The Fact-Checker, by Michael Dobbs

Six degrees of separation type connection. I have done community work locally with individuals I barely knew and found out later that they had previous criminal records. Now if I run for office will I be guilty by association? With this kind of logic serving diner at a soup kitchen can be politically damning act.

Since when is Hyde Park "trendy"? You might want to get a better handle on those evasive social facts, Mr. Fact Checker.

long live the weatherman. i think this may actually help him with some friends of mine...

Another false attack perpectuated by conservative and Hillary wingnuts. I suppose being on the same board means you are guilty of offence commited by your board colleague. What a joke? How about Hillary's relationship with wal mat? or McCain relation with defense industry... I can go on and on.

As far as i can tell, this is no story and it is part of politics as usual.

So Obama is guilty by association of having been connected to the Weathermen at age 8, and of plagiarizing a close friend's use of quotes.

And exactly how was it that Hillary's subpoenaed billing records turned up on the hall table in the White House the day after the statute of limitations expired on the subpoena?

And whose ethics need vetting?

Of course this is ridiculous. I hope he has had many conversations with Bill Ayers. Prof Ayers is a leader in school improvement. Read his bio. He is a distinguished professor at a major University and has contributed a lot to the field of education. The Woods Fund is a foundation that supports grassroots change efforts. Its an admirable foundation. This and the plagarism charge demonstrate who is acting like politics as usual. Can it get anymore stupid? I am afraid so.

Sorry...And, I don't mean to appear dismissive, but honestly, this has neither logical, nor emotional "legs" to it.

You're just pointing out the obvious. Namely, that people who with backgrounds, which may be displeasing, even onerous, may live amongst and work amongst us.

Heck, Communists were part of the American Civil Rights movement - and MLK, Jr. addressed them openly, according to veteran journalist accounts, the mafia [still] tithes to the Vatican, and men of a similar nature contributed to Mother Theresa's work in India and abroad. So what??

Maybe we should begin investigating Bill Clinton...again...because of your research. This is, honestly, not extremely insightful nor is it clever.

You just make Hillary and any of her supporters look like they're/we're grasping at straws and can't beat Obama on the issues alone or "the merits of her case" to become the first woman-, and next, President of the United States of America.

This is exactly why some people say Obama is less electible. Because there are many things about him to explore.

Not because I think this wetherman thing is anything important or Democratic voters care. Because Republican has thrown anything they could to Clintons in the past, and they have run out of ideas.

They have lost to them twice, they know how resilient they are.

that is not even worth mentioning. If you want to address something factual and of substance, write about the Keating Five.

In 1989, the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association of Irvine, Calif., collapsed. Lincoln's chairman, Charles H. Keating Jr., was faulted for the thrift's failure. Keating, however, told the House Banking Committee that the FHLBB and its former chief Edwin J. Gray were pursuing a vendetta against him. Gray testified that several U.S. senators had approached him and requested that he ease off on the Lincoln investigation. It came out that these senators had been beneficiaries of $1.3 million (collective total) in campaign contributions from Keating.

This allegation set off a series of investigations by the California government, the United States Department of Justice, and the Senate Ethics Committee. The ethics committee's investigation focused on five senators: Alan Cranston (D-CA); Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ); John Glenn (D-OH); John McCain (R-AZ); and Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (D-MI), who became known as the Keating Five.

After months of testimony revealed that all five senators acted improperly to differing degrees, the senators continually said they were following the status quo of campaign funding practices. In August 1991, the committee concluded that Cranston, DeConcini, and Riegle's conduct constituted substantial interference with the FHLBB's enforcement efforts and that they had done so at the behest of Charles Keating. The committee recommended censure for Cranston and criticized the other four for "questionable conduct."

As it happened, Cranston, who was nearly 80 years of age, had already decided not to run for re-election in 1992. DeConcini and Riegle continued to serve in the Senate until their terms expired, but they did not seek re-election in 1994. DeConcini was appointed by President Bill Clinton in February, 1995 to the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

Glenn did choose to run for re-election in 1992 and it was anticipated that he would have some difficulty winning a fourth term in the Senate. However, Glenn handily defeated Lieutenant Governor R. Michael DeWine for one more term in the Senate before retiring in 1999.

The scandal was followed by a number of attempts to adopt campaign finance reform--spearheaded by U.S. Sen. David Boren (D-OK)--but most attempts died in committee. A weakened reform was passed in 1993. Substantial campaign finance reform was not passed until the adoption of the McCain-Feingold Act in 2002.

The only member of the Keating Five still in the U.S. Senate is John McCain.

Read the end of that 2001 NYT interview in which Ayers recites a quote. I don't pretend to understand Ayers's thinking in 2001, looking back on his earlier life, but I agree that hope and history can rhyme.

Some people, like the Weatherman in the 1970's, misunderstand that and move backwards by justifying violence and anger. It never works, of course.

Some people, smart people like Martin Luther King and Barack Obama, use it to move forwards by relying on love, forgiveness and working together for a better future.

