Obama responds directly to Palin attack

Senator Obama must use the names Charles H. Keating, Jr., Phil Graham, and the thousands of lobbyists who have walked through John McCain’s front door and continue to do so at every opportunity. At least he must use them in debates when Grampy McSame uses Bill Ayres name.

Gov. Palin isn't just the Republican V.P. nominee. She's the attack dog for the GOP! It isn't a smile, folks, it's an overbite. She has shown herself to be a nasty and petty individual who is way over her head job-wise and intellectually inferior. So she goes for the time-worn "guilt by association" tactic. Shame on her. While many of us Democrats disavow Ayers radical youth, it must be said that he and Obama sat on a charitable institution board of one of the finest degree-granting educational institutions in the country. More than can be said for Sleazy Sarah. After November, she'll merely be a footnote to American history!

William Ayers in unrepentant terrorist who stated on 9/11 that he did not bomb enough. And Obama brought Daley into the mix saying Daley was friends with Ayers as well. Then Daley came out on behalf of Ayers saying it was o.k. because when William Ayers bombed the Pentegon it was during "difficult" times...Well times are "difficult" again, does that make it o.k to bomb public facilities??? Or does it make it o.k. because daddy has a lot of money and can buy your way out of anything?

Obama and his minions do not seem to understand that AYERS HAS NEVER RENOUNCED TRYING TO KILL PEOPLE.

Is that too hard for Obama and the journalists who cover him to understand?

John McCain, the once reckless pilot has decided to fly his campaign through a flak barrage he could have avoided. Obviously, age has not conferred wisdom upon him. Eject now John; it's over.

Why is Barack Obama hiding information about his college years? How come Barack Obama has hidden his affiliation with Ayers? How come Barack Obama fails to mention that his community organizing efforts were started by Bill Ayers?

I actually attending the event that William Ayers hosted in his home. I am a former neighbor and therefore should i also be found guilty by association?? Obama probably spent as much time talking with William as he did with everyone else at the event. The repubs are desparate!

The difference between me and most Americans is most Americans believe we can force our will on the world by military force. Albeit, that figure is changing somewhat because of the Iraq war.

In the fall of 1967 on Vietnam’s DMZ nearly 2000 marines tried to prevent 35,000 North Vietnamese soldiers from coming across the DMZ. Not only did they US Marines not prevent communist soldiers from coming across into South Vietnam but the numbers increased to the point a few months later the 1968 Tet happened and battles like Khe Sahn and Hue City killed and wounded many more US Marines.

I was at Con Thien with 2nd Bn. 4th Marines. I was wounded in November, and spent the next 8 months reading the Stars and Stripes reading about my friends who died. My unit 2nd Bn 4th Marines won 4 Congressional Medals of Honor from September 67 to May 2nd 1968.

This is why I am voting for Obama. I am voting for Obama because he sees limits to American military power, and sees the full power of Americans at home. Obama sees we can change the world not only by military force but by the force of example.

The fact is, it was not 40 years ago when Obama started off his political career in the living room of a terrorist, William Ayers. Obama tries to downplay the connection to Ayers so the American public thinks it doesn't matter. But, the true facts are one hundred eighty degrees different than what Obama wants the public to believe. Here is a link to the youtube video that Obama doesn't want you to see. It shows the connection between him and (terrorist) William Ayers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEeHl0h3NBo

So much for the gentleman's campaign -- Palin's comments, coming as they do in the wake of some disappointingly slimy attack ads from the McCain camp -- are forcing Obama to defend himself with weapons many of us thought would never come out this year. I'm sick of all this slanderous innuendo coming out of the Red side of this debate... but at least it makes my decision that much easier...

So, who is it exactly who is standing with Obama?
Where are the people who knew him on his way up?
Where are the people who can vouch for his character?
Please; name names, as I would really like to know.

I think Obama has shown admirable restraint in thus far not mentioning Charles Keating, whose scandal McCain was directly involved in, which is in sharp contrast to Obama's very tenuous relationship with Ayers' radical past. Obama's restraint clearly shows the new era of cooperative bipartisan politics that he truly believes in, versus McCain's old-fashioned dirty mudslinging that serves no good purpose whatsoever.

John McCain may not be who you think he is:

www.keatingeconomics.com
www.johnmccainrecord.com

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/09/9753_mccain_campaign_lobbyists_wall_street_aig.html

Lobbyists Are Running The McCain Campaign
All of the TOP PEOPLE in the McCain campaign are lobbyists for large corporations, including Big Oil, and FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Campaign CEO - Rick Davis, a partner at lobbying firm Davis Manafort

National Campaign Director- Christian Ferry and associate at lobbying firm Davis Manafort

National Political Director- Mike Dennehy, who founded The Dennehy Group, a New Hampshire lobbying firm

National Finance Director- Susan Nelson lobbyist working for Loeffler Group LLC. Continued taking monthly lobbying payments after starting with McCain''s campaign.

