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McCain Errs About Ayers
October 09, 2008 6:22 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 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (479)
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I promise not to vote for Ayers/Wright, Senator McCain. Where were they on the ticket? Oh yeah, a figment of your imagination...
How about we talk about your disastrous health care policy next...
Posted by: MIguy | Oct 9, 2008 6:34:46 PM
The above story is a WEAK attempt to discredit McCain's attack on Obama's relationship with this terorist. Even the "semantics" are questionable. Ayers's "Get together" was actually a KICKOFF FOR THE OBAMA SENATE COMPAIGN IN IL!! CALL THIS WHAT IT IS!! ANY SELF RESPECTING AMERICAN WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD WITH THAT TERRORIST CREEP!!
Posted by: Temagami | Oct 9, 2008 6:35:25 PM
Look, who cares... we all know McCain is not being honest about Ayers.
How about some articles on the economy. That's why it is falling a part. WE ARE NOT FOCUSED.
Focus on the issues people
Posted by: we all know | Oct 9, 2008 6:35:48 PM
Yet another "Open Mouth - Insert Foot" moment for McCain.. It would be funny if it were not so sad.
Posted by: Concerned American | Oct 9, 2008 6:37:12 PM
This was not an error by McCain, it was a lie by McCain.
McCain is a disgrace to our system of government with his lies. McCain is a scumbag, and he has no right to lie about his opponent like he is doing. He has crossed the line. Who in the hell does he think he is, the arrogant bastard. As long as McCain is going to lie I will treat him like the scum he is.
Posted by: The Unshrub | Oct 9, 2008 6:38:37 PM
McCain/
Epic Fail '08
Posted by: helloworld | Oct 9, 2008 6:40:09 PM
Obama's health care plans? How can Obama as a chain smoker have the "BALLS" to present any kind of a health care plan? With the medical knowledge we have available today, people who smoke are just plain dumb!! Obama - GREAT EXAMPLE FOR AMERICA'S YOUNGSTERS!!!
Posted by: Temagami | Oct 9, 2008 6:40:36 PM
Reminder to John SYDNEY McCain III: "It profits a man nothing to gain the WHOLE WORLD yet suffer the loss of his soul."
But for the White House, SYDNEY?
Posted by: Joe V | Oct 9, 2008 6:41:42 PM
I want everyone who has the time not to focus on the economy to focus on trooper-gate.... the real story the McCain campaign is trying to drown.
Posted by: troopergate | Oct 9, 2008 6:42:26 PM
Sen. McCain, please tell the story about how me "Joe six Pack" is losing her retirement account!
Posted by: Terry | Oct 9, 2008 6:43:35 PM
McCain is a liar and a coward who sang when his fellow prisinors did not!
Posted by: jen | Oct 9, 2008 6:43:41 PM
Unshrub: But how do you REALLY feel?
Posted by: Joe V | Oct 9, 2008 6:44:21 PM
I didn't get the open mouth insert foot moment above. I appreciate that fact that ABC news is FINALLY showing some critical pieces on Obama. Even if it had to come from an interview with McCain. I am equally happy to see McCain fighting finally. Republicans wouldn't felt compelled to bring up Ayers/Wright/Phlager(sp?)/Rezko if Dems would quit acting like McCain is running with Bush!! The healthcare problem is only a problem when people settle for mediocre jobs. Personally I am very happy with my healthcare situation. I have made a responsible choice and PURCHASED it for myself and my son through my job. It's a very novel idea.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 9, 2008 6:45:18 PM
THANK YOU John McCain!
Thank you for lying about Obama's tax proposals.
Thank you for lying about your plan to kill consumer protections for health insurance companies.
Thank you for lying about Obama's tenuous relationship with Bill Ayres.
Thank you for diverting your own campaign away from any issue that might matter to voters!
-----------
Oh, in case you want to have some facts at your disposal for your next memorior, Ayres has made himself into an expert on educational reform that routinely shares panels with people of all political stripes: Democrat, Republican and Independents!
Posted by: John McCain's conscience | Oct 9, 2008 6:46:00 PM
The Unshrub.
Liar? Scumbag? Bastard? Since you have no inductive statements, your adjectives say much more about you than Sen. McCain. Brilliant dialog!!
Posted by: Temagami | Oct 9, 2008 6:47:30 PM
McCain is obviously willing to sell his soul, but even the devil doesn't want it. Satan has standards I guess.
Posted by: Joe V | Oct 9, 2008 6:49:23 PM
Jen-
That really wasn't called for. I would venture to guess that you have never been a POW who was tortured and broken and far away from home. I don't know how you can be so critical of someone in that situation. I would imagine that it wouldn't have taken you 10 minutes before you were singing like a mockingbird. I wish you would think before spewing your hate next time.
Posted by: Jessica | Oct 9, 2008 6:49:40 PM
McCain doesn't suspect anything! He knows Obama is a loyal American,loving father and husband, and dedicated public servant. But, he will say and do anything in an effort to get more power. He doesn't hesitate to fire up crowds of hateful people until they yell things like "terrorist" and "Kill him". John McCain has gone from being a war hero to character assassination, all in a desperate grab at power. Shame on him. If I was on the obama secret service team I would be furious with him knowing he and Palin are putting my life in danger by stirring up his fanatics into rabid hatred.
Posted by: Matt Stratton | Oct 9, 2008 6:49:46 PM
Charles Keating is the only terrorist anyone cares about right now!!! It is Keating and his sidekick, McCain, who did everything in their power to deregulate the banking industry and now you are seeing the result of that deregulation. I hope all you conservative capitalists are enjoying yourselves. Hopefully, I'll catch you all jumping out of windows soon.
Posted by: Monk | Oct 9, 2008 6:52:49 PM
This whole trumped up Ayes association is so thin. How desperate can John McCain be that he follows the no nothing Sarah Palin lead instead of vice versa. This guy is a privileged punk who would have flunked out of the Naval Academy except for his father and grandfathers heritage. He was a crappy pilot and only command in the Navy was a training squadron. Now he wants us to believe because he was so cocky he got shot down that he is this brave, intelligent hero. Give me a break.
Posted by: paul m. | Oct 9, 2008 6:53:22 PM
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