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McCain Continues Khalidi Attack on Larry King Live*

October 29, 2008 7:06 PM

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., continued to criticize the radical professors with whom Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has associations.

McCain attacked Obama for associating with both William Ayers and Rashid Khalidi on CNN's "Larry King Live" tonight:

MCCAIN:  Of course we have run ads that point out his record and also point out his associations.  And I still think, you know, we're watching now, a major newspaper has a tape that apparently has Mr. William Ayers in it.  I don't know if it does or not.  That's the allegation.  But that newspaper and their parent, the Tribune Company, and the Obama campaign refuse to release that.  Shouldn't the American people know about that?  At least they should have full information.

KING:  Speaking of newspapers, there is The L.A. Times.

MCCAIN:  Yes.

KING:  They apparently -- your campaign says that they're suppressing videotape of a 2003 banquet when Barack Obama praised Palestinian activist and scholar Rashid Khalidi.  What is this all -- what is this?

MCCAIN:  Why shouldn't they...

KING:  Why would the paper suppress this?

MCCAIN:  I have no idea.  If they have the tape, they ought to make the American people aware of it, let them see it and make their own judgment.  Frankly, I've been in a lot of political campaigns, a whole lot, I've never seen anything like this, where a major media outlet has information and a tape of some occasion -- maybe it means nothing, maybe it's just a social event, I don't know, but why should they not release it? And why shouldn't the Obama campaign want it released?

- jpt

* UPDATE: I'm told that the allegation is that Ayers was at this dinner for Khalidi as well. So my earlier post that McCain seemed to be confusing Ayers and Khalidi seems mistaken. I've corrected it.

October 29, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (101)

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Finally, Jake. Obama and his wife, Ayers and his former ten most wanted wife, Khalidi and his wife are all VERY good friends. Now I can say it again without you deleting me. All one has to do is look them up-if it hasn't been eraced that is. Obama and his "guys" in the neighborhood have known each other for much longer than has been printed. This sheds light on Jesse Jackson's premature boast about Zionists. When are they going to cover Obama's benefactor?(the one who got him into Harvard)

Posted by: RL in Illinois | Oct 29, 2008 11:14:14 PM

Somebody PLEASE explain! I just finished listening to the O'relly factor and he kept saying Ayers was a bad guy. If he is so bad, why is he a college professor? And why is Mccain bringing up Khaladi's organization when he supported it? If he is so bad, why is he teaching at Columbia? I am a few years older than Obama but I had an older brother who joined before being drafted, so I remember the times well. Most of our woodstock generation are on wall street now. We had the National Guard killing students and young boys being slaughtered in Nam. Things we not normal and people didn't act normal.

Posted by: SUSIE | Oct 29, 2008 10:13:27 PM

Thanks, Jake, for correcting. You're a great reporter.

Posted by: katmandu | Oct 29, 2008 9:57:36 PM

Hey Jake, this is in reference to your correction of McCain's botched comment; In this particular incident I agree, McCain did not botch this but he's made several blunders in the past AND SO HAS OBAMA. You seem pretty fair in you reporting but some in the media have completely ignored Obama's blunders like the "57 state" blunder and the "my muslim faith" blunder.

Posted by: morebs | Oct 29, 2008 9:22:11 PM

It isn't up to Obama to release this video. Yes, maybe he could have some say in it somewhere, but the LA Times has said they weren't and didn't release it because of the source. I support Obama, but to be fair I would like the see a written paper stating that the source doesn't want it released or a recording or something of the sort. But, in all honesty it is not far fetched that the source really didn't want it released and if it was against their wishes the publication could be sued.

Really I just think that this is old news and McCain is realizing that his hype of Palen is gone, and really just wasn't ever there. He is losing steam and needs to stir something up quick. He is constantly bashing Obama and I'm so tired of hearing the same old bull from him. I would like to hear about this $800,000 dollars....or maybe what he is planning on doing about jobs, the economy, Iraq, or maybe just anything he plans on doing.

