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With Dow Below 9,000 for First Time Since 2003, McCain Focuses on Ayers

October 09, 2008 8:59 PM

On the stump and in an interview with ABC News' Charlie Gibson today, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., upped the ante in the attacks his campaign is making on the character of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., personally invoking Obama's relationship with education professor William Ayers, a former member of the violent, radical '70s group, the Weather Underground.

McCain's comments came on the seventh straight day of Wall Street losses, with the Dow plunging 679 points to trade below 9,000 points for the first time in five years.

But McCain sought to refocus attention from that to Obama's relationship with Ayers, who hosted a coffee get-together for Obama in 1995 and served on two boards with him, including one that the McCain campaign misleadingly called a "radical education foundation" in a Web video released today. The Chicago Annenberg Challenge was funded by Walter Annenberg, a former ambassador to the United Kingdom under President Nixon.

**

It's not as if the notion that Republicans would use Ayers to attack Obama is new.

In February, I asked Obama about four items Republicans would use to attack him on the theme of patriotism. Obama answered three of them, but skipped the one about Ayers.

During a Democratic primary debate in April, George Stephanopoulos noted Obama's relationship with Ayers and pointed out that the Weather Underground bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol and other buildings, but that Ayers had "never apologized for that. And, in fact, on 9/11, he was quoted in the New York Times saying, 'I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough.'"

Obama said of Ayers, 'This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know, and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense."

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., then pointed out that "Sen. Obama served on a board with Mr. Ayers for a period of time, the Woods Foundation, which was a paid directorship position. And, if I'm not mistaken, that relationship with Mr. Ayers on this board continued after 9/11 and after his reported comments, which were deeply hurtful to people in New York and, I would hope, to every American, because they were published on 9/11, and he said that he was just sorry they hadn't done more. And what they did was set bombs. And in some instances, people died. So it is-- I think it is, again, an issue that people will be asking about."

Clinton said, "I know Sen. Obama's a good man and I respect him greatly, but I think that this is an issue that certainly the Republicans will be raising."

**

And raise it they are. But Republican officials not connected to the McCain campaign fret that given the economic turmoil going on, these attacks will only serve to alienate voters from McCain.

It's not as if these officials don't think it's legitimate issue. And it's certainly true that Obama and his campaign have been less-than-forthcoming about the Ayers relationship.

But Republicans worry that few swing voters will find this issue more compelling than the economy, and many think it will only paint McCain as nasty and out of touch.

Taking only part of Obama's quote from that April debate, McCain today told Charlie Gibson that Obama was obfuscating.

Ayers "wasn't a guy in the neighborhood. [Obama] launched his political career in his living room, in Mr. Ayers' living room," McCain said. "And I don't care about two washed-up old terrorists that are unrepentant about trying to destroy America. But I do care, and Americans should care, about his relationship with him and whether he's being truthful and candid about it.

"I think it's a factor about Sen. Obama's candor and truthfulness with the American people," McCain said, before adding, "I don't care about Mr. Ayers, who on Sept. 11, 2001, said he wished he'd have bombed more. I don't care about that. I care about [Obama] being truthful about his relationship with him. And Americans will care."

Obama told Gibson yesterday, "I'll repeat again what I've said many times. This is a guy who engaged in some despicable acts 40 years ago when I was 8 years old. By the time I met him, 10 or 15 years ago, he was a college professor of education at the University of Illinois. ... And the notion that somehow he has been involved in my campaign, that he is an adviser of mine, that ... I've 'palled around with a terrorist,' all these statements are made simply to try to score cheap political points."

**

In a Republican joint town hall meeting in Wisconsin that seemed to evoke a lot of anger against the Democratic presidential nominee today, McCain and running mate Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska leveled many charges against Obama.

“Welcome to Wisconsin," said one man, according to ABC News Bret Hovell. "Thanks for coming. I'm mad! I'm really mad! And what's gonna surprise you, it's not the economy. It's the socialists taking over our country.

"Sit down, I'm not done,” he told the applauding crowd. “I think it's so important, in today's country, what we're really missing and what's going on. When you have an Obama, Pelosi and the rest of the hooligans up there gonna run this country, we've got to have our head examined. It's time that you two are representing us, and we are mad. So go get them!”

The crowd began chanting: "U-S-A! U-S-A!"