Senior Policy Advisor- David Crane. A Senior Executive at The Washington Group, a corporate lobbying firm with 2006 billings of $10.4 million.

Senior Foreign Policy Adviser - Randy Scheunemann. He is McCain''s PRIMARY Foreign Policy Adviser. He is also a lobbyist for FOREIGN COUNTRIES, including Georgia (that was just in a war with Russia).

National Finance Co-Chair Tom Loeffler Owns one of the most lucrative and influential lobbying practices in Washington.

Regional Campaign Manager- Doug Davenport ran DCI''s lobbying practice. Was forced to leave when it was exposed that he LOBBIED FOR the REPRESSIVE REGIME IN BURMA.

Campaign Spokesman- Charlie Black who is chairman of BKSH & Associates, with lobbying billings of $7.6 million in 2006

Barack Obama has no lobbyists on the payroll or serving as key advisers.

So much for sticking to the issues. Glad to see Obama not sit down and just get attacked all day. I guess when you are losing in the polls you have to use other methods. They been using this guilt by association for awhile now. Palin use of words were real poor. Politics can get dirty. Time to take off the gloves Mr. Obama.

While Obama is discussing "character" with his opponent, I hope he'll address all the mentors he's had over the years with socialist inclinations. Contrary to what Obama would have us think, these types of influences WOULD tie in directly with the American economy. It weighs heavily on our prospects of becoming an economic "has-been" as income redistribution-centric policies become law in Washington. Watch what happens when we mess up the risk/reward equation and stop properly rewarding all the entrepreneurs and businesses that risk capital here in order to build new products and services!

There are plenty of other countries out there anxious to take our business away!

Hey Sarah, Why are you sleeping with a secessionist? You know the "first dude," your husband Todd. He was a member of the Alaska Independence Party (AID), which was also the group you addressed in 2006 as Gov. You know, the group that wants Alaska to secede from America, whose leader said I don't give a damn about the US Government. You're a poser, Caribou Barbie, and you sleep with someone who doesn't put "Country First." Desperate words from a desperate party!

Spend a few minutes talking with a guy who did some despicable things when you were 8 years old or hop into the sack every night with a guy who wants to secede from the United States of America. Which is worse?

Obama's direct response is to say "I'll have a debate"?!?!

How does that answer the question?

Obama has tried to hide his associations by all means necessary because his background is with groups that fundamentally hate our country and what it stands for.

I'd like to see that debate and have all of the cards thrown on the table and listen to him try to explain it all away.

Nixon never apologized for Watergate. So why don't we just tar the entire Republican Party with responsibility for undermining the Constitution?

Riiiiiiight..........Just like Obama wasn't "present" at Rev. Wright's sermons. I do not want another liar leading this country.

The number of people still buying into the McCain-Palin joke is rapidly dwindling. What you're seeing is a desperate campaign that is just about belly up. Too bad they can't lose with some class.

It's about time McCain called Obama out for what he is.
With Obama's list of friends - it's amazing democrats chose him as their canidate.
Lets talk about the economic crisis, and how his economic advisor (Raines) packaged all these dead beat loans, that the goverment forced banks to make to unqualified people - How Obama's old firm sued citibank because they didn't offer enough subprime loans.
How Obama was number 2 on the contribution list from Fannie Mae. Raines left Fannie Mae in shambles with a 25 million parachute.
Obama isn't change - Obama is part of the problem

Goddamnamerica Obama, 08

You can whine and moan about Fox News all you want, but the hour-long expose' on Obama's relationships last night are enough to scare the hell out of any reasonable person.

Too bad McCain is so wrapped up in bipartisanship. That'll kill him November 4.

It's quite a street the Pied Piper of Hyde Park lives on in South Chicago to say nothing of some the residents who live or have lived there. It's a regular laundry list of the "Hate America First" crowd. Hardly an avenue "in Mr. Rogers Neighborhood."

Having grown up in Chicago and as a working journalist for more than 45 years including the Democratic Convention in 1968, I just can't understand why the Tribune won't dig into some of this stuff that clearly is not heresay or innuendo -- it's fact. Shame on you guys. I find it hard to believe this venerable and trustworthy paper has morphed into the rest of the mass media. How about proving me and a lot of other people are dead wrong.

Pedro, Lou Dobbs is looking for you...Lou Dobbs has said Mexicans do not have a say in the future of this country. Obama has called Dobbs out on this many times, so Pedro either your with Obama or you take your chances with McCain and Dobbs will have you back over the border in no time.

Nothing more ANTI-American than wanting to secede. Nothing more ANTI-American than staying married with and delivering this person's offspring. Nothing more ANTI-American than calling this Secession groups work "IMPORTANT" Obama never said Weather Underground was doing "important work".

