Political Punch

Let's review again what that very same Steve Chapman said last May about McCain's ties with G. Gordon Liddy. First, a bit on Liddy's background from Wikipedia:

"In 1980, Liddy published an autobiography, titled 'Will', which sold more than a million copies and was made into a television movie. In it he states that he once made plans with Hunt to kill journalist Jack Anderson, based on a literal interpretation of a Nixon White House statement 'we need to get rid of this Anderson guy'…

"Some of his [radio talk-show comments shortly after the Branch Davidian raid] led to condemnation by then President Bill Clinton…

"August 26, 1994 - 'Now if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests … They've got a big target on there, ATF. Don't shoot at that, because they've got a vest on underneath that. Head shots, head shots…. Kill the sons of bitches.'

"September 15, 1994 - 'If the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms insists upon a firefight, give them a firefight. Just remember, they're wearing flak jackets and you're better off shooting for the head.' "

Now, Chapman's May article (

"What McCain didn't mention [while attacking Ayers] is that he has his own Bill Ayers -- in the form of G. Gordon Liddy. Now a conservative radio talk-show host, Liddy spent more than 4 years in prison for his role in the 1972 Watergate burglary. That was just one element of what Liddy did, and proposed to do, in a secret White House effort to subvert the Constitution. Far from repudiating him, McCain has embraced him.

"How close are McCain and Liddy? At least as close as Obama and Ayers appear to be.In 1998, Liddy's home was the site of a McCain fundraiser. Over the years, he has made at least four contributions totaling $5,000 to the senator's campaigns — including $1,000 this year.

"Last November, McCain went on his radio show. Liddy greeted him as 'an old friend,' and McCain sounded like one. 'I'm proud of you, I'm proud of your family,' he gushed. 'It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great.'

"…[During Liddy's Branch Davidian advice], he mentioned labeling targets 'Bill' and 'Hillary' when he [himself] practiced shooting…

"I made repeated inquiries [on the subject of Liddy] to [McCain's] campaign aides, which they refused to acknowledge, much less answer. On this topic, the pilot of the Straight Talk Express would rather stay parked in the garage."

If - Jake's hypothetical was true, I think Obama would be just as out of line attacking McCain as McCain is attacking Obama. We cannot be responsible for the political views or even law-abiding tendencies for everyone we meet, certainly when their record is far in the past and their current views are on matters that have no connection to the association. ----------- Now turn it around. What if Obama had something like involvement in the Keating Five and S&L collapse in his background --- or adultery and kicking-aside a loyal wife who was no longer pretty. Do you think , for a moment, that McCain and Palin would civilly ignore the private matter and bring up the past public history of unethical behavior affecting the financial fortunes of millions of citizens only after they were unfairly made the target of smears regarding guilt by association? Answer honestly.

If all the questions in Jakes blog were factual, then McCain would not be the Nominee. Now that we are learning more about Obama and this terrorist lets get the MSM to ask more probing questions to Obama directly as to why he would have ever dealt with a man like this? Furthermore, If Obama's lack of judgement in dealing with people is this bad, reporters should ask him what we should expect after his 143 days of first U.S. Senate service is over as well as his campaign for President.

"Why has no one asked Oprah why she eviscerated James Frey because he lied in his book, but nothing about the lies in Obama’s autobiography."
-----
That's a darn good question, especially since The CHANGEling most likely wouldn't have gotten as far as he has, except for Winfrey's proclaiming him "The ONE" on teevee.

This whole campaign SO sucks. If John Edwards had been the Democratic nominee, I'm doubting the "bailout" -- or the 950 OTHER billion dollars the Treasury's pumped into the banks in the last week -- would have happened.

With all the institutions in a united front for the mob candidate, there's nobody left to bitch about the takeover of the government by what most assuredly is fascism.

"Obama's connection with the Ayers family is like that of Pinnochio to Gepetto, for heaven's sake."

And yet not a single photograph of the two together exists...

interesting...

Glen asks:

"Thats exactly what we have with Obama. He spent years at Columbia University at the same time as Ayers. The two did not know each other?"

hey - I lived in the same city as Obama AND Ayers - and didn't know either - does that make me a liar too?

"Obama's connection with Ayers is tenuous, at best."
-----
Obama's connection with the Ayers family is like that of Pinnochio to Gepetto, for heaven's sake.

Medical costs have increase so much it's almost impossible to afford my medical care, even with insurance. My medical bills have wiped out our savings and my wife's 401K has lost over 30% of it's value in the last year. And you studpid republicans want to argue about Ayers.

