Obama’s story…quite a bit are missing. Months ago, as I was doing my homework, mapping things out, who the candidates are…WHO THEY ARE…I did not, and still cannot find pieces to the puzzle who Obama is. In my opinion, for years, these certain group of people (who do not like or care about USA), groomed Obama to get in the oval office, so they can ease their way in destroying the United States of America inch by inch. Honestly, how was he able to finance himself through college, then Harvard? without student loans? How can someone very new in the political arena, for 4 yrs, and last 2 spent campaigning for a presidential seat? Candidates are required to disclose contributors to their campaign, Obama didn’t turned in half of it. How did he get away with this? Who’s responsible for allowing this to happen? Money talks, and I believe quite a few took the risk to the road of corruption..or is there something out there already ‘REALLY BIG” that these people are forced to comply. SCARY…VERY SCARY! With this note, I stand brave, and I would like to be proven wrong…so, if there folks out there, common folks like myself, if you have found the missing pieces to the puzzle…prove me wrong.