What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Ayers?
During a Chicago Public Radio discussion yesterday, Public Affairs host Jeff Berkowitz made the argument that Barack Obama's association with Bill Ayers "reflects bad judgment" and that John McCain should have broached the issue during the debate Tuesday night. "I think it's worth a shot," Berkowitz said.
Tying Ayers to Obama's "judgment" in this way is commonplace on the right at the moment. Most prominently, Sarah Palin said on the stump this week that the relationship "goes to the heart of judgment of a person." Right-wing bloggers and conservative pundits have been arguing the same for months.
But judgment is a broad and subjective concept, one that can be construed and extrapolated in myriad directions. So as more and more commentators take to the airwaves to rail against Obama's faulty "judgment" in working with Ayers, I'd like to see hosts and anchors ask them to explain what this relationship supposedly tells us about how he would govern as president.
To put it another way, I'd like to hear some of the hypothetical "I told you so" moments that Republicans envision occurring if Obama is elected. What do they foresee happening in an Obama administration that will lead them to say, "You should have listened to us when we were hollering about Ayers"?
If their suggestion really is that Obama is a sleeper radical, then they should be forced to articulate those views out loud. If they really think that on January 21, 2009, Obama is going to invite Ayers over to the White House so they can set off fire bombs throughout the West Wing, I want to hear them say it.
If they believe that Ayers is going to advise President Obama on matters of national policy, I want to hear them say it.
If they believe that the Ayers relationship signals that Obama will depart from his center-left legislative record and implement a radical policy agenda, I want to hear them say it.
If they're simply arguing that this association proves Obama is a poor politician, I want to hear them say it.
If they believe the Ayers issue will manifest itself in other ways, I'm all ears.
The underlying premise of the broad "judgment" claims boils down to this: "He's not who he says he is." And as subtext, it's powerful stuff. But when said out loud, those who support Obama can respond directly. For instance, if a Republican were to publicly argue that Obama's 15-year plan has been to hide his radical views until he reached the presidency, one could challenge this logic: If that's the case, why would he have publicly associated himself with Ayers in the first place? Wouldn't he have known that would blow his cover?
Further, when such specific scenarios are articulated, voters can assess them head-on. They can decide for themselves if these concerns are reasonable or paranoid. My guess is many would opt for the latter. And it seems the Republicans agree.
(Cross-posted at Progress Illinois)
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Here's my take on this - In the 60's when both I and Barack Obama were babies this guy Ayers was a Viet nam war protester which somehow coincided with the time of Mccain being a Vietnam Veteran. At that time because I do remember vaguely when I was a child the protesters were considered the good guys and the veterans returning home were treated quite badly. So, it's completely understandable that McCain would think this is a big deal and hold a great deal of contempt for a former protester especially such a radical one.
However it is totally unrelated to here and now.During the 90's when Ayers worked with Obama, they were teachers at the same school and members of the same community figuring out ways to improve education.
Has anyone considered that Obama MIGHT have considered the benefits he could bring to the community on the board? should all good works be stopped because someone on the board has a bad past? Are good deeds reserved for those who have led good lives?
If the good people of Chicago don't have a problem with Ayers, why should we? And if the GOP have issue with Obama and Ayers serving on the same board together (Annenberg Challenge,) who appointed him to the board? Shouldn't that person be held accountable? And if the right have issue with Ayers helping to launch Obama's political career, isn't that what Keating did for McCain in the early 80's? Does the McCain REALLY want to go there?
Josh, you really needn't go to such trouble to say the obvious... Republicans are stupid, hateful, hypocritical, hegemonious cretins... but thanks anyhow as it sounds nicer when you put it your way!
Another thing, why isn't this domestic terrorist, Ayers in jail? He committed despicable acts 40 years ago, and forty years later McCain is using him to win an election, What is Ayers guilty of and if he is as bad as they say, why isn't he in jail, why hasn't he been picked up and tortured like the other terrorists?
If all McCain has said is true, why are these men, Obama and Ayers, still walking the streets free?
Don't you know? Republicans don't believe in the legal system!
The problim with the legal system is it can be controled by The PEER Jury. O. J. Simpson' first trial. His second he had no PEERs.
Ayres turned himself in for although no criminal charges were filed, federal charges were, and even those were dropped. So Ayers was at best a radical like so many others during that turbulent time, at worst a vandal.
Ayers was Person of the Year in Chicago in 1996 for his work in education.
I guess if you do something really radical 40 years ago, you can still go on and make a good name for yourself. Until McCain's xenophobia gets ahold of it.
we're talking about a guy who brushed up against a self-important pretentious University professor who did some really stupid and self-important things when he was on drugs and all his friends were trying to make all their friends gasp with their irreverence 40 years ago. Good Lord, I shudder to think about what all the University Professor lute-playing broccoli-chopping ageing hipsters I have tangential
There isn't an Obama/Ayers relationship.
Ayers lived in Obama's neighborhood and Obama occasionally saw him in the neighborhood.
Obama attended a function for another Illinois Representative given at Ayers' House.
Obama served with Ayers on a charitable board which met six times.
None of that makes Ayers anything other than the casual acquaintance Obama said he was.
The claim that Ayers launched Obama's political career from his house is FALSE.
The claim that Obama said Ayers was just an acquaintance "but we know that's not true" is FALSE. No reason to believe otherwise has been offered.