You fools are in insult to humanity.

If Obama had a 17 year old daughter who was pregnant, he would probably lose Democrat votes because they would be angry that she didn't have an abortion.
And can anyone say that the press hasn't obsessed on the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's daughter? I see no similar obsession with Obama's close association with William Ayers and his utter lack of credibility in claiming that he didn't know about Ayers' past. What newspapers does he read, again?

CNN, of all places....CNN has said Obama lied about his friendship with William Ayres. That the relationship goes further, then just mere acquaintances, that served on a few boards together.

The coming out party for Obama, held at the Ayres home, was planned by Ayres and Obama. Not a mutual third party, and 2 people at said party said Obama lied about that.

2 former FBI agents, said that because Ayres is unrepentant for these crimes,would still make him a dangerous person in their opinions.

Obama's connection with Ayers is tenuous, at best.

Let's have a serious discussion on the economy.

Jake Tapper always gives objective facts and poses subjective positions to force you to analyze, how at times. the majority of the media do not consider.

McCain's statements (as the result of being broken by repeated torture) were OUT of character. So much that he tried to kill himself in his cell after he did it.

So, does that mean he is forgiven for every erratic and poor judgement decision he has been in the Senate over the last 27 years? The only reason he has lasted in the Senate for so long is because he was a POW. If that were not the case the Republican party in Arizona would have thrown him out long ago.

The coverage of this campaign reminds me of the same poor coverage of the run-up to the Iraq War. The media was so afraid of being called unpatriotic that they never investigated anything the Bush administration said. Now they are so afraid of being labeled racist they are handling Obama with kid gloves. Certainly, we have heard about Obama/Rezko, but what other candidate would get away with saying it was a “bone headed mistake” and that was the end of it? Bill Clinton would have been hammered. Speaking of Bill Clinton, I am still waiting for the media to explain to me why using the term fairytale is racist. Nobody ever asked anyone to explain. If anyone else had said typical white person it would have been in the headlines for weeks, but all I get is Chris Mathew’s tingling legs. The media keeps telling me how intelligent obama is but he has no academic writings to prove this statement so what is it based upon? Why has no one asked Oprah why she eviscerated James Frey because he lied in his book, but nothing about the lies in Obama’s autobiography. Once again the news people aren’t doing their job and the American people might pay for it.

John McCain launch his campaign in a room with a friend of Cindy McCain whom he was cheating on his wife with at the time. McCain's hands are not clean. Neither is Palin with her voodoo witch doctor blessing, Alaska statehoood support, and troopergate scandal. McCain\Palin I am sure will say at least they didn't target America. Maybe not, but I would surely question McCain's and Palin's character and judgement in their involvement in them.

I watched an international report on the state of the world economy last night.

Reports were of country after country and how each one's economy is crashing because of the US economic mismanagement - it is worldwide. Americans sure hasn't make any friends around the world the way the US ran things economically.

The discussion was also about how the US has had it's day, the world power is over. The allies were shown, some in their own, parliaments, Germany for example, actually announcing the end of the American dominance and you know what the allies of America did - they CHEERED. That's right. Of course this would never be found on an American station.

America has destroyed it's reputation in the world because of, mainly the wars, and arm twisting in other areas. What some citizens and the current government don't seem to get, is that Americans generally don't look from a perspective of the outside in - they naval gaze. According to all the experts, America's leaderhip in the world in ways that matter, is over. The goodwill is gone.

China, India and Russia will be dominating from now.

For TWO years, America was warned that it cannot afford 10 billion dollars a month to run ONE war. America was warned about the unregulated banks. We've heard which candidates have been warning of this for TWO YEARS.

And yet, what does the world see? America potentially electing a candidate like sarah palin who absolutely in no way can deal with the endless list of grave issues America and the world faces. We see her ranting and raging like a nut in a third world country about hateful things and we wonder - what the heck is wrong with the US? Why are they even entertaining the notion that this is a serious candidate? It is embarrassing.

And then we see John McCain, in ailing health, so out of touch with the realities of the world and the citizens - in one area alone, Iraq, if any candidate doesn't want to get the heck out of Iraq, that should be one big red flag.

The Republicans candidate voted over and over and OVER to deregulate, he's quite happy to stay at war and GO to war, his policies really don't give the working poor and the middle class a bit of a foundation to get through what will be in a few months, a bad recession and possibly down the road, a world-wide depression.

How can any candidate possibly think 10 billion dollars a month is something a near bankrupt America can afford?

