The Ugly Implications of McCain and Palin's Questions

Sarah Palin keeps asking people to ask more questions about Barack Obama. Now McCain has joined in on this refrain. But I don't get it. What more do they need to know? They keep saying he has to answer more questions about Bill Ayers, for example. But he has answered every ridiculous question on this topic a hundred times over. So, what are they really looking for?

It's not the McCain and Palin really think there is some deep and pertinent question that the media just has not gotten to yet about Obama's so-called relationship with Ayers. Otherwise, why don't they ask it themselves? Why doesn't John McCain take the next debate as an opportunity to ask Senator Obama about any profound question he has about Bill Ayers or any other disturbing connection Obama has?

The reason they don't do this is because there are no real questions there. This is a ploy to raise doubts in people's minds about Obama. They have nothing, but it's easy to say, "What else is Obama hiding?" The implication is that Barack Hussein Obama has more terrorist connections he is not telling us about. But since that is patently ridiculous and shameful, they can't say it out in the open. So, they hide behind the implications of questions like, "What else is he not telling us?"

What I want a reporter to ask Sarah Palin and John McCain is, "What is that you think Senator Obama is hiding? You keep asking the question, so you must think there is an answer. What is it? What is Senator Obama not telling us about Bill Ayers or anyone else?"

They don't have answer to that. Because they're real objective is to smear Obama as "the other." Palin has said several times in her rallies that Barack Obama is not like the Americans she knows. Someone should also ask her what she means by that. Then she brings up Ayers and "palling around with terrorists." It's not hard to see the picture she's drawing. Obama is not one of us. Look at his name; be careful, he is one of them.

They don't have the nerve to say it out aloud, so they hide behind their questions and implications. It is a despicable strategy and it has turned this into the ugliest presidential campaign I have seen in my lifetime.

Young Turks on You Tube

Follow Cenk Uygur on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurks

Comments

[OmegaPhoenix]

Michale,

Does it matter that even the prosecutor of William Ayers says that an Obama connection to Ayers is a non-issue?

[Michale32086]

Not to me it doesn't... I don't base my actions or opinions on what other people think..

I am funny that way.

Michale.....

[Lotus19]

You do seem to base it on what the Republicans think since you regurgitate a lot of their talking points.

[OmegaPhoenix]

"Not to me it doesn't... I don't base my actions or opinions on what other people think..

I am funny that way."

It IS funny. The very same prosecutor that wanted to see Ayers imprisoned for his actions now feels that a connection to Obama is a non-issue, and you dismiss it as "what other people think."

If William Ayers' PROSECUTOR feels that there isn't an issue, and after the 'vetting' done in the primaries proves that this 'connection' isn't an issue, can Obama really say anything that will actually satisfy your Hannity-like obsession with Ayers?

[wendy82551]

Great point. If I were advising Obama re the upcoming debate, I'd tell him to ask McCain head on: "You keep saying that there's something I'm not telling you about Bill Ayers. Here's your opportunity. Ask me now. Ask me any question you have. Now. Or else shut up."

Or words to that effect. The point is, columns like this, while good, do not reach the people those questions are meant to scare. It needs to be out in the open where enough people can see McCain squirm and, perhaps, realize that there's nothing behind the question, that the snarling dog has no teeth.

[Sadie1976]

This would be GREAT! I would love to see that happen!

[Michale32086]

@ChimesOfFreedom

{{{
Barack has NOT been silent on the Ayers smears. Hillary brought it up during the primary campaign (so did McCain, by the way), Barack addressed it, and that should have been the end of it. There was a good piece in the NY Times on 10/4 about this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/us/politics/04ayers.html

This is a non-issue. Let it die.
{{{{{{

Thank you for proving my point.

That entire article you quoted did not have ONE quote from Obama on the Ayers issue..

Until OBAMA himself comes out on this issue completely, unequivocally and honestly, as he did on the Wright issue, this will dog him.. And rightly so...

Michale.....

