Saying It To His Face

Senator Obama has known and worked with William Ayers for many years. Ayers is the former member of the Weather Underground who bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol Building, and a Federal Judge's home. Obama dismisses any concern over his relationship with Ayers saying he was "just a guy who lives in my neighborhood" who did some "despicable things when I was 8 years old."

He complained today that the McCain campaign is attacking him on this because they have no ideas and he is surprised during the debate McCain didn't say anything about it to his face.

That sounds like an invitation, so McCain should indeed say it to his face. Perhaps in this way...

Senator, the question is not about your friendship with Ayers, but one of your judgment. Few of us, upon hearing that Ayers is unrepentant for his actions would think it a good idea to work with him in any capacity. He has not asked forgiveness nor admitted wrongdoing. In fact, on September 11th, 2001 he said concerning the bombings that "they hadn't done enough".

Is it that you lacked the courage to refuse to work with this man? Or that you thought it was just politically expedient for your career?

When William Ayers requested $50 million of Annenberg Foundation money in the mid-90's to "raise political consciousness" in Chicago's public schools, did you have any doubt in your mind that the kind of political consciousness he meant referred to his own radical anti-American views? Did you not know this when he asked you to distribute these funds to "external" organizations such as ACORN where you had trained community activists? Is that why you also obtained $60 million additional dollars to supplement this purpose? Had your left hand forgotten what your right hand was doing when ACORN's goal was to politicize the students of Chicago public schools rather than teach them math, reading, and writing?

Do you think it is just a coincidence, Senator Obama, in the fact that ACORN was extremely influential in helping you get elected as an Illinois state senator and then as a US senator? And why is ACORN now being caught falsifying voter registration drives in Ohio and Nevada and who knows where else on your behalf? Were these the tactics you taught them in Chicago when they supported your campaigns there?

And are you really saying that it's not important, or a distraction for Americans who may have you as a President for the next 4 to 8 years, to ask you why we should trust you directing the education spending of our Government?

You sat on two boards with William Ayers, launched your political career from his home, directed large sums of money at his request, shared the stage at speaking engagements with him, and you say he's "just a guy who lives in my neighborhood"?

There seems to be an awful lot of smoke for a man who says there is no fire.