Unforutnately, America has had it so good for so long that there seems to be a denial about how grave the situation is.

If people truly recognized the danger the country is in, as everyone else in the world does, then there is no way, NO WAY, they would stand for a cartoonish hee haw character spewing about a bunch of nonsense - that person would not be taken seriously and booted from the stage.

It really is sad to see this happen to the US but America chose this path, you the voter, you chose bush, cheney and that party. We are all waiting to see if you now reward the whole pack with the big prize or finally punish them.

Bankrupting the country with the wars etc.:

The Republican war monger current administration and the mccain/palin ticket ("goin' after those terrorists") played EXACTLY into Bin Laden's hands and Iran, China, Chavez hopes and plans.

They've been meeting over the years and plotting and making speeches openly - the goal is this slaying of the American empire through bankruptcy, jobs shifted elsewhere and China buying up all the gold for a while now - and the American government that voters elected got sucked right in.

There seems to be defensiveness and a "I don't care what the world thinks" by some citizens but the fact remains, this is a global society and it does matter. The consequences are before you now.

This analysis report of the American situation within the world was quite grave and the bottom line was that America had better start to realize her cowboy politics has dreadfully backfired (deny or not) and the economy, the American strength, is over. The good will is gone. There are things that matter beyond the US borders believe it or not.

Great question! Of course, McCain would be nowhere near to stepping into the White House; the mainstream media would have seen to that! Why has Obama gotten a free pass?

MCCAIN LIVES IN A GLASS HOUSE ---OR IS IT 7 GLASSHOUSES-------IF HE WANTS TO THROW STONES THEN HE WILL GET THE TRUTH THROWN BACK AT HIM --HIS DISTRACTION WONT WORK --SOME OF US ARE A LITTLE SMARTER THAN HE IS.

What a cesspool these boards are becoming. Thanks, Jim, for remaining calm and rational. The loonies come in, ranting about how McCain was either not really tortured or a collaborator with the Vietnamese or some other nonsense and you have to wonder about all those vaunted claims that it is the well-educated who are drawn to Obama. But then, I never bought that line, since I am an academic with a PhD who is strongly for McCain. As Jim says, we know McCain's character and his presidency will reflect that character-- he will put his country first, work in a bipartisan way, and fight for reform. We have to wonder about Obama's character and judgment and what we see of that judgment concerns me in considering how he would govern. I am not taking that chance.

I think all political and monetary associations linked to our elected officials should be made public. An informed and educated electorate is what makes this country great.

I think it's very relevant that Senator Obama has had RADICAL Muslims raising money for him since 1988. questions have been raised about Obama’s student loans and Obama’s ties to a radical Muslim activist who reportedly was raising money for Obama’s Harvard studies during the years 1988 to 1991. The allegations first surfaced in late March when former Manhattan Borough president Percy Sutton told a New York cable channel that a former business partner who was “raising money” for Obama had approached him in 1988 to help Obama get into Harvard Law School. In the interview Sutton says he first heard of Obama about twenty years ago from Khalid Al-Mansour a Black Muslim and Black Nationalist who was a “mentor” to the founders of the Black Panther party at the time the party was founded in the early 1960s.

THE ONLY REASON HE WANTED TO KILL HIMSELF WAS BECAUSE HE WAS IN VERY DIRECT CONFLICT WITH HIS FATHER--ALSO SHOWS HE IS A LITTLE UNSTABLE--WHICH HE STILL SHOWS TODAY

8:07:10

First, welcoming a group to a particular geographical location (what Palin did in the 'damning' video) is not paramount to belonging to that group. This has been debunked completely. She never was a member of that party. Simply not true.

Secondly, having a teenage daughter who is pregnant hardly reveals a deep character flaw or a political predisposition in the parent.

But thanks for playing. You make a real nice straw man that almost combusts spontaneously.

JT1
JUST THINK WHAT WOULD BE SAID IF OBAMA WAS ON THE RADIO DENOUNCING THE TROOPS AND CONDEMING THE USA----MCCAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN HUNG FOR TREASON---BUT HIS DADDY SAVED HIM.

Hey, if someone had Obama tortured for years until he had an association with Ayers then I think we could give him a pass.

What Obama did was IN character.

McCain's statements (as the result of being broken by repeated torture) were OUT of character. So much that he tried to kill himself in his cell after he did it.

OTOH, Obama has made every step of the way about him. It's all about Barack. His narcissism makes Bill Clinton look like Mother Teresa.