[ChimesOfFreedom]

What it proves is that there's nothing to talk about, and nothing to hide. You want direct quotes from Obama himself? Learn how to use "the Google."

At any rate, you're avoiding the issue I raised - why does it matter what kind of relationship Barack Obama has or had with a 63-year-old University of Illinois education professor? What do Ayers activities of nearly 40 years ago have to do with Obama today?

Do you or do you not believe that a person can change in their lifetime?

[Lotus19]

It will only dog him with the willfully ignorant. Since McCain is your candidate, perhaps you should concern yourself with uncovering his ties to lobbyists, extremists, and his economic plans.

[JRsNana]

Lotus19 - save your fingerprints. Michale is the most circular thinker on this site. You CANNOT win. If you agree with her/him (?) he/she (?) pounces. If you disagree - pounce.
I've tried and tried to figure out what exactly this person stands for and have concluded that all Michale stands for mental chaos.

[blood1]

LOGIC SUCKS!
Those of you who think Obama is "hiding" something.­...conside­r what you are asking. If Obama came out AGAIN and said that there was no relationship, then you respond by saying he isn't telling the truth. This is a circular argument and if that is the most important issue of day to you, there will never be an acceptable answer...so on you go.

Let's try this another way...there is someone that you KNEW in your own personal history, let's say for example someone in a Group you associated with or even worked with (same company) with 15 years ago and now fast forward to the present. You now find out that this person did something that you find despicable (let's say had an abortion) and now you are running for a GOP campaign and you are being linked to this person and you have to explain how you could be "palling around" with this person...how would you respond?

Better example: one of your parents decided to be cremated. You are personally against this decision, but you cannot stop this action. Now you are being attacked by people who think this is morally reprehensible and are attacking for your stand on "cremation". After all, you were personnally involved with a person who willfully decided to do this...how do you respond?

So carry on , but acknowledge to yourself that there is NO ACCPTABLE ANSWER that will satisfy this type of question.

[kellygrrrl]

If Sarah Palin were asked questions she would just lie through her teeth. When she gave a telephonic press conference this weekend re Troopergate, she called it "Tasergate" and said she was thrilled to have been cleared of any wrongdoing.
This is Orwellian Double-Speak at its finest.

[LynnW49]

The empty vessel that is Sarah Palin doesn't even need to lie, although she is adept at that. She just needs to rattle off a few of her slogans. Witness what she said about supporting hate crimes legislation including gays: “Oh yeah, and the first thought that pops into my head also when you’re talking about rights and you’re talking about freedoms, is we’re talking about Sen. John McCain and what he has done for our country and putting his country first his entire life to fight for freedoms,” she said to applause. Huh? Not one word about the actual question.

[HeevenSteven]

McCain has won the prestigious "Pants On Fire" award from Politifact.org for his ads about Obama's relationship to Ayers.

[Michale32086]

}}}}
They keep saying he has to answer more questions about Bill Ayers, for example. But he has answered every ridiculous question on this topic a hundred times over.
{{{{

Has he??

I see quotes from surrogates but very VERY little directly from Obama.

I can easily view Obama's initial lack of judgment in dealing with Ayers. A virgin politician & his first misstep into the political limelight.. I can easily excuse that.

But what concerns me is that we have a man of integrity who is KNOWN for getting out in front of controversial issues succinctly & putting them to rest. Obama did this with the Wright issue and I think that is why we aren't seeing it made an issue by the GOP. They CAN'T make it an issue because Obama has already forcefully, personally & with great effect, killed it as an issue.

Why hasn't he done that with Ayers?? All Obama has done is have his surrogates give halfarsed & conflicting reports..

If we have a many of integrity who is KNOWN for clearing the air on issues, all of the sudden clams up & doesn't personally say anything, then I think that concern over that is warranted.

At least by those voters who actually think for themselves. Those who believe Obama walks on water & can do no wrong obviously won't feel that way.

