Ayers and the McCain-G. Gordon Liddy Symbiosis
Does John McCain "pal around with terrorists?"
Certainly McCain's continuing "association" and relationship with the convicted Watergate burglar and domestic terrorist G. Gordon Liddy might suggest that is the case, if we are to apply the standards drawn by the McCain campaign.
In 1998, Liddy gave a fundraiser in his Scottsdale, Arizona home for McCain's senatorial re-election campaign -- the two posed for photographs together; and as recently as May, 2007, as a presidential candidate, McCain was a guest on Liddy's syndicated radio show. Inexplicably, McCain heaped praise on his host's values. During the segment, McCain said he was "proud" of Liddy, and praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great." From the program:
LIDDY: Your experience in the Hanoi Hilton is remarkable. I mean, I put in five years in a prison [for masterminding the Watergate burglary, and associated crimes], but it was here in the United States, and they didn't torture - the only torture that I had was being forced to listen to rap music from time to time.McCAIN: Well, you know, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of your family. I'm proud to know your son, Tom, who's a great and wonderful guy. And it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon. And congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great.
Which of Liddy's "principles and philosophies" was McCain referring to? Liddy's advocacy of break-ins? Firebombings? Assassinations? Kidnappings? Taking target practice with figures nicknamed Bill and Hillary?
During the same period that Bill Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, Gordon Liddy was making plans to firebomb a Washington think tank, assassinate a prominent journalist, undertake the Watergate burglary, break into the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist, and kidnap anti-war protesters at the 1972 Republican convention.
Re: Liddy's "continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great:" Did McCain mean to include Liddy's instructions to listeners of his radio show in 1994 (around the time Ayres and Obama were on a board together discussing education programs and other plots) on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents (aim for the head)?
If ATF agents attempt to curtail a citizen's gun ownership, Liddy counseled, "Well, if the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests."
More recently, Liddy explained making the Clintons objects of shooting practice: "I did relate that on the 4th of July of last year, when I and my family and some friends were out firing away at a properly-constructed rifle range and we ran out of targets, and so we - I drew some stick figure targets and I thought we ought to give them names. So I named them Bill and Hillary, thought it might improve my aim. It didn't. My aim is good anyway. Now, having said that, I accept no responsibility for somebody shooting up the White House."
The Liddy-McCain symbiosis has been mentioned in a number of posts on the Internet - mostly by bloggers and sites identified with The Left. But the documentation of their interaction (Liddy has also contributed financially to McCain's presidential campaign) is not a matter of Left or Right: It is astonishing that, given the prominence of the Ayers matter accorded by virtually every "mainstream" news outlet in America, there has been virtually nothing on the subject in the major newspapers and broadcast networks. This is a real journalistic failure and abrogation of responsibility.
Is Liddy any less a domestic terrorist than Bill Ayers? It is a zero-sum argument, for sure. I do not believe, incidentally, that John McCain shares the most abhorrent of Liddy's values, as expressed in Liddy's actions during the same period that Ayers was a Weatherman - and which Liddy continues to express, unapologetically, to this day.
But McCain has now become so unmoored from the principles he once espoused, so shameless in his courtship not only of the Republican "base" but in his eagerness to unleash a poisonous arsenal of character assassination and guilt-by-association - and plain-and-simple incitement of people's fears and prejudices - that, now, inevitably his and Sara Palin's rallies and campaign events have taken on the aura of mobs at times.
"Kill him," a man in the crowd responded last week, when Palin declared -yet again - "He's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country." In Virginia, the State Republican chairman announced a set of talking points to campaign volunteers - stressing the incendiary connection, reported Time magazine, between Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden: "Both have friends that bombed the Pentagon. That is scary," the Republican chairman said.
The most recent McCain ad on the subject shouts, "Obama worked with terrorist William Ayers when it was convenient" - perhaps suggesting, indeed, even that the candidate was there planting bombs.
The intended message of the McCain campaign is, of course, that Obama is less than patriotic - enunciated even by the candidate's wife, Cindy: "The day that Senator Obama decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body," she recently told a crowd of several thousand, which also heard her husband and Palin sound similar notes. (The chairman of the Lehigh, Pa., County Republican Party, William Platt, "implored the crowd to work hard to elect McCain or wake up November 5 to see 'Barack Obama, Barack Hussein Obama,' as the president," reported The Washington Post.)
Like Cindy McCain, the campaign's "Ad Facts" also trumpet - misleadingly - the only troop-funding bill that Obama voted against, in 2007 - without noting that Obama first voted for the bill, in a version that included a timetable for withdrawal. Nor did Cindy McCain mention that her husband, too, voted against the troop-funding bill - in the version that contained withdrawal language.