SINCE OBAMA - FOR TWO YEARS - HAS NOT LOWERED HIMSELF TO PLAY THE "GUILT BY ASSOCIATION" SMEAR GAME - I WOULD HAVE TO SAY, THAT BASED ON HIS REPUTATION AS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT SINK INTO GUTTER POLITICS, HE WOULD NOT USE THIS AGAINST MCCAIN.

NOW - HERE IS A CHALLENGE:

HOW ABOUT THIS HYPOTHETICAL? IF OBAMA'S DAUGHTER WAS FORNICATING AT SIXTEEN YEARS OLD AND WAS PREGNANT AT 17, AND IF HIS WIFE BELONGED TO A RADICAL GROUP IN A PARTICULAR STATE AND HELD MEMBERSHIP FOR A MINIMUM OF SEVEN YEARS AND THIS GROUP WANTED TO BE A COUNTRY OF IT'S OWN AND IN TREASONOUS TERMS RANTED ABOUT ITS HATRED OF AMERICA OVER AND OVER AND USED VIOLENT LANGUAGE - DO YOU THINK ALL OF THIS WOULD BE SPLASHED ON EVERY NEWS CHANNEL AND MAGAZINE IN THE COUNTRY??????? WHAT WOULD BE THE REASON IF IT WASN'T? DO YOU THINK THE "BABY MAMA" SMEARS WOULD BE ALL OVER THE INTERNET? DO YOU THINK THE SCARY, BLACK, RADICAL, TREASONOUS WIFE HEADLINES WOULD BE ALL OVER AS WELL?

IS THE MEDIA COMPLICIT IN THIS DOUBLE STANDARD BY ITS SILENCE?

obama is guilty of something another has done----WHY IS MCCAIN NOT GUILTY FOR HIS PERSONAL TREASONES BEHAVIOR---SEEMS FUNNY HOW THE I WAS A POW HAS VANISHED

By using the "what if McCain" did --- seems to be your way of defending Obama's association with Ayers.

Well, lets add to your story line Jake. What if McCain had gone to the same University as the abortion Clinic Bomber at the same time and there were no records of the years attending the school and no records of the years in Government at the state level. Thats exactly what we have with Obama. He spent years at Columbia University at the same time as Ayers. The two did not know each other? Also, Obama's legislative record from his years in Illinois have somehow just disappeared. This is a man who touts his experience yet we know nothing about the years of experience he claims make him ready for the White House. Again, where has the media been. Where are the investigations?

The level of ignorance on the subject of Ayers by writers on this blog is staggering. He has ADMITTED to the bombings. Charges were dropped against him (Ayers) because wire tapping evidence was thrown out. People...open your eyes. The man (Ayers) said he is sorry he didn't do more in terms of bombing. And the scary thing is that the Ayers friendship is just one of MANY questionable friendships that Obama has maintained!!

WHY WASNT MCCAINPERSONALY TRIED FOR TREASON----HE HAD NO PROBLEM SPREADING PROPAGANDA AGAINST THE TROOPS AND THE USA,WHEN IN NAM

Here's another hypothetical:

What if John McCain had been a member of a church for twenty years that, on a fairly regular basis, condemned America for still clinging to affirmative action, calling the USA "The United States of NAACP" in derisive form? And we have the videos...

Game over if that had been the case. You know it. I know it. Everyone here knows it.

If Ayers past is so important, then why don't someone fire him from the University?

mccain is so desperate he would kick his mother to the curb----he will never cease to be a vile old man--with very little to offer----all his past should be held against him--including when he broadcast propaganda against the usa when he was a prisioner in nam----if not for his father who was admiral in charge of the pacific fleet at the time--he most likely would have been hung for treason---mccain lives in a very large glass house and should not throw lieing or exagerated stones.

Jake,

We all know the media would be all over it...

McCain is white..so an Ayer's association with McCain would not have been an issue, at least with mainstream media, just as McCain's association with Libby was not an issue, nor Keating 5 an issue with mainstream media......

until progressive bloggers started leading the charge against McCain which mainstream media eventually and unwillingly picks up in order to compete.

So these will not be issues because McCain benefits greatly from his white privilege.

McCain is white..so an Ayer's association with McCain would not have been an issue, at least with mainstream media, just as McCain's association with Libby was not an issue, nor Keating 5 an issue with mainstream media......

until progressive bloggers started leading the charge against McCain which mainstream media eventually and unwillingly picks up in order to compete.

So these will not be issues because McCain benefits greatly from his white privilege.

