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McCain Errs About Ayers
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ShareOctober 09, 2008 10:22 PM
ABC News' Ron Claiborne reports: In his interview with Charles Gibson on "World News," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., makes a point of saying the former 1960s radical William Ayers said on 9-11, of all days, that he wished he had committed more acts of violence against the U.S. government.
"I don't care about Mr. Ayers who, on Sept. 11, 2001, said he wished he'd have bombed more," McCain said, while explaining that what really matters is that Obama hasn't been forthcoming about his association with Ayers.
Ayers admits to having bombed a number of government buildings during his days with the radical Weather Underground. The quote McCain referred to was Ayers teling a newspaper reporter, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."
That he would say such a thing on 9-11 suggests not just an "unrepentant terrorist," as McCain labels Ayers, but someone especially cruel, vicious and insensitive to utter such chilling words in the midst of a national tragedy.
The only problem with this account is that Ayers did not say that on Sept. 11. He said it some days earlier. It happened to appear in the New York Times on Sept. 11. Ayers' memoir, "Fugitive Days," had been published the day before and he did a number of interviews, including with the Times, to promote the book.
McCain also told Gibson several times that Obama has dismissed any relationship with Ayers by saying he was "just a guy in the neighborhood."
"He said he was a guy in the neighborhood," McCain said. "We know that's not true."
"He wasn't a guy in the neighborhood," he continued a little later. "He launched his political career in his living room, in Mr. Ayers' living room. 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."
In the McCain campaign's new Web ad, "Ayers," the narrator details Ayers' violent acts as a leftist radical and points to Obama's ties to him years later. It concludes ominously: "When Obama just says this is a guy who lives in my neighbhorhood, Americans say, 'where's the truth, Barack?' Barack Obama. Too risky for America."
Obama made the "guy in my neighborhood" comment about Ayers in answer to a question about their relationship at the Democratic presidential debate, just before the Pennsylvania primary last April. He clearly tried to downplay his acquaintance with Ayers, but he did more than just breezily dismiss hum as some neighbor he barely knew.
Obama said, "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."
The McCain campaign asserts there must be more to their relationship because Obama attended a political get-together in Ayers' home in the early 1990s, and because they served together for a few years on two nonprofit organizations in Chicago.
To McCain, these intersection connections are evidence that Obama had a closer relationship with Ayers than he will admit to and that's he's hiding something.
McCain raises suspicion, but he and his campaign have never said what they suspect.
October 9, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (479)
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Jessica
Your candidate is a lying piece of shi#
Posted by: jen | Oct 9, 2008 10:53:33 PM
McCain/Palin = fascism in high heels and lipstick.
Posted by: Joe V | Oct 9, 2008 10:53:36 PM
such a sad spectacle!
Please someone just put that old man out of his misery! make him president of a condo association in Del Boca Vista in Florida or SOMETHING!
PLEASE!
Posted by: GIGI | Oct 9, 2008 10:53:45 PM
The Unshrub.
With proud supporters such as yourself,it is reason enough NOT TO VOTE FOR AN Obama-nation.
Posted by: cuznmikie | Oct 9, 2008 10:55:49 PM
GiGi --- what do you have against us geezers in Del Boca Vista?
Posted by: Joe V | Oct 9, 2008 10:57:21 PM
I happen to believe that your candidate is lying. I won't go to the bottom of the barrel by calling your candidate names as you did.
It's funny that Obama supporters (Obama media included) are MAKING UP stories of hateful remarks from McCain supporters when it's Obama supporters are the only people to use vulgar hateful comments on this site.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 9, 2008 10:57:58 PM
Ironic that Obama probably could not have received much military security clearance if he had served. Military frowns on past associations with terrorists. Yet, half the voters in this country trust him with our defense and worse - his finger on the nuclear button. The stupid deserve what they ask for - THE REST OF US, DON'T!!
McCain/Palin 08
Posted by: Temagami | Oct 9, 2008 10:58:33 PM
My last post was in reply to Jen's comments. Sorry I didn't specify that.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 9, 2008 10:59:15 PM
ANY SELF RESPECTING AMERICAN WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD WITH THAT TERRORIST CREEP!!