Mr. Ayers quoted from "The Cure at Troy", Seamus Heaney's retelling of Sophocles' "Philoctetes":
"History says, Don't hope
On this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed-for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up
And hope and history rhyme."

I think that some of the people we meet in life can help us reassess what we once thought was true. Perhaps that happened to Ayers when he got to know Obama. Anyone who believes in the parable of The Prodigal Son accepts that people can change, and we should welcome them back when they do. Anyone who would try to use this to attack Obama is simply Unclear ont he Concept. Totally.

So, Clinton has the same degree of tenuous connection? Yeah, I'll have to slap down a couple of right-wing trolls about this at some point in the general. No, it doesn't matter. As someone born in 1981, I have about a one sentence description of this group in my head. Someone realizes they were wrong and moves on, it's decades later, who cares?

All I can say is, You don't need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
It's encouraging to see that this is apparently the best that Obama's critics can come up with. He might just end up President.

What do I think?

I think most of your "fact checks" are about Dems.

I think you're doing your usual partisan hack job.

I think it's bizarre that the WaPo puts your little propaganda pulpit in under the title of "Fact Checker."

This kind of dirt is typical "Little Golden Book" of Rove smear tactics. In a nutshell, the Conservative mindset is determined by a small area of the brain that adapts to change, and is shrunken in size witin walmart Republicans. Within a Nazi Party hieararchy , the current party officials would still be high ranking officials.Within a Baath party realm the same mindset would propel similar temperaments to high party realms. True interest in Liberty is totally lacking in the rareified domains of the upper crust.

Reductio absurdus!! How about that pizza delivery man twelve years ago who had had his driver's license revoked? Or the hotel maid in Manhattan who cleaned his room in 1998 was an undocumented alien? Tch, tch. Then there's that book he checked out at Occidental College about a notorious revolutionary in a British colony in 1776, one G. Washington. Get to work, you slackers, you operation researchers, you worms who troll for dirt in sewers.

a whole can of worms will open if/when obama gets nomination. He will be such damaged material he might win half a dozen states.

"Which is worse: pardoning a convicted terrorist or accepting a campaign contribution from a former Weatherman who was never convicted?"

Let me get this straight, Washington Post. Barak is immune from the Republican attack machine because Bill commuted someone's sentences in 2001, and Hillary is married to Bill?

Spare me the pillow talk.

The shine is about to be unceremoniously stripped off Obama by the Repubs, and all the Obamaphiliacs can do is blame Bill.

Oh, this election is going to be good.

It's not only slash & burn politics as usual... it's the press as usual, too. Nothing to write, so they write about nothing. The Fact Checker, included. I can't believe you're asking "Could Bill Ayers become a political embarrassment for Obama?" when you already know the answer. It's irrelevant.

Who are the Weathermen? I'm 43 and I have no clue. How is that expected to resonate with me, except that Hillary flunkies are slinging dirt again.

Run anything up the flag pole to see if it works. Sounds like Rove

I don't think that there is anything there, but I do agree with Hillary that Obama will not be able to withstand the Republican smear and attack machine. He constantly whines about having to debate both Hillary and Bill now, and I see him as too soft(and I am a lifelong moderate Democrat) and too far to the left.
The Republicans will shred him.

This has far less to do with any Ayers bombing than it does with Hillary's campaign bombing.

Okay...let's see...Congress was purposely misdirected by the President of the United States, which is a convictable felony and an impeachable offense, Hillary has had her share of scandals and continues to be secretive about her taxes and of any record associated to 8 of the 35 years of experience she claims....and then in a period of one week, when a certain candidate had announced she would be going after Barack Obama, the news is filled with Obama using a phrase of his best friend and then is accused of associations with Ayers?!! Is THIS what you call vetting?! I believe it is called doing anything possible to bring any negative conotation to an opponent, no matter how petty. I was never a Hillary hater and respected Bill and read his writings...until this campaign. I see now, why the Reps despised him and her...I see the lowlife scumsucking bottom feeding sharks that they are. Can I trust her in the Whitehouse? Heck no! I will vote McCain over her.
I only hope that today is a landmark day for Obama and that he wins Wisconsin. I want to see this party distance themselves as much as possible from Hillary. She is bad for the party and bad for this country.
I think it is funny how the Republicans want Huckabee to 'just leave already' and the Dems have the same situation with Hillary.
Go Obama. Yes We Can!

If you're the "Fact Checker," you would do well to get the name of the organization correct. It was called The Weather Underground, not the Weathermen Underground.

My neighbors friends sisters friends cousin said that his next door neighbors brothers uncles daughter said that she saw Hillary injecting Heroin with Rush Limbaugh in the parking lot of Fair Oaks Mall this last Thursday.
Can someone do a fact check on this please?

When you are at the bottom and you are evil, to use the weakest oppo such as the kindergarten report, the plagerizing or this Ayers propoganda, shows how low they are and how low they will go.

Ah, guilt by association without the association. Does Hillary Clinton really want to bring up the topic of shady donors?

In a way this is encouraging.

For the anti-Obama movement to be sinking to the very bottom of the barrel this early in the process is an indicator of how desperate they are and how empty their quiver is.