“Well, I think I got the message,” McCain said. “Could I just say: The gentleman is right. The Democrats have been in the majority for the last two years. Have you seen any improvement?”

Said another man, "We’re all wondering why that Obama is where he’s at, How he got here. I mean everybody in this room is stunned that we’re in this position. ... We are all a product of our associations. Is there not a way to get around this media and line up the people that he has hung with?”

“Well, sir, with your help,” McCain said. “With your help and the people in this room, we will find out -- just as Sen. Clinton said in the primary that we should find out about this association. Look, we don’t care about an old washed up terrorist and his wife who still, at least on Sept. 11, 2001, said he still wanted to bomb more."

The audience disagreed with this line, as one might expect.

“That’s not the point here," McCain insisted. "The point is Sen. Obama said he was just a guy in the neighborhood. We know that’s not true. We need to know the full extent of the relationship because of whether Sen. Obama is telling the truth to the American people or not. That’s the question.”

**

As I type this on Thursday evening, the Asian markets are open and they're down. The Seoul composite is down nearly 9 percent and the Nikkei is down about 5 percent.

-- jpt

October 9, 2008 in McCain, John | Permalink | Share | User Comments (59)

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Are we still pretending that McCain has great judgement?

Posted by: WeTakeManyPictures | Oct 10, 2008 5:46:17 PM

So ACORN Barry pays off the boys sent to register the dead Chicago style to the tune of $800k, but it shouldn't matter. He hangs with Terrorists who bomb the Capitol an try to kill people and don't care, but it shouldn't matter. He takes $250,000 from Tony Rezko a Syrian convicted of political fraud, but it shouldn't matter. He has the same dirtbag Rezko buy his house for him, but it shouldn't matter. His spiritual leader is a scum bag anti-American, racist preacher, but it shouldn't matter. He hangs around with Nancy Pelosi, the worst speaker of the house in the history of the United States but it shouldn't matter. He takes a couple of hundred grand from Fannie Mae to look the other way so they could melt down the entire world economy, but it doesn't matter. He kisses butt on two financial terrorists, Chris Dodd and fat boy Barney Frank, but it shouldn't matter. He bums cigarettes from bystanders but tells his wife he quit smoking, but it doesn't matter. He's a lying creep. It does matter. Oh, I guess that's racist, huh?

Posted by: CrystalD | Oct 10, 2008 1:55:36 PM

Thank you, COncerned in Ohio. Obama has shown a pattern of bad judgment and of doing and saying whatever fits his political needs of the moment. (Here I am thinking of examples like his pledge to take public financing when that sounded popular, then opting out when that would help him get more money and an advantage in the election) How Terri can think that voting for Obama would be good for the future of her children is beyond me. For MY children's sake, I will vote McCain. These are treacherous times and we need McCain's leadership.

Posted by: Moderate | Oct 10, 2008 1:48:45 PM

Well, no, Jake, McCain does not FOCUS on Ayers to the exclusion of the economy. At his rallies and interviews, he has been hammering home his points about the economic mess, esp. his mortgage plan, as well as mentioning, in a much briefer portion of his remarks, William Ayers and what Obama's association with that man says about the candidate. McCain can do more than one thing at a time, after all. Problem is, the media only focuses on the Ayers part, carrying water for the Obama team and their insistence that McCain is trying to change the subject. If you do not report the complete sweep of his remarks, you are doing not only McCain but the American people who expect impartial and complete coverage from you, a disservice.

Posted by: Moderate | Oct 10, 2008 1:44:39 PM

It is simple really-a vote for McCain is a giant step backwards in time, a vote for Obama is a giant step into our childrens future!! I am a 52 year old mom and I am for Obama and my childs future!!

Posted by: Terri | Oct 10, 2008 1:43:21 PM

Keith,

Are you telling a joke? Sorry, it is not funny.

Posted by: CT | Oct 10, 2008 11:50:12 AM

It's been interesting to see how lexical analysis software indicates that Ayers is the ghost writer for Obama's "Dreams From My Father" book.

Posted by: Keith | Oct 10, 2008 11:13:05 AM

As you are watching the blitz of Obama ads remember that is your life savings funding his campaign courtesy of his friends in New York and San Francisco.

I hope Obama sends you a check in the mail but I sincerely doubt it. He will be keeping your money for another run at the Presidency.

Posted by: len | Oct 10, 2008 10:21:32 AM

Sen. Obama had a DIRECT INVOLVEMENT in today's financial crisis.

