Obama Ayers Ad Responds To McCain Attack (VIDEO)

Barack Obama has responded to the ad tying him to Weatherman William Ayers with an ad of his own. "With all our problems, why is John McCain talking about the sixties, trying to link Barack Obama to radical Bill Ayers?" it says. The ad was put out by an independent group, but McCain's campaign has tried to use Obama's connection to Ayers against him.

The original ad, whose creators released their donors after questioning by the Huffington Post, was funded by one billionaire McCain supporter. The group has sunk nearly $3 million into airing the ad.

Watch Obama's response:

According to Ben Smith, the ad is airing in Ohio.

McCain's campaign has responded in turn to Obama's ad: "The fact that Barack Obama chose to launch his political career at the home of an unrepentant terrorist raises more questions about Senator Obama's judgment than any TV ad ever could," spokesman Brian Rogers said. "And the fact that he's launching his own Convention by defending his long association with a man who says he didn't bomb enough U.S. targets tells us more about Barack Obama than any of tonight's speeches will."

Comments

[SShaw490]

That's the perfect way to manage these things. Every time some group throws another ridiculous charge out there, just refute it and say, "Is this the kind of thing that the Republicans think are important in America today? Maybe that explains why America is in the fix it's in - today."

[KBAR]

It has long been reported that they both sat on the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago. We now also know that Ayers helped found the Chicago Annenberg Challenge Fund, with Obama as the first Chairman of the Board. We also know that Obama, Thomas Ayers (Bill Ayers father) and John Ayers (Bill’s brother) all served on the Leadership Council of the Chicago Public Schools Education Fund (described here as “the successor” to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge project).
http://bsimmons.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/ayres-and-obamaits-not-the-crime-its-the-coverup/

[flydoghead]

how is this a negative.... slime bucket ?

How is serving your community a bad thing ?

What is the implication of your statements ?

SO WHAT ?

[tyger]

Didn't Ayers serve his time in prison and was Obama involved in any 60's protest events. Can we help who we meet later on in life especially if they are professional colleagues. This is all distraction to keep us from the real issues. How about crawling back under that rock you slimed out from under.

[Viper]

And what crimes are you now accusing other Ayres family members of doing? Setting up a charity fund? Hey as long at they were not stealing drugs out of it like Cindy its not a crime! Its a good thing.


Regards

[dkuz09]

So they all served on the same board, one you mentioned services funding Public Schools (something the current administration has FAILED to do. So from your point of view, that's a bad thing??

[filo]

They were trying to help public education???? GASP !!

They should be draw and quartered !

At least tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.

IT'S A NONISSUE TROLL

[demfriend]

In a country which takes issue with the type of person the ad says Ayers is that they would chase people tied to the type of things Ayers is accused of in the ad until they are dead or in custody then why is Ayers a Teacher at a University instead in prison? I would think Mr.Ayers might have a case againest McCain and the billionare he rode into town with. I would hate to think that someone accused of a crime they did not commt or were cleared of years ago should not be used as a fear mongers weapon to get votes. This should be investigated and it should be nipped in the bud if not for just Obama but for us as I doubt anyone of us wants an onnocent person used this way.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Ayers was prepared to turn himself in until the case was dropped due to prosecutorial misconduct.

No criminal charges are pending.

His record is clear and this is public knowledge.

Charges of corruption against our future President are based purely on projection by the criminal class, the Global Monied Elite, represented here in America by the Republican Party.

[KBAR]

His record is clear and this is public knowledge.

Same cannot be said for his wife, now can it?

[marinade]

That's just the Republican party modus operandi. The super wealthy throwing their money into the lie machine.

Buying their way into power. That's all they know.

[PuppaX]

Well...it works.

[MeanGreenMachine]

They have the power.

Its just about maintenance now.

[LexLuthier]

Until you go to the well one time too many.

[BobbyVega]

It's funny how John McCain and his cronies want to bring up Obama's inexperience. Ok let's see what all that experience between Dick Cheney, George Bush and Hillary Clinton brought for the good old USA. A war that has killed 4000+ American lives and 100,000s of innocents because we were told that thier leader had weapons of mass destruction and he was going to use it on us!!!

But to be fair HIllary was not the one that started the war but her going with the flow and believing Bush/Cheney in the web of lies only shows that all that "experience" from this junior sentar that her judgement was clouded by her ego,,,her "destined" road to the White House. She gambled that the war was going to be a huge success and lost.

So thier experience shows that if something is popular no matter what it is, just go for it. Give the masses what they want. Do we do that with our kids? If you want to be a responsible parent you don't. If you raise spoiled brats, and they get lucky enough to become president (ICK!) then this is what we get.