Yesterday there was a crude attempt to actually take a word out of Michelle Obama's mouth. There was a video circulating where a word was edited out of the audio track to attempt to make her look like a long-time America hater.

These sorts of incidents are humorous distractions and will have no effect at all on the outcome of the primaries and the election.

-Wexler

I like how the Fact Checker can't resist getting in on the Clinton-sliming with this helpful suggestion (not a quote; this rhetorical question is direct from the reporter):

"Which is worse: pardoning a convicted terrorist or accepting a campaign contribution from a former Weatherman who was never convicted?"

Fact Check: "Trendy" Hyde Park? I don't think so.

I don't think this "article" was worth the ink (digital or otherwise) it was printed with.

I haven't decided on who I'll vote for yet, but this is rediculous. Do you think Obama, or anybody on his staff, researches each of the thousands of sub-$500 donations that he gets? I'm sure the same holds true for all the candidates.

And being on the same Board? That's really stretching it! That's a kin to saying that you hold the same values as everybody that you work with. Ridiculous!

This typical Washington political hacking is what we need a change from!

Remember the Bob Dylan video (except they weren't called videos then) where he held the cards with the song's lines on them and threw them down as he sang them? Maybe someone could do that with Team Clinton's various attacks. Too black, too white, too left, too right - they'll try anything.

I doubt anything will ever surpass Kindergate though. Criticising someone for wanting to be President as a young child is pretty hilarious. Or Hillary-ous.

More corrupt camp donations for Obama! WHERES THE MEDIA??? We are sick of the media pushing obama down our throats! on Oct. 5, in the aftermath of federal bribery/extortion/conspiracy/other miscellaneous badness indictments of former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill , Obama camp supporter and financial contributor to Presidential candidate Barrack Obama who desperately wants campaign cash from another, criminal or not, Again Obama camp has its hands full with other publically indicted bankrollers Rezko. Now Mr. Hill's campaign finance report shows donations on April 28, and federal campaign finance reports indicate Mr. Obama received donations in June 22 as well. The Obama camp couldn't immediately be reached for comment Friday...Of Couse, did axelrod loose his voice?
Obama's Relationship With Rezko Goes Back 17 Years. Obama Kept Contributions From Accused Fixer's (REZKO)Wife And Others ABCNews.com Analysis Shows the Campaign Still Hasn't Returned More Than $100,000 in Obama is referred to in document which outlines case against Rezko As Barack Obama is finding out, it's not as easy to dump politically toxic campaign donations as it might seem. For the third time in more than a year, Obama's presidential campaign announced this week it was shedding more donations tied to indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Calculations by the media and Obama's own staff of Rezko's financial impact on his past political campaigns have been all over the map and shifting. In the case of Obama, public records don't make clear every Rezko connection. The records show that since 1995, $74,500 came from Rezko, his relatives or contributors listed on official disclosure forms as employees of one of his businesses. Rezko has raised money for Obama's presidential campaign.

Various media outlets have reported much larger numbers, though they haven't clearly explained their methodology. The New York Times has pegged Rezko political cash for Obama at $150,000, the Sun-Times at $168,000 and the Los Angeles Times at $200,000. Last weekend, a report by ABCNews.com suggested more than $185,000. The event at Rezko's home resembled a posh dinner party, complete with valet parking and catered dinner. Obama spoke after the meal, and told the crowd about how when he was still in Harvard law school Rezko, a developer, had tried to hire him. Obama staffers set up shop around the kitchen table, where they collected checks.

One donor at the event was Michael Sreenan, a former attorney for a Rezko company. Sreenan gave Obama $2,000 that night, but hasn't heard if the campaign now plans to give it away.

Still, Sreenan said he was baffled by the notion of giving money raised at Rezko's home to charity. "If [Obama] wants to give my donation back to me or let me give it to a charity, I'm fine with that," he said. "But I don't see how this makes a difference now -- the money still got him elected. And how do I know it's not going to a charity that's offensive to me?"
Barack Obama has surfaced in the federal corrupton case against his longtime campaign fund-raiser, Tony Rezko Obama's relationship with Rezko came under greater scrutiny this week after prosecutors disclosed Rezko received $3.5 million from an Iraqi billionaire while claiming to be broke. He was jailed on Monday and a federal judge on Tuesday refused to reinstate his bond.

To Obama fans, keep all these dismissive statements handy because if your guy gets the Democratic nomination, you're going to have to defend him every day. The US press has been very remiss in not publishing areas where Senator Obama is vulnerable. They know them, they just choose to ignore them because they supported him early on. It took the London press to print something questioning Senator Obama's electability. The US press, unlike you, will ditch him quickly when he becomes too "soiled" so you'll have to be his sole defenders soon.

So far, the only real "attack machine" that's geared up and teed off at Obama is Hillary Clinton's attack machine. Is she a Republican? Or maybe she's got Karl Rove on retainer because most of her tactics have the same smelly signature as Rove's. Doesn't the Fact Checker have something worthwhile to do today other than muck around in the sand to see if maybe one grain of sand in Obama's path might have come from the shoe of someone else with a past?