A vote for McCain/Palin is a vote for Treason. You heard me, treason. The Republican ticket is a ticket that supportsa successionist movement. John McCain knowingly chose a running mate who recorded a message asking a successionist party to "Keep up the good work." while Governor. This was not a problem for him. The Republican ticket supports the breaking up of our great Union. They truly wish to see America as we know it destroyed. They have embraced these modern day Jefferson Davis's. Successionist have taken over the party of Lincoln. We cannot allow the radical, America hating, McCain/Palin ticket to destroy our nation.

This is a sad state of affairs. I am loosing respect for Palin and McCain daily. I am praying that Obama keeps his campaign above malicious gossip and speaks to that effect. McCain knows nothing about war except that he became a prisoner of war from the beginning. He never strategized in the Vietnam War. Yes, he survived and is that what he wants for other young Americans who are in Iraq, a senseless war for oil?
Sorry, I am very disappointed int the Republican strategy and I will not support people who are mere gossip mongers.

Obama should start pointing out the relationship that McSame has with G. Gordon Liddy, convicted felon of Watergate fame. There's a terrorist for you right there.

"Obama and his minions do not seem to understand that AYERS HAS NEVER RENOUNCED TRYING TO KILL PEOPLE.
Is that too hard for Obama and the journalists who cover him to understand?"

Indeed - and that would be a big problem for Ayers, too - if HE were running for president.

Could you imagine if a Republican had a decade long professional relationship with an abortion bomber. Do you think the mainstream media would be saying this all happened in the past.
The mainstream media might as well be giving the Obama campaign a byline on it's stories and just move their paper's headquarters to the DNC.

I see alot of the Obama cult members commenting here are so interested in who people sleep with. Funny how that stay out of the bedroom works for Democrats.
Speaking of secessionists, the Obama family has been a member of a church that preaches radical black liberation theology, which is comsumed with seceding from the US.

How, exactly, does happening to serve on the same board with someone who did something despicable when Barack Obama was eight years old, and apparently having coffee at someone's house with the guy once -- possibly without even knowing the guy's history, make Obama an accomplice to terrorism? On the other hand, I would think that working in the Senate to help a fraudster like Charles Keating, and accepting gifts from the guy, might just rub off a little guilt by association on John McCain. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Somehow, it worked for Karl Rove for a while, but I think the American people have finally stopped sleepwalking and are noticing that the GOP is dirty dirty dirty.

McCain's connections to criminal Savings and Loans officials are deep and tangible, much more so than Obama's to Ayres. Also, McCain stated once that G. Gordon Libby, another convicted criminal, is "a very good friend of his." I'm willing to consider voting for McCain despite these highly troubling connections, but not if he's going to do a song and dance over Obama's superficial relationships. That just makes me wonder why he's attacking and what more he might be hiding.

One has to be suspicious of the fact that BHO refuses to reveal his real birth certificate to the american public. Why is he so fearful ? What is he hiding? Why did he hire several lawyers to stop his b. certificate from going public?

(So, who is it exactly who is standing with Obama?)

Thousands of people have endorsed him including military figures, scientists, economists, Nobel laureates, businesspeople and renowned writers. They include:

* John Adams, Brigadier General US Army (Ret), Former Deputy US Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee
* Peter Agre, Nobel Prize-winning scientist (Chemistry 2003)
* Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo
* Billy King, former general manager and team president of NBA team Philadelphia 76ers
* American Small Business League
* Jeffrey Katzenberg, film producer and CEO of DreamWorks Animation
* Clifford Alexander, Jr., former Secretary of the Army

The names are too long to list. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_endorsements

Archie,

Thank you for your service and for injecting some common sense into the discussion. It is clear that Obama values our military personelle and does not use them as pawns in his campaign. I wish I could say the same about McCain. He has shown he does not really care about the troops either overseas or when they come home.

I see the vermin pundits out doing what they do best. Lie, cheat, or steal.....whatever it takes to get their guy in the office. To bad the people they are trying to get on board with them are the very same people who will be turned off by this kind of lowlife negative campaigning. If there were any legs to this, they would have brought it out before. It even smells of desperation and the undecided know it.

Nice job of "reporting" all the facts. The connection is much stronger than Obama claims, and there is plenty of evidence of this. Why don't you engage in some real journalism and discount the bases for these "allegations" instead of just repeating Obama's minimalizations? WHere's a quote from Stanley Kurtz, or is he another hatemongering smearmerchant who actually has the gall to base his claims in fact? Do you even bother to seek out factual information for use in either supporting or discounting these allegations? Why am I even wasting my time? John Kass is the only reason to read your paper, anyway. Unfortunately he also appears to be the only one with any journalistic integriy in your organization.

Quick call the Dog Pound, there is a Pit Bull on the loose!

Obama/Biden -08

It is most frustrating for viewers to put up with the unfair treatment of all the Presidental Candidates except for Sarah Palin. Why should she get a free pass on answering reporters questions. All networks should decide not to cover her until she does. If she refuses then so be it. I have heard nothing of substance from her so far.

