Clinton's McCarthyism (and my Brother Bill Ayers)

Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to ABC's Pennsylvania Democratic debate

Until tonight's debate, I didn't really think Hillary Clinton would go so far as to attempt to sink the whole Democratic Party campaign in her struggle for power. But now it is clear that she has no limits. Barack Obama, attempting to take the high ground, gave her a pass on her despicable behavior.

The fact that she would drag up this pathetic red herring about Obama's alleged ties to so-called terrorist Bill Ayers (my brother!) brings her right down to the level of Fox News and the National Enquirer (which also suggested that Obama had murdered his gay lover). Obama needed to call this tactic for what it is: McCarthyism. This is the most base version of McCarthyism: Did you know this communist? When were you last with this communist? Did you denounce this communist? When did you stop beating your wife?

This desperate strategy marks the kind of Republican tactics of the Clinton camp. We always knew Bill Clinton was the architect of the Democratic Party move into a Republican stance on policy. Now these so-called centrist Democrats are imitating the take-no-prisoners tactics of the Karl Roves of the far right.

The swift-boating of Obama over his remarks on the "bitterness" of white workers is a perfect example. You remember how the Republicans managed to make John Kerry, the Vietnam Veteran, seem like the weak soldier while George Bush, who hid out from the draft, was built up as the military guy. How do they manage that? Now Clinton is calling Obama the elitist -- Obama, the guy who worked as a community organizer while Hillary was raking in the dough on the Wal-Mart Board of Directors. She's got over $120 million and tags him as an elitist. Will the media really help spin this dreck? They will and do.

There's only one way to confront McCarthyism. Obama should have taken a page from Joseph Welch when he confronted the red-baiting senator during the Army-McCarthy hearings. He should have said, "Senator Clinton, are you really going to go there? Do you have no shame? Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty, or your recklessness. If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty, I would do so. I like to think I'm a gentle man, but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me. Have you no sense of decency, ma'am, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" That's the kind of language that Welch used to reduce McCarthy to the sputtering idiot he was.

Why give her a pass? Why claim that Bill Clinton had done something even worse, giving pardons to people from the Weather Underground. That's like trying to out-right the rightist Clinton. Have the courage to call her for what she is.

Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to ABC's Pennsylvania Democratic debate

Comments

[Lazslo]

I admire your brother's effort with the Weather Underground to actually act on their convictions and do something about states of injustice in this country. I don't condone hurting innocent people (I'd be hardpressed to actually find an "innocent" American, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere). The extremist measures they employed in destroying structures was illegal, but hardly misplaced in a country that was bombing the shit out of an impoverished nation of Viet Nam and killing innocent people by the hundreds of thousands at that time. I admire the fact that people back then actually acted on their beliefs - unlike today's America that is filled with ignorant cows who care more about shopping than the fact that their country is killing hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, or that they themselves have become the imperialists that they fought against for fifty years in the cold war.

That being said, the "tactics" you reference are not republican. They are American tactics. They are as common as hot dogs, baseball and apple pie. They are what makes this country so very noble.

[Bluedog12]

I've voted for Obama and God willing I'll have the chance to do it again in November however your brother is still an ass. He did what he did and more importantly he has said what he said. Don't patronize sensible americans with this McCarthyism bull.

[soneill]

This is McCarthyism without a point. Lets see.... Barak Obama and a political activist from the 60's each hapeen to have once served on the board of a community charity that address poverty issues. Whoooa- that must have been Hillary's killer/fighter big bombshell we heard so much about! Lets lynch this awful philanthropist Obama.

Seems like HRC is carrying this 'I'm a fighter" mantra beyond absurdity. If this is the kind of change she's selling, I'm ready to buy republican.

[RobinL]

I'm convinced she's a narcissist---and probably sociopathic too. Didn't you see major crazy last night?

[Gibbons]

Tim Russert and Brian Williams have been crucifying Clinton in all the debates. Last night the tables were turned and Obama proved without a shadow of a doubt that he is not ready to take on the republicans. Last night was a cakewalk for him compared to what the republicans will do in the general IF he makes it that far. This morning his number one fan Tim Russert was laying out a strategy that can take Clinton to the white house and when your staunchest supporter thinks you are toast believe it. This is the first debate since the Reverend Wright was outed which made him fair game.