This is the "business as usual" mentality that Obama is campaigning against. The Fact Checker simply elevates Obama's argument; it does not diminish the man, not in the least.

The measure of Hillary's desperation is the depth of her surrogates' plunge into dirt and the proximity to the next round of voting.

What utter nonsense. It seems to me some pinocchios are warrented here. The claim by Hitchens that this tenuous connection proves that Obama is "far more radical than he would like us to know" is a lie. That is the essence of this claim.

The point is not whether the stories are true or unfair - remember John Kerry's very real war record. The point is that Obama has enough in his past for the GOP Rove Smear Machine to use against him for years to come. I repeat, it does not have to be true or fair for the GOP to distort, lie and smear.

THERE IS NO CHANGES WITH OBAMA EXCEPT THE MEDIAS HELP AT HIDING HIS RECORD OF SUPPORTING THE WAR AND BUSH. WHAT OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE AFRAID TO REALIZE. "Senator Obama has some questions to answer about his dealings with one of his largest contributors, Exelon, a big nuclear power company. Apparently he cut some deals behind closed doors to protect them from full disclosure in the nuclear industry."Obamas record shows he supports the war, voted twice in 2006 against bringing America's troops back home. He voted for war appropriations giving our money to Halliburton and Blackwater. His latest bit of posturing S 433 allows the Bush Administration to suspend any troop withdrawal!!!!if not suspended, still keeps the troops in Iraq for a long time to come? Obama when faced with tough choices always gave in to pressure from the Bush administration or corporate lobbyists. Such as Obama voted for Bush's energy bill, sending more than $13 billion in subsidies and tax breaks to oil, coal, and nuclear companies. Obama voted with Republicans to allow credit card companies to raise interest rates over 30 percent, INCREASING STUDENT LOANS RATES AND FEES increasing hardship for families. Obama voted for one of Bush's top priorities - expanding Nafta to South America - even as President Bush obstructed all the top Democratic priorities. Obama voted with Bush to make it harder for ordinary people to hold big corporations accountable when they do things like sell toxic toys, poisonous pet food, human food or just plain rip you off. Obama was the Senate's biggest Democratic advocate of subsidies for liquid coal, even though liquid coal produces twice the global warming pollution of the crude oil it's meant to replace and voted for increased subsidies, albeit with conditions.Obama, a Hamiltonian believer in free trade and supporters of globalization has lent his support to the "Hamilton Project formed by corporate-neoliberal Citigroup chair Robert Rubin and other 'Wall Street Democrats' to counter populist rebellion against corporate tendencies within the Democratic Party. Obama provided assistance to pro-war candidates (such as Joe Lieberman). Obama voted for "business-friendly 'tort reform' bill that rolls back working peoples' ability to obtain reasonable redress and compensation...from corporations!!! Obama considers single payer universal health care too socialist and has stated that he prefers voluntary solutions. **He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive. Abortion opponents see Obama's vote on medical care for aborted fetuses as a refusal to protect the helpless. Some have even accused him of supporting infanticide. He supported allowing retired police officers to carry concealed weapons, but opposed allowing people to use banned handguns to defend against intruders in their homes. And the list of sensitive topics goes on. With only a slim, two-year record in the U.S. Senate, Obama doesn't have many controversial congressional votes which political opponents can frame into attack ads. But his eight years as an Illinois state senator are sprinkled with potentially explosive land mines, such as his abortion and gun control votes. recent land purchase from a political supporter who is facing charges in an unrelated kickback scheme involving investment firms seeking state business. Obama has no substance. He has provided no solutions.

A smoking...water pistol.

This is exactly WHY Obama is such a gamble. It's not what we know, it's what we don't know. And, let me say this: If the Republicans can carry out a 45 million dollar, multi year investigation about Whitewater, where at the end of the day nothing was found but it ran up legal bills for Bill Clinton, you bet your sweet bippy that this story has legs. And, it's only the beginning. It only took Willy Horton to ruin Dukakis. The problem for Obama, besides his TOTAL lack of experience and inability at substance, is this question about his past. Whitewater was a small land deal that went bad, very small land deal especially in light of Enron and WorldComm. But, that didn't stop the Right. Kerry was a war hero, a real war hero, but that didn't stop them either. Does anyone think this is harmless stuff for the right wing? I don't. I think all the right wing pundits (Brit Hume, Bill Kristol, etc.) are praising Obama because they already know this and realize how much easier it will be for Republicans to beat Obama with stories like this. And, I might remind the readers, this is ONE of MANY. If Obama gets the nomination, I already know McCain will get the White House, that is foregone conclusion. I only hope the Democrats get 60 seats in the Senate, that will help. The left has never chosen a Democratic candidate that can win. Obama will be no exception, and it's too bad. But once again, the Democrats have been blinded by the left. Think 1972. McGovern

Give me a break. I am sure we can find some fugitive Nazis in John McCain's list of campaign donors.

Utterly ridiculous. I see the hand of the Clinton campaign behind this.