Thus has John McCain embarked on a scorched-earth death struggle for the presidency - cultural warfare that knows no bounds, exceeding perhaps even the mendacity and ferocity of the campaign waged against him by George Bush in 2000, and of which McCain once said there was "a special place in hell" for the Bush operatives who smeared him. (McCain also said of the Swift-boat attacks against John Kerry by Republicans in 2004: "I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable.")
The lethal weapon of the McCain campaign's dreams is the explosive allegation that, in Palin's words - Obama "pals around with terrorists." McCain, wisely, did not raise the matter himself in the last presidential debate. Why?
At the time, much of the commentariat attributed the omission to McCain's purported concerns that Obama would respond by reciting the history of McCain's "association" with the S&L swindler Charles Keating, for which McCain was cited by the Senate Ethics Committee early in his career, for exercising "poor judgment" for intervening improperly with federal regulators on behalf of Keating, as part of the infamous Keating Five scandal.
But the more likely explanation of why McCain avoided a debate confrontation about "palling around with terrorists" is McCain's very real - and recent - symbiotic association and praise for another (not Ayers) domestic terrorist emblematic of the Vietnam era: G. Gordon Liddy.
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At first I thought that McCain had been unwittingly sucked into the Rovian, Palinish vaccuum and was at a loss as to what to do.
Now that I have really delved into his past and his personality, I realize that he is as bad, or worse, in that he will sell out to THEM--the same ones who did a number on him in 2000.
What we have always mistaken for "maverickness" on his part, is actually just a striving to do what is politically expedient. Or what will get him what he wants. He has never been a man of honor, I discover. He has always only tried to save his own neck. The only reason he considered becoming a Dem at one time (even considering being Kerry's running mate) was because he thought it might get him to the Presidency a little quicker (he didn't want to risk losing by running against Bush as a Repub in 2004). I hate to say this, but I see why the Bush campaign hated him so much during the 2000 election. His clinging to the very people who did this to him, must make them laugh and laugh at him.
YOu know, though, there is a strange mindset with these neocons in the McCain camp now that defies logic. they don't even understand the irony of their "going after Obama" when their own dirty laundry is so much dirtier! Are they just stupid, or just can't rise above emotion over reality? It is mind-boggling to me that Palin, during a time in which she was awaiting the outcome of an ethics probe, would go out on a limb to constantly harangue Obama. It was mind-bending that she would bring up Rev. Wright knowing that the video of her witch-purging existed!
It is almost pathological and that is what scares me--the inability for them to even be able to turn the mirror on themselves. I can only conclude that they are really ignorant, sociopathic, or so narcissistic that they don't care. Let's just hope that there are enough "thinking" folks out there to counteract the insanity.
The simplest explanation, and the one which involves the least amount of conjecture about possible psychoses afflicting people who still have somehow managed to rise to their prominent positions, is that they know that the fix is in where the MSM is concerned. They believe that most people will not be exposed to convincing evidence of their lies, and that's because most people who bother to get news at all get it through controlled outlets.
But that's changing, it seems.... or is it?
Really?
You bit-bucketed my post that was nothing more than a cut-and-paste of your notice of comment moderation? A sentence as familiar to Huffposters as "close cover before striking" is to people who are familiar with the phrase "where there's smoke, there's fire."
Really?
If I were to reply to my own comment again, I might be tempted to make reference to that other master of tangled webs, G. Gordian Liddy. But I like to believe I'm above that sort of thing... NOT!
What scares me even more is that the so-called 'liberal media' just lets Mccain and Palin get away with it, subject them to no scrutiny, don't even mention the hypocrisy, they barely even mention Palin's ethics abuse or Keating 5, and never ever mention LIddy or AIP. But they haven't criticized the Bush administration either for almost their entire run.
The MSM needs to be held accountable.
Is it any surprise? Just look at who owns the MSM - either very rich republicans or giant corporations. Fox: Rupert Murdoch. CBS: Viacom. NBC: GE. ABC: Disney. CNN: Time Warner. Need I say more?
I can't wait to see McCain bring up Ayers and for Obama to quickly and calmly bring up Liddy, Keating and the World council of Freedom. McCain is an idiot for ever thinking he'd get traction with Ayers especially considering the skeletons in his, Cindy's and the Palin's closet.
McCains campaign is looking more and more like it's being run by a bunch of shaved apes with blackberrys.
Sadly, McCain wasn't an idiot at all to thnk he could run with the Ayers connection. You knoiw
why? Because the MSM, owned by four corporations, has given him a free pass.
