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

[bola47]

100 former ambassadors or 100 big contributors to the republican party?

[knerd]

If Kevin Bacon is a terrorist, we're all in trouble.

[irishgawdess]

That's a good one. I was thinking about the degrees of separation McCain is from any terrorist, esp since he was involved on the board of that anti-communist group in the 80s (sorry, can't think of the name/acronym.)

[Glowcy]

.
It does not matter who sat on a board at the same time as BHO and Ayers even if someone one from that board supports McCain. JMc is only interested in spin that smears which means that the rest of the board was marvelous dahlings while the BHO-Ayers part was subversive.

.

[tedeger]

Looking at somewhat ancient history, remember where McCain got his political start. The father of his mistress (while he was still married) was Jim Hensley, who was an important figure in the Arizona organized crime syndicate. After McCain finally divorced his wife, he married a couple of hundred million dollar inheritance, and his new father in law financed his run for the House of Representatives with mob money. It's nothing unusual - it is an open secret that EVERY Arizona Politician of either party is financed by syndicate money, hence OWNED by the Mob. For this reason alone, you could never get me to vote for an Arizona Pol. for the top job.

[ronnierayjenkins]

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. This is the perfect movie for McCain/Palin. But Spencer Tracy seemed in better shape than McCain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7trIpspUILg&feature=related

[michellefs622]

100 former ambassadors does not make McCain any less stupid.

[snarkopolitan]

Wow, I watched "French In Action" which was put out by the Annenberg Foundation---I didn't realize I'M STUDYING TERRORISM!!

[swift goat pet for truth]

You are not studying terrorism.

By Gov Palin's standards, You are a victim of terrorist propaganda.

Something like my 6 year old daughter, when she watches PBS cartoons.

[VTya]

McCain's campaign is being run by thugs (Rove/Schmidt/Cheyney). Country First? For them it's power and wealth first for the small POWER ELITE group to which they belong. This group lied to take the country into a 6-year war and allowed their Wall Street friends (McCains campaign financial advisors) to rob Americans ... they have the audacity to tout themselves as patriotic. His campaign is using a sixties activist who PROTESTED THE VIETNAM WAR to stir up hate against Obama. People are now protesting against the Iraq war which has lasted LONGER than Vietnam. Obama was EIGHT YEARS OLD when Ayers was an activist. Many sixties activities are now teaching in universities, sitting in board rooms and even hold positions in political office. The sixties were a time of activism, ordinary citizens stood up to the POWER ELITE for social justice and accountability. Sounds familiar? Ayers should feel proud to have his name linked to this revolution!!!!! OBAMA/BIDEN 08 YES WE WILL!

[etcetc]

i don't give a crap about Ayers. I care that I can pay my mortgage, send my kid to college, make a decent wage, and get good health care and get rid of our dependence on foreign energy.

does mccain really think anyone is listening to him on this? shouldn't he be more concerned with finding a solution for people like me on all of the things i mention above?

[wendyleigh]

Country first my ars. What we're seeing is to what great legnth's McSame will go to to get elected. It echoes of the oldie from Bush... "a vote for the democrat's is a vote for the terrorist's!" Pathetic!

[levelshot]

I hear can hear the McCain/Palin campaign rabidly screaming "Retreat Retreat!!!"

[iblog]

lol

They have now reached critical mass.

Epic fail engaged.

[gladys46]

Clear out all off-shore bank accounts first !!!

[gladys46]

Any activist or Nam war protestor of the 60s is apt to have been tagged anything by J.Edgar & Nixon ... those were very turbulent years!!

I find it absolutely cowardly that a man who claims to be such a leader would poorly vet his vp and then prove why he didn't care to do that .... she was only meant to be a fetcher, a mindless ploy!!!

[BobBeck]

Here's a simple, but very scary, explanation for much of what John McCain says: For example, he referred to Barack Obama as "that one" because he couldn't remember Obama's name. He endorses opposing views hourly because he doesn't remember what he previously said, and so on. Makes sense to me.

[jannike]

I think you are right. I have been sure that he has begun to develop alzheimer, but then I changed my mind again under the debates, not too many gaffes. But look at the photos from eight years ago. There are really huge differences. More important to make everybody vote Obama.

[dadw5boys]

WOW 6 TIMES DISCUSSING EDUCATIONAL ISSUES.

MC CAIN MET WITH KEETING 200 TIMES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[whit4brains]

And vacationed with him in the Bahamas.

[progressivelady]

Hypocrisy: (hip-PAH-krass-ee) n. Republican outrage over the media's exposure and discussion regarding Sarah Palin's personal life and family matters, while Republicans dogmatically insist that the government should be able to interfere with your personal life by dictating your right to decide whether or not to have a family. See also "Irony.
"

[michellefs622]

Don't forget (pro-jec-tion)

the attribution of one's own ideas, feelings, or attitudes to other people or to objects ; especially : the externalization of blame, guilt, or responsibility as a defense against anxiety

i.e. Cindy McCain accusing Obama of having "waged the dirtiest campaign in American history"

[JXJASON]

McCain and Palin are done for. It's all downhill for them now.

Character is important. You either have it or you don't.

McCain lost his character somewhere... and Sarah never had any.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[jannike]

And here is a lovely picture of the woman who used to pall around with terrorists - with United States President Ronald Reagan

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