Brigitte and the smear-mongers-

THE SMEAR:
Supporters of John McCain, as part of their continuing campaign to use xenophobic attacks on Barack Obama, have passed on an email that wondered about the “natural-born citizen” requirement for President as it relates to Barack Obama. Often, this email will claim that Obama’s mother was “too young” to confer citizenship.
THE TRUTH:
Barack Obama was born in the state of Hawaii and is therefore a natural-born citizen of the United States. His campaign has even released a copy of his birth certificate showing this fact.

We voters deserve to know all the details regarding Obamas association with known domestic terrorists, racist preachers, and convicted felons. McCain was exonerated by Congress for his association with Charles Keating and the only reason he was scrutinized is because all of the other Keating 5 were dems.

All of you Republicans or should I say Obama haters are grasping at straws. The Ayers argument isn't going to fly, next please!

Earth to brigitte, Obama's campaign DID release his birth certificate.

Look if you're going to spread smears, at least try to stay current.

The fact that Obama was 8 when this happened has no bearing what-so-ever on the the fact that this person was involved in terrorist activity. He got off on a technicality, but that did make him innocent. This isn't the only questionable character that Obama has been connected/friends with, the numbers are numerous. When will people take into account Obama's questionable associations with these unsavory people and realize we don't need this kind of person as our president. I don't think he can come up with the number of bad associations that would compare McCain to his/Obama's background.

The Charges against Ayers were dropped and the issue should be as well. McCain is the real terrorist with his bomb-bomb iran mantra and his support for illegal war.

Gosh Mike Ryan......you forgot to add the "Hussein" in also in your rant that you deserve to know. How about adding a few others like he knew Hitler, or Nero or something.

Even though B Obama was young was Ayers did these acts; he still decided to use him to boost his political career. He knew what kind of man he was and still served on a board of his organization to pump up his resume.

Same thing goes with the church that he was a member of for 20 years.
If you don't believe in terrosist acts, and don't believe in the pastor's words then why did you associate so closely with these people. The American people have a right to know who exactly they would be voting for. WHO is the real Barrack Obama?????

It is what it is.

This attack on Obama is an all to obvious Rove tactic by McCain’s campaign to change the subject of the campaign away from the issues. The only problem is by using character assignation with no reliable truth, they’ll open up McCain to the same tactic that is very relevant to the current economic crisis, and there’s plenty of proof of McCain’s involvement. This is a desperate move by a desperate republic campaign. Lets see if the mainstream media makes as big a deal about this as they did with the Rev. Wright story. I think we should all write to the media and make sure that everyone gets informed about the Keating scandal. Many young voters out there don’t know exactly what happened, and what McCain’s involvement in it was. All voters should be informed, and this story needs to be reviewed, because it directly relates to the current issues facing our economy today.

The individual from Viet Nam is more foolish to think Obama would care about him then or now, compared to a man who knows the true toll of war as John McCain did, what is worse is these questions should have been asked in the primaries, no they were off limits. For the American People they cannot be off limits. Lobbyist are in every and I mean every office in DC to include Obama's. Terrorist, anti-americans like Wright hopefully are not. Yes the lady in a terrorist living room is assosiated. Yes Obama has some questions. Democrats want a hands off policy because they cannot stand the light of day, same with those democrats involved in the latest meltdown.

Zwick, you would have voted for Obama anyway, probably even if he had been there with ayers. Some people just never get it. Obama is an unsavory person who all his life has associated with unsavory people. The fact that Obama was 8 when this happened has no bearing what-so-ever on the the fact that this person was involved in terrorist activity. He got off on a technicality, but that did make him innocent. This isn't the only questionable character that Obama has been connected/friends with, the numbers are numerous. When will people take into account Obama's questionable associations with these unsavory people and realize we don't need this kind of person as our president. I don't think he can come up with the number of bad associations that would compare McCain to his/Obama's background.

It's October 6th 2008 and McCain still hasn't written a letter or had a press conference demanding the arrest and apprehension of William Ayers. Is this how McCain would handle the war on terror? Let the walk free and continue about their business?

Eunice, are you running for the highest office of this country. Otherwise we don't care with whom you chose to associate, it is all up to you and your conscious.

We voters deserve to know all the details regarding Obamas association with known domestic terrorists, racist preachers, and convicted felons. McCain was exonerated by Congress for his association with Charles Keating and the only reason he was scrutinized is because all of the other Keating 5 were dems.

Posted by: Mike Ryan | October 6, 2008 11:09 AM

Sooo, by McCain being exonerated by Congress for his association with Charles Keating that makes it okay and we (the voters) should look the other way as though this never happen. Right???

Obama shouldn't worry about Palin making stupid Palin remarks.

Those of us who have acquired math skills do realize that Obama was a child when this dude was at play. It is such a stretch. Can you imagine the shady characters McCain is in bed with... starting with Bush/Cheney.

