McCain Trumpets Endorsement From Figure Of Foundation That Established Ayers Board

On Wednesday morning, John McCain's campaign released a list of 100 former ambassadors endorsing the GOP presidential nominee.

Second on the list, though her name is misspelled, is Leonore Annenberg, currently the president and chairman of the Annenberg Foundation and widow of ambassador and philanthropist Walter Annenberg. Ms. Annenberg was herself the "chief of protocol" at the State Department under President Reagan.

If the last name sounds familiar, it's because it also graces the name of the Chicago education board where Barack Obama and William Ayers sat in the room six times together.

In recent days, the McCain-Palin ticket (and particularly Palin) has faulted Obama for having served on that board with Ayers, who was a founding member of the radical 60's Weather Underground group when Obama was in grade school.

Since then, however, Ayers has been rehabilitated in Chicago society, carving out a niche in education circles. As a former Republican representative in Illinois told NPR on Monday, smearing Obama for his board association with Ayers is "nonsensical."

"It was never a concern by any of us in the Chicago school reform movement that he had led a fugitive life years earlier ... It's ridiculous," Republican Rep. Diana Nelson said. "There is no reason at all to smear Barack Obama with this association. It's nonsensical, and it just makes me crazy. It's so silly."

Separate calls to the Pennsylvania and California offices of the Annenberg Foundation were not immediately returned Wednesday morning.

UPDATE: An Annenberg official called the Huffington Post back on Wednesday afternoon. "You wanted to speak to Ms. Annenberg? She's very elderly; she doesn't do press interviews."

Comments

[lwilkerson50]

Let's just have the Team Obama being just the way that they are. Let's not have any more tit for tat. I want to only hear the issues. I want Team Obama to stay above all of this mess. That's why I think that they need to have one more town hall meeting with just the Talk Show hosts and break down LINE BY LINE .... on the smears and on the programs. Let the break it down. Then after that let the campaigns on be about their programs PERIOD. No mud slinging. Also, I think each reporter/host should apologyze to the American people, because they are also part of this drama. Most try to look at both sides and compare. But most or so NEGATIVELY one-sided. If they are going to be ONE-sided then be nice about it HANNITY, ELISABETH, ETC.
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useyourbrain
Team Obama and/or 527's have to do ads:

[lwilkerson50]

Isn't KARMA a b itch. I was wondering when they were going to get this out. Let's see them all squirm in their seats. Hannity - Elisabeth - O'Reilly - Palin - Hopefully the word terrorist will now leave their lips so that we can move onto more pressing issues.

Thank you Lord thank you Jesus!

[lwilkerson50]

Isn't KARMA a bitch. I was wondering when they were going to get this out. Let's see them all squirm in their seats. Hannity - Elisabeth - O'Reilly - Palin - Hopefully the word terrorist will now leave their lips so that we can move onto more pressing issues.

Thank you Lord thank you Jesus!

[blast3r]

I'm glad someone finally talked about this. I bet McCain cringed when the connection was made after they put that list up on his site. This is just awesome.

[anniegirl9]

Michelle Obama was on Larry King last night and stated what was so obvious to anyone who knew anything about the Annenburg Foundation. When asked if she knew Bill Ayres, she said yes. Anyone involved in Chicago school reform knew him and worked with him.

The Annenburg Foundation was a non-politial organization that was set up to improve Chicago's public schools. It was chaired by Dems and Republicans. It's work even set Ayres up as citizen of the year. You can argue the dispicableness of Ayres past and most would agree with you. But that doesn't necessarily detract from the possitive work the Annenburg Foundation was trying to do, regardless of how successful it has been. And it should not cast a stain on all the people who tried to make a difference - be they Dem, Rep, or Ind.

Such a foundation is the embodiment of McCain's call to step across the aisle. Do we then damn everyone for trying to make the world - or at least thier peice of it - a little bit better?

[curocat]

It seems that Palin tried to damn those that are trying to make the world a little bit better...

[mari2JJ]

McCain himself has a lurid past regarding the Keating 5 and other under-the-table activities. Remember, he was not indicted but his relationship with Keating was the basis of an investigation. After all, Ayers is rehabilitated. He is a college Professor who straightened out his life and got on the right track. I presume that same thing happened to both McCain and his drug using, prescription forging wife. I admire Cindy McCain for kicking her habit and for her charity work, but of all people, McCain should realize that he, most of all, should never attempt to tar someone with their associates when he so freely associated with Keating and his wife had been into drugs and has in fact, forged a doctor's prescription causing that doctor to lose his license to practice medicine all the while she goes free. In Arizona, where I live, we are all aware of the sorts of trouble both McCain and his wife have been involved with. We appreciate that they have rehabilitated their lives. However, we wonder why they feel free to be so judgmental of others who have rehabilitated their lives while they both have these checkered pasts. I believe in redemption but not in such a selective manner as that of the McCains.