Here are some excerpts from The New York Post's article dated Sept. 29, 2008 by Stanley Kurtz (I recommend reading the entire article):

"ONE key pioneer of ACORN's subprime-loan shakedown racket was Madeline Talbott - an activist with extensive ties to Barack Obama. She was also in on the ground floor of the disastrous turn in Fannie Mae's mortgage policies."
__________
"IT would be tough to find an 'on the ground' community organizer more closely tied to the subprime-mortgage fiasco than Madeline Talbott. And no one has been more supportive of Madeline Talbott than Barack Obama.

"When Obama was just a budding community organizer in Chicago, Talbott was so impressed that she asked him to train her personal staff."
__________
"In those years (early 1990s), he also conducted leadership-training seminars for ACORN's up-and-coming organizers. That is, Obama was training the army of ACORN organizers who participated in Madeline Talbott's drive against Chicago banks.

"More than that, Obama was funding them. As he rose to a leadership role at Chicago's Woods Fund, he became the most powerful voice on the foundation's board for supporting ACORN and other community organizers. In 1995, the Woods Fund substantially expanded its funding of community orgaizers - and Obama chaired the committee that urged and manage the shift."
__________
"The Woods Fund report makes it clear Obama was fully aware of the intimidation tactics used by ACORN's Madeline Talbott in her pioneering efforts to force banks to suspend their usual cred standards. Yet he supported Talbott in every conceivable way. He trained her personal staff and other aspiring ACORN leaders, he consulted with her extensively, and he arranged a major boost in foundation funding for her efforts."
__________
"IN short, to understand the roots of the subprime-mortgate crisis, look to ACORN's Madeline Talbott. And to see how Talbott was able to work her mischief, look to Barack Obama."
__________

And this is the man you want to be our next president?

Posted by: James Danley | Oct 10, 2008 9:41:16 AM

This campaign has really gone sour and I think Senator McCain, if he continues with his personal attacks on Senator Obama will all but eliminate any chance he may have of winning this election. Senator McCain has consistantly given the impression of the mad little boy who keeps bad mouthing the other boy in an attempt to draw him out into a fight when it's obvious a fight should be and can be avoided. It's very immature and most Americans feel it is immature and don't like it. That's why McCain should stop it immediately if it's not already to late. Senator Obama is and has been reacting for the most part the only way he possibly could. In addition, it's been clear Senator In retaliation, Senator Obama has brought up old questons regarding McCains past as well and to be honest, they warrant concern as well. Still, Senator Obama has continued to show respect for Senator McCain in their debates while Senator McCain has shown himself to be deliberately disrepectful to Senator Obama. In their second televised debate, Senator McCain deliberately paced back in forth behind Senator Obama and made faces to the people in attendence. All of this was seen on television and it was despicable of him to do this. Again, it was very rude, disrepectful and extremely immature. I for one do not want anyone as my President who cannot control his anger and conduct themself as a professional at all times. What would a person like this be capable of when dealing with people from all over the world? I think Sentor McCain is a very dangerous man. I'm not saying I support Sentor Obama either even though a choice will have to be made between the two. Senator Obama currently has me on his side almost soley because he chose Senator Biden as his running mate. I have the utmost respect for Senator Biden and feel he has always conducted himelf above board and proven himself to be a professional. On the other hand, Senator McCain has selected as a running mate a person with very questionable ethics in terms of events surrounding her past which needs more clarity before any consideration could be given their side. In addition, Governor Palin has also displayed her desire to play dirty politics as well. Senator Biden is the only person in this whole campaign right now based on what I do know about these candidates who deserves to be there. I am not happy to learn Senator Obama's affiliation with Ayers either and yet to some degree Senator Obama has provided a reasonable defense concerning the situation. Still, it doesn't look good at best! But, he also had a problem with the church that he was a member of and the church's own admission as far as their political agenda. Again, Senator Obama said he was unaware of this and I find it disconcerting that he seems to always be cluesless of these serious issues surround his affiliations. I'm uncomfortable with it at the very least! So, both sides have issues of great concern, but, even if they cancelled each other out with between Senator McCain and Senator Obama, Senator Biden swings the pendulum in their favor as Governor Palin was not a sound choice for a running mate.