Posted by: Temagami |
***************************************** Well, except for all the self respecting and well respected people who do spend time with him.
Do you feel the same way about the 'terrorist' college students from Kent State U. who were also protesting the Vietnam war and were shot in the back by our National Guard?
Posted by: Truth Matters | Oct 9, 2008 10:59:28 PM
McCain should have looked at sarah and Todd Palin's relations with Alaska Independet party, the ones that hate the American Flag. Even this year she was at their meeting, told them to keep up the good work. Read article at salon.com
Posted by: Batsy | Oct 9, 2008 10:59:54 PM
So, someone who bombs government buildings is not "someone especially cruel, vicious and insensitive". Tell that to the people of Oklahoma. And someone who knowingly associates with such a man is not too self-absorbed and naive to be president. Tell that to the American people. Keep saying it as if it's true. And because we are in the midst of a financial crisis, we should follow Obama off the cliff of unenlightened self-interest and ignore dangers from around the world? Tell that to the Europe who suffered from appeasement and to the America that was too absorbed in it's financial woes following the stock market crash to appreciate the gravity and danger represented by Hitler until we were plunged into world war. Why would we prefer a man with deep personal experience in world affairs and firsthand understanding of the cost of service over a man with thin slogans and dubious politics? Can we be that stupid? Yes we can! I just pray we are not! Some say Jesus was a community organizer, and he was and so much more. But so was Hitler and he was so much less. Obama was just a cheap suit and a pretty face willing to do the bidding of the unscrupulous to achieve political notoriety and to advance his own cause. Do not support this charlatan. Our country can't afford the hit.
Posted by: hopeful | Oct 9, 2008 11:00:39 PM
JOE V
What High School do you attend?? You didn't make that quite as clear as your Sophomoric attitude; you and Unshrub should share some time together.
Posted by: cuznmikie | Oct 9, 2008 11:00:40 PM
Temagami:
I completely agree with you, but be prepared to be assaulted by the hateful Obama mob for expressing your opinion.
I hadn't thought of your view in quite that way until you said it, but I totally agree with your point!
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 9, 2008 11:02:31 PM
McCain should NOT give up on this! In fact he should bring out more things like this about Obama! We need to know about all of associates and about all of the corruption that he's been involved in!
Posted by: carlyonsue | Oct 9, 2008 11:05:58 PM
This approach to undermining Obama failed miserably in the primaries. McCain/Palin are trying to drown out the troppergate scandal which will be out for our viewing pleasure shortly. It will be the final nail in the McCain campaign. I for one am loading up the liberal 527's with funds. It's time to fight fire with fire. ENOUGH !!!!
Posted by: Lou-NH | Oct 9, 2008 11:06:19 PM
There are no errors here. Obama has long associated himself with far left wing socialist ideologues, who bear great dislike for this country. The list includes Ayers, Alinsky, Farrakan (million man march), Flager, and Wright. Make no mistake, these are the types of people he will bring into the White House and who he will appoint as judges in our courts. You may love his rhetoric, but his associations and his record speak the real truth. By the fruits you will know the tree! You should be very afraid.
Posted by: philphat | Oct 9, 2008 11:07:00 PM
Wow I guess it would have been ok for any self respecting public figure to have Timothy Mcvey kick off their political career after oklahoma had he been released on an investigative technacality.
Posted by: kim | Oct 9, 2008 11:08:49 PM
Temagami ---you guys gave us eight years of Bush/Cheney and they damn near destroyed our economy and country. Haven't you GOPers done enough damage or do you really want McPalin to totally finish the USA off?
Posted by: Joe V | Oct 9, 2008 11:09:01 PM
Since Palin stepped into the scene, the McCain/Palin ticket has been one lie after another.
Two trashy people.
Posted by: newz4i | Oct 9, 2008 11:09:14 PM
Truth Matters.
Kent State is a few miles south from where I live. Protesters were ordered to leave. They not only did not leave but some stared confrontations with the guard. I do not remember exactly what happened except that either a commander or guardsman panicked and shots were fired. I cannot condemn the guard either - both groups were in the wrong.
Posted by: Temagami | Oct 9, 2008 11:10:46 PM
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