Yesterday a prominent Co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign brought up Barack Obama's past cocaine use on the Dennis Miller radio show. He implied that Obama has not been honest about his past and needs to "come clean". Now I have seen the news reports as many of you reading this have and I have read the comments left on different blogs about this situation. The thing that I think everyone is missing about this particular interview is that the focus wasn't the cocaine. The focus was trying to shape Barack Obama into a black man walking behind you in the dead of night with a ski mask on, pants sagging, and a gun on his person. As a black man I would like to give my somewhat different perspective on this interview as well as the Ayer's, Rezko, and Wright connections. Follow me over the fold to see why this is one situation where you would need a platinum race card to match the true underlying theme here.
Former Governer of Oklahoma Frank Keating was a guest of Dennis Miller yesterday on his radio show as a surrogate for John McCain. Dennis Miller has made no secret of his support for John McCain and his stark opposition to Barack Obama so it is no surprise that he would allow Mr. Keating to smear Senator Obama six ways from Sunday. Here is the relevent exchange that has everyone buzzing today.
MILLER: It's the most liberal, let's just say that. We're talking to Frank Keating, former Oklahoma Governor, John McCain supporter. Frank, let's just say, it's the most liberal. The thing that bothers me the most about all this with Barack Obama is not the -- I know he's the most liberal guy. You know, I know he's gotten this close to the White House and I know most people don't realize he's probably the most liberal senator we have. The thing that bothers me the most is I recognize the obfuscation and the smoke and mirrors as Clinton-esque. When I hear him reduce Ayers to "this is a guy who lives in my neighborhood" or Rev. Wright, "I was there 500 times and never saw him." The acts themselves don't bother me as he's starting to treat me like an idiot too when he's blowing this smoke my way. He ought to just come clean and say, "listen, I came up through Chicago, you make some errors there." I'd almost be able to absolve it more easily then.
KEATING: Well, and that's what concerns me, Dennis, because when I was in the State Senate and statehouse of my state, if someone had voted against the entire state budget because it had too much money for corrections, all of us would have, you know, strained our necks to find out who is this because that would have been a very extreme position, basically saying to a law enforcement officer as I was or my son was a state trooper, "you know, you make an arrest, you risk your life, for nothing" because we're going to make sure that person doesn't go to prison even though the laws of the state require it. So, that puzzles me. Just he ought to admit, "you know, I've got to be honest with you. I was a guy of the street. I was way to the left. I used cocaine. I voted liberally, but I'm back at the center." I mean, I understand the big picture of America. But he hasn't done that...
MILLER: He's copped to that...
KEATING: Jeremiah Wright is...
MILLER: Wait, I've got to jump in Frank. He has copped to the blow use, right? I mean, he did so in his own book he said he did blow.
KEATING: Oh yes, he did.
MILLER: Well, I'm just saying that doesn't enter this to me.
Now first I would like to say that at the end of this Diary I am going to do what every journalist should have done as soon as John McCain started lying about why he is bringing up Ayers, that it was because Obama minimized his ties to him. Every McCain surrogate uses the quote "This was a guy in my neighborhood" and stops and says thats all Barack Obama has ever said about his ties Bill Ayers. This was something that came up first in a debate with Hillary Clinton and his answer was much more expansive than that. But I digress....
Back to the Main Event. This back and forth between Miller and Keating is almost orchestrated. But interestingly enough each example they give of Obama not being honest with the American people is rooted in a lie. But one quote in particular stood out to me more than the usual tripe. and it was this.
I was a guy of the street
Now when exactly was Barack Obama a "street guy"? What do and of you think "street guy" means? I will tell you what it means. It means a thug, a criminal, a con man, a bum, and every other prejudiced view that a few Americans still hold about black men. I have noticed that many people are giving Dennis Miller props for "correcting" Keating on the fact that Barack Obama talked about his drug use in his book. But they are missing the point of why Miller corrected him. Dennis Miller wanted to reiterate to any and everyone listening that there is documented proof that Barack Obama did in fact use "blow". He wasn't trying to be fair, he was trying to hammer home a point that he believes will help turn people away from Obama. And it fits into all of the other attacks we have seen in the last week and a half.
Whether people want to accept this or not, black men are still seen by many Americans in a negative light. I won't argue the merits of this or whether its ever warranted. That is not my role in this Diary. My role is explaining that the McCain campaign isn't trying to get the undecideds to see him as a terrorist. Thats patently too far of a stretch. No they are simply trying to make Obama look like a sterotypical N word.