Posted by: Michael | Oct 10, 2008 7:41:45 AM

Who is John McCain? Failed to provide complete medical records. Failed to provide complete military records, so far 19 pages out of approx 600. US Council for Freedom??? Gordon Liddy?? Charles Keating??? Corroborated with the enemy & was called a hero while some enlisted pow's with less corroboration where
court-martialed. Introduced legislation to keep secret various documented reports of pow's left behind. Did everything he could to prevent their return. Did not show up or voted no on the last 10 bills that addressed veterans. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
John McCain is a semi-senile empty suit who left his honor on the side of the road. He is unfit to be president.

Posted by: stbdtac | Oct 10, 2008 1:11:09 AM

The GOP took a snippit of Obamas response in the Clinton debate in Phil.; "This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood" as if that is all he said, and then tried to spin it.. the full response, when asked about it was:

"OBAMA: George, but this is an example of what I'm talking about. This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis.

And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George.

The fact is that I'm also friendly with Tom Coburn, one of the most conservative Republicans in the United States Senate, who, during his campaign, once said that it might be appropriate to apply the death penalty to those who carried out abortions.

Do I need to apologize for Mr. Coburn's statements? Because I certainly don't agree with those, either.

So this kind of game in which anybody who I know, regardless of how flimsy the relationship is, that somehow their ideas could be attributed to me, I think the American people are smarter than that. They're not going to suggest somehow that that is reflective of my views, because it obviously isn't".

So can we now get back to issues? Oh, thats right.. McCain can't even defend his own stance so he doesn't have anything left but to attack and hope that he can pull another swift-boat campaign.

Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 10, 2008 12:54:25 AM

Don't forget...The Annenbergs gave Bill Ayers $49.2 Millions dollars for the grant proposal that Ayers wrote for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. John McCain has accepted campaign donations from the Annenbergs. So thinking like a Neo-Con, McCain is accepting money from know terrorist sympathizers!!! Shame on you McCain!!

Posted by: Jack | Oct 10, 2008 12:37:47 AM

well, at least we know what mccain is doing about it. he wants to find out the truth about ayers.

mccain's plan was george bushes plan.

with the dow down below 9000, the us economy in the tank, and mccain only wants to talk about bill ayers.

mccain what is your plan to help this country out of this mess?

Posted by: omg | Oct 10, 2008 12:37:02 AM

With the Dow below 9000 what are Dems proposing to do about it? What bills are they now pushing though Congress?

Other than blame Republicans, the silence is deafening.

Posted by: Dave in lv | Oct 9, 2008 11:56:42 PM

re Post by: MLA | Oct 9, 2008 11:17:40 PM

Unfortunately, Alice Palmer does not agree with your position.

And she was there.

Posted by: Dave in lv | Oct 9, 2008 11:54:08 PM

Market Update for you Jake:

Tokyo (Nikkei) now down over 10%.
Hong Kong down over 8%
Korea down over 7.5%

Another bad day for those whose assets (401k's) are diversified in international funds.

Oh, and Jakarta's market is closed for the 3rd straight day after taking 2 10% drops this week.

And what is John McCain's economic plan by the way?

Oh, that's right. John's plan is to rely on Cindy to pay the bills.

Jake, are the McCain's adopting any more kids? I'm over 40 and my 201k could use a rescue!!!

Posted by: Bud | Oct 9, 2008 11:44:04 PM

"Ayers, who hosted a coffee get-together for Obama in 1995"

Jake, I'm disappointed. This isn't accurate. The event Ayers hosted was actually for Alice Palmer when she announced that she was running for Congress. She invited Obama to attend so she could introduce Obama to her supporters. Obama apparently didn't know about Ayers' past at the time.

This info has been out there for some time; the whole "Ayers hosted a campaign event for Obama" narrative is factually incorrect.

Posted by: MLA | Oct 9, 2008 11:17:40 PM

Here's your headline ABC:

MCCAIN SUPPORTERS UPSET BECAUSE OBAMA WORKS HARD AND SUCCEEDS

FEAR SUCCESSFUL MAN WILL ENTER OFFICE AND DO A GOOD JOB

Posted by: Rick | Oct 9, 2008 11:17:24 PM

It appears from the recent news broadcasts that the republican "base" consists of a lot of wing nuts and/or born agains who are "connecting" with Palin. Keep these people on the air. That should bring a pile of undecided voters over to Obama/Biden in time for the election.

Posted by: Curtis Rode | Oct 9, 2008 10:55:13 PM

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