[Yurdelite]

Spoken like a true Clinton supporter. She will not win. She and Bill have scared the already sorry media to death. It is obvious she and her people will do anything to win and that includes destroy the Party because she could not win honestly and fairly. Shame on all of you.

[FrankBlackFrancis]

That's one way to look at it. But I disagree.

Obama exhibited again, the ability to handle controversy calmly and coolly. Clinton and ABC came off as looking like goons. When given the opportunity to jump on Hillary for Bosnia, an easy target. He didn't bite. That's appealing to most people. Instead he pointed out how ridiculous it was to be dwelling on these things. Look at the public perception. People seem turned off when Hillary attacks. People seem enamored by the way he handles these political opportunities. I have every confidence he will continue this during the general against the Republicans. Of course they will come after him. Just like Hillary has and then some. But he handles it well.

[TurnThePageGA]

In spite of the Kitchen Sink and what ever her campaign can throw basically nothing has changed. She won't get the 65-35 win she needs to keep this thing going. There is no change in NC and Indiana, a state she has to win, is shaping up to be a toss up. I guess I'll go off and watch the NBA Championship for the next few weeks. Call me after June 3rd.

[OrionGal]

Excellent points - I'm aware of the Clinton campaign's hypocritical stance, and last night was no different.

Unreal that she thinks she can get away with it and Obama did call her on 2 of Bill's pardons. But, he needs to be tougher.

[4wehttam]

If Obama wasn't a man of decency and integrity he and his campaign would aggressively dredge up EVERY corrupt associate that they've EVER had..........and there is plenty, but no. Obama won't and can't do that because he is symbol of new politics. THIS is what we have been waiting for, what are we so afraid of????

[Chas53]

Yea, as James Carville said; "drag a 100 dollar bill through a trailer park and you never know what will turn up". Folks assumed he was talking about Paula Jones, but I think that he was really referring to Hillary.

[itsbushstupid]

b...bb...b­bb....butb­ut but clinton........wow, good defense, and without all the hemming, hawing, stuttering of your boy genius. now, could you please demonstrate how obama is sooo good under fire when he clearly tanked in the debate?
are you guys serious.....or will you only understand me if i stutter. wow, this obama guy is worse than w at communicating. good thing yall are just looking at the color of the man's skin.

don't worry oj, obama is gonna pardon you.

[Kirk59]

Listen, "we all" here in Illinois voted him Senator, and not because of the color of his skin. For you to imply so, both insults our intelligence and reveals a profound lack of any from you.
He is ahead, and does not need to sink into the gutter against another Democrat, whose support he will be seeking and getting in a few weeks. She is behind and apparantly feels the need to use scorched earth as her tactic until she gives up.
We will have the pleasure of watching Sen Obama shred Sen McCain and his hackneyed Republican talking points in the fall. Sorry you feel you can't be with us.

[Trace8089]

Like voting for Obama was a hard choice. Who did he run against? Alan Keyes, an out of state right wing nutjob..

[zora77]

wow at the ignorance - just wow

[RobinL]

I love how these people bring this up. It's called THINKING BEFORE YOU SPEAK!! We know that it's hard for people who listen to Rush to get this---but this is actually how people sound when they're working to put intelligent thoughts together. You might want to try it sometime!

[Cyndee1113]

This is what happens when a family has to much power. I was very hurt over the debates and had to get down on my knees to pray. I was so upset with the debate. Hillary does not deserve to be POTUS. She is awful.

Rick you are so right, Obama should have called her out in a gentleman way. I guess when you have it coming at you from 3 ways, it is hard to think straight.

Awesome post by the way!

[jeff]

n 1969, four years before McCain was set free by the NVA, Ayers and the Weather Underground brought the terroristic "Days of Rage" to Chicago.

Three years before McCain's release from captivity, future education professor Ayers exclaimed, "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents, that's where it's really at."

One year before McCain achieved freedom, Ayers participated in a bombing of the Pentaton. Of that day, Ayers wrote:

Everything was absolutely ideal on the day I bombed the Pentagon.

The sky was blue. The birds were singing. And the bastards were finally going to get what was coming to them.

[BassMonk]

Relevant how?

[sarafina49]

Did you live back then? I did. Nothing could compare to the body bags shown on nightly TV. Now, like then, we had a lying president. The difference? This one will not allow you to see the dead. You know - Out of sight, out of mind?