But don't you think, rationally, that the American voter has a RIGHT... no.. an OBLIGATION to KNOW the full extent of

[Michale32086]

Looks like the 250 word limit is actually a 245 word limit.. :^/

That last line should read

"But don't you think, rationally, that the American voter has a RIGHT... no.. an OBLIGATION to KNOW the full extent of Obama's relationship with Ayers?"

Michale....

[nomobull]

oh please

[LCRover001]

Just as they have the right to know about the Palins connections to the AIP.

The AIP is not a has been group it is an active and current group that Palin has worked with, she also as recently as this year addressed their convention in which she said she supported the work they were doing and to keep up the good work.

While this group has not of yet committed terrorism they have hinted they might stoop to it if their desires are not meet.

Learn about your own nominees and their past ties and current ones before you start a riot over a person some one worked with. You do know there were republicans on that board and it was set up by someone who worked in the Regan administration.

The AIP is much more of a threat and may become much more of one in the years to come than Ayers is now and will be in the future.

[JRsNana]

Just more of the previously mentioned "mental chaos" that is Michale.
He's answered the question. If you don't like the answer - fine - that's your choice. Tell you what. Why don't you give us all the answer you want him to give and then we'll know where you actually stand. And, we can then have a normal conversation.
It's like we're all on the big roller coaster called the Michale and we're expected to just follow along with your "facts" and then go up and down and all around trying to figure out where the end of the line is.

[knowhelpnow]

McCain doesn't ask about Wright because he has his own problems with preachers. McCain has only the same to offer people he has not put out a plan on anything, so all he can do is slime that is the only thing he thinks will scare Americans to vote for him, it won't work this time. McCain learned this from the Bush campaign because they did it to him and Kerry just slime when you don't have anything to offer the voters.

[Michale32086]

While I don't pretend to know why McCain does or doesn't do what McCain does or doesn't do, I agree with you that a McCain presidency would be same ol same ol, political wise.

That is why I am a confirmed and demonstrable Obama supporter.

But I am (apparently) one of those rare Obama supporters who can actually think for myself and not just follow party dogma and ideology blindly.

As such, I want to know the exact and complete extent of Obama's relationship with Ayers. The relationship probably won't be a deal breaker in voting Obama.

But Obama's continued silence on it MIGHT be.

Michale.....

[maribelle1963]

Michaele, this was covered at length during the primaries when HIllary's people brought it up. Or go to Obama's website and look it up.

If you want the answers, you will find them. If you want to keep suspecting. you are entitled but he has been exhaustively clear on this connection.

(Short version: they worked on a board together, Ayers had houseparty for him as a state senator years ago when he first starting out and THAT'S IT.)

You do know that Ayers is a respected college professor now who won a national teaching award in 1999, that he has completely rehabilitated himself and works on charity boards, right? That his crimes were 40 years ago? Just checking.

PS in your research, google "the Keating 5" and the Rolling Stone article on McCain from last week. Character counts indeed.

[Grousefeather]

I disagree with you about this election being the sleezest ever. I'm 70 years old and every election I've ever voted in, including my first in 1964, has been sleezy and dishonest. But, based on my experience and observations, it's clear to me that Republicans are by far the champions of lies and distortions. How else can a political party who represent the interests of a small minority of ultra-rich citizens convince gullible and fearful followers to vote against their own personal and financial interests?

[Michale32086]

}}}}
it's clear to me that Republicans are by far the champions of lies and distortions.
{{{{

I can, quite easily, make the case that shows Democrats are just as big a champion of lies and distortions as Republicans..

By and large, the hysterical Right and the hysterical Left are simply two sides of the same pathetic, corrupt and perverse coin..

Michale.....

[knowhelpnow]

Please tell us what you know.

[radiclib]

.
.
That's because they aren't really ``questions.'' They are smears designed as rhetorical questions. They are innuendoes. They are cheap shots. In a boxing mach, they would be called low blows. Basically, they don't dare drop ``N'' bombs at Obama, so this is the next best thing. We are witnessing the Foxification of political discourse.
.
.