The claim Obama HAD to've known immediately who Ayers was and is obviously lying claiming otherwise is FALSE. Ayers was "infamous" 45 years ago. If not for the media attention in the last 6 months hardly anyone in Chicago would know who Ayers was now.
And the idea associating with a college professor who 45 years ago was a dangerous radical is "poor judgment!?" I'm sure we'll see Republicans solve the financial crisis without having contact with any Wall Street CEOs, executives, or lobbyists then. Their greed and/or criminality caused much damage to America than the Weatherman Underground ever did. Oh wait --
Why does John McCain show the "poor judgment" to have as his good friend AND ECONOMIC ADVISER Phil Grahm? A Freddie Mac lobbyist campaign manager and dozens of lobbyist and CEO staff?
Don't accept McCain/Palin's lies and look for logic to discredit. There's no there there.
Not to mention the poor judgment to have Rick Davis who was still earning $15K a month from FM & FM until August 2008, as an adviser!
Or any of the dozens of lobbyist McCain has filled his campaign with. McCain fights special interests all right, those that don't pay him!
According to the McCain campaign Ayers died and calcified 40 years ago. Why doesn't someone interview him? See what he's up to, see what he's thinking today. Of course, I don't expect that would change McCain's folks thinking, but they seem to think that they control reality by projecting their thoughts and wishes anyway.
The bottom line is, there's nothing that sticks here. But since it's all that McCain has, he's got to use it. It's like a big haystack, and he's saying, somewhere there's got to be a needle in here. But there isn't, or it's so small it's insignificant. Or it's like a lot of smoke, but no fire in this instance. But McCain's got to change the subject from the economy, so he's playing up this nothing thing as though it was something.
Too bad for McCain that we already found the "needle", realized it was just a pine needle with no danger attached, and went back to our real world where fantasy and flagrant lies don't dominate.
John McCain is so ashamed of his own campaign he can't even look Obama in the face, and we're supposed to think that he has something important to tell us?
So well said.
McCain reminds me of Uncle Erny from 'Tommy', with his fiddling about.
Through the hoop, no net.
Well, his campaign certainly tells us something about HIS judgement!
Josh,
That's the question I've been desperately trying to get an answer to as well. If this man is so bad, why isn't he still locked up? Or better yet, why is he living in Chicago and teaching college students English? I just don't get it. The terr-ist has done more for education and poor people than McCain or Palin, but no one will say that. What happened to doing your time and reforming oneself?
The man was never convicted of anything. If I was Ayers I think I would be talking to a few really good lawyers.
Why did the ultra-conservative Annenbergs appoint him to their Board?
thank you- and Mrs Annenberg endorsed Mccain- how is that for assosication- i guess Senator mccain will need to Denounce Mrs Annenberg now
Ayers' case ended in mistrial because of prosecutorial misconduct. He can't be tried again. But Ayers freely admits to the crime.
Well, this is just desperation at its worst. Even if I was a republican, I still wouldn't vote for McCain at this point. For a party that is supposedly the keeper of moral conservative values, they've certainly lost all credibility.
And of all politicians, McCain should know better than to throw rocks from inside his glass house!
I've had my misgivings about Obama's readiness for presidential office, but with all of the bs ("I know how to catch Bin Laden!"), the irrational behavior, and the startling lack of judgement and character we've seen of McCain so far, we're better off with a rookie! At least Obama can learn to tackle the challenges we face. I don't think the same could be said of McCain, and Palin's not about learning at all!
McCain repeats ad nauseum that there is no "ON the job training" for President, yet offers Palin as his VP? He is joking right?
I've served on Advisory Boards like Annenberg, Usually there are 20 or 30 people around a huge table and personal relationships are not a priority. The big shots come late and leave early. People who call Obama's contact with Ayers evidence of his poor judgment, please find some dots and try to connect them. Then compare this "association" with the current associations of McCain's with murderers (he praised a woman who killed a doctor who performed abortions). Not to mention the corporate cronies, Keating, homophobic preachers, crooks, on and on.
So, bring it on. What's your best evidence?
Come on, if you've got something, let's have it. Documents, videos, depositions, something that's admissible in court.
No? Didn't think so. Until then, just SHUT UP.
Who are we to approve of the way the MSM anchors are advancing the lies and hatred of the McCain camp knowing the Ayers lie is a lie and we still are watching them, supporting them at their jobs? I for one believe when Anderso Cooper started to seel the lie again after knowing the truth for all this time himself, he went off my list of who I will watch again in this lifetime. It is the people like hime who are also pushing their own agenda to make the news cycle more their way with more viewers while cheapening the way we are supposed to believe they work at some level to informa and tell us the truth. I am tired of the news cycle talking heads whose only going to push more and more the inflamatory nastiness. DO we continue to watch and support them or choose to not support them? Write to them on their blogs emails and to their bosses as they must think you and I ignorant enough to let them do to us what they should never be allowed to.
As a white, senior Canadian I am used to a different kind of news reporting. I watched Glenn Beck once, Lou Dobbs a few times but no longer can stand their biased reporting. CNN advertises they tell the truth when it is plain to see all their reporters are afraid to report the truth. As an example the truth about McCain's unsavoury cronies, or Palin's doings in Alaska. Campbell Brown is pretty quiet as she knows her job is in jeopardy. McCain and Palin are receiving a lot of airtime even though CNN knows how much hate these political meetings are fostering. CNN and other networks will share the blame if this hatred is allowed to grow as they keep repeating them. When will they really stick to no bias. no bull?
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