Mike Ryan: "McCain was exonerated by Congress for his association with Charles Keating" Maybe so but what about his relationship with Phil Gramm? The facts are starting to leak out that Gramm's finagling of the banking rules led directly to today's financial meltdown and YOUR tax dollars being used to bail things out. And McCain has not denied that his trusted financial guru won't be a key player in a McCain administration. How do you answer that?

Patrick, you forgot to mention that Ayers launched Obama's political career in Illinois with a political/campaign meeting at his private home.

Sleaze to win. McCain has embraced the tactics of Bush and McCarthy. Shame on us if we let the McCain/Palin sleaze campaign distract us from the real issues.

If mud sling was fair then we would have to examine both candidates. McCain has dirty laundry from the Keating Five scandal that did not occur when he was eight. Also, McCain was involved in four naval aircraft accidents where any other officer who was not an admiral's son would have been dismissed from flight duty. Several of his accidents were clearly the result of arrogance or mindbending incompetence.

As a former military pilot, I understand some of McCain's closet skeletons.

You haven't heard Barack Obama tenuously spinning McCain's history.

Say it ain't so John. You didn't learn swift boating at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Steve Chapman brought up John McCains's actual friends ship with Gordon Liddy mack in May and August. Now THAT is a lot more interesting than this.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/steve_chapman/2008/08/obamas-radical.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/oped/chi-oped0504chapmanmay04,0,3136852.column

What's really irritating is that Palin can lie about a NYT story, because she knows her target audience will never actually read it.

It's Palin's bald-faced lying that's shocking. (Either that or she flunked reading comprehension.)

CDM the charges were dropped on a technicality. That doesn't mean he was innocent. Just that the judge was probably paid off by Ayers rich father.

remember Martin Luther King Jr was classified as a terriorist too. Anytime black folk take a firm stand for their rights, we're labeled... we're used to it. we dont take it to heart. Obama continue to stand strong. As for those who are looking for people to vouch his character, where have you been? pull your head out your butts... Vote for change November 4th!!!

Obama is as unsavory and the people he associates with, and we don't need the likes of him running this country.

It comes down to this, who is the one more likely to take from lobbyists? If you look at McCain and who he's surrounded himself with, well the truth is in the pudding.
McCain is now relying on smear and avoiding the real issues we as a country face. He voted for the bailout, he did his part for the economy and now it's time to "turn the page". Is this man for real? In Palin's eyes, I would guess and those who follow Rush, etc. Those who like Palin find it hard to think..and can only repeat whats been hammered into them.
Scary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEY PALIN!!

It's the ECONOMY stupid! Not everyone lives in Alaska and get an annual dividend check from the state!

McCain-Palin could star in a remake of the movie "Dumb & Dumber".

Sara Palin couldn't answer the questions she was asked in the vice presidential debate because she didn't know the answers - she could only do what she was programmed to do, like a robot. Now she's doing the same thing. They tell her to attack Obama's character, because that's all she's capable of, and that's what she does. Truth has no place in it, she doesn't know the truth, she only knows what her programers tell her. Being a middle-aged white woman, I am ashamed for my gender, every time I see or hear Palin speak.

It sure looks like things are getting a bit desperate in the McCain/Palin camp. They are using guilt by association regarding an event that happened a long time ago, and when Obama was trying to help people. Contrast this with Palin's total disregard for civilized behavior when she supports the killing of wolves and other Alaska wildlife. She is truly a vicious attack dog, all while carrying the mantel of a right to lifer. Its clear she would do anything they say at this point.

USA �s the country of Poe, Walt Whitman, Steinbeck Faulkner, S. Fitzgerald, O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Stanley Kubrick, Mailer, Bob Dylan... This country deserves a VP with higher cultural standards than Mrs. Palin. These kind of attacks shows the low level of Mrs. Palin's intellectual patterns.
America now needs a Peace hero than a War hero. The world claims for a new Economics and... PEACE!
Peace to you Mrs. Palin: stop to kill the poor mooses and stay home watching TV.

By responding to the "weekend assault" by the McCain/Palin Campaign on his past associations, Senator Obama has legitimized the "character issue" as an integral part of the campaign. There is plenty to dig into and you would hope the Chicago Tribune will finally start doing so with 30 days to go.

It won't be pretty. My Chicago has plenty of warts, from the "vote early and vote often" joke which really isn't very funny to the "City with the Broad Shoulders" slogan.

But Chicago is probably best remembered as the big city run by the hammer and sickle of the Democratic Machine. Sorry, but what's the difference between the symbol for Soviet Communism and a political machine that rules with an iron fist?

Both candidates have character issues so it's good to debate it now -- sooner or later the majority of intelligent and informed voters may realize that "character" also plays a role in creating and hopefully solving the economic crisis. A lack of "character" in a lot of individuals representing both parties started this pathetic mess.

Let's all keep stay informed over the next month and then vote - but not early and not often.