Why did David Letterman have to be the one to bring up McCain's Liddy connection? Why did
Letterman have to be the one to make the point that as the father of a 4-year old he is not
comfortable with a possible President Palin? Why did Joy Behar of The View have to confront
McCain about the shameful dishonesty of the McCain ad which says Obama is a proponent
of explicit sex education for kindergartners?
Edward R. Murrow stood up to Joe McCarthy over half a century ago. We have had a Valley-Gir
If Barack Obama wins on November 4, it will be a mandate against ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and FOX.
Bravo to David Letterman, Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert,
and Rachel Maddow!
McCain's connection to Liddy is so much stronger than Obama's to Ayers ! This history lesson needs to be all over TV. I lived through Watergate; I was glued to the TV all the time it was on, and I bought and read every book written about that time in our lives. Gordon Liddy was the mastermind behind the whole thing and the fact that McCain is still friends with him is despicable! Barack Obama cannot continue to be a gentleman and think he can win this campaign if he does not get down and dirty like McCain. The American people need to know about the history of McCain and Liddy. This posting of Carl Berstein's is right on, and people need to forward it to everyone they know. Gordon Liddy served 5 years in the penitentiary, and was pardoned by Pres. Carter ( I certainly don't know why), except that Pres. Carter is a good Christian man, and Liddy professed that he had found religion. Isn't that a joke?
I am not sure about any you have mentioned. I only look at MSNBC
and I see so much McCain Palin ( during the day) I think that I am looking at Fox Fix.
Just Friday I clocked it .Palin spoke for 10 min.and the follow up comments by the Dems spokeperson mentioned in his 1.5 min. that I watched her for 10 min.
None of them are fair.
It is really funny G. Gordon Liddy, whom once offered to committ murder for Nixon, and did go to prison as his master burglar, of watergage fame, is McCains pal, so I guess one domestic terrorist is anothers freedom fighter according to McCain....
Not to mention That Georage Wallace up untill his death believed that Liddy was involved in the assasination attempt on Wallaces life.RESEA
If guilt-by-a
How dare any of them sit in the Senate or Congressional Chamber with other members who are secretly cheating on their taxes, sleeping around on their wives, and participating in other unethical behaviors? They should all apologize for ever having sat in Congressional sessions, in the same rooms in the Capitol, every single time any of their members are brought up on charges for daning to hob-nob with each other. What ever could they all have been thinking? They all should have known better!
ACORN has A COUPLE of investigations into A COUPLE of instances of workers being lazy and falsifying voter registration cards. THEY ARE NOT BEING INVESTIGATED AS A WHOLE ORGANIZATION. The head of the ACORN Org was on the Washington Journal this past Sunday clearing up all of the rumors circulating. Look it up! www.cpan.o
Also, I'm so sick of Fixed News running this crap OVER and OVER again. PEOPLE ARE LOOSING THEIR HOMES AND JOBS! That station should be off the air for spreading crap and getting vulnerable and ignorant people to believe everything they see on there!
Look at those people at the McCain rallies that ACTUALLY BELIEVE OBAMA IS A TERRORIST AND AN ARAB! Give me a break! McCain and especially PALIN started all this crap. People are in a very vulnerable position right now with all the strife going on and they have the NERVE to take advantage of it! IT'S DISGUSTING.
I hope that Obama brings up Liddy if McCain or Schieffer bring up Ayers. Perhaps something like the following:
"John, I'd be happy to answer your questions about Ayers, if you'll answer mine about G. Gordon Liddy. That would be 'fair and balanced", right"?
He should remain very calm, very steady, and even smile when he does this.
AMEN! Obama can respond in such a way that it's not tit-for-tat - but exposes McCain for the hypocrite that he is. What, does he think that we don't read? Does he hope we don't remember the insanity of the Watergate break-in that his "pal" Liddy masterminded??? Liddy was put in prison for his crimes, and he was rewarded with a radio show. McCain has been on Liddy's show, and has PRAISED him. Is this good judgment?
The foundation on which Ayers and Obama served as board members was founded by the Annenberg family - staunch Republicans. If they were OK with Ayers on the board, why isn't McCain???
So.....I would be very careful if I were McCain. The you-know-what could hit the fan and end up on his face!
it won't be Ayers he will bring up it 's drug use by Obama as he disclosed in his book.
And will McCain be willing to go "there" since his own wife stole drugs from her own philanthropic group and they (the McCains) had to bail her out of the situation?
And you're right: Obama disclosed it in his own book. The same way lots of decent human beings did dtugs when they were youthful..
McCain makes George W. Bush look smart so he might be stupid enough to bring up Bill Ayers. Ayers is considered a 'so what' factor' and he was never found guilt of any wrongdoing. However, Liddy, Keating 5, Todd Palin's association with AIP are legitimate issues that Sen Obama could bring up and they could be the decisive blow to McCain's already floundering campaign. Go ahead John and bring up Ayers, you'll regret it...
