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

[scooperss]

So?
mccain is a POW.

[RoloTomassi]

POW = Piece Of Work

[alphax]

The POW story appeared (when talking about houses!) on Leno.

Once again, noun, verb, POW!

[livesimply]

No kidding?

[ejay579]

As the worm turns.

[KingMaker]

With friends like these.............

[ex-pat]

I stilllove the image of McCain and Bush with that lovely birthday cake while New Orleans was flooding... now that is a friend.

[BigLib]

You're right. All birthdays should have been suspended until everyone looting in New Orleans had their flat screen TVs safely home.

[koyak23]

keep wallowing and digging in the s lime, re pubs...


there has to be a willie horton in there somewhere

[laylahb]

Have you missed the Willie Hortons they've already pulled out of their bag of tricks?

Expect many more Willie Hortons between now and November..

[kjdwyer]

If Republicans want to make an issue of Ayers, then let them.

What we should do in response is say "Mr. Ayers did not spend one day in prison for any of his activities. Furthermore, the only people who died as a result of his activities were members of his own group." This is the truth.

The reason he did not spend one day in prison is that he had acquired incredibly damning evidence against the FBI and others that would have been exposed during any trial against him or his wife.

So, fine. Let's re-open the whole mess and examine why all charges against Mr. Ayers and his wife were dropped and let's put all of the evidence on the table for everyone to see (including evidence of an FBI plot to assassinate Martin Luther King). Then let's see how much hay Republicans want to make of Mr. Ayers.

[berkie]

I don't get it. It's cool to engage in domestic terrorism if the only people killed are your fellow terrorists? And why would the Republicans care about a plot to get MLK during the Johnson administration?

[TGCNY]

tHIS IS WHY THE Y say god doesnt like ugly

[IslandGyal]

Booya! Let’s see the morons like Brad Blakeman, Nicole Wallace, Tucker Bonds, handjob, limpbaugh and bill-o the clown, tangle themselves like a game of twister on this one to make it good for the republicans but for O*bama.

[keepemhonest]

Any GOP or Dem who has tried to FURTHER education in the United States

.... and ...

ANY & ALL GOP & Dems who have helped people who live in poverty in the United States has ties to Ayers -

That's what Ayers does - Ayers is an expert in education and has helped people get out of poverty and has helped reduce violence.

PS. Ayers NEVER bombed the Capital and Ayers NEVER said he bombed the Capital and Ayers NEVER said he wished he had bombed more. Those are just republican lies.

[Charmed]

Actually Sean Hannity drives these talking points home daily and of course CNN will pick up on them and run with it because they want to be so important instead of being honest.

[berkie]

From Wikipedia :

“In 2001, the New York Times reported that Ayers admitted in his biography that "he participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, of the Capitol building in 1971, the Pentagon in 1972."

The same Wiki article reports that Ayers stated "I don't regret setting bombs" and [he] "would do it again". Although Ayers claims those comments were a "deliberate distortion".

[totallynext]

Ok - let's go there - let's

show the link with convicted traitor Ollie North.

Show how McCain is link to people who want to circumvent the constitution and the laws of our
land by selling weapons to our enemies.

OBAMA - GO THERE!

[chosenson]

Oh, the hypocrisy!!

[jupitor]

we'll this is just like Rezko gave to Republican Campagnes! Who? Joe Liebermans!Mac's friend!

[Felicty]

You are reaching, you know.

Campaign is the word .

[jeffp26]

I will personally testify, lying my behind off just like a republican, that I saw Sanford give Ayers the fist bump many many times. He's guilty by association!!!!

[debwarot]

And I will personally testify that I was with you and it seemed like they were smoking something rather pungent when this occurred.

[Berliner2]

This is why the McCain campaign is afraid of Obama's counterattacks: The more light shines on the Ayers story, the clearer it will become that there is no substance to it. It really is a six-degrees of separation game, and I am sure you could link St. Ronald to Ayers by the standards that apply to Obama's connection to this "dangerous man".

That said, it is important to know that Ayers has long been a fixture of Chicago political life, with mayor Richard Daley among his friends. I guess that makes Daley a terrorist enabler, too.

[thetruthbringer]

It's all a Sean Hannity game. I hope he stubs his toe.

[willfull]

Nothing going right for McCain. All his lies are quickly exposed. Now its General Patraeus speaking on the record with Newsweek crediting the Awakening for the current successes in Iraq. He admits it could have happened without the Surge.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/154587

[mesut]

another waste of money on ads. A few more and McCain will be dipping into Cindy's treasure chest

[meanguy]

how many boards and panels did ayers and sanford serve on together? how much money did ayers donate to sanfords's campaigns? did ayers host any campaign kickoffs in his home for sanford?
just asking...

[Biracial1]

McCain is friends with two of the biggest terrorist I know... When are we going to realize that all lives matter, not just the lilly white of amerika.

[debwarot]

Ah.....but we are only just now beginning to expose Sanford and his terrorist background. Are you certain there isn't more? Who knows what we can invent - er uncover? There have also been reports that Mark Sanford just might be a Muslin, which must be investigated fully. I've even heard reports that his wife isn't proud of America. Now, "as far as I know'" there is nothing to this, but we just gotta get in there and dig deeper, right? After all, what is fair for one person is also fair for another, right?