A quick memo for all those frothing at the mouth: Barack Obama has nothing to do with Bill Ayers. Can you control your neighbors' pasts? Can you control who sits on a board with you? No. What you can control is the future of the White House, by preventing it from becoming inhabited by a cranky old man from the party that nearly destroyed America and his laughably unqualified Barbie doll running mate.

I am a Republican at heart. But I was an education student at UIC and had Bill Ayers as an independent study professor. I have never met anyone teaching at the university level in an education department that truly cared so much about future teachers and STUDENTS. It was incredible. Unfortunately, Palin and McCain are now the ones looking backward. How many times can you speak out of both sides of your mouth! I am disgusted by this rhetoric. Debate the issues!

Why was felon Tony Rezko at Obamas closing on his house,because Rezko was buying it for favors and thean turned it over for free to Obama.He got elected in Chicago when mayor Daley his backer had all other candidates taken off the balot.This guy doesnt know change he is thworst nightmare in government.Just another Chicago mob Daley candidate that is ruining Chicago

Character debate?

McCain is an officer and a gentleman, he would not go to battle against an unarmed man.

McCain is down in the polls so he is choosing smear over substance. He would rather talk about some tangential association than the 500 points we have already lost on the DOW today....the first day since 2004 that the DOW has been below 10,000. Check my blog. I put it together after I realized that there are SO MANY reasons why I could not vote for McCain. Tell me what you think.
http://easyvote2008.blogspot.com/

All I can say is - when everyone is calling for Obama's head in 3 years, you Obama supporters better not have the gall to play the race card. You are voting for him. He'll likey win. So sack up when he f's things up. The guy is pro-criminal and anti-business, and that isn't a good thing, no matter how bad you feel about driving a SUV and the war in Iraq.

Obama didn't know about racist church for 20 years and the press ignores it. Now he claims he had no idea that another mentor is a unapologetic terrorist. I suspect he will get the same pass here has he has with his racist church.

If you want to debate Obama's association with Ayers, then let's also talk about McCain's association with G Gordon Liddy.

Remember him? He's the one that planned bombings and planned murders. He also told on his radio show how to kill DEA agents if they come to your house.

To "One has to be suspicious of the fact that BHO refuses to reveal his real birth certificate to the american public. Why is he so fearful ? What is he hiding? Why did he hire several lawyers to stop his b. certificate from going public?"

He did you knit-wit, factcheck.org reviewed it and it is 100% authentic. So, why don't you take your crazy faux news listening self over to that site and read what they had to say about it. Too scared of the truth?

Let's be honest. Obama could publicly condone Ayers actions, stand by Jeremiah Wright, and admit to be a Muslim and it wouldn't change the Dems opinion of him. Obama has cooked them one degree at a time to the point that they don't even realize how dangerous he is. Everyone will see the true Barak soon. Question is...will it be too late for America?

I can't believe the amount of people who are being "led down the garden path"! Have any of you Obamaniacs actually looked at Obama's political voting record? He really represents everything that Americans hate about the system. Unless Obama can materialize money out of thin air, where is he going to get the funds for all of these new programs? From YOU!!!! If anyone can enlighten me as to exactly what this man has ever "reformed", I would love to know... McCain is definitely no saint, but Obama is misrepresenting himself to a point that everyone is eating from his hand for absolutely no reason! Use your brains! A taxpayer voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders!

Was it not the late, great Dr. martin Luther King, Jr." who insisted that We judge one another on "content of character?" It is not surprising that Senator Obama wants to debate McCain on this basis.

I believe if We as a nation of people facing many of the same social, financial and educational challenges are to contend fairly with adversity, We should consider and individuals social standing, education and overall accomplishments. Sure, many of us have made mistakes during our childhood, but should these social errs haunt us eternally? Is this sufffiient grounds to, for example, to empower people who We know for a fact harbor past resentments, and disdain for our skills and eventual potential to withhold certain rewards which We know We are entitled? Is it fair that such people deny us our inalienable rights simply because We look diffrent, or choose a different path towards success.

Granted, your past is your past; just as your future is your future. By teaching children not to make the same mistakes we did during our childhood, we can in one way ensure an even brighter future not only for them, bur for ourselves. So if We consider what makes a "decent" individual, We then know what he/she is made of, if he/she is worthy of being a leader. Inso doing, We, then know if he/she can be trusted as a leader of mankind. After all, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for example, earned a Nobel Peace Prize for his character. It is what made him a great man worthy of emulation.

McCain is an officer and a gentleman, he would not go to battle against an unarmed man.

Posted by: Greg | October 6, 2008 12:13 PM

McCain is no gentleman. Not any more. He has dishonored the uniform he once war. He should be ashamed of what he has become. Duty, Honor Country. He has betrayed them all.