Notice a few things about the attacks. Why exactly did John McCain say he brought up Ayers? Was it because he thought Senator Obama wants to bomb the White House? No. Was it because he thought Senator Obama supports terrorism? No. The "reason" that he gave was because Barack Obama wasn't being truthful with the American people. This from a guy who repeated the lie yesterday that his VP pick stood up against the Bridge to Nowhere. So its about honestly and truthfulness now. Because you know how those black guys rarely tell you the truth! He wants you to see Obama as a "dirty lying N word"
Why do you think they so desperately want to link Franklin Raines to Barack Obama? The truth is James Johnson was a much better target. He actually was a part of the campaign and he was going to help pick the VP. He did get his golden parachute. He did have problems at Fannie Mae. But instead of focusing on him, the McCain campaign instead leapfrogged to the black man, Franklin Raines who had to repay his golden parachute, never was a part of the Obama campaign, and was a lot further removed from Fannie Mae than Johnson. Then they put sandwhich between a fruity picture of Franklin Raines and a unbecoming picture of Senator Obama, a picture of a kindly old white lady implying they helped take money from her. VERY subtle lol. They want you to see Senator Obama as a "thuggish N word".
Look at the new attack ad with Rezko, Daley, and Ayers. Why do you think the video shows grainy black and white photos of these men? Its because they don't want these men looking like average everyday white men. They want them looking darker and more like "typical" criminals. I mean think about it, they include William Daley but the strongest thing they can list about him is that he is an "heir to the chicago machine". So why did they include him in the ad? Because they know most people won't pay attention to what is being said about the men. They will just notice there are three men instead of only 2 men and they all must have done something wrong since they are in the ad. Again the meme is that all of Barack Obama's friends are "dark" and criminal. Kinda like a what??? You guessed it friends, kinda like a gang. I guess Barack Obama is supposed to be a political version of a Crip. Who knew?
Here is another example. Sean Hannity and other Wing Nuts love bringing up Reverend Wright and his comments about God Damn America (with out adding the end of that quote I might add) But you know who they love bringing up more? Louis Farrakhan. Now why do you think that is? Obviously Reverend Wright has a MUCH closer tie to Barack Obama and his youtube comments are definitely controversial enough to spark a debate. So what is the point of bringing in Farrakhan? Because Farrakhan is a black man word that many white people love to hate. When any discussion of bad black leaders happens you can best believe that white people will bring up Jesse, Rev Al, and Farrakhan. He is seen as militant and anti American. And of course he has spewed hatred towards Israel. Now notice something here. Louis Farrakahn is the leader of the Nation of Islam, which is an organization of black muslims. Now if any of the NeoCons really wanted to link Barack Obama to being a muslim wouldn't they bring it up when they try to link him to Farrakhan? The fact that they never try to make that connection BUT still try to portray Obama as being a muslim goes to show you that they really arent trying very hard to prove that connection. The muslim stuff is just a smoke screen to the bigger picture they are trying to portray of Barack Obama being a "militant N word"
Now lets look at the conflicting view points that the McCain tries to paint about Barack Obama. On the one hand you have John McCain just totally disregarding reality and saying Barack Obama phoned it in during the Wall Street Crisis and stayed on the sidelines. We all saw the press conferences and heard of the behind the scenes communications that Barack Obama had with with leaders on the Hill during the crisis so I don't feel the need to defend him on this. But I am pointing out that John McCain wants to portray Obama as either lazy or spineless during the crisis. For those counting at home he wants people to see Obama as a "lazy N word" or a "cowardly N word". Now at the same time McCain and his surrogates decry Obama as being the leftyist of all lefty liberals. They call him risky and that he has bad judgement. McCain says Obama is dangerous because he wants to go into Pakistan and get Bin Ladin if the Pakistanis arent willing or able to do it. So this time the McCain campaign wants to portray Obama as a "radical N word" or a "crazy N word"
Well thats just my take on it from listening to a lot of the speeches and the miind debates between surrogates on the cable news programs. Maybe someone else has a different take on it. But as a black man thats what we mean when we say "code words". Many of us have had those same code words used against us in one way or another so we have experience to back it up. I personally think its more than obvious that these attacks have a lot more to do with Barack Obama being black than any other reason. John McCain wants middle class undecided voters to see Senator Obama as a "lazy thuggish radical, crazy, lazy, cowardly, gang member type, militant, N word" And if we don't work really hard to combat that he is going to win with some people.
Remember this every time they try to mention Ayers though: none of them have called for the Annenberg Foundation to fire Ayers and the Annenberg Foundation was founded by a former ambassador and close personal friend of Ronald Reagan. Just something to point out the next time any of you have a Neocon in your face talking about Bill Ayers.
******************Attention*******************************
Now here is where the rubber hits the road. Because the McCain campaign has pointed to the issue of honesty beign the reason why they are bringing up Bill Ayers, we all need to call for the MSM to point out that there whole premise is a lie. In an interview with Sean Hannity, John McCain had this to say:
HANNITY: — in his house. The year was '95. You know they sat on multiple boards together. We know they've given speeches together. We know there's been sort of a back and forth financially. Ayers contributing to Obama, Obama sort of working some money back through them.