Maybe if I had health insurance, a real pension and a few million in the bank, I'd care who did what in the Sixties. I'd care who sat on what board with whom. The country has issues and if the political establishment thinks another campaign of petty personal attacks is what we're looking for, they're wrong. My advice to the consultants out there digging for dirt is this: Grow up. We're not all that stupid.

"We're not all that stupid."

If only that were true. If only people supported candidates based on the total candidate rather than the color of the skin or the gender or the person that the elite press favors. That's not the case and it is sad that those favoring Senator Obama have not made an effort to know who he really is. I believe they'll find out eventually who he is but it will be too late for them. I understand why 90 percent of black voters, male and female, are supporting Senator Obama. He's one of them. That's all they see. With the exception of the black voters, Senator Clinton consistently gets the majority of the Democratic voters. Senator Obama gets the votes of Republicans and Independents voting in the Democratic primaries and caucuses. Why do you think they're doing that? Because they're supporting the most liberal US senator? I think not.

I can see it now. Bill and Hillary, doing what they do best, making up lies and leaning on weak media contacts to print them.

The upside to this story is that it appears that most voters are beyond buying into this crap.

michael -- thank you for actually backtracking and explaining the origination and how this issue filters up.

it's a ridiculous charge.

You Clintonistas are making me laugh out loud.

I hear a lot of predictions about things that could be unearthed if Obama wins the nomination. I hear no facts, though... and everyone knows that if you had facts you'd be using them.

Hillary, on the other hand, has been exposed as a fraud, opportunist, and liar time and time again. Somehow, the implication seems to be that since she's already been tarred and feathered that she has somehow gotten through the storm and none of this stuff will ever be mentioned again. Is this wishful thinking or just plain stupidity?

She is the second most divisive figure in American politics in my lifetime. The most divisive is George Dubya. She loses the election against McCain handily; she is not going to win the nomination even though she is attempting to steal it using what Obama correctly referred to as tactics you couldn't even get away with on a schoolyard.

Sheer desperation.... Obama is rolling over Hillary like a giant steamroller and he's doing it with positive politics, real ideas, and a promise to change business as usual. Hillary doesn't stand a chance against the truth.

-Wexler

I don't think this issue will hold up, seems pretty minor. However, it does point out the lack of scrutiny on Obama todate, and therefore his vulnerability to "Swift Boat" attacks.

More serious to me are his connections to Rev Wright who espouses black superiority and anti-semitism. That needs to be explored so get on it more deeply fact checker!!!

Yeah, didn't I see them both on a swift boat somewhere...?

There is one real significant issue between the two remaining Democratic front runners, Mrs. Clinton's claim of superior relevant experience. The Obama campaign tends to suggest that her experience was largely ceremonial as First Lady, and that her career before 1992 included a long stretch as a corporate lawyer. The Obama campaign would also have us believe that his service as a state legislator and community organizer was as or more relevant than Mrs. Clinton's service on the Board of Wall-Mart and/or as the Governor's wife in Arkansas. Seems like that area of disagreement might provide a substantive field for investigation as opposed to this drivel.

Clinton supporters should understand that us folks supporting Obama aren't doing so because we think he has more experience than Clinton.

We support Obama because he's not corrupt like Clinton, he's not a fake like her either.

We want the liars and greedy politicians to be on notice that we are all tired of the b.s.

What's most evident about Obama, is that he's a man of great candor.

This story has been on the front page for a couple of hours at least.

Do you think someone could correct the headline? As a previous poster pointed out, it's "Weather Underground", not "Weatherman". If you want weathermen, turn on The Weather Channel.

What connection to black supremacists are you talking about?, Monde? That story has been thoroughly debunked.

Seems like what we've got going on here is a concerted attempt to throw anything at Obama to create the impression of impropriety where none exists.

Hillary did not bring this up, don't you people read

This sort of attack is why I voted for Obama in the South Carolina primary;"POLITICS AS USUAL". The ordinary citizens is not privy to all that goes on in Washington, and do not understand how Washington works. Most Americans can't locate all 50 states on a map, so they(media and the Clinton machine) feed us anything about Obama because they know most of us are ignorant to Washington!

This is over the top, even for a joke like fact-checker. Does the Washington Post feel that no journalistic standards whatsoever apply to blogs?

so right mondegreenie.. Obamas refusal to condemn these black leaders some who are friends and/ or supporters with anti semtisism, racial divisive teachings are far more revealing. He has to account for this

Even Mr. Dobbs, whose rhetoric betrays where his true sentiment lies, must be aware that the presence of Mr. Ayers anywhere near 1000-mile radius of Mr. Obama poses the danger of radioactive fallout to Mr. Obama's candidacy. Indeed, Mr. Dobbs knows well why Mr. Ayers did not return his call. After all, a man who only in 2001, after having attained his social "respectability," said, "I don't regret setting bombs...I feel we didn't do enough," deserves to lose his social respectability by just about any American standards, except the Weatherman's.

