by Frank James
The McCain campaign is sending out direct mail in Virginia with images of Sen. Barack Obama and none other than William Ayers, the most famous former radical in America thanks to the Republican message machine.
CQ has the story (subscription required) :
A direct-mail advertisement sent to Virginia voters this week features a picture of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama next to this blow-up quotation from violent Vietnam-era radical William Ayers: "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."
The quotation, attributed to Ayers in finer print, appears above the Weatherman leader's mug shot on the top half of the cover of the four-page glossy mailer.
The bottom half reads "This is the story of William Ayers . . . Terrorist. Radical. Friend of Obama."
An official at the Republican Party of Virginia, which paid for the mailer, insists the GOP is not trying to portray Obama as a terrorist.
"The issue is his judgment and his values," state party spokesman Gerry Scimeca said. "Of course, we're not saying Obama's a terrorist or condones violence...
...Though they have been unable to demonstrate ties between Obama and Ayers that go deeper than serving on boards together and Ayers hosting a political event for Obama early in his career, Republicans believe the relationship raises legitimate questions about Obama's judgment and his philosophy."
It's an open question as to whether the Ayers attacks are working. Much of the polling sure doesn't indicate they are.
But the McCain campaign is obviously committed to making Ayers this year's Willie Horton. It's gotten to the point however where many voters, even in a state as traditionally Republican in presidential elections as Virginia, may be saying to themselves, if this is the worst Repblicans could find, then maybe Obama's not so bad. After all, the Real Clear Politics poll average for state is seven percent, a significant lead.
Comments
Excellant- nothing like the truth--
Posted by: George | October 23, 2008 8:34 PM
You just can't change stupid. America has become tired of the ankle biting republican politics. Not that McBush would understand that,,,they have been playing the same politics for so long that is all they know. What part of America doesn't care about Ayers don't you understand? The rabid in the party love it because that is all they have. The same ol fear and smear and blame. America , except the rabid, don't for one minute believe there is anything to this silliness. But keep on trucking guys...the more you go negative, the more Obamas' numbers go up.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | October 23, 2008 8:41 PM
The Republican Party=Scumbags 'R' Us.
THE SMEAR:
The Republicans, desperate to smear Barack and try to build on their lies about his religion, insinuate that Barack Obama has a deep relationship with William Ayers. William Ayers was once a member of a radical group in the 1960s.
THE TRUTH:
While “guilt by association” is one of the more bogus attacks in any political campaign, the attacks on Barack Obama over William Ayers are particularly “ridiculous,” in the words of one Republican legislator from Illinois. The entire attack is based on their mutual membership in a highly respected organization, an educational foundation started by a Reagan supporter and boasting a membership of some of the most respected members of Illinois society, both Republicans and Democrats.
The fact is that Barack Obama lived in the same area of Chicago as Ayers, and Ayers has been a respected, politically active member of that community for years. Considering that, it’s actually remarkable how little the two have to do with each other. Early in Barack Obama’s career, he attended one reception in his own honor at Ayers’ house. They also were separately asked by a Republican-created charitable organization to serve on that organization’s board. And that’s it. "Mr. Ayers played no role in Mr. Obama's appointment [to the board]," reported the New York Times. There’s no friendship between the two, no relationship, no history of working together beyond that.
Again quoting the Times, “Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers, whom he has called ‘somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.’” Even Republican State Rep. Diana Nelson, who has worked with both men, calls the attacks “ridiculous,” and declared to NPR, “There is no reason at all to smear Barack Obama with this association. It's nonsensical, and it just makes me crazy. It's so silly." Here’s Politifact on the foundation:
In short, this was a mainstream foundation funded by a mainstream, Republican business leader and led by an overwhelmingly mainstream, civic-minded group of individuals. Ayers' involvement in its inception and on an advisory committee do not make it radical – nor does the funding of programs involving the United Nations and African-American studies.
This attack is false, but it's more than that – it's malicious. It unfairly tars not just Obama, but all the other prominent, well-respected Chicagoans who also volunteered their time to the foundation. They came from all walks of life and all political backgrounds, and there's ample evidence their mission was nothing more than improving ailing public schools in Chicago.
This whole manufactured issue was already hashed over in the primary, but the Republicans, desperate to change the subject from the economic crisis and the unpopularity of their disastrous policies, are trying to revive this discredited attack once again. A shady Republican front group even ran ads trying to tie the 60s-era activities of Ayers to Al Qaeda today. If you believe we should get beyond the battles of the 60s to meet the challenges of the 21st century, reject these tired attacks and spread the truth.
Posted by: dt | October 23, 2008 9:01 PM
I beg to differ about who the "most famous former radical in America" is.
That would be John McCain's friend, G. Gordon LIbby.
Posted by: athena | October 23, 2008 9:08 PM
Ayers was a radical lunitic when Barry H. was 8 - he will continue to influence him when he is 48.