This just in! McCain supported the Iran-Contra affair. Yes John McCain supported a group of ex-Nazi collaborators who supplied arms to IRAN in return for monies used to buy weapons for the Contras in South America. I guess since we are talking about associations this is relevant. Obviously McCain has no problem supporting right-wing radicals that actually kill innocents. He only has a problem with anybody who might be remotely associated with left wing radicals who harmed noone.

Once again, the mainstream media, now Jake Tapper, tries to downplay the significance of the fact Obama was more than just "friendly" with Ayers.

Jake, look into the Annenberg records. Why did Obama first say Ayers is just some guy in the neighborhood, and now he's back tracking? If there is nothing here, why isn't he discussing it openly but critical of those who ask it.

THINK: OBAMA KICKED OFF HIS POLITICAL CAREER IN THE LIVING ROOM OF AN UNREPENTANT DOMESTIC TERRORIST WHO AFTER 9/11 REAFFIRMED THAT HE IS UNREPENTANT FOR HIS ACTIONS.

I have no doubt that the Obama propagandists (aka mainstream media) would crucify McCain over it...reminiscent of the Hillary "I dodged gun fire" gaffe v. Joe Biden's "I was shot at" gaffe. Hillary was crucified by the media over it...Biden...crickets.

Is any of this fair...no...but that's politics...everyone should just get over it...

I have no idea if any clinic bombers or doctor/nurse murderers hosted fund raisers for McCain.

I do know that in '92 and '93, McCain voted against making abortion clinic bombings and arson and the murders of doctors and nurses providing abortions into federal crimes. He also supported a bill that would allow those guilty of clinic-related crimes to avoid paying fines by declaring bankruptcy.

"Domestic terrorism" seems to be kind of a relative thing to the McCains of the world. As long as you support the ends, any means seem to be just fine.

I believe that John McCain was touting his relationship with, and his endorsement by, Oliver North, just this past February.   There's another guy who was charged but not convicted.  Beat the rap and went on with his life.  And is fairly "unrepentant" about his illegal activities.
 

Wouldn't it be interesting to see a Republican presidential candidate some day who was friends with and worked with David Duke?

Surely the media would ignore that story.

/sarcasm

Jake,
Great questions! Too bad few folks actually answered them. If McCain had an association with a guy who admitted bombing abortion clinics, against whom charges were dropped due to a technicality, etc. etc., the media would be feasting. John McCain wouldn't be able to get within 100 yards of a microphone or TV camera without being asked about it by a reporter. The Obama campaign, the liberal establishment, all the liberal, pro-Obama, mainline newsmedia would be repeating and exaggerating the story and not hiding their glee as they do it.

Not a news article from a supposed news bureau. If all the so-called news media reported the news, as such, without their hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil of Obama biases, then we wouldn't have such questions because Obama wouldn't even be a US Senator, let alone a candidate for the presidency.

Is the media capable of any independent thought or is it simply led by the nose by one campaign at a time?
Always the nastiest because they are losing.
First it was the Clinton's, now McCain's.
JT, you know this question and this article are cheap shot to increase your blog figures.
Compared to McCain and Palin, Obama is an innocent in Washington.
Both McCain and his wife have escaped punishment for their felonious misdeeds due to insider clout.
She should have been sent to jail like her father (twice a Mafia felon) and his Senate colleagues shielded him in the Keating 5 savings and loan bailout.
Yet you crucify a man who has done nothing wrong except be acquainted in passing with a man who has never been convicted of a crime.
Liddy and Oliver have committed treason and escaped like Reagan and the two slimy Bushes and Cheney.
The latter should be tried for genocide.
You have a warped value system.
Be sure to do everything you can to boost your readership over an innocent man's body.

Here are some real hypothetical questions:

What if the news media was not part of the 0bama campaign and didn't run mostly laudatory articles and editorials about 0bama? What if they weren't doing a 24/7 hit job on Governor Palin and Senator McCain? (ABC: McCain ‘Nasty & Bitter’; CBS: He’s Going Negative to Depress Turnout) What if our U.S. ''Free Press'' was actually honest in it's reporting, had not been taken over by Communists, Socialists, and Marxists, and was not biased? What if Olbermann had to tell the truth for one brief instant?

I think the answer to these questions would be that our universe would blink out of existence from the extremely high ratio of improbability coinciding with reality. In short - fat chance.