And let's not forget Rick Davis and Phil Gramm.
Good point. Phil Gramm made it possible for Alan Greenspan, Robert Rubin and their wallstreet banker buddies to pull off the biggest financial hijacking in the country's history.
and let's not forget the infamous witch hunter purging Palin of witches...
Obama could even bring that little ditty home by pointing out how disturbed he is that a witch hunter went among the villages of his ancestors (Kenya) and did anything so uncivilized and barbaric.
PLEEEEASE, J-Mac! PLEASE bring up William Ayers at the debate tomorrow! I so want to hear Obama explain how Ayers was invited onto the same board with Obama by one of your biggest supporters and contributors (Annenburg)! And then he can segue into the Council for World Freedom, and G. Gordon Liddy, and Charles Keating, and....
And what about the fact that McCain, via his connection with anti-communism organizations, had ties to Nazi sympathizers? Why is that not brought up? That, to me, is worse than his relationship to GGL.
Good job, Mr. Bernstein. I would like to point out two contrasts. Gordon Liddy played a crucial role in our "national nightmare", shaking the roots of democratic government, leading to Nixon's impeachment. His criminal machinations devastated the public's confidence while we were at war. Looking at the big picture, Liddy's actions had a disastrous over all affect on our country, yet he continues to trade on that in his career. What by contrast was William Ayer's affect on America in his youthful Weathermen period, and his nihilistic posturing? de minimis. Ayers now is a tenured academic, participates as a respected educator with players in the Chicago educational community, and becamse a close associate of the current mayor. Gordon Liddy is an incorrigible nut who bloviates for a living with fruitcakes for listeners.
What motivated Obama and McCain to associate with these men? Obama was meeting his neighbors during an Ayers sponsored "invite" during an early local campaign. He shook neighbor's hands and asked for their help. Later, Obama knew Ayers from Annenberg's educational policy board tasked with improving Chicago's public schools. Ayers was named Chicago's 1997 man of the year. Equating Obama's contact with Ayers to "palling around with terrorists" is nothing less than a disgusting lie, McCarthyism, mendacious witch hunting. We've seen guilt by association before. Yet McCain is praising Gordon Liddy seemingly with impunity? What, other than craven political self gain in getting nuts to vote for him, could motive McCain to hobnob with a villain like Liddy?
if Obama is dealt with Ayers at the debate, he's certain to bring Liddy out so America can GOOGLE it...I am certain there are many things that Obama can bring up, but it shows you what integrity/maturity Obama has in not addressing them, instead sticking with other issues that affect the country as a whole...NO
thereby setting an example of what a leader is... for sure...
Republicans, if not independents, are not afraid of Liddy's excesses. You know, extremism in the defense of liberty is no virtue.
In only wish that Democrats could embrace their radicals as whole-heartedly. Ayers represented a small group of committed patriots who threw themselves against the military industrial complex's tragically futile efforts to bomb, defoliate, massacre, and generally torture Vietnam. Our soldiers may have worn American uniforms, but the activities and strategies their leaders forced them to into were nothing like American. We supported a corrupt military leadership whose vicious practices were mirrored by those of the Communist insurgents, and eventually, our soldiers whose lives often depended upon heavy-handed tactics that left millions of innocents dead.
The Weathermen were only the tip of the iceberg, and their scrupulous attempts to avoid casualties was the very opposite of our meat anti-war grinder approach in Vietnam. When their bomb factory exploded in New York before some of the Weathermen had planned an attack on military cadets, the organization repented.
The worst unrepentent terrorists we harbor today are the many kool-aid drinking Republicans who think we can bomb our way to victory over terrorists. We do not need to bomb them back because the electoral bombs coming in November will place them on the dust bin of history.
There is a lot of truth to what he says. If it were not for the various moments of left wing violence, there may have not been a Civil Rights bill; and we might still be in Vietnam.
Well said. I thought this myself but was unable to enunciate it. I would have done the same thing Obama did with regard to that minimal Ayers contact. I came of age during the civil rights movement and was distraught over the utter stupidity of the Viet Nam war. I was heart sick over the young people being killed, maimed and driven crazy by that stupid war. I think I understand Ayers and his deeper sentiments were not against America per se, but against the abuse of power and the perversions of democracy. The tragedies suffered because of the irresponsible and oblivious political leadership of the 1960's were so horrible. What I cannot understand is the kind of partisan insanity that drove Liddy and his imbecilic pals. That was venal self interest and cynical manipulation. Liddy was a villain, and I detest him. That McCain can lionize him and appear on his radio show is incomprehensible to me. Great post, Alkamm.
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