Obama: Ayres is just some guy who lives in my neighborhood

[MrLabGuy]

Obama's Top Campaign Staff Have Attempted To Downplay The Relationship Between Obama And Bill Ayers:
Obama Spokesman Robert Gibbs Said That Obama And Ayers Weren't Close And That Obama Was Only 8 Years Old When Ayers Was Bombing Buildings. Robert Gibbs: "If you read the article ... it says these two men weren't close, this man isn't involved in our campaign. Bill Ayers is somebody that Barack Obama said his actions were despicable and these happened when Barack Obama was 8 years old." (FOX News' "FOX & Friends," 10/6/08)

Gibbs Has Also Limited The Relationship Between Obama And Ayers To Serving On Two Boards Together. John Roberts: "Barack Obama knew Bill Ayers and had contact with him between 1995 and 2005. Exactly what was the nature of the relationship?" Robert Gibbs: "Well, John, as The New York Times reported this weekend, they served on two boards together during that time period." (CNN's "American Morning," 10/6/08)

Even Obama Has Previously Referred To Ayers As "A Guy Who Lives In My Neighborhood" And Not Someone He Exchanges Ideas With "On A Regular Basis." Obama: "George, but this is an example of what I'm talking about. This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George." (Sen. Barack Obama, ABC Democrat Candidates Presidential Debate, Philadelphia, PA, 4/16/08)

But Obama's Connections With Bill Ayers Are Much More Extensive Than He Or His Campaign Staff Is Willing To Admit:
In 1995, During Obama's First State Senate Campaign, William Ayers And Wife Bernadine Dohrn Hosted A Meeting Of Chicago Liberals At Their Home For Obama, Which One Attendee Said Was Aimed At "Launching Him." "In 1995, State Senator Alice Palmer introduced her chosen successor, Barack Obama, to a few of the district's influential liberals at the home of two well known figures on the local left: William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. While Ayers and Dohrn may be thought of in Hyde Park as local activists, they're better known nationally as two of the most notorious -- and unrepentant -- figures from the violent fringe of the 1960s anti-war movement. ... 'I can remember being one of a small group of people who came to Bill Ayers' house to learn that Alice Palmer was stepping down from the senate and running for Congress,' said Dr. Quentin Young, a prominent Chicago physician and advocate for single-payer health care, of the info rmal gathering at the home of Ayers and his wife, Dohrn. '[Palmer] identified [Obama] as her successor.' ... Dr. Young and another guest, Maria Warren, described it similarly: as an introduction to Hyde Park liberals of the handpicked successor to Palmer, a well-regarded figure on the left. 'When I first met Barack Obama, he was giving a standard, innocuous little talk in the living room of those two legends-in-their-own-minds, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn,' Warren wrote on her blog in 2005. 'They were launching him -- introducing him to the Hyde Park community as the best thing since sliced bread.'" (Ben Smith, "Obama Once Visited '60s Radicals," The Politico, 1/22/08)

From March Of 1995 Until September Of 1997, Obama And Ayers Attended At Least Seven Meetings Together Relating To The Chicago Annenberg Challenge. (Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Board Of Directors Meeting, Minutes Of The Board, 3/15/95, 3/31/95, 4/13/95, 6/5/95, 9/30/97; National Annenberg Challenge Evaluation Meeting, List Of Participants, 5/24/95; Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Chicago School Reform Collaborative Meeting, Minutes, 10/23/96)

• NOTE: Bill Ayers Was Asked To Help Obama Formulate The Chicago Annenberg Challenge By-Laws. (Chicago Annenberg Challenge Board Of Directors Minutes, 3/15/95)

In 1997, Obama Praised Ayers' Book On The Juvenile Justice System. "The two men were involved in efforts to reform the city's education system. They appeared together on academic panels, including one organized by Michelle Obama to discuss the juvenile justice system, an area of mutual concern. Mr. Ayers's book on the subject won a rave review in The Chicago Tribune by Mr. Obama, who called it 'a searing and timely account.'" (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, "Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side," The New York Times, 5/11/08)

• Obama On William Ayers' "A Kind And Just Parent: The Children Of Juvenile Court": "A searing and timely account of the juvenile court system, and the courageous individuals who rescue hope from despair." (Chicago Tribune, 12/21/97)

"[Obama And Ayers] Have Also Appeared Jointly On Two Academic Panels, One In 1997 And Another In 2001." (Russell Berman, "Obama's Ties To Left Come Under Scrutiny," The New York Sun, 2/19/08)

From 1999 To 2002, Obama Served With Ayers On The Board Of Directors For Woods Fund Of Chicago. "[Ayers] served with [Obama] from 1999 to 2002 on the board of the Woods Fund, an anti-poverty group."(Timothy J. Burger, "Obama's Chicago Ties Might Fuel 'Republican Attack Machine'," Bloomberg, 2/15/08)