[OhioPoBoy]

I hope Pennsylvania has more smarts than Ohio. Smearing Obama here included rumors, robocalls and e-mials detailing allegations about the refusal to say the pledge, former black muslim affiliations, a sort of jihadi manchurian candidate smear and I just don't know if he is a Christain comments. The good people of PA are being played like a fiddle and we shall see if they follow along dancing to the tune HRC is playing, the way pople from Ohio did.

[hubbstan]

Good god I hope not - Ohio people should make an ad to tell PA people do not fall for her this time again.

[FCBarca]

Clinton, Hillary or Bill, most despicable family of politicians this side of the Bush cabal of evil...Unbelievable she has made it this far

[hubbstan]

she made this far because democratic party is corrupted and the country's racism problem still live and well.

[jeff]

"I don't regret setting bombs, I feel we didn't do enough."

[rosenberg]

1. Regrets. I’m often quoted saying that I have “no regrets.” This is not true. For anyone paying attention—and I try to stay wide-awake to the world around me all/ways—life brings misgivings, doubts, uncertainty, loss, regret. I’m sometimes asked if I regret anything I did to oppose the war in Viet Nam, and I say “no, I don’t regret anything I did to try to stop the slaughter of millions of human beings by my own government.” Sometimes I add, “I don’t think I did enough.” This is then elided: he has no regrets for setting bombs and thinks there should be more bombings.

The illegal, murderous, imperial war against Viet Nam was a catastrophe for the Vietnamese, a disaster for Americans, and a world tragedy. Many of us understood this, and many tried to stop the war. Those of us who tried recognize that our efforts were inadequate: the war dragged on for a decade, thousands were slaughtered every week, and we couldn’t stop it. In the end the U.S. military was defeated and the war ended, but we surely didn’t do enough.

--Bill Ayers

[Stucco]

A. Do you regret ANYTHING YOU DID to oppose the war in Viet Nam? No.

B. Did you detonate bombs to oppose the war in Viet Nam? Yes

This means he does not regret for the bombings. It's not editing- it's logic.

[RIBassist]

The way that I understand it, Obama served on the board of a charitable institution where Ayers was also a member of that board. This hardly makes them political intimates.

It's kind of like this. There's a sexist working in the computer room at the company where I'm a project manager. I suspect he's a racist too, but the topic of race has never come up between us. But he has made it clear that he believes in the "traditional" gender roles that keep the woman in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. He does not believe that women should "be allowed" to be president or hold executive positions in corporations.

I can categorically state that I don't agree with this guy. But what am I supposed to do about the fact that we work at the same company and in the same department? Quit my job to prove my ideological purity? Give me a break.

These asssociations are the reality of adults living involved lives. And yes, for Hillary to bring it up as a point of attack that the paths of Obama and Ayers have crossed in the past smacks of McCarthyism. "Guilt by association" is, to the Clinton campaign, a legitimate focus for attacks. It's shameful.

[nyscribbler]

Although I agree with your position- the facts are not quite analogous. Obama attended a Senate fundraiser at the Ayer home- there is a degree of personal relationship- so What! I am on a Board- and was elected to serve partly by individuals who I disagree with vociferously. They supported me for their own reasons. It's McCarthyism to suggest otherwise. Those on the Board with cancerous views are checked by my vote. I'm on that Board in part to prevent scoundrels from having free rein because patriots do nothing.

[desmirl]

Clinton gave up the 'kitchen sink' strategy for the 'septic tank' strategy last night. She won't get the nomination, but she may have put a stake in the heart of the Democrat Party's chance for the White House.

[jeff]

n 1969, four years before McCain was set free by the NVA, Ayers and the Weather Underground brought the terroristic "Days of Rage" to Chicago.

Three years before McCain's release from captivity, future education professor Ayers exclaimed, "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents, that's where it's really at."

One year before McCain achieved freedom, Ayers participated in a bombing of the Pentaton. Of that day, Ayers wrote:

Everything was absolutely ideal on the day I bombed the Pentagon.

The sky was blue. The birds were singing. And the bastards were finally going to get what was coming to them.

[gopindrag]

"Ayers participated in a bombing of the Pentaton."

You think as carelessly as you spell.