I beleive Todd Palin is, or was for several years, a member of the Alaskan Independence Party. Gov. Palin also attended meetings and even greeted the members of the orgainiztion to their convention. That organization calls for the sessession of Alaska from the United States. How much do they love this country if they are involved in this organization?

Looks like they want to leave the Untied States of America...I just wonder ...is that a terrorits organization that they were part of?????

I think we should be discussing Gov. Palin's association with her separatist husband. Why isn't anyone talking about his "patriotism"?

I'm sure Sarah didn't read the story in the NY Times. She can't remember what newspapers she reads.

Obama's terrorist Ayers was a young college student fighting the Vietnam War.

McCain's terrorist Liddy was a 50 something employee of the US Government.

Which one is worse?

Obama is a guy who can not answer a question without a teleprompter telling him what to say. Why is he afraid to debate McCain.
Ran a sexist and biggotted race against Hillary that the press let him get away with so he is doing the same to Palin.
He has taken millions from lobbyist and crooks. The press has not reported on a singel aspect of the taxpayer money that Obama sponsored for Rezko and the slum housing that was left behind. Penny Pritzker who ran Superior bank into the ground and got a $600 million taxpayer bailout is completely blackouted in the press. Senior advisors Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson walked away with over $100 million in bonuses at Fannie that have left our economy is shambles. In the last 20 years Obama has taken the 2nd most from these crooks and Fannie and Freddie and he has only been in the Senate for 4 years.
Change you can believe in.

[[William Ayers in unrepentant terrorist who stated on 9/11 that he did not bomb enough. Posted by: Bessie | October 6, 2008 9:57 AM]]

noun, verb, 9/11. thank you bessie giuliani.

ayers' comments, posted on 9/11, were made before 9/11 in conjunction with an interview about his then-new book on his days with the weather underground.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E1DE1438F932A2575AC0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

so, while he is unrepentant, the co-incidence with 9/11 is just that a co-incidence.

in other words, if the facts of what he did are so shocking to you, then you shouldn't need to ay on the additional emotional appeal to 9/11.

[[Obama is as unsavory and the people he associates with, and we don't need the likes of him running this country. Posted by: Ruth | October 6, 2008 11:43 AM]]

been taking a little eight-year nap, ruthie? missed all the action at abu ghraib? you don't mind people being detained without charges at guantanamo? we already have unsavory people running the government.

the thing now is, between the two teams saying they will restore america's standing in the world, my money isn't on the woman plucked from obscurity a month ago and her angry, bitter, exhausted running mate.

my money is on the smart young guy with the seasoned senate pro.

So then, I guess that Obama would deny his association with known and convicted Chicago political mob bosses and argue his character is any better then McCain's? Come on. We all know how tight Obama is with the Chicago political machine, Daley's cronies, and Tony Rezko, who soon may out Obama based on his cooperation with the Feds. So with his close ties to Chicago politicians, many of whom have been found guilty in a court of law of corruption, can we say that Obama is not corrupt? I think not. This paper reports corruption everyday in Chicago politics...but i guess Obama is not part of that right? What about Blagoevich? Is he not corrupt?

The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, nine trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work. Two thirds of that comes from inheritance; interest on interest accumulating to widows / idiot sons; and stock / real estate SPECULATION. It is crap.

You have ninety percent of the American public out there with little or no net worth. WALL STREET SPECULATORS create nothing. But through SUPER-CAPITALISM, WALL STREET SPECULATORS OWN EVERYTHING.

RICH GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SPECULATORS make the rules. The news, war, peace, famine and upheaval.

RICH GOP REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SPECULATORS pick that rabbit out of the hat while the American People sit out there wondering how the hell WE GOT INTO THIS MESS.

You are not naive enough to think that we live in a Democracy? IT'S THE FREE MARKET. And you're a part of it. GOP REPUBLICAN RICH WALL STREET SPECULATORS have that killer instinct. Stick around, we still have stealing to do.

The AMERICAN PEOPLE suppose to own AMERICA. That's right, the AMERICAN PEOPLE suppose to own AMERICA. And AMERICANS are being robbed by GOP RICH REPUBLICAN WALL STREET SPECULATORS AND THEIR WHITE HOUSE / CONGRESSIONAL STOOGES with their:
luncheons,
hunting trips,
golf tournaments,
escort services,
corporate jets,
GOLDEN PARACHUTES.

Thousands of GOP Republican CEOs and their White House / Congressional Stooges are walking away with over $20,000,000 each of stolen money from the U.S. Treasury (AMERICAN PEOPLE). This Is Treason Against the American People.

Is serving on a board with Ayers the same as Obama being the CEO of Ayer's Chicago Annenberg Project? This is way more than two ships passing in the night. The more Obama tries to downplay, the more questions arise.

