Finally, fact check organizations and MSM start doing their jobs and actually INVESTIGATE the the outrageous claims that the McCain campaign (and Hillary Clinton) have made against Barack Obama about his relationship with William Ayers.
On Sept. 23, 2008 The Wall Street Journal published an article by Stanley Kurtz titled "Obama and Ayers Pushed Radicalism On Schools". Politifact.com has debunked the assertions that were made by Stanley Kurtz in a new article published today.
The McCain campaign also cited an opinion piece by conservative commentator Stanley Kurtz in the Sept. 23, 2008, Wall Street Journal as evidence of the foundation's radicalism. Kurtz wrote that Ayers was the "guiding spirit" of the foundation, and it "translated Mr. Ayers's radicalism into practice."
But Ayers' views on education, though certainly reform-oriented and left-of-center, are not considered anywhere near as radical as his Vietnam-era views on war. And even if they were, there was a long list of individuals involved with the Chicago Annenberg Challenge whose positions provided them far more authority over its direction than Ayers' advisory role gave him.
Source: http://www.politifact.com/...
John McCain:(Bill) Ayers and Obama ran a radical education foundation together.
Politifact says "Pants on fire":
Not a radical group, and Ayers didn't run it.
Alexander Lane has written a scathing indictment of these false accusations in a newly published article that details the complete story of how the Annenburg Challenge was formed, funded and who sat on it's board. The article goes on to explain that William Ayers had no authority and was only an advisor to the board.
Source: http://www.politifact.com/...
Did Obama "lie" about Ayers?
The Washington Post gave this accusations 2 Pinocchio's and concluded the following:
The McCain campaign is distorting the Obama-Ayers relationship, and exaggerating their closeness. There is no evidence that Obama has "lied" about his dealings with Ayers. It would be more accurate to say that he "told the truth slowly," a regrettable but commonplace practice among politicians seeking to avoid embarrassing questions.
Source: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/...
Fact Check says "Groundless, False, Dubious":
Obama never "lied" about this, just as he never bragged about it. The foundation they both worked with was hardly "radical." And Ayers is more than a former "terrorist," he’s also a well-known figure in the field of education.
Source: http://www.factcheck.org/...
Palin:(paraphrase) Obama launched his career in Ayer living room
New Yorker says he launched it at Ramada Inn:
Obama’s campaign began without much excitement. He had ties to so many of the city’s élite factions that the local press described him as "a well-connected attorney." In August, the Chicago Sun-Times noted that Valerie Jarrett was hosting "a private autograph party" for Obama. His memoir was turning him into a figure of some acclaim. The same month, the Hyde Park Herald, which later called the book "a local indie hit," ran a flattering profile that highlighted a theme from "Dreams": how Chicago helped Obama end a long journey of self-discovery, a narrative that helped defuse any notion that Obama was a carpetbagger. "I came home in Chicago," he told the newspaper. "I began to see my identity and my individual struggles were one with the struggles that folks face in Chicago."
A month later, on September 19th, Obama invited some two hundred supporters to a lakefront Ramada Inn to announce his candidacy for the State Senate, and some of what he said sounded very much like the Obama of recent months. "Politicians are not held to highest esteem these days," he told the crowd. "They fall somewhere lower than lawyers. . . . I want to inspire a renewal of morality in politics. I will work as hard as I can, as long as I can, on your behalf." Alice Palmer introduced Obama, and an account in the Hyde Park Herald quoted more from her speech than from his; it was, after all, chiefly her endorsement that certified him as a plausible candidate. "In this room, Harold Washington announced for mayor," Palmer said. "Barack Obama carries on the tradition of independence in this district. . . . His candidacy is a passing of the torch."
Source: http://www.newyorker.com/...
Today when John Lewis warned John McCain that he was "Sowing The Seeds of Hatred and Division". The response from the McCain campaign was that this was a baseless attack on John McCain's character and a tactic to change the subject away from "legitimate criticism of Senator Obama's record and positions". They went on to say:
(John Lewis made) "outrageous and divisive comments that are so clearly designed to shut down debate 24 days before the election"
My first reaction was "What gall these people have... to diminish the advice from one of the foremost civil rights leaders of our time". Anyone with 2 eyes and a brain could see the results of this whole smear campaign against Barack Obama. What a sad day in our history... when a man that has been considered a Genuine American Hero has sold himself to the lowest of the low of political operatives.
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UPDATE: My wife and I have posted links to this diary in many different discussion boards and social networking sites in an effort to educate people on this issue. There is one board in particular (a board for mommies) that my wife posts on that is run by a conservative woman who typically toes the conservative line. I don't typically read the board, but occasionally my wife will point out a discussion. Last night she posted a link to this diary and this morning when she looked at it there was a surprising response that I wanted to share. First I want to share the typical response I have gotten on other discussion boards I have posted it on.
This person is someone I would consider a "New Republican". He is a 30ish white male from Ohio. We have had an ongoing discussion for almost a year.
Your thread title is a lie
"told the truth slowly" <- in plain English that means he lied then backpeddled.</p>
Obama is still a liar.
Obama still associated with a terrorist.
no one gives a shit about what Ayers does now. the fact remains that the man is a dangerous unrepentant terrorist, and any way you parse it Obama worked with this terrorist and then lied about it to the American people.
it's just unbelievable to watch people want to believe in something so badly they'll simply start making up outrageous lies and even cite facts contrary to their assertion and then arrive at an irrational conclusion.
The divide in ideology between New Republicans and what I consider real conservative ideology is immense and you can especially see it demonstrated by the people who have publicly come out against this particular line of attack that the McCain campaign has been pushing. Here is what the administrator of the mommie board said.
Good piece! Very informative actually, and McCain is barking up the WRONG tree if he's going after John Lewis! Evil or Very Mad
Wake me when it's over Sad These are dark days for us conservatives, truly. How DO you disassociate from a campaign gone mad without giving up ideals you hold dear at the same time? Sad
I was curious about the Ayers stuff, thought it was valid to ask about their relationship, but not to LIE about it or claim to know things that McCain does not know.
I am posting this because it is IMPERATIVE that we not push all of these Republicans into the same group... we DO have common ground just as Barack Obama has been saying since the 2004 DNC Convention. This election has seemed very divided lately... and I have had a very real fear of it's outcome for our country. Alot of conservatives can't bring themselves to vote for Obama because of social issues like abortion and economic concerns... but they are not all "right wing wackos". I think these comments say it all... we have common ground in decency and that basic fact can help us erase the invisible line of Blue States and Red States.