- Chicago Mayor Daley has said that Senator Obama and Bill Ayers were "friends."
- The Annenberg Challenge records show Ayers and Obama met dozens of times.
- Obama NEVER talks about and did not write in his two book about his four years as CEO of the $110Million Annenberg Challenge, in spite of the fact that he desperately needs some executive experience on his resume. This four years glaring gap in his professional resume should be a red flag to anyone who's ever been responsible for hiring people. Avoided resume gaps are bad news. And this was a mere 10 years ago. Couple this with a refusal to release his Occidental, Columbia and Harvard Law transcripts and Illinois Bar application and you have yourself a stealth candidate applying for the highest office in the land.
- David Axelrod said that Obama and Ayers' kids went to the same school and that was about it. Ayer's kids happen to be 20 years older than Obama's. So why would Axelrod say this?
- In a Democratic Primary debate Obama described Ayers as "an acquaintance".

If the Ayers/Obama relationship is all so darn harmless, what's everyone hiding, and why?

Abortion Clinic bomber---??...I doubt that a hero might emerge from whence...my thoughts about Abortion are hinged to FRAUD...and I might think that early clinics had NOT met the fraudulent characters that ecist today...but might associate bombings like pushing away the OUTSIDERS of crime..really meaning FRAUD...I doubt that Ayers has a mind about justice...and is more akin to crime and fraud.(period)

McNamarra and LBJ, in their later years, admitted that the Vietnam War should never have been fought. Thousands of Americans protested the war. Were these folks terriests?

Ayers was in a protest group but no one has ever proved he did anything illegal.
In his subsequent life, he became a professor in a major university and worked in many civic groups to better his community. This has been documented.

QUESTION: What problem does the McCain/Palin group have with Obama knowing someone like Ayers? At the time of Ayer's membership in the protest group, Obama was eight years old.

Like so many things in Washington the problem isn't that he knows him, it is the lies about his relationship that Obama needs to address. Ayers like him or not does not make a secret of where he stands. He wears his past as a badge of honor. For Obama to deny and then minimalize their relationship is the real problem. It is this reason the American people believe that Obama has something to hide. If he has nothing to hide, then why the need to lie?

This old friend stuff is pretty weak. Let's look at the present: McCain's staff IS FULL OF LOBBYISTS ! For oil so they can screw us, for drugs so they keep out cheaper ones from Canada, etc.; he takes lobby money but Sen. Obama ONLY funds his campaign with personal donations. ----- Those average a few hundred dollars, McCain gets many fewer but mostly from rich Republicans. --- And McCains's staff has "smart" people like the ex-HP CEO who drove the stock down and now they are laying off 25,000 people! Or Phil Gramm, who as a lobbyist for a foreign company, helped to start the housing crisis! ----- Now those are some CURRENT connections to be worried about!

Communist

Declared war on the united States

Confessed to setting off bombs, said he did not do enough and wished he could of done more.

Best Friend, close personal friend for 20 years.

Worked, played, dined, and vacationed with these friends.

Their father was the like godfather of the inner circle of Chicago, handed it down to his two sons. The weathly and powerful.

I think it needs looked into

Knowing someone is a communist, knowing they were a terrorist, knowing they still felt the same now as when they set the bombs, and choose to keep the friendship is wrong on so many levels.

Any other person would not of made it this far in the race.

Especially knowing his other friends were Anti Americans and muslim supporters.

Well, well. Pleased to see how many people posting here are aware that Steve Chapman pointed out (in May and again in August) the connection between John McCain and Gordon Liddy.

Of course we know how the media reacted to that (and the rest of McCain's questionable associations). Dead silence.

Can we mention G. Gordon Liddy?

And for what it's worth, McCain includes former IRA sympathizer Peter King among his supporters (King having switched from Giuliani, and rebranded himself as a 'terrorism expert' in reverse order) and would presumably glad-hand the current crop of NI pols on March 17 next year.

The premise of your comparison is faulty. The idea that Ayers was just a guy in the neighborhood has been debunked. Ayers handpicked him to chair the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which they worked on together for six years funneling money to questionable organizations. Obama's political career was launched in Ayers' living room. And they served on more than one board together. Their working relationship can be traced for the past 21 years. Even CNN ran a piece tonight charting their relationship, and much to Anderson Cooper's dismay, they found that Obama's claim to "barely know him" is a lie.

CrystalD: Well said.

Joe Klein: "What A Desperate Empty Embarrassment The McCain Campaign Has Become"

And, what if he took money from an American terrorist/bomber to give to groups to radicalize kids?

The MSM has not explored the relationship between David Ifshin and John McCain.

Think Jane Fonda. Call him 'Hanoi David.' And yes, they knew each other. And Bill Clinton. And John McCain.