Let's debate who was "present" and who was "active" trying to avert the mortage meltdown crisis. Let's go there. Let's see who has received more money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ($105,949 for one of these gentlemen, 2nd in Congress). Let's see who was SILENT on regulating Fannie / Freddie in 2005 and 2006. Let's see who was PRESENT. Let's see who's campaign finance chairman drove a $1.1B bank (Superior Bank, Oak Brook, IL) to fail in 2001 by convincing federal regulators to allow it to move into subprime lending, which is why it failed. Yes, let's go there.
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13952

Kevin M wrote: The fact is, it was not 40 years ago when Obama started off his political career in the living room of a terrorist, William Ayers. Obama tries to downplay the connection to Ayers so the American public thinks it doesn't matter. But, the true facts are one hundred eighty degrees different than what Obama wants the public to believe. Here is a link to the youtube video that Obama doesn't want you to see. It shows the connection between him and (terrorist) William Ayers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEeHl0h3NBo

No. The fact truthfully is that Obama attended an event hosted at Ayers house by his predecessor in offfice to meet important players in the district. Accounts by attendees (see above) confirm the casual nature of the conact. And, how does another attempt by Rove-ites to smear the opposition and to distract from McCain's CURRENT economic plans help us with today's stock market melt down?
Just dispicable.
Tom S

Let the BATTLE begin...

I'll take Charles Keating and Phil Gramm over Obama associates...

1. Domestic Terrorist Bill Ayers.

2. Domestic Terrorist Bernadine Doehrn

3. The Weather Underground who with these terrorist Obama friends bombed the US Capital, NYC Police Headquarters, The Pentagon, and killed a cop.

4. Rev. Jeramiah Wright who baptized his kids, married he and his wife and was his spititual mentor.

5. His muslim buddy Louis Farrakhan.

6. Mommar Kadhafi.

Yep, bring it on Barry Hussein!

BRING IT ON ACORN BOY!

my money is on.....
smart young guy = inexperienced novice that is lucky to have press on his side.
seasoned senate pro = lobbyists dream to the point that own son becomes lobbyist.

abu graib pales in comparison to Chicago police torture last 20 years. American citizens pulled off street with no charges and tortured with electric cattle prods while changed to radiators. Obama was so outraged by his party's behaviour over the Burge torturing that he called for hearings and investigations. Oh wait, I think he is waiting for a seasoned pro to do that.

McSame, you are opening a Pandora's box with these character smears--can you stand the airing of the Keating scandal, your lobby pal list, your cheating on your first wife, etc? You are inviting it. Obama will prevail in a character comparison!
He who throws mud loses ground--and you are digging a pretty big grave for your ticket.

I hate Obama with every fiber of my being. If the American people are duped by him Nov 4, I'm moving out of country, maybe rent Alec Bladwin's place out of country (that's right, Mr. Baldwin decided not to move after all). Obama boy will be a one termer!

Does anyone want to talk about Todd Palin’s association with the Alaska Independence Party. Obama may “pal” around with radicals but he dosen’t sleep with one every night. People you have to start opening your eyes to the real problem and that is the $55 trillion swap shadow market on Wall Street that is going to possible sink the country.

Does anyone want to talk about Todd Palin’s association with the Alaska Independence Party. Obama may “pal” around with radicals but he dosen’t sleep with one every night. People you have to start opening your eyes to the real problem and that is the $55 trillion swap shadow market on Wall Street that is going to possible sink the country.

What about Mr. McCain's association with Col. Duyet, who has endorsed McCain?

We argure abour William Ayers...and the Dow is crashing, - 525 at this pont. I feel that William Ayers is the least of our problems.

Hey GOP Rich...you have no idea what you just wrote do you? Yes, your right. Its all Replubicans. There are never Democrats who are involved in any of this and of course none of the issues we are dealing with now could have been started while a Democrat was in office. Ever think the the issues Republicans deal with in office are created by a Democrat in office before them? No, you dont see that. Because everything just arises overnight when a Repbublican takes office. it is never the left over mess from a democrat. lets think logically here people.

This whole thing will be covered up by the press. When a candidate has a 20 year relationship with a racist mentor preacher, and that candidate even names his bio after one of his sermons.
In Obamas own Illinois district there are untold thousands suffering from AIDS that the Rev Wright has convinced that AIDS is a government conspiracy and do not seek medical care from them. The press has completely ignored Obama's true record of the people who suffer daily in his district do you think they are going to now pay attention to 'just some guy who happens to live in my neighborhood' terrorist.
Change you can believe in.

Sen. McCain sat on a paid committee for over 20 years with a klansman, Sen Bryd. The KKK was a terrorist organization. McCain choose to pal around with a 60's radical too. Why the double standard?

We have learned the following: We now know why Palin was brought in by McCain and we fully understand that she is WAY over her head.

Reading all the hate in some of these email really saddens me. I thought AMERICA was a free nation, where people are allowed to think freely. Some of the emails display so much bitterness and the untruths and unfounded things the are being spread by all this hate just reall makes me wonder what has happen to my country. Well, to ALL just take a look around and if you don't think we need change then you have to be stupid to continue to repeat the si