My answer to the Obama - Ayers smear by the McCain/Palin campaign (which I’m finding nowhere else on DailyKos, and little-discussed elsewhere online) got very little attention yesterday morning when I diaried it. But I believe it is an essential response, so I’m presenting it again. (I’m hoping for more response from my Kossak comrades.)
McCain and his malevolent henchmen are condemning Obama for his previous relationship with William Ayers. How, they ask, can we forgive Obama for his association with a "known domestic terrorist?"
But, what would they say if it came to light that another Republican conservative (and a dear friend of Ronald Reagan) had no such misgivings about William Ayers? Indeed, what if this Republican had sufficient confidence in William Ayers that he agreed to fund a $100 million organization which was the brainchild of the former Weatherman terrorist, and of which Obama became board chairman?
From 1995 to 1999, Obama was the chairman of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, an organization that gave $100 million to community organizers and activists for the Chicago's public schools. The original grant was written in 1993 by William Ayers. Some say it "radicalized" the schools, although other sources show it enhanced them greatly. http://en.wikipedia.org/...
From Kyle Trygstad on RealClearPolitics:
The Annenberg Challenge was funded by Republican Walter Annenberg, an ambassador during the Nixon administration and friend of President Reagan's. Illinois Republican Governor Jim Edgar and the conservative Tribune Foundation both wrote to Annenberg requesting funds for a foundation to help Chicago schools. Republican Governor Jim Edgar and Mayor Richard Daley announced the formation of the Annenberg Challenge in a joint event, and their administration continued to work closely with the Challenge throughout its existence. http://time-blog.com/...
So, Obama is being condemned for having associated with William Ayers. But, a Republican conservative Reaganite (and other Republican political figures) didn’t find this former "domestic terrorist" an unacceptable associate. Indeed, Annenberg gave millions of dollars to the educational program which Ayers created, and the direction of which was passed to Obama.
If Annendale trusted Ayers, why wouldn’t Obama?