It seems Ifshin is the voice McCain heard daily in his POW cell in Hanoi.

It seems years later, they met and became friends.

McCain actually accepted that Ifshin had changed, and even spoke at Ifshin's funeral.

Ifshin was a former owner of The New Republic, and a former lawyer to Bill Clinton.

The same Bill Clinton who pardoned William Ayers.

I read somewhere in the good book, I think it's in one of those famous ten commandments. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

I would think that those of you who know better ought to uphold this value. Unless you are absolutely sure, you ought to let your conscience guide your actions.

Well, Actually, John McCain has defended and supported those who would use violence against abortion clinics:

– Voting against making anti-choice violence a federal crime. As the Jed Report notes, McCain voted in 1993 and 1994 against making “bombings, arson and blockades at abortion clinics, and shootings and threats of violence against doctors and nurses who perform abortions” federal crimes.

– Opposing Colorado’s “Bubble Law.” McCain said he opposed Colorado’s “Bubble Law,” which prohibited abortion protesters from getting within 8 feet of women entering clinics [Denver Post, 2/27/00]. The law was later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

– Voting to allow those fined for violence at clinics to avoid penalties by declaring bankruptcy. NARAL Pro-Chioce America notes that McCain “voted to allow perpetrators of violence or harassment at reproductive-health clinics to avoid paying the fines assessed against them for their illegal acts by declaring bankruptcy.”

Apparently Sen McCain has his own domestic terrorist issues. And let's not forget Sarah Palin is MARRIED to a former (6 years) Alaska Independence Party member. Whole lot more smoke around McCain Palin than around Sen. Obama.

CrystalD you may want to add to your list the fact that obama refuses to turn over his donation records many of which are very questionable to the FEC as requested. mccain agreed to turn his over.
you may also add the unresolved judge berg verus obama issue regarding obamas citizenship new updates today regarding the ruling by the judge.
who is this guy?

"We Are Communist Women And Men, Underground In The United States For More Than Four Years."

You'd better believe that Barry flirted with Communism in his youth. The real question is what is his real agenda?

The question "how is this revelant?"

The relationship is revelant because nothing is public about this candidate.
Barry is the only major candidate who has been able to ride out his campaign as the guy who came from almost nowhere, thus unencumbered by the need to defend any old policies or past decisions.
For a candidate who wants to be elected PTOS, there is nothing wrong with questioning his associations.
A most secretive candidate with dubious associates.

Since I know little about what Barry has done during his tenure in the Illinois senate:
"The Obama campaign says that Sen. Obama has no state senate records to release"
"Illinois State Senate schedule -- 'not available' "

Nothing is mentioned Barry's educational background :
Occidental College records -- Not released

Columbia College records -- Not released

Columbia Thesis paper -- 'not available'

Harvard College records -- Not released

Harvard Law Review articles published -- None

University of Chicago scholarly articles -- None

I do know that Barry was a lawyer for ACORN, but nothing about his other clients.
Obama has not released his Rezko law records
Law practice client list -- Not released

I have never seen an interview with any former friends, classmates, other attorneys or anyone
who can offer information about the "character" of Barry.
Where is the horde of reporters and lawyers descending on Chicago to investigate Obama's decisions and dealings?

The ties between Barack Obama and terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn go back over 21 years.

The long and short of it? Barack Obama knew, and knew well, that Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn were terrorists when he met them. He just didn't care.