Barack Obama was against going to war when it was popular and he is still against the war when its unpopular. Can't say the samething about everyone else. He was right from the start which shows he, unlike all those others with "experience", that he has sound judgement and doesn't

[MeanGreenMachine]

McCain.

Still stupid and corrupt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_five

[thecanadian]

Obama - you have to follow up constantly and hit them hard on this sleaze! It is clearly racist!

[KBAR]

"That’s just how white folks will do you."......BHO

[flydoghead]

source please

[flydoghead]

you put quote marks around your post, where are you quoting from ?

[Viper]

yes, from the audio of his books where he is describing feelingswhen he was growing up all before age 30, He also in the same phrase states that black people could be mean...

We are talking about an era where water fountains were labled White and Black and restrooms ... Most hotelsdid not allow black... And schools wer still segregated.

Now go get your sheet out of the dryer you have a meeting to go to tonight. put the pointy hat on when you get there.. does not fit in the car.

Oh well at let your phrase taken out of context actually exist.

How do you face yourself each morning when you look into hat mirror


Regards

[MeanGreenMachine]

Last I checked there are no postcard with smiling African Americans lynching Whites.

But:

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/atschrag/classes/images/Duluth-lynching-postcard.jpg

[Ramirez]

Well, they ARE typical white people.

[4wehttam]

More like typical STUPID people. As are YOU.

[Viper]

As oppose to a typical comment or a typical family car. The norm, common, not unusual.. get a dictionary...

UYou could just say white person.. and then typical would be implied logically. I dont see naything worng with a Typical Black person....

Regards

[fiftyplusnfedup]

Yes, yes, yes! Great ad! Clear, concise, right to the point, and impossible to misunderstand or misconstrue. Forget about showing Obama talking in front of an audience; excerpts from speeches make lousy ads. THIS is the kind of advertising that can win an election!

[yeswecancan]

Keep 'em coming -- and let's stop just playing defense. Get more ads on McCain out there and have them chase their tails for awhile ...
BTW ... check out this hilarious Cindy McCain spoof ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT4tbdoZMmc

[Beca]

In order to continue to hit back, all Obama supporters need to make donations to his campaign--these ads cost gobs of money and the Republican Party and their Billionaire Oil Tycoon supporters have gobs of money to throw at the McCain campaign and smear Obama with their lies.
So please, even $5 makes a difference and would be greatly appreciated , please go to www.barackobama.com and make your donaiton now!

[msmaggie]

Obama needs to nip this in the bud--admit whatever tenuous relationship--a shared Board directorship, a campaign contribution--that existed and condemn the onslaught of innuendo. Don't dance around it for God's sake, it makes it sound like you have something to hide.

[maxwellinformed]

What are talking about? He already has.Problem is a certain segment of the population hears what they want to hear. He wen to a fund raiser at the guys house and him and the worked in the same community outreach program. Now I like some of my coworkers too. Doesn't mean In endorse everything my coworkers do. But whatever makes you sleep at night voting for McPOW go for it.

[msmaggie]

Listen wellinformed (oh the irony) read what I said. I am for Obama. I am not for making needless errors. Let me tell you what he should say: "Ayers and I served on the board of a community action group in Chicago. That board did accomplished this and that, and consisted of x members over the years I was involved. I remain proud and committed to this group. It is true that my path crossed with Ayers at a fundraiser held at his home x years ago, when both his wife and I served on the U of Chicago faculty. I of course do not endorse any of the criminal activities that Mr Ayers was accused of. I trust that the voters see this as an underhanded attempt to smear me and my campaign with yet another grotesque misrepresentation of facts."

[Moka11]

Admit what???? There is nothing to admit...Tenuous relationship?? What are you talking about.

[msmaggie]

I'm sorry. I'm assuming you can read--if you serve on a board with someone, you have a relationship with them; if you have been to their home, ditto. It a gossamer thin connection. But dancing around it makes it sound like it's something when it's nothing.

[Beca]

There is nothing to admit, and besides he has already spoken at lenght about this supposed "relationship". When Ayers participated with the "Weathermen" movement, Obama was only 8 years old and living in Hawaii--didn't know Ayers at all. Ayers was not convicted of bombing anything, he was convicted for "participating" in the group. He served his time, and since then, he has been a respectede member of the community, doing volunteer work as well as being a distinguished Professor. Ayers has since admitted to his stupid involvement when he was young and dumb (in the 60's).
At present or recent present, Ayers lived or lives in the same neighborhood as Obama--that is not a crime in this country! That is how they know eachother. They are not buddies or even "friends", they are acquaintances--that is also not a crime. They both happened to serve on the same Board of Directors of a non-profit organization, along with many other members of the same Board of Directors. So they happened to sit in the same room with other Board Memebers for a few hours per month--that is also not a crime or an indictment on Obama's "judgment".
Obama has already publicly condemned the past actions of Ayers and the groupd he belonged to in the 60's. What do people expect him to do, shoot Ayers to prove that he is partiotic enough?!