[Einstein44]

mari2JJ,

You are absolutely right , but the Republican Party are heartless..They don't see it or for that matter do not care..Anything goes as far as winning is concern.. So disturbing and sad.

[Einstein44]

What comes around goes around....­Republican­s just do not get it.
Americans are tire of the deplorable games by the right -wing nuts.
ENOUGH !!!!!

[tempest624]

Interesting English phrasing in the article from above "... Ms. Annenberg was herself the "chief of protocol" at the State Department under President Reagan. If the last name sounds familiar, ..."

I remember President Reagan. Yes, his name sounds familiar!

[Deeniwhoo]

Reagan's name may sound familiar to McCain as well; as he often refers to Reagan as his hero.

[desertbloom]

Doesn't that mean that McCain is now associated with William Ayers?

[robphilnz]

Correct.

and . . .

Charles Keating
David Ifshin
Gordon Liddy

and, through Sarah Palin . . .

Joe Vogler - who got Iran to sponsor his violently secessionist views.
Lynette Clark - "doesn't identify herself as an American".

[TheGeicoCaveman]

#1 Best Seller

PALIN ECONOMICS: Corruption with a wink

By E. James Rosenthal

See how she will govern America
http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/palin-2006-vetting.pdf

[KarateKid]

Walter Annenberg was an ambassador during the Reagan administration. Does that mean Reagan associated with terrorists, too?

[Happiness4All]

He did. But they were called Freedom Fighters then, fighting the Russians in Afghanistan. One of them was a little known fellow called Osama Bin Laden.

[UtahLady]

Oh my -- look who's "palling around with terrorists" now.

'Course, on the facts, Obama never did. May be Palin was talking about her running mate when she made that comment.

[geneven]

It is undeniable that George Bush has "palled around" with Vladimir Putin on many, many occasions. I don't recall McCain ever criticising Bush for doing that. Putin is very probaby a murderer or an accessory to murder. Woudl McCain shake hands with Putin? Probably he has.

[Halter]

Anyone hear anything new on the "My Vacation with John McCain" story?
Proved or disproved?

http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/vacation.asp

[butterworth]

Most of it sounds believable, except for the part where he was described as reading books. For some reason, I have a hard time picturing McC ain reading anything other than a teleprompter.

[uclafan]

well then, there you go!

[voidware]

What you fine folks don't get is that while you were wondering if Bill Ayers was really a terrorist and how well he and Barack got along, guess what? They're closer than you think, but put that aside.

Barack has yet to mention any executive experience he has. This is troubling because he did have executive experience working with Bill Ayers @ Annenberg. You'd think that kind of experience would bolster anyone's case in their quest to be president, especially when they have nothing else to grasp at regarding experience. So why not brag about your relationship with the guy that hosted your first political event in his house?

Here's why:

Barack spent 150 million on "reform" but there were NO results. Chicago public schools are not the greatest, and he made them no better when given free reign over $150M.

What kind of damage could he do with 700 Billion?

Ask the children of Chicago that he says he'd like to help.
Thanks, Barack, you've done enough.

[eMJayy]

why don't you try writing on more interesting topics -

How about two paragraphs on McCain's involvement in the Keating scandal....how many billions did his actions cost us again? I keep forgetting....so many zeros to remember! ;-)

Or perhaps a short piece on McCain's membership on the committee of a radical group bent on arming terrorists to overthrow governments in South America?

Maybe you want to write a little something about Palin? Perhaps Palin has told the story of how her witch hunting pastor got his start in Kenya? Or has any of her AIP friends come down from Alaska to pay her a visit?

[butterworth]

Personally, I'd like to hear more about Jim Vogler, founder of the Alaskan Independence Party.

[shadm81]

Sorry to break it to you buddy, but a 150 million dollars does not fix an educational problem that a city may have.

[chefkennytheg]

Not the damage Bush has already accomplished. Having put every business he was put in charged with into the red when he was in the private sector, it's no surprise where this country is now. Deregulation, say it, own it, that is the problem get use to it.

[LarBear]

voidware...

You forgot to mention the little detail that Obama was NOT invited by Ayers... Instead was invited by his Mentor Alice Palmer who the get together was being held for...

[Mikecoatl]

It is so strange that you spew forth all these 'facts', but you don't give any independent sources for us to verify. But of course that is the right-wing MO - don't ask questions, just take our word for it. Many people tried that - now you want us to support four more years of disaster?

Thanks, voidware, you've done enough.