Ayers Linked To GOP Governor Through University

The campaign season's hottest gotcha game -- six degrees of William Ayers -- has suddenly become a bit more complicated for John McCain and the Republican Party.

It turns out that Ayers, a 60s-era radical and former Weathermen member, is linked to GOP Gov. Mark Sanford through their work for the University of South Carolina.

Since 2005, Ayers has held the title of "distinguished scholar" at USC for participating in an education project. He has attended various university events, been praised highly by school administrators, even published columns on university's website. Meanwhile, Sanford holds the position of Ex-Officio Chairman of USC's Board of Trustees.

True, that "link" is basically meaningless; no one suggests that Sanford endorses anything that Ayers has said or done over the years.

But that's precisely the point, according to the Obama campaign, which is gearing up for another round of Ayers coverage on Tuesday, when records are released for an education group that Obama chaired and Ayers co-founded.

The formation of that group, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, was considered a triumph for the city's schools, the first major shift of private funds into the public system. Moreover, the grant to create the organization came from the Annenberg Foundation, which was run by a prominent Republican, Walter Annenberg, who maintained close relationships with several GOP presidents dating back to Nixon.

Does Obama's work with Ayers on this education project really call into question "his judgment and readiness to be commander in chief," as the McCain campaign has charged? If so, maybe McCain needs to take another look at Gov. Sanford.

Comments

[editrix66]

Many business leaders were on that Annenberg board, including, I'm sure, Republicans. Are all the numerous people involved with the board and programs to be tarred with the "radical, terrorist" brush? According to Republican logic, I suppose so. I assume, then, that all of the Republican who funded Saddam Hussein in the 1990s were guilty of his atrocities, then, too.

[rollingdivision]

Wow, some people are against freedom of speech, "We reiterate our request that the Department of Justice fulfill its commitment to take prompt action to investigate and to prosecute the American issues Project, and we further request that the Department of Justice investigate and prosecute Howard (sic) Simmons for a knowing and willful violation of the individual aggregate contribution limits," he wrote."

So what would he do to shutdown opposing speech if he had the power of the presidency behind him? Must be taking his freedom and citizens rights lessons from Chavez.

[Viper]

Calling in to a radio station is suprresion of free speech.. so when most America called in agiants mccains immigration bill, that was supression of free speech.. its shut down the Capitol phone system!

LOL

You people are sick, no wonder the country has turned to crapp.

Back to you:

Pls lst all the good things , economics and etc under the Bush Adminstration and Repug congress over the last almost 8 years.

1) Dollar devaluation
2)........

[grf67]

More of the same for the republicans. Bush and cheney brought the best they had with them.

[the964kid]

McCain: 'Ooooooops'

[alnc]

HA, HA...HA...HA This is how MICKEY MOUSE the GOP and its tactics are. See how silly it is to slime and paint everyone....when we can interact with people on any level at any day in time.

Silly, childish, stupid.....and you wonder why the world sees us as this country that is very odd right now just plain stupid.

[bluemike]

Sorry for the bad attitude, but I think Ayers should be in prison. He never earned so much as a taste of the American Dream Pie. I can't believe that someone with Obama's integrity would have much to do with that terrorist.

[RacePace7]

I definitely don't condone what Ayers did with the Weather Underground. As has been widely reported, Ayers turned himself into authorities in 1980 and all charges were eventually dropped. Since then, he has become a distinguished professor at the University of Illinois and as Pitney mentions, was hired by Mayor Daley to help found the Chicago Annenburg Challenge and served on the board of directors along with Obama on the Woods Fund Board.

Oddly, enough, no one seems outraged or questioning the integrity of Mayor Daley, the University of Illinois, Gov Mark Sanford, the University of South Carolina, and others for hiring and working with Ayers.

When Politico.com looked into the Ayers-Obama connection, they concluded, "There"s no evidence their relationship is more than the casual friendship of two men who occupy overlapping Chicago political circles and who served together on the board of a Chicago foundation."

As a sidenote, Bill Clinton pardoned one Weather Underground member and commuted the sentence of another. If as bluemike says, Ayers had also been sent to prison, would Clinton have also commuted his sentence? I'll leave that for others to answer.

[Magenta]

Yeah, right, I can't believe that any Republicans like Governor Mark Sanford who associate with Ayers have any integrity then. Nor the cleaning lady he employs? Or the Janitor he meets on the streets? Why not question the integrity of everyone who comes into contact with Ayers?

By the way, did you happen to vote for Bush and his regieme when some of his Cabinet members had friendly relationships with Saddam and 16 of the 9-11 terrorists were from a country that Bush is close to?

Admit it. You want to smear Obama. Then better start doing that with the Republican Party and Presidency which has made life for many Americans. FACT.

By the way, I'm not from USA. So I'm fairly insulated from Karl Rove or the Liberal Press. Or rightwing folks btw....

[dutchman]

Well said

[Viper]

Well the foundation they served on together , was a Reoug Foundation with repugs on it... Do you read?

Ayres was terrible back then, but compared to Nixon and the lives he needlessly cost... small potatos.

Regards

[djk20042]

Does Gov Sanford's children go to school and play with Ayers' kids? Do they live in the same neighborhood? Was Sanford a frequent guest in the Ayers home? Did Sanford's political career initally start in Ayers' own home? I'm willing to bet the answer is NO to all of these questions, but it's a big fat YES if you're talking about Obama!

[gmac32794]

I seriously doubt that Ayers 3 ADULT children ever played with or went to school with Obama's 2 pre-teen age children. Do your research before you make such stupid remarks.

[meanguy]

umm...the remarks about ayers kids and obama's kids going to school together came from the 'obama camp'

[GerryT]

If the relationship between Barack Obama and William Ayers merits scrutiny, then in all fairness, the relationship between John (Songbird) McCain and Jim Hensley merits a review. Mr. Hensley was McCain"s father-in-law and former employer; also Hensley launched McCain"s political career. Ayers and Hensley have a few interesting things in common.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/us/politics/23mccain.html?em=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1219680747-ku+Djf93sq3/JQNloEAhdA

[Biracial1]

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/1670

[Biracial1]

Next up audio version of McCain talking with his good friend G Gordon Liddy or McCain's ties to Colombian terrorists.

[OlderBudWeiser]

Praised G. Gordon Liddy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGRvo6LWuaY

[realityczech4u]

Thanks for the link. I saved the video.
"Will" occupies a prominent place on my bookshelves.

[luvangelHussein330]

He already has ties...he last trip to colombia was with known terrorist sympothixers and funders....*sigh*

[TJoad]

I also heard that Ayers once used the same public bathroom stall in Minneapolis as GOP Sen. Larry Craig . . . .

[LiberTLover]

How about McCain now release his P0W records from having them sealed in the Senate after he went against other P0W s and M!A families who wanted them released, and had the House pass that bill by 401-0. He wants to blame everything on being a P0W so it's time to unseal his record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g

[HoooooooHah]

ok, fair is fair. ayers is a "turrist" or he isn't -- gop says he is. ergo, well, let's talk about governor sanford, then...

[Bobrobert]

roflmao

Keep them rocks a coming ... they are not gonna have any Repuke-licans in office by their own standards.

[Tropiholic]

I guess if Ayers is a bad guy to know, it's bad for everyone not just 0bama