You are the image of those who surround you, you are the voice of those who have molded you. What say you, Barry H?
Posted by: theX | October 23, 2008 9:13 PM
The TRUTH shall set this country free, and the TRUTH is in this mailer.
Now hit them with the Rev. Wrong mailer too!
TFT&BP
Posted by: 10ftTALL&bulletproof | October 23, 2008 9:21 PM
Isn't it time to break out the endorsement of McCain by al Qaeda, Col. Duyet, and his close current friendship with G. G. Liddy and Palin's separatist sympathies?
Posted by: C.Hussein.Morris | October 23, 2008 9:27 PM
It looks like Jeremiah Wright was just the tip of the iceberg. Not only did Barack Obama savor Wrights sermons, Obama gave legitimacy — and a whole lot of money — to education programs built around the same extremist anti-American ideology preached by Reverend Wright. All this is revealed by a bit of digging, combined with a careful study of documents from the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, the education foundation Obama and Ayers jointly led in the late 1990s.. through ACORN
Posted by: generic | October 23, 2008 9:38 PM
Yep, the MSM can't wait to talk about the evil McCain campaign, but they're completely silent about the shenanigans the Obama campaign is pulling with credit card donations. Apparently, Obama has turned off certain credit card security features in order to allow illegal donations both domestic and foreign. But let's talk about Palin's wardrobe.
Posted by: jimboster | October 23, 2008 9:42 PM
I think Colin Powell was right in citing this "over the top" nonsense as one of the reasons he was not supporting McCain. A whole lot of people in Illinois have accepted Ayers for the last forty year as he is a an admired educator and college professor. Are all of these people terrorists?
Posted by: c. perry | October 23, 2008 11:09 PM
Republicans talk about why the swift-boating isn't working this time:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081110/berman
Posted by: dt | October 24, 2008 3:27 AM
Listen up folks! Character does matter. Everyone that is old enough
to reads this/ should understand that you are a product of your environrment and of the company you keep. With the likes of Ayers, Resko,Wright and Flegar.Obamas' judgement needs to be questioned. Please note I left off the titles of these people because I would not like them to teach my children. The Professors are too radical for me and the so called men of the cloth certainly are not teaching the word of the LORD, because that LORD I know doesn't teach hate!. Finally if I misspelled anyones name my sincere apologies.
Posted by: paul | October 24, 2008 10:22 AM
Hey George, are you as ignorant as your posts? Paul, let's talk about, John Hagee, Rod Parsley, The Keating Five, and G. Gordon Libby.
Posted by: Tim | October 24, 2008 11:24 AM
This same mailer was sent out by the Republican Party of Minnesota. The intent of this mailer is not to show Obama's link to terrorism. Unfortunately this is racial hate mail. When you look at the wording, layout and pictures it becomes obvious that the ad is aimed at the closet racists to warn them not to vote for the scary black man.
John
Posted by: John | October 24, 2008 12:24 PM
I just received one of those flyers in the mail today! I will never ever vote for a republican again in my life, even if he is the only one on the ballot. THAT IS SICK. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SICK!! whiteagle38
Posted by: R. Juneau | October 24, 2008 3:14 PM
Paul....For every name you right...I can name just as many associations that McBush has that we could use against him. It is just plain wrong. This is garbage and most of the polls reflect that and you just can't see it because of your passion for the right. As a matter of fact....there is only one name of an association and that is BUSH. No doubt you were one of the same 8 years ago who told us he was best. Better than McBush you told us. Your judgement of who is best means little to anyone but the rabid.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | October 24, 2008 3:34 PM
can someone please send me one of these flyers??? i would love nothing more than to put it on my fridge and laugh daily at how stupid some people can be.
thanks republicans, for once again trying to instill fear in my heart . . . .really.
hahahahahahahahaha. who are these people anyway???
nevermind that ayers has a respectable job and teaches our children . . if you can't see that that says something positive about his character, that he has been approved of by the community, then you are an idiot.
AND for those of you who think that you wouldnt want someone that "radical" teahing your children-WAKE UP!- no progress has ever been made without radical thought . . . we'd still be thinking that the sun rotates around us if that was the case! (hey, maybe some republicans still think that??)
CHANGE IS GOOD!!!!
Posted by: candra | October 24, 2008 4:39 PM
R. Juneau, you have posted before, did you think no one would notice that you have been a dem and would never have voted republican anyway. So your threat is moot. Worthless threat.
Posted by: Yes we will | October 24, 2008 9:41 PM
So, we are guilty by association, are we? Just by serving on a committee with someone, we automatically agree with everything they have ever done in their life? Does that make us all adulterers, thieves, bankrupts, perverts, bigots and liars … you know, like some other people we have served with on committees over the years. Gees, I hope not.
Posted by: Shirley Naylor | October 30, 2008 1:29 AM