VA GOP Chair: Tying Obama To Osama Was Stupid But True

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia's Republican chairman said Tuesday that his remark tying Democrat Barack Obama to Osama bin Laden during the presidential campaign was stupid, but he refused to apologize.

During the campaign, GOP head Jeff Frederick told a small group of Republican volunteers that "both Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden have friends that have bombed the Pentagon."

The remark, a reference to Obama's ties years ago to 1960s-era radical William Ayers, was condemned by Democrats and Republicans after it was published in Time magazine.

Ayers was a founder of the Weather Underground, a radical, Vietnam War-era group that claimed responsibility for a series of bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol.

Frederick was asked about the remark Tuesday during a discussion of the 2008 Virginia presidential campaign with a group of newspaper editors. Obama was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Virginia in 44 years.

"It was a stupid joke I gave to somebody in a small crowd of people and that's what happens," Frederick said. "But you know, it's really unfortunate. We live in a `gotcha' society."

Frederick said he got hate mail, angry phone calls and vicious e-mails for weeks.

Even so, he stood by the comment Tuesday, defending it as true and saying he was taking cues from Republican John McCain's campaign after running mate Sarah Palin said Obama had been "palling around with terrorists."

"The McCain campaign, for quite a while, was getting on me about not being on message, about not delivering their talking points," Frederick said. "And in an effort to do more of what they wanted ... I was doing that, and the Ayers talking point came out."

Comments

[Tobiason]

I highly doubt it that the chairman loves this country.

[Tobiason]

I highly doubt it that the Chairman love this country.

[rabiddog6708]

Repubs don't aplogize and do not admit they were wrong about anything....or, if we do, it is in an empty way...a sort of non-apology or acknowledgement that something they said or did was misguided.

[dax49]

this guy is a typical republican hate monger- whose business practices should be investigated if he is, in fact, recieving " no-bid" contracts. that whole system should be investigated- think of the money the tax-payers would save

[Hemkit]

Still with the "gotcha?" If he doesn't want to get "got" then maybe he should shut his mouth...

[yoli647]

If Mr. Frederick ever wants to run for a more powerful position this comment will surely come up, and I hope it follows him wherever he goes and he goes nowhere. Stupid, comment.

[sandyvi]

Well, he's right - he's stupid and that's the truth- some people refuse to believe the truth even when it
is put right in front of them. No, it is not the "same thing" comparing President-Elect Obama (to you!) and Osam Bin Laden - "the Head of Al Qaeda" - what a jerk!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

This gu looks like a cr.eepy ch.ild t.oucher. Definitely Rep.ublican.

[NoSillyName]

"Took a cue from McCain and Palin". They, especially Spalin, certainly opened that vial of poison.

Despicable.

[lesterbud]

Like most in his party, all he has is tired rhetoric, poorly thought out jargon and idiotic talking points.
So Jeff, how did trying to win elections without any ideas work out for you guys?
I would sure love to see one of these morans (their spelling if you remember) break script and show some nads!
Even Sarah is still using her stump speech word for word - just changing out McCain for whoever or whatever she is talking about.
What mindless twits.

[260Parkway]

This man's ears are so big they're taking up much of brain space so of course he'd say what he said. Stop wrinting what these fools say!

[MarionWatts]

I am from Virginia. In fact, I am a *real* Virginian, whose family has been in the state since the Seventeenth Century and I actually live in that socialist, communist stronghold of Northern Virginia, so I'm doubly damned.

Jeff Frederick is a disgrace to my Commonwealth.

[RonCanada]

The little dweeb.

[Xavieer]

Please go away Sarah you have seen far too many zippers...­......fade to black or snow...

[mec57]

Please go away Sarah you have seen far too many zippers...­......fade to black or snow...

I think all on the left need to realize this wish will not come to fruition...Sarah will be credited with turning out the crowds for Chambliss and as a result she isn't going away, no matter how much one may want her to.

[Gidster]

That is OK.
She is an uneducated rabble rouser at best, a mediocre politician at the worst.
She recycled her stump speech for Chambliss for Pete sake!

We are not dealing with a keen mind, just a cunning ambition.

[MossyOak]

Wrong. She has the support of a very limited group of uneducated Bible beaters, most of whom squish around in the mental swamp that is Georgia. No one with a brain takes her seriously.

[Clare53]

Who cares? They lost.