What questions, Senator, would you like answered as it relates to this relationship? And do you think the American people should care about this?
MCCAIN: I think they should care about Senator Obama's truthfulness. I don't care much about an old terrorist and his wife who are still unrepentant. By the way, she was as much or more active than Mr.Ayers was.
But the point is, it's not about them. It's about Senator Obama being candid and straight forward with the American people about their relationship. He has dismissed it by saying he was just a guy in the neighborhood. You know it's much more than that. Let's reveal all the details of that relationship and then the American people can make a judgment.
Now lets examine the record to fact check McCain. Bill Ayers first came up during a debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (it was coordinated behind the scenes between George Stephanopolous and Sean Hannity I might add). Here is how Barack Obama responded from the outset::
MR. STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator, if you get the nomination, you'll have to -- (applause) -- (inaudible).
I want to give Senator Clinton a chance to respond, but first a follow-up on this issue, the general theme of patriotism in your relationships. A gentleman named William Ayers, he was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol and other buildings. He's never apologized for that. And in fact, on 9/11 he was quoted in The New York Times saying, "I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough."
An early organizing meeting for your state senate campaign was held at his house, and your campaign has said you are friendly. Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?
SEN. OBAMA: George, but this is an example of what I'm talking about.
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.
And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values, doesn't make much sense, George.
The fact is, is that I'm also friendly with Tom Coburn, one of the most conservative Republicans in the United States Senate, who during his campaign once said that it might be appropriate to apply the death penalty to those who carried out abortions.
Do I need to apologize for Mr. Coburn's statements? Because I certainly don't agree with those either.
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. They're not going to suggest somehow that that is reflective of my views, because it obviously isn't.
snip
SENATOR OBAMA: I'm going to have to respond to this just really quickly, but by Senator Clinton's own vetting standards, I don't think she would make it, since President Clinton pardoned or commuted the sentences of two members of the Weather Underground, which I think is a slightly more significant act than me --
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Applauds.)
MR. GIBSON: Please.
SENATOR OBAMA: -- than me serving on a board with somebody for actions that he did 40 years ago.
Look, there is no doubt that the Republicans will attack either of us. What I've been able to display during the course of this primary is that I can take a punch. I've taken some pretty good ones from Senator Clinton. And I don't begrudge her that. That's part of what the political contest is about.
I am looking forward to having a debate with John McCain, and I think every poll indicates that I am doing just as well, if not better, in pulling together the coalition that will defeat John McCain.
And when it comes to November, and people are going into the polling place, they're going to be asking, are we going to go through four more years of George Bush economic policies; are we going to go through four more years of George Bush foreign policy?
And if we as Democrats and if I as the nominee have put forward a clear vision for how we're going to move the country forward, deal with issues like energy dependence, lower gas prices, provide health care, get our troops out of Iraq, that is a debate that I'm happy to have and a debate that I'm confident I can win.
Now I won't pretend like I am some kind of genius because I am not, but even a blind man can see that Stephanapolous mentioned in his question the meeting that kicked off Obama's political career at Ayers house. Obama never refuted that point. In fact he went on to acknowledge that he knows him from the neighborhood, from working at the University of Illinois and we can infer from the comment about Senator Coburn that they were "friendly" and again Stephanopolous made mention of them being friendly initially in the wording of his question. Obama also acknowledged that he served on a board with Bill Ayers when Hillary Clinton brought it up. Now again keeping in mind that this was his first time speaking on the subject and compared to subsequent analysis by various media outlets he gave a pretty substantial accouting of his relationship with Bill Ayers.
This is just another example of Republicans saying the lie so many times that eventually it gets accepted as truth. For those of you who blog on other sites please please please point out this inconsistency with John McCain's rhetoric.
I was just about to send this when a new article came across my desk from the prosecutor or the Weather Underground. I thought it was very releveant so take a gander
As the lead federal prosecutor of the Weathermen in the 1970s (I was then chief of the criminal division in the Eastern District of Michigan and took over the Weathermen prosecution in 1972), I am amazed and outraged that Senator Barack Obama is being linked to William Ayers’s terrorist activities 40 years ago when Mr. Obama was, as he has noted, just a child.
Although I dearly wanted to obtain convictions against all the Weathermen, including Bill Ayers, I am very pleased to learn that he has become a responsible citizen.
Because Senator Obama recently served on a board of a charitable organization with Mr. Ayers cannot possibly link the senator to acts perpetrated by Mr. Ayers so many years ago.
I do take issue with the statement in your news article that the Weathermen indictment was dismissed because of "prosecutorial misconduct." It was dismissed because of illegal activities, including wiretaps, break-ins and mail interceptions, initiated by John N. Mitchell, attorney general at that time, and W. Mark Felt, an F.B.I. assistant director.
William C. Ibershof
Mill Valley, Calif., Oct. 8, 2008