Apparently Mr. Ayers hasn't really grown out of the violent ideology of his impetuous youth, but at least he is wise enough not to wish to appear in front of anything, knowing fully well that the limelight will surely result in his having been hounded out of whatever it is that he is now doing by public outrage. But that is a stage act to follow with much fanfare and fireworks in October, not now.

To be sure, Mr. Obama's "suspected" Weatherman connection has nothing to do with his being an 8-year-old boy tucked away in a Third World school in Indonesia when Weatherman terrorist bombs were exploding in America, but it could have everything to do with where the root of Mr. Obama's ideology might lie or, more importantly, is assumed to lie by his detractors.

In this regard, Mr. Obama's favorable view in his autobiography of such radical, anti-West ideologues as Frantz Fanon and Malcolm X, who advocated violent revolution against white West and who undoubtedly inspired violent revolutionaries such as the Weathermen and the Cuban communist revolutionary Che Guevara, does not help, and certainly it will be construed by his detractors as establishing a crucial, "evidential link" between the revolutionary rhetoric of the Weatherman and Mr. Obama, with his praise for Frantz Fanon--one of the most visible progenitors of anti-white, anti-West, pro-socialist Third World revolutionary ideology--flying like a red flag. An unfortunate youthful ideological infatuation, perhaps, but like any unwise love affair, it will come to haunt Mr. Obama.

This is but just one of the perils (others being race and religion) that Obama candidacy poses to Democrats that Republicans are well equipped to exploit after this August regardless of the Fact Checker's advocacy for Mr. Obama. After all, it is not fact but passion aroused by various conflicting "facts" that fuels American politics. We have seen it played out too well with John Kerry's presidential candidacy: the candidacy that was haunted by the ghost of his Vietnam past--the ghost that was more real than fact. And Mr. Obama, in spite of his claim of a clean crypt, has many ghosts with fury even more potent yet to be unbound.

I am sick of this type of reporting and exploitation by the parties. "They" don't get it do they? We are ripe for a thrid party!!! PUBLIC FUNDING ONLY for elections

Of course now the Obama cultists say any accusations made against him are from the Clinton camp... get real you people. if hes nominated you "aint seen nothing yet" when the republicans chew him up. They are masters at it.

After the caucus in Iowa, the candidates in both political parties have modified their imagery. The candidates now present themselves as the "fresh face" of change. They know that most American voters are dumb, and the dumb voters use only imagery -- gotchas, glamor, and glitz -- and emotion to select the candidate.

In 2004, the dumb American voter used the same approach to give control of the government to Republicans advocating war on the cheap. The voter never questioned the voting records or the proposed policies of the candidates. The dumb voter looked only at the imagery. In 2004, the Republicans mastered the image game.

As the pro-war Republicans ascended to the Congress, the dumb voter cheered using a too small military force of 170,000 Western soldiers to occupy Iraq. The result was a horrific disaster. This war on the cheap displaced 4 million Iraqis. They are fully morally justified in seeking violent revenge against us Americans. Until the refugees start killing us Americans, the dumb American voter will continue to use the same dumb approach in selecting the next set of American politicians.

In 2008, the typical voter looks at his preferred candidate and thinks, "Gosh. His speech is really inspiring. He is the 'fresh face' of change. I do not know his voting record. I do not understand the proposed policies. But he sure has plenty of charisma. I feel great! I will vote for him!"

That is how a dummy acts and thinks. To the dummy, elections are just a game. You can easily see the game analogy as we transition from the Potomac Primary to the Wisconsin primary. Note the many news articles about "momentum". If a politician wins in Virginia, he will gain "momentum" to win in Wisconsin. This "momentum" is merely a desire by the voter to identify with the winning team. In sports, the fans of the game always want to identify with the winner.

Well, how does the smart voter act? A smart voter uses (1) the voting history, (2) the proposed policies, and (3) the ethical standards to select the candidate.

The remaining Democratic candidates are ethical. Use the following resources to obtain their voting history and their proposed policies.

1. projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/

2. politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/issues/index.html

Barack Obama strongly advocates a free-for-all guest-worker program. He wants to use government intervention to "fix" a labor shortage. This intervention suppresses wages and working conditions. (Read "The Economic Fallacies of Desperate Foreign Labor" @ http://theclearsky.blogspot.com/#70709516354357493 .)

He also opposes authorizing the use of force against a nation that (1) possesses weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), (2) does not directly threaten the USA, but (3) does threaten American interests (e.g., American allies).

By contrast, Hillary Clinton opposes a guest-worker program. She believes that a free market can fix a labor shortage. A free market fixes a labor shortage by boosting wages and improving working conditions (as any standard textbook on economic science will state) to attract more workers.

She supports authorizing the use of force against a nation that (1) possesses WMDs, (2) does not directly threaten the USA, but (3) does threaten American interests (e.g., American allies).

There are many other policy differences between Obama and Clinton. If a smart voter agrees with the voting record and proposed policies of Obama, then the voter should select Obama. If the smart voter agrees with the voting record and proposed policies of Clinton, then the voter should select Clinton.

