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

[runnerin1]

The repugs do no homework whatsoever.

[AlteSoldier]

Let me get this straight. Investment banks and insurance companies run by centimillionaires blow up, and it's the fault of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and poor minorities?

These arguments are generally made by people who read the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal, and ignore the rest of the paper—economic know-nothings whose opinions are informed mostly by ideology and, occasionally, by prejudice. Let's be honest. Fannie and Freddie, which didn't make subprime loans but did buy subprime loans made by others, were part of the problem. Poor congressional oversight was part of the problem. Banks that sought to meet CRA requirements by indiscriminately doling out loans to minorities may have been part of the problem. But none of these issues is the cause of the problem. Not by a long shot. From the beginning, subprime has been a symptom, not a cause. And the notion that the Community Reinvestment Act is somehow responsible for poor lending decisions is absurd.

http://www.americablog.com/

[seenitall]

McCain is such a dumb@ss.

[FindlayDemocrat]

lmao...that's one of the funniest things i've ever heard. the msm will love that one, haha

[sparafucilli]

Better be careful what you say John. Remember the 6 degrees of separation rule.

[fishgirl26]

Considering Keating was put in jail and stole millions in people's retirements, what does that make him???? To me, that's an terrorist letting loose on the elderly and taking money from old people is deplorable. Mr. McCain, you hang w/ a "fishy" crowd. Don't throw stones ....and Ms. Palin....go back to your Alaska Sucessionist Party and your hateful "witch doctor". Karma people.....what goes around comes around.

[FlamingLibrul]

And don't forget that McCain was formally censured for his part in the Keating 5 debacle. Obama sat on a board with a man who was never convicted of being a terrorist- and who is a free man. McCain conspired with or offered support to men who deliberately defrauded Americans and contributed to a massive Savings and Loans collapse. You would think the neocons and the McCain campaign would want to back away from the whole "Guilt by association" mudslinging- It's back-firing big time. Some people just don't know when to let go...kind of reminds me of a pit bull that's latched onto a piece of rawhide. Oh dear me, was that a sexist thing to say?! LMAO!!

[larrywb59]

as a lifelong Republican I am PROUD to cast my one vote for THAT ONE!!!!!!!!

sorry about the typo

Someone shoud Prod the cattle at McCains rally though MOOOOOCain

[larrywb59]

as a lifelong Republican I am PROD to cast my one vote for THAT ONE!!!!!!!!

[sillyseason]

I respect and admire your independence.

[amcg50]

does this fall under the six degrees of seperation..etc.

[larrywb59]

OOPs McCain must be a TERRORIST he is associating with William Ayers organization

[rock2casbah]

So judging by the statement in the update. Ms. Annenberg probably never even endorsed specifically McCain. Did they just throw together a list based on past party affiiation of the people listed. Because if that is the case I am sure most of thoe people would not appreciate his fraudulent use of their name in an endorsement,

There are tons of Repubs that do not endorse McCain. Sus an Eisenhower, and who can get anymore Republican than that, supports Obama and so much so that she spke at the DNC and is one of Obama's most unwavering supporters.

[rw97]

Walter Annenberg was the ambassador to the UK and owned TV Guide. Was he a terrorist too?

[PioneerKing]

LETS SEE HOW MUCH ATENTION THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA GIVES THIS STORY NOW?

Not a single person fro the main stream media has questioned the patriotism of the republicans who sat on the board with Ayres or got campaign contributions from Ayres.

The main stream media did not question why a conservative republicans such as the late Walter Annenberg would have appointed someone like Ayers to the board of the Annenberg Challenge.

[sg096]

that is too funny
it's a small world after all

[redhead55]

OMG, this is too funny. I think I'll write Hannity right now and let him know. McCain, the ultimate hypocrite. Just goes to show why this one is voting for "that one".

[SmootyBooty]

don't waste your time writing slanthead. He can't read...

[1Smartchik]

This one can't wait to vote for "that one"

[jiml1956]

Can't question ole John's judgement, can we? Does anyone on his campaign staff have a brain?