• During The Time Obama And Ayers Served Together On The Woods Fund, Ayers Was Quoted Saying "I Don't Regret Setting Bombs ... I Feel We Didn't Do Enough." "'I don't regret setting bombs,' Bill Ayers said. 'I feel we didn't do enough.' Mr. Ayers, who spent the 1970's as a fugitive in the Weather Underground, was sitting in the kitchen of his big turn-of-the-19th-century stone house in the Hyde Park district of Chicago." (Dinitia Smith, "No Regrets For A Love Of Explosives," The New York Times, 9/11/01)

• NOTE: Obama, Born August 14th, 1961, Was 40 Years Old When Ayers Was Quoted. (Obama For America Website, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 10/6/08; Dinitia Smith, "No Regrets For A Love Of Explosives," The New York Times, 9/11/01)

• While Obama And Ayers Were Serving On The Woods Fund Together, Ayers Posed Standing On An American Flag For An Article In Chicago Magazine Entitled "No Regrets." (Marcia Froelke Coburn, "No Regrets," Chicago Magazine, 8/01)

Obama And Ayers Are Neighbors In Chicago's Hyde Park Neighborhood. "Twenty-six years later, at a lunchtime meeting about school reform in a Chicago skyscraper, Barack Obama met Mr. Ayers, by then an education professor. Their paths have crossed sporadically since then, at a coffee Mr. Ayers hosted for Mr. Obama's first run for office, on the schools project and a charitable board, and in casual encounters as Hyde Park neighbors." (Scott Shane, "Obama And '60s Bomber: A Look Into Crossed Paths," The New York Times, 10/4/08)

• Obama Spokesman Ben LaBolt Told The New York Times That Last Year Obama And Ayers "Bumped Into Each Other On The Street In Hyde Park." "[Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt] said they have not spoken by phone or exchanged e-mail messages since Mr. Obama began serving in the United States Senate in January 2005 and last met more than a year ago when they bumped into each other on the street in Hyde Park." (Scott Shane, "Obama And '60s Bomber: A Look Into Crossed Paths," The New York Times, 10/4/08)

• Neighbors Have Said "It's Only Natural" That Obama Would Know Ayers, Who Often Opens His Home For Gatherings, As Obama And His Wife "Are A Part Of Our Neighborhood And Part Of Our Social Circle." "Since coming out of hiding in 1980, the couple have raised three boys in Chicago and become part of the fabric of their liberal South Side neighborhood. Neighbors said it's only natural that Obama would know Ayers and Dohrn, who often open their homes for gatherings filled with lively discussions about politics, arts and social issues. Obama and his wife 'are part of our neighborhood and part of our social circle,' said Elizabeth Chandler, a neighbor of Ayers'." (Trevor Jensen, Robert Mitchum and Mary Owen, "Bill Ayers' Turbulent Past Contrasts With Quiet Academ ic Life," Chicago Tribune, 4/17/08)

Ayers' Organization, The Weather Underground, Was A "Violent Left-Wing Activist Group":
"William Ayers ... [Was] A Founding Member Of The Group That Bombed The U.S. Capitol And The Pentagon During The 1970s." (Russell Berman, "Obama's Ties To Left Come Under Scrutiny," The New York Sun, 2/19/08)

• Ayers' Group, The Weather Underground, Is A "Violent Left-Wing Activist Group." "Senator Obama's ties to a former leader of the violent left-wing activist group the Weather Underground are drawing new scrutiny as he battles Senator Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination." (Russell Berman, "Obama's Ties To Left Come Under Scrutiny," The New York Sun, 2/19/08)

The Weather Underground Produced A Manual Which Begins, "We Are A Guerrilla Organization. We Are Communist Women And Men, Underground In The United States For More Than Four Years." "The coalition was said to be a violence-prone faction inspired by the Weather Underground's ''Prairie Fire,'' a guerrilla warfare manual published in 1974. The manual begins, 'We are a guerrilla organization. We are Communist women and men, underground in the United States for more than four years.'" (Paul L. Montgomery, "2 Women In Brink's Case Identified With Weathermen From Start In '69," The New York Times, 10/ 22/81)

[Krimson X]

...And you have the nerve to question my Keating 5 post?

Where was Obama when Ayers was doing all of this? At least McCain was directly connected to, received substantial campaign contributions from and was called to the carpet by the Congressional Ethics Committee for his involvement with Keating.

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by Krimson X

Where was Obama when Ayers was doing all of this?

While Obama And Ayers Were Serving On The Woods Fund Together, Ayers Posed Standing On An American Flag For An Article In Chicago Magazine Entitled "No Regrets." (Marcia Froelke Coburn, "No Regrets," Chicago Magazine, 8/01)

Chumming it up with a known Domestic Terrorist

[Krimson X]

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

While Obama And Ayers Were Serving On The Woods Fund Together, Ayers Posed Standing On An American Flag For An Article In Chicago Magazine Entitled "No Regrets." (Marcia Froelke Coburn, "No Regrets," Chicago Magazine, 8/01)

Chumming it up with a known Domestic Terrorist

Ok Sean Hannity-Hasselbach, you win.