Unfortunately, most of us American voters are dumb. We ignore the voting record and the proposed policies of the candidates. We dumb voters prefer to focus on emotion and imagery: gotchas, glamor, and glitz. The typical voter says, "If his speech makes me feel good, then I vote for him."

The typical voter thinks, "If I pick the worst candidate and if he wins the election, I am not responsible for his bad decisions. I am not responsible for the actions of the government." Wrong! In a democracy, the citizens -- the voters -- are 100% responsible for the actions of the government since the voters determine the direction of the government. When the government makes a tragic decision like the horrific occupation of Iraq, then the American people are fully responsible for the tragedy.

An election is not a game. The American voter must choose wisely.

The Iraqi refugees are very angry, and the dumb American voter is 100% responsible.

Why has the media NOT asked why the Clintons (including Hillary) have NOT released their tax statements since leaving the White House?..Am I wrong, have not both Obama and McCain released theirs?or questioned Bill Clinton's lucative deals with corporate America? and how many of those 'blue collar, lower income' voters (of which I am one) jobs were lost and too many sent overseas because of NFTA?..How many Americans lost their jobs because of NFTA?..I am an older, (much older) woman, an ardent feminist, grass roots Democratic activist..retired on a, believe me..far lower income than the 'under $50,000. yearly income that so many of the media say are solidy in Hillary's corner..and I voted twice and worked for Bill Clinton's election..and was so optimistic that
the word HOPE used over and over again was for real.....not this time!..so many pardons of less than savory charcters as Bill and Hillary left office..and millon dollar incomes since leaving office?
and to argue that the Clintons will be better candidates againt the Republicans in the Fall..because everyone already knows of their sometimes, in my opinion, questionable behavior both in and out offfice?..Ye Gods...are we once again to hold our noses and vote because our candidate has been 'vetted ' and the Republicans and the public KNOW of their behavior and actions?..and that our candidate may possibly be 'less' dishonest than their opponent?..Have we NOT had enough of this Washington Crowd? and I say that as someone who worked with, and for many of them..so tired of it all..Are we again seeing the same old Clinton insiders about to come to power again?..I am SO discouraged by all this. How difficult to explain the last couple of days to my teenage grandchildren.. no wonder so many people feel such sadness, despair, sorrow and concern over the future of our beloved Country. to hear a dear friend, who voted for the first time in many years in the Virginia primary, throw up her hands yesterday and say.."well, here we go again, same old same old'..nothing is going to change..

I doubt it's anything. But the Republicans will run with it in the General if Obama gets the nomination.
My guess is the British government and especially the Israeli government do not want Obama to be the US president. You'll probably see a lot more stories (true or not) coming from overseas newspapers.

Again the typical smear campaign typical of the right. Did Bill or Hillary really just smoke marijuana without inhaling? Give me a break!

This is the worst type of new vetting I have ever heard!

The Obama connection (or lack of) aside...If the weathermen admits to the bombs...why isn't he in jail?

Donna, sorry, no self-respecting Democrat would be writing like you. You're not telling the truth. You sound like a real Republican.

The Hitchens piece was followed by a Bloomberg article last week pointing to the Ayers connection as support for Hillary Clinton's contention that Obama might not be able to withstand the "Republican attack machine."

===
Key word I'm seeing in this is "Bloomberg article" (as in Mike Bloomberg's media empire)...running an article that Obama may not be able to withstand the Republcan attack machine? Probably just coinidence.

Thanks for pointing out the correct name of the Weather Underground organization I have corrected it.

Billary:
The country is in two wars, people cannot get affordable healthcare and the economy is going down the toilet while corporate execs make record profits, and you want him to condemn the actions of people who committed them when he was a child? Are you serious?

If you expect that kind of exacting attention from Obama, you certainly won't be voting for Clinton, since her foibles go way beyond this incident.

Besides, did you read the posting? He said he condemned the violence.

Other than providing the claim additional exposure, a typically worthless "fact checking" foray from Mr Dobbs.

It's just hard to believe this column represents the "fact checking" effort of a major news organization. Our public discourse is really going to hell in a handbasket and the campaign hasn't even started.

Check your own facts. Hyde Park is NOT a trendy neighborhood.

This is from Larry Johnson, the terrorism expert?! I remember this guy very well. You know why I remember him? Well, remember TWA Flight 800 which exploded in a ball of fire over Long Island Sound in 1996 or so? I distinctly remember Larry Johnson, the terrorism expert, making the rounds of the networks on that first night, assuring us with all his authority that the ONLY thing that could make a ball of fire like that was a terrorist bomb that had been smuggled on board.

Of course now the "mainstream" explanation is that a fuel tank exploded due to an electrical malfunction, and if you don't like that, the leading alternative is that the Navy shot it down by mistake with a missile. No evidence for a terrorist bomb was ever discovered. Anyway, I said to myself at the time, "I'm going to remember the name of Larry Johnson for tne next time he resurfaces." And here he is!

I really love it how these pundits of terrorism can get news coverage any time they want to spin any theory they want.

hp,

Just to clarify. My grandfather was a Democratic legislator. My father was a Democratic party activist. My mother was a follower of Dorothy Day.

