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Palin Defends Ayers’ Comments
October 05, 2008 3:18 PM
ABC News' Imtiaz Delawala Report: Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin defended her charge that Sen. Barack Obama has been "palling around with terrorists," and disputed a characterization by the Associated Press that her remarks connecting Obama to former 60's radical William Ayers were racially tinged.
"The comments are about an association that has been known but hasn't been talked about, and I think it’s fair to talk about where Barack Obama kicked off his political career, in the guy's living room," Palin said on the tarmac of the Long Beach, CA airport this morning.
At three events yesterday, Palin raised Obama's ties to Ayers, one of the founding members of the Weather Underground, a 60's radical group that took credit for bombing attacks around the country, including explosions set off at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol in the early 1970's.
Obama has served on a charitable board with Ayers, who lives in the same Chicago neighborhood as Obama, and Ayers and his wife hosted a meet-and-greet in 1995 launching Obama's bid for his first term in the Illinois State Senate.
"This is not a man who sees America as you and I see America," Palin said of Obama to 13,000 supporters at a rally in Carson, CA yesterday afternoon. "We see America as a force for good in this world. We see an America of exceptionalism. Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who target their own country."
In an analysis of Palin's comments, Associated Press writer Douglass Daniel wrote that while Palin "may have scored a political hit each time, her attack was unsubstantiated and carried a racially tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret."
Palin called the AP's characterization "wrong," saying Obama's ties to Ayers, given his known connection to the Weather Underground, are a legitimate point of criticism of the Democratic presidential nominee.
"And he of course, having been associated with that group, a known domestic terrorist group, it's important for Americans to know," Palin said of Ayers. "It's really important for Americans to start knowing who the real Barack Obama is."
The Obama campaign yesterday denounced the comments by Palin as "shameless" and "offensive," saying that Obama has never been close to Ayers, and that he has "strongly condemned the despicable acts Ayers committed 40 years ago, when Obama was eight" years old.
The McCain campaign has not raised the association between Obama and Ayers with great frequency since Obama became the Democratic nominee. Palin's comments on Ayers this weekend are part of a new strategy to raise questions about Obama's judgment and personal associations.
When asked at a debate in April to explain his relationship with Ayers to voters, and how he would "explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem," Obama dismissed the relationship, saying Ayers was "a guy who lives in my neighborhood" who was "not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis."
"So this kind of game, in which anybody who I know, regardless of how flimsy the relationship is, is somehow -- somehow their ideas could be attributed to me -- I think the American people are smarter than that," Obama said at the time. "They're not going to suggest somehow that that is reflective of my views, because it obviously isn't."
October 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (600)
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Palin said "It's really important for Americans to start knowing who the real Barack Obama is."....and I say it's really imporatnt for Americans to start knowing WHO THE REAL SARAH PALIN REALLY IS!!!!!!!!!!! Go back to Alaska and shoot your moose McPuppet.
Posted by: sickofGOP | Oct 5, 2008 3:46:16 PM
Palin's state was seen as racist? THe only racist we have seen in this election is Rev. Wright. He is certifiably against American and Americans - we have the tapes.
When Obama quit wearing his American flag pin people questioned that - I think overly questioned it. When you follow that with his claim that he did not know that Rev. Wright is racist (against Americans) that begins to add up as evidence. Ayers had a fund raiser for Obama in Ayer's home. That collection of facts points to some one who does not hold America and Americans in a positive light.
Obama's wife did not help when she said that for the first time in her life she was proud of America when Barak was warmly accepted by middle America. Further his disparaging remarks about middle America and religion further add to the evidence that he does not have a respect for America that one would hope for.
We should move past these things to the issues. Will these candidates be good for America.
As a liberal from the 70s and 80s I think we did the wrong thing in Vietnam. Two million people died when we pulled out too quickly. That did result in the invigoration of America as we had a flood of Vietnamese boat people after that - the best of people.
Is there an analogy with America and Iraq. I think so.
Posted by: today | Oct 5, 2008 3:46:19 PM
Mr. Incredible...finally a statement on here that I agree with! These morons continue to bash Palin...and drag her through the mud which somehow helps to ease their minds and over shadow the fact that Obama is a dirty scumbag! Like I said...neither candidate is worth a crap and neither will help this country...they will only help themselves!
Posted by: Independent | Oct 5, 2008 3:46:19 PM
Why should America vote for Obama
1. Who pall around domestic terrorists?
2. Who prefers Saddam Hussein to be alive.
3. Who wants to USA to be defeated.
4. Who wants to talk with Iran's President without precondition?
5. Who claims American's only bombs villages and civilians in Afganistan.
McCain-Palin Nov 4.
Posted by: Reuel | Oct 5, 2008 3:47:01 PM
Obviously the GOP has absolutely nothing to campaign on except to smear Obama.
They have absolutely NO positive message.
Posted by: Chrissy | Oct 5, 2008 3:47:12 PM
==Obviously the GOP has absolutely nothing to campaign on except to smear Obama.
They have absolutely NO positive message.==
We have. You just missed it.
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | Oct 5, 2008 3:48:57 PM
This womoan is NOTHING but the dirty mouth piece for McCain.He does not have the guts to do it himself so she repaeats what she is told knowing nothing of what she is talking about There is A LOT of dirty gossip out there about McCain too ohhhhh wait until the sh-- hits the fans boys and gals.This couple as I have said is the worst two people the republicans could have put on this ticket.She is a freaken time bomb just waiting to go off.
Posted by: indp voter | Oct 5, 2008 3:50:05 PM
I don't care anymore, either person wins, were all screwed! I've got better things to do with my life than give a crap.