Senator Obama served as a paid director to a "progressive" Chicago-area non-profit organization, the Woods Fund, from 1999 until almost 2003. William C. Ayers served with Senator Obama on the organization's board of directors.
2001 the Woods Fund gave a $40,000 financial aid grant to a group with ties to the PLO
2002, the Woods Fund gave the Arab American Action Network a second gift of $35,000.
Senator Obama chaired the CAC from 1995 through 1999 Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) -- what essentially became Mr. Ayers' failed Leftist attempt to redesign education in Chicago schools
Woods Fund, it also made a $1,000,000 contribution to Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC)
Barack Obama, at Bill Ayers' behest, began work in 1995 at the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.
From March Of 1995 Until September Of 1997, Obama And Ayers Attended At Least Seven Meetings Together Relating To The Chicago Annenberg Challenge.
NOTE: Bill Ayers Was Asked To Help Obama Formulate The Chicago Annenberg Challenge By-Laws.
In 1997, Obama Praised Ayers' Book On The Juvenile Justice System. "The two men were involved in efforts to reform the city's education system. They appeared together on academic panels, including one organized by Michelle Obama to discuss the juvenile justice system, an area of mutual concern. Mr. Ayers's book on the subject won a rave review in The Chicago Tribune by Mr. Obama, who called it 'a searing and timely account.'" (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, "Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side," The New York Times, 5/11/08)
"[Obama And Ayers] Have Also Appeared Jointly On Two Academic Panels, One In 1997 And Another In 2001." (Russell Berman, "Obama's Ties To Left Come Under Scrutiny," The New York Sun, 2/19/08)
From 1999 To 2002, Obama Served With Ayers On The Board Of Directors For Woods Fund Of Chicago. "[Ayers] served with [Obama] from 1999 to 2002 on the board of the Woods Fund
During The Time Obama And Ayers Served Together On The Woods Fund, Ayers Was Quoted Saying "I Don't Regret Setting Bombs ... I Feel We Didn't Do Enough."
NOTE: Obama, Born August 14th, 1961, Was 40 Years Old When Ayers Was Quoted
While Obama And Ayers Were Serving On The Woods Fund Together, Ayers Posed Standing On An American Flag For An Article In Chicago Magazine Entitled "No Regrets."
The Weather Underground Produced A Manual Which Begins, "We Are A Guerrilla Organization. We Are Communist Women And Men, Underground In The United States For More Than Four Years."

Elderly peoples retirement accounts are being wiped out while McSame has 9 houses and 13 cars. That's why he doesn't get it. He wants to talk about Professor Ayers and the 1960's and make up lies about Obama. Does he think Obama is going to bomb a federal building and move to Afganistan. Where would Michelle shop for clothes and have her nails done.I don't thionk his girls would like it there.

Mack ...at that same rally with Palin, when she said terrorist, someone in the crowd yelled "kill 'em".

Does that not constitute a dangerous position?

Obama/Biden '08

If Obama were associated and "palling around " with a terrorist, do you think first, he would be in the Senate, walking the streets free, running for president?

And don't say that he has connection and that is why he is free, to say that means that your party as well is even more corrupt.

Please McCain, how dumb do you think the American public really are that after 9/11 that any one in government would allow a terrorist to walk free?

I consider you and the republican party domestic terrorists to have allowed Wall Street to rape and steal from me, my American dream.
And those who took the CEO umbrellas need to be behind bars for terrorism.
When this election is over and you must go back to the Senate and Palin crawls back to Alaska, I hope you sleep well at night in one of your 7 homes, while others search for that next cardboard box they will be using for their home.

Obama/Biden '08

"You would probably won't for"

Meant would.

"I read about Obama's "association" with Ayers, weighed it and moved on. "

You must get all of your news from the MSM and are too lazy to do any type of critical thinking. You would probably won't for Osama Bin Laden just because he isn't a Republican.

I have to agree better then and debunk it than now (Thanks, Hillary??)

"I think this is a major way that Hillary's campaign helped Obama in the general election. Ayers came out months ago due to the tough primary season. I read about Obama's "association" with Ayers, weighed it and moved on. It's old news now. It's not relevant to deciding who would be a better president, has a better grasp of the issues facing America and would be best able to solve the urgent problems. "

A different alternate analogy, Jake -- I still think the Kent State shooter scenario is apt, but here's a second scenario more analogous than the abortion clinic bomber:

What if McCain had launched his political career in the living room of a Vietnam veteran who is a William Calley-like figure, who ordered the troops under his command to torture and massacre an entire village of several hundred people, as at My Lai, who is now a respected lecturer at a conservative think tank, who is unrepentant in his previous actions, but was never charged with a crime, and who now promotes U.S. hegemony through lectures, rather than on the ground in a theater of war...

And what if he'd given McCain a $200 campaign contribution eight years ago, and they'd served on a board together, and were "friendly" though they hadn't spoken in a while, and McCain had condemned his previous actions and didn't know him back then…

And what if right now McCain were ahead with a Republican wind blowing, and Obama were behind.

And what if Obama started attacking McCain about this guy, saying that McCain is "palling around with war criminals."

How would it look to you? How would the media react? How would YOU react, Jake? And would it be a fair hit?

"First at a McCain rally someone yelled out terrorist when McCain asked "Who is the real Barack Obama" and than at a Palin rally, someone emphasized Obama's middle name Hussein. This just shows you that McCain supporters are RACISTS. "

They were Obama plants, so that he can keep his race card in play. As all else begins to fail, he will be clinging to that race card like it was a gun or a bible. Oh the irony.