BLAH BLAH BLAH Mr. McCain you loss more support with every bashing comment and attack you can meander up, but thank you for that.

Posted by: Shae | Oct 29, 2008 8:57:58 PM

That's It -- McCain doesn''t have a chance now.

Posted by: Jersey Joe | Oct 29, 2008 8:48:59 PM

McCain/Palin = Sewer Politics

Posted by: Lynda | Oct 29, 2008 8:09:29 PM

McCsin is a terrorist. He funded Khalid to the tune of $450,000. This is a clear case of hypocrisy.

Posted by: keith | Oct 29, 2008 8:08:34 PM

McCain's Last Ditch Effort:

"During the 1990s, while he served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars."

— Associated Press

Posted by: Jersey Joe | Oct 29, 2008 8:04:24 PM

Uh, Ayers was at the dinner, I guess, too...wouldn't really call that a botch.

Posted by: Wade | Oct 29, 2008 8:04:06 PM

Ayers and Dohrn were at the farewell party for Rashid and brought a present - but the hosts wisely didn't accept any wrapped gifts from the duo!!!

Posted by: robert b | Oct 29, 2008 8:00:03 PM

democratic,

I disagree. McCain/Palin aren't really angry. They are just plain selfish and greedy. Plus, its fake outrage to stir up *their base.

Obama/Biden 08!

Posted by: Common Sense | Oct 29, 2008 7:59:21 PM

McCain = G. Gordon Liddy
Palin = AIP

Obama/Biden 08!

Posted by: Common Sense | Oct 29, 2008 7:57:19 PM

I have come to the conclusion that McCain and Palin are both angy white people. I base this on the fact that the people that Obama may have been in the same room with, rubbed up against, accidentally looked at, shook hands with, held an intelligent conversation with, ate with, or happened to be in the same room with, are all non-whites or of a religion other than Christian. This is only my opinion so I could be wrong on some points, but McCain is starting to really get me hot under the collar with all of these insinuations or rumors.
I do not want this man in the White House!

Posted by: democratic | Oct 29, 2008 7:56:09 PM

McCain pals with terrorist. Palin pals with secessionist.

Posted by: owen | Oct 29, 2008 7:54:59 PM

John McCain has no viable policies, plans, or vision so he has decided to distract Americans with "swift-boat" tactics.

McCain doesn't want to even discuss his economic plan nor foreign policy position because it looks exactly like G.W. Bush's policies.

These men...Ayers and Khalidi are PROFESSORS at an "Ivy League" University...they both have a PhD. But McCain thinks some Americans are stupid enough to buy that they are "terrorists" ...teaching our kids in one of the Top American Universities for gosh sakes.

Americans aren't that dumb. I have to believe we are smarting than McCain believes us to be as a whole.

Posted by: Lori | Oct 29, 2008 7:53:49 PM

McCain is a terrorist. If you don't agree, why did he fund KHALADI'S ORGANIZATION.

Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 7:53:33 PM

McCain + Palin = Screwed
I THINK THE LA Times SHOULD RELEASE THE TAPE (If they have it) JUST TO PROVE THAT MCCAIN HAS MORE TIES TO THIS KHALADI THAN WHAT HE'S ACCUSING OBAMA OF..WHAT A HYPOCRITE, LYING, DESPERATE LITTLE MAN....MCCAIN HAS GIVEN OVER 800,000 TO KHALADI'S ORGANIZATON IN GRANT FUNDS....
ditto

Posted by: Jersey Joe | Oct 29, 2008 7:53:30 PM

We are waiting for McCain to denounce Khalidi and apologise to America for funding Khalidi`s organization to the tune of $450,000.

Posted by: krista | Oct 29, 2008 7:52:50 PM

McCain has run the worse campaign in America's history. Very unorganized.

Posted by: Jersey Joe | Oct 29, 2008 7:50:26 PM

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