[Michale32086]

So, you think that ANYONE who wants to know the fully extent of Obama's relationship with a terrorist is a racist??

How completely and utterly bigot'ed of you... :^/

Michale.....

[nomobull]

are you gonna question the republicans they same way about their associations if not then you are biased .

[ChimesOfFreedom]

By the time Barack met him, it had been decades since Ayers engaged in anything more heinous than teaching. Whatever Bill Ayers might once have been - terrorist, militant, radical - is IRRELEVANT to Barack Obama's involvement with him. Or do you not believe a person can ever change?

[obamanation31]

They are trying to cast a doubt in people's mind. I'd like to turn the question around and ask who are John McCain and Sarah Palin?
Do we really know who John McCain and Sarah Palin are? The other day, McCain refered to us as "My fellow Prisoners". Doesn't see odd? The fact that Sarah Palin lives so close to Russia. Could she be a Russian agent sent to destroy this country?

[LoyalJane]

Why has governor Palins ruling on abuse of power only get one half days worth of coverage.
WHO IS SARAH PALIN????

[Michale32086]

If Republicans are "not allowed" to ask "WHO IS OBAMA", then you are not allowed to ask "WHO IS SARAH PALIN"...

Fair is fair, right??

Michale....

[seatea1967]

Terrible analogy. Obama has written books about his life, and has been in the public eye for years... long enough that just about every facet of his life has been exposed and discussed ad nauseum by members of the press from every ideology. In fact, even patently false rumors about him have been aired, fact-checked, debunked, re-raised, re-fact-checked, and re-debunked.

Palin burst on the scene from obscurity only weeks ago and was promptly hidden from the press and scrutiny. McCain has done everything to keep the press from asking any questions about her, from calling questioners sexist to actually forbidding the press from getting near her.

[Lotus19]

BIG difference. Obama has been scrutinized thoroughly, has conducted press conferences and sat for a wide variety of interviews. He has written books on his life and has answered questions as they arose. Palin has only recently come on the scene and has done nothing but deflect criticisms and questions about herself and her policy decisions by putting the focus back on Obama.

You mentioned in another post that you are an Obama supporter but you seem to spend more time furthering the McCain talking points.

[knowhelpnow]

The right keeps saying the media is slanted liberal but they give the Right pass after pass. What gives? The media should start giving fair coverage like when it was the law, I think that law should be reinstated. Fox News would go under.

[Michale32086]

And yet, according to the Clintons, Fox News is the fairest of the all...

The LEFT screams that the Media has a RIGHT Bias and provides examples to "prove" their point.

The RIGHT screams that the Media has a LEFT Bias and provides examples to "prove" their point.

Do you know what that says to an NPA'er like myself??

That the Media is getting it correct..

Michale.....

[Konnie]

I disagree with your concept. It's not that they want to cast doubt on Obama........It's their ploy to pull Obama off message. To spend allllllll his time, every speech defending these stupid allegations.
thankfully our Obama is not falling in line........Its the end for Rove et al. Its over for Mccain and company, and not a minute to soon.

[dosaybe]

ALWAYS look for what they are distracting you FROM...the scandals that are real in their candidates. This Ayers garbage was designed to keep the media from reporting on the Troopergate scandal, the Sports Complex/Palin House scandal, the Unpopularity of the candidates. (Personality disorder) Narcissists distract you and abuse you till you feel confused. All to point the finger AWAY from their shenanigans. I refer you to the Sam Vaknin web stuff on Narcissistic personality disorders...this is the pattern of abusive spouses.

[BryantG]

I think Obama should use the next debate to answer each of McCain's silly questions and back the old man into a corner. He should force McCain to call him a liar to his face if he can prove that Obama has lied about anything. McCain will look like a petty fool in fromt of the world as it's shown that the questions are unfounded.

[jfor]

McCain has secured his place in history with his incompetant and racist campaigning.