The McCain attack ad trying to link Obama to Weather Underground radical Bill Ayers. The fact is that Obama was a young man when Ayers committed his crimes, and then served on a non-profit board with Ayers. That apparently makes him culpable for Ayers actions. I don’t think anyone is buying it, and I do not believe it has had any political impact or traction. The Rev. Wright situation certainly did have traction, and hurt Obama politically. Not so much here. Tom Hayden was the leader of the SDS and he was a state senator in California. I wonder if Obama is humming to himself the familiar Dylan refrain (posted here) “you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”
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Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
I believe Tom Hayden, former husband to Hanoi Jane is now spouting off his own polemics.
Once a terrorist always a terrorist
McCain ads may not be needed. Oops, I’m wrong, can’t count on the dive by medium to hurt their candidate.
Ads are going to come after all.
Jules
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Your Honor,
A point regarding Obama’s relationship with Ayers.
The following explores Obama’s ties to William Ayers, whom the New York Sun describes as a “founding member of the group that bombed the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon during the 1970s.”
* In 2001, Ayers Did Not Express Regret For His Past Conduct And Even Claimed The Weather Underground “Didn’t Do Enough” Bombings. “Mr. Ayers wrote a memoir, ‘Fugitive Days,’ published in 2001, and on the day of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he was quoted by the New York Times as saying: ‘I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.'” (Russell Berman, “Obama’s Ties To Left Come Under Scrutiny,” The New York Sun, 2/19/08)
* “Obama’s relationship with Ayers is an especially vivid milepost on his rise, in record time, from a local official who unabashedly reflected a very liberal district to the leader of national movement based largely on the claim that he can transcend ideological divides.” (Ben Smith, “Obama Once Visited 60s Radicals,” Politico, 2/22/08)
The fact that Barack Obama chose to launch his political career at the home of an unrepentant terrorist reflects not only a lack of judgment, but also real questions about his views. Obama’s response to the ad? A full-throated defense of his long association with a man who says he didn’t bomb enough U.S. targets. That tells us more about Barack Obama than any of the speeches we saw Monday night ever could.
I fix no opinion regarding to this issue on it’s own. I combine it with a patten of anti American and antisemitic association for many years.
Jules
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Jules,
It is easy to condemn the action of Ayers in using violence and terror tactics to push a political agenda. He was wrong, and he should be repentant, not proud, of such actions. It is not so easy to limk Obama to a place where people try to imply that he endorses Ayers viewpoints on that subject.
Ayers, I believe, is a professor, and travels in “mainstream” circles. To say that Obama “launched his career” in Ayers home is really not accurate. He had a party at the Ayers home. That hardly constitutes “starting his political career. The Ayers matter is overblown, and will pass into the night politically. Bill Ayers will not receive any governmental post in an Obama administration.
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Your Honor,
A guy blows things up because he disagrees with policy and you Dems give him a pass.
I listened to some other Dems at the convention say how nice Ayers is and how he has contributed to the community.
Isn’t that nice.
Ayers Blows up buildings in Washington and now that’s “forgiven”. From terrorist to local hero.
Ted Kennedy kills a friend in a DUI accident, served no punishment, and now he is worshiped as the “Liberal Lion”.
What have Trent Lott and Tom Delay done that is worse? They have been cashiered.
Remember I sensed you giving John Edwards a “bye” soon after the news of his infedelity was announced. And, As I remember you did not like my accusation.
I love your sense of justice.
Jules
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Jules,
I think I have condemned Ayers actions strongly. I did not give Edwards a pass, and I do not give Ayers a pass. Trent Lott “misspoke”, and I for one thought that Lott was attacked just as savagely by Republicans as he was by the Dems. In fact Lott has written a biography in which he blames President Bush for his demise as majority leader. They failed to stand with him Jules, and the President gave him a good hard push over the cliff. I for one thought Lott was treated roughly, and I agree that the Lott episode really brought home how viscious the political atmosphere is in Washington. Delay got what he deserved. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. (See Newt Gingrich and book deals for further clarification of that point)
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