Posted by: hmn | Oct 5, 2008 3:50:25 PM
Independent: "America has reached a sorry point in time when the best candidates we can come up with are some old burned out over the hill fart and some young racist hate filled black man who has never held a real job!"
Never held a real job, huh?
So all of the people that work for non-profit organizations don't have "real jobs"?
I don't have the space or patience to EDUCATE you on how non-profits work, but suffice it to say that people do work for salary, and are held to standards of performance.
Here's his track record at a non-profit:
"Obama directed Illinois' Project Vote from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive with a staff of ten and seven hundred volunteers; it achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African-Americans in the state, and led to Crain's Chicago Business naming Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be."
I guess school-teacher's don't have "real jobs" either:
"Beginning in 1992, Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, being first classified as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and then as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004."
And attorney's also don't have "real jobs":
He also, in 1993, joined Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, a twelve attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development, where he was an associate for three years from 1993 to 1996, then of counsel from 1996 to 2004
And "president and chairman of the board of directors" is also not a "real job":
Obama served on the board of directors of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge from 1995–2002, as founding president and chairman of the board of directors from 1995–1999.
He also served on the board of directors of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center.
Posted by: wade_b | Oct 5, 2008 3:51:28 PM
We all certainly know there are lots of questions about McCains abuses of his ex-wife, his jew hating pastors, Palins cult, rape victims`woes in Alaska, Sarah Palins sleeping with the organisers of the Miss competitions and so on. McCain knows this will creat a lot of talk that would become prolonged and nasty, hence their wanting to move the focus from the public concerns to their gutter concerns.
Posted by: Oseki Otens Evans | Oct 5, 2008 3:52:35 PM
==Mr. Incredible...finally a statement on here that I agree with!==
I aims t' please.
== These morons continue to bash Palin...and drag her through the mud which somehow helps to ease their minds and over shadow the fact that Obama is a dirty scumbag!==
Expecially women are dragging her through the mud.
== Like I said...neither candidate is worth a crap and neither will help this country...they will only help themselves!==
Trouble is, we got what we got, and you gota choose which one you dislike the least and vote for him. Any other action, like not voting, gives your "vote" to Rezkobama. Just like in '94, the angry, white male has to come out next month and throw this election McCain/Palin's way, just to deny a dangerous Lib from taking office.
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | Oct 5, 2008 3:53:42 PM
==I don't care anymore, either person wins, were all screwed! I've got better things to do with my life than give a crap.==
Then why are you here?
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | Oct 5, 2008 3:55:03 PM
Sarah Palin wants to change the constitution to give more power to VP. She clearly revealed her dictatorial ambitions. Like in Alaska, she is more comfortable governing with total control and secrecy.
Posted by: jonathanw | Oct 5, 2008 3:57:24 PM
The Republicans are SO concerned about Obama's "associations" that they are waiting until OCTOBER to bring them up?! Mrs "Alaska First, Alaska Always" has a fat lot of nerve accusing Obama of not seeing "America as you and I see it". Frankly I am THRILLED I don't see America as she and her "team of mavericks" see it.
Posted by: mila | Oct 5, 2008 3:57:58 PM
Here is a link to a crowd who in my opinion is as ignorant as Palin is:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/05/palin-misquotes-albright_n_131967.html
Palin's misquoting M. Albright demonstrates the lack of knowledge Palin has. She “confidently” quotes something she read on a Starbucks paper cup then turns around and blames the media for badly interpreting her comments instead of acknowledging her ignorance. M. Albright corrected Palin in a statement issued on Sunday.
This is too important to sweep under the rug because it shows a series of misquotes and of lack of substance and knowledge.
Posted by: Monica | Oct 5, 2008 3:58:45 PM
the elite media says that if McCain goes after Obama's pals - Wright, Ayers, and Rezko - then they will go after his - Hagee? Keeting? first wife? who are these people? but judging by these posts, they already have, and they're going to continue to smear John McCain no matter what John McCain does, and the truth of the matter is, Barack Obama's got far more darning ties and far more to fear from those ties than John McCain.
Posted by: Clintonites for McCain | Oct 5, 2008 3:58:57 PM
Didn't Palin address the Alaskan Independence Party?
Posted by: Chrissy | Oct 5, 2008 3:59:52 PM
If you hang around enough of ducks and even if you don't quack exactly like a duck, you do appear to be enough of a duck to have your judgment reasonably questioned by others.
Why do I want to trust my country's future in someone whose loyalty to my country is a huge unknown?
I will never vote for Obama. Period.
Posted by: Obama-Yah-Wright | Oct 5, 2008 3:59:57 PM
We all know how fair Republican attacks are. So I am very worried about what the Republicans themselves have uncovered regarding Senator McCain's links to Al Qaeda and organized crime in Arizona.
In recent articles at worldnetdaily.com, Jerome Corsi, Republican journalist, has claimed (among other charges) that the McCain campaign received “strong” financial support from a “group tied to Al Qaeda” and that “McCain’s personal fortune traces back to organized crime in Arizona.”
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=57678
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=57354
Posted by: Betty7 | Oct 5, 2008 3:59:58 PM
I hope McCain keeps doing this-because it is unattractive. The truth is that Obama will win-look McCain is following the same tactics from the previous Bush campaign -it is the same old same old-
people see this and are not buying it. It is sickening that a VP candidate would use the terrorist rhetoric for the sake of winning-wow that shows what type of leadership wants to run the country. I heard evil/Terrorist? Aren't these the same words used in the Bush Administration? Yes
GO Obama/Biden The truth always prevails!
Posted by: Sophia | Oct 5, 2008 4:00:19 PM
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