[MeanGreenMachine]

Studies have proven that repeating a charge, even if only to refute it, reinforces that charge in the audience's mind.

[msmaggie]

I think I heard this and I don't doubt it. But I keep thinking of Kerry and the swift boaters and it makes me nervous.

[AdvancedDegree]

John McCain, just more of the same!!!

[Interested Party]

So why are YOU showing the ad in your column???? YOU should be charged for doing that! What a hypocrite and how much did McCain and his thugs pay you to do it? SHAME on you as well Huffington Post!!!!!

[CaptainStormfield]

Google is everywhere. Sort of like Stasi in East Germany.

I recomend using Firefox with Add Block and Flash Block.
You will never have to look at a gyrating eye catcher again.

[wedapeepo]

Obama is fighting this battle like a young, energetic, scientific boxer, McCain, like a washed up barroom brawler.

With that said, democrats both Obama and Clinton supporters alike must unite for the democratic cause otherwise all the ads in the world wont keep McBush out of the White House in November.

In behalf of Obama supporters, I would like to extend my hand in friendship to all Clinton supporters and hope that it will be accepted. Remember that our party, our cause, our philosophy, must come before any candidate.

Let's not fall for the republican's, desperation, divisiveness, and sucker punches for one more second.

Frankly, I'm quite sick of the creepublicans playing on our intelligence and smugly predicting a victory in Nov. thanks to our party's disunity. Creepublicans welcome democrats in with open arms and once we fall for the creepuglican embrace next comes the kiss of death. Not this time creepuglicans, not this time.

Democrats 08!!!

[mistlesuede]

I don't care how clean of a campaign Barack wants to run, it is time to break out the Keating 5 commercials. If he doesn't want to do them, then Moveon should.

[Ramirez]

McCain was cleared of all alleged wrongdoing in the Keating Five scandal. Unlike some Dhims.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five

[BobsNotWorking]

Cleared of "crime", but censured for unethical actions. Still the same unethical guy he was the day he abounded his wife and kids, and still the same guy he was during the Keating Five scandal - Unethical!

[goodtomeetyou]

Ramirez: "McCain was cleared of all alleged wrongdoing in the Keating Five scandal."

----------------------

Not only was Ayers never convicted of a crime connected to the Weatherman, Obama was never charged or associated with anything related to the Weatherman group or put himself in a situation in which he needed to be "cleared" from.

Thank goodness for McCain's money and connections that helped “clear” him.

[Beca]

That doesn't matter since McCain's campaign has decided to use untruths, lies and insinuations to attack Obama.. A perfect example is insinuating that Obama hangs out with "terrorists"--that is totally untrue and unfounded, but the approved McCain ad does just that. So McCains skeletons should be fair game. The reminder of possible wrong doing by McCain would be the aim of airing this issue out again.

[flydoghead]

not true

[Ozarks]

Read Senate censure of McCain

[BushBites]

John McCain should keep his mouth shut.

Everybody knows he helped the Viet Cong.

[Ramirez]

0bama should make ads pointing that out.

[Ironfox]

" Songbird ", " Songbird ", " Songbird "..........................

[KBAR]

No. You've got the wrong John. That was John Kerry.

[Waltb31]

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/mccain_post_card_word%5B1%5D.pdf

[Ozarks]

McCain was probably Viet Cong's highest ace. He crashed 5 planes , making him a "reverse ace". On July 19, 1967 there was a massive fire on the USS Forrestal that caused a loss of over 100 service men's lives and about 20 planes. McCain was whisked off the Forrestal immediate after the fire was put out. Do a Google on USS Forrestal, "Wet Start", Zuni missile and see if maybe John is not listed as a reverse ace on 25 US planes by Viet cong!

[CharlesJ]

McCain's campaign has responded in turn to Obama's ad: "The fact that Barack Obama chose to launch his political career at the home of an unrepentant terrorist raises more questions about Senator Obama's judgment than any TV ad ever could," spokesman Brian Rogers said. "And the fact that he's launching his own Convention by defending his long association with a man who says he didn't bomb enough U.S. targets tells us more about Barack Obama than any of tonight's speeches will.
So your saying Obama went to Ayers home and announced his political career. Do you really think we are that stupid?

Your also saying that Obama is defending Ayers by holding his convention. Good golly miss molly, where did you get that line from. Do You really think America is that stupid. Ayers is not going to be there giving a speach, and I am sure Ayers is not going to be mentioned.

Is this the best you all can do by putting playing out right lies. The republican party is truly desperate to put this one out. How say and pathetic this party has become. Read this befor you make anymore attempts to smear Obama again. http://uspolitics.about.com/od/senators/a/barack_obama.htm