[Quicksilver]

MrLabGuy;

Wazzzz up with the obsession. Give it a rest bro.
Honestly....No one really cares about this

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

MrLabGuy;

Wazzzz up with the obsession. Give it a rest bro.
Honestly....No one really cares about this

The Lounge is over there ------>

You've stumbled into the Politics Arena

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

The Lounge is over there ------>

You've stumbled into the Politics Arena

isn't that why this forum was created

[ncx]

Originally Posted by Wagner

isn't that why this forum was created

Correct. That is why this forum is here. Post away.

[AVB-AMG]

To: MrLabGuy & Wagner:

Hey guys....
You both have certainly demonstrated your knowledge and verboseness on a wide range of political issues surrounding this upcoming Presidential race. I appreciate many of the points of view that you both have expressed and agree with some and disagree with others, and I have tried to explain my opinions. We are all obviously very interested in the outcome of this Presidential election, but come on... really now. I have been called O.C. (primarily by my wife), but you guys are taking the cake on this... As my teenage neice would say: "get a life...."
Do you really think you are going to change anyone's mind here?
I really tend to doubt it. I dare say that most of us have already made up our minds of who we are going to vote for and why...

I wish I had the free time that you two apparently have to spend on researching, articulating and typing to generate this obsessive, adnauseam posting on obscure things that probably don't have a real bearing on the important issues that are most important to most of the voters. I guess you just like to "stir up the pot" and see what happens. That can be interesting for awhile but gets old very quickly.

It is almost as if you are trying to win an argument that cannot and will not be won here in this format. Certainly not in a forum comprised of BMW owner's and aficionados. Just cast your vote on Nov. 4th and wait with the rest of us to see what the results are.

I would hope that even though the Republican and Democrat Presidential campaigns are both now going to an even lower/dirtier level on their television and mailer ad campaigns for the last 4 weeks of the campaign, that it will not be a parallel situation in this forum. I'd like to think that we are all respectful of each other, so as to not turn our posts into a silly WWF-like contact sport remarks that degrades into name-calling sarcasm and cynicism, let alone down-right misleading statements or lies. If that is your intention or idea of fun then you are missing my point entirely.

So, on behalf of anyone and everyone else in this forum who shares my sentiments, I respectfully request that you guys "lighten up", take a breath and go for a long drive in your BMW (I assume you both have BMW's.....?), out in the fresh air with some nice pleasant scenery, away from your computer and Internet. It is amazing what it will do for your perspective and tolerance of other people's opinions. Remember, we may not agree on many things but it does get a bit tiresome to listen to (or read), opinions that evolve into obsessive and unyielding rants.

My thoughts and opinion,

AVB-AMG

[Wagner]

Originally Posted by AVB-AMG

To: MrLabGuy & Wagner:

Hey guys....
You both have certainly demonstrated your knowledge and verboseness on a wide range of political issues surrounding this upcoming Presidential race. I appreciate many of the points of view that you both have expressed and agree with some and disagree with others, and I have tried to explain my opinions. We are all obviously very interested in the outcome of this Presidential election, but come on... really now. I have been called O.C. (primarily by my wife), but you guys are taking the cake on this... As my teenage neice would say: "get a life...."
Do you really think you are going to change anyone's mind here?
I really tend to doubt it. I dare say that most of us have already made up our minds of who we are going to vote for and why...

I wish I had the free time that you two apparently have to spend on researching, articulating and typing to generate this obsessive, adnauseam posting on obscure things that probably don't have a real bearing on the important issues that are most important to most of the voters. I guess you just like to "stir up the pot" and see what happens. That can be interesting for awhile but gets old very quickly.

It is almost as if you are trying to win an argument that cannot and will not be won here in this format. Certainly not in a forum comprised of BMW owner's and aficionados. Just cast your vote on Nov. 4th and wait with the rest of us to see what the results are.

I would hope that even though the Republican and Democrat Presidential campaigns are both now going to an even lower/dirtier level on their television and mailer ad campaigns for the last 4 weeks of the campaign, that it will not be a parallel situation in this forum. I'd like to think that we are all respectful of each other, so as to not turn our posts into a silly WWF-like contact sport remarks that degrades into name-calling sarcasm and cynicism, let alone down-right misleading statements or lies. If that is your intention or idea of fun then you are missing my point entirely.

So, on behalf of anyone and everyone else in this forum who shares my sentiments, I respectfully request that you guys "lighten up", take a breath and go for a long drive in your BMW (I assume you both have BMW's.....?), out in the fresh air with some nice pleasant scenery, away from your computer and Internet. It is amazing what it will do for your perspective and tolerance of other people's opinions. Remember, we may not agree on many things but it does get a bit tiresome to listen to (or read), opinions that evolve into obsessive and unyielding rants.

My thoughts and opinion,

AVB-MAG

Ah, where did I post to this thread again? Oh to say it was a political forum, which it is. Feel free not to enter it unless you want to see this chatter I respectfully ask that you don't enter a political forum to say "don't talk politics". Thanks for coming out though.

Also, it is sort of funny that 10 of your 33 posts are in Political forums on a BMW board