If I'm a Republican, so is Hugo Chavez.

I voted for Obama.

OBAMA IS NOT THE MR. INNOCENT THAT YOU THINK HE IS.. even if there is no connection here, he is FAKE and people are buying his line of crap. Time to WAKE UP!

TONY REZKO.

** Man files Federal Lawsuit against Obama regarding GAY sexual act and drug use claims **
A man named Larry Sinclair posted a video to YouTube claiming to have used cocaine and engaged in a gay sexual act with Obama when Obama was a state legislator in 1999.
In the video, Sinclair claims he and Obama met on two separate occasions, that Obama used crack cocaine and that Sinclair performed an oral sexual act on Obama both evenings.

Now Obama and company are quickly trying to quiet this man, but Sinclair has filed a federal lawsuit. Sinclair filed suit against Obama and his campaign guru David Axelrod in Minnesota district court for allegedly attempting to abridge Sinclair's right to free speech, and for waging an intimidation campaign against him.

check out the video on youtube for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVeFVtcdSYY

Both MSNBC and the New York Post have verified the authenticity of the facts... will the American public have to wait until Obama gets the nomination to finally have this become public...first on FOX News??? it will be too late for the Democratic Party... Obama needs to be fully vetted... seems like at the age of 40 someone was getting busy in the back of a limosine. Crack and gay sex... what a mess....

America wants to know: where's more media coverage on this????
We deserve to hear the truth!

hopendave,

I didn't vote for Obama because I'm under the impression that he is innocent. I'm quite sure he isn't innocent. I voted for him because I am sure that the enormity of the problems we face have a great chance to be put right in his hands. Does he have all the answers? No. Is he mistake free? No. But from everything I have seen and read, he is the person to take us to a new level, a place where the American mindset hasn't been. The world is a new place, my friend, and it calls for new ways of thinking. Clinton and McCain are more of the same. They will not be able to rise to the challenge facing us.

Fake? CAn you offer some facts to back this up? It would be better if people like you stopped reacting emotionally and took a critical look at things. So far, people in more states than not have done that, and voted for Obama.

David:

Here is the flaw in your nutcase posting: why would he file a federal lawsuit against Obama? This isn;t a matter for the federal courts. Further, what does the lawsuit claim? That consensual drugs and sex happened and therefore Obama is guilty of.....of what??????

Most reasonable people will be able to see thru ignorant smear campaigns like those people like you put forward.

When Obama became a State Senator in Illinois he did it by contesting the signatures of the person running against him. Many of his opponents signatures were thrown out and thus disqualifying from being on the ballot. Obama was the only democrat in the primary of an area that was highly democratic. For what I understand the procedure to contest ballot signatures can not be signed by someone running in the race. I heard that Ayers and his wife were the ones that signed the document that challenged Obama's opponent's signatures. Could someone please check this out?
I also heard that the first fund raiser ever given for Obama was at Ayers' House. I would like to know if that is true.

Bill Ayers and his wife, Bernadine Dorhn, are American heroes. They laid their lives on the line to oppose American aggression. I salute them.

Zero effect. His detractors will bleat about it, his supporters won't care. He has more supporters than detractors, it seems. It's a real stretch to implicate Obama in anything in Ayers' past.

The logic of the Obama-Ayers association seems to parallel that of the Bin Laden-Saddam Hussein association, namely, lacking any relationship other than brief vicinity to each other. Of course, Republicans will see a relationship, they've shown that they can't help themselves.

Same old Clinton trash politics. How about Hillary's skeletons? I am sure she has plenty of dirt covering her. This is old style Clinton and Karl Rove tactics. If you can win on issue use dirty trick and nastiness. Hillary's dirty tactics will keep her in the hole.

I would like to know why the Washington Post would perpetuate such a story when it is obviously that there is no nefarious connection between the two.

What is interesting in the article, is why the Post would go out on a limb in an attempt to muddy the waters with something that had no legs whatsoever?

It almost seems like the person who gave the piece a go ahead, is a closet HillShill.

I am surprised that the Post is playing shillary games.

tsk tsk

Is the Washington Post a newspaper shill for hill?

you paranoid lot. What has this to do with the clinton campaign.of course Obamamania is such that anyone aginst their candidate has to be A Clinton supporter. Get a life!! theres surely a whole lot more to come if he gets nominated. before hes slaughtered in November

Larry Johnson is pretending to wring his hands over the potential Republican smears Obama might suffer, were he to win the Democratic nomination. The title on his Huffington Post entry SEEMS to reflect his "concern" over the matter; however, his post at his own blog, No Quarter, is entitled "Obama's Terrorist Ties," and is obviously one of his growing collection of smear pieces intended to benefit CLINTON. There's no "concern" about Obama's electability here. Just malice.

Seems as if Obama is getting a pretty good workout. The Republican opposition research is test-marketing its November material through Hillary's campaign. If he can weather (no pun intended) all that they throw at him between now and March 4, then he's a long way down the road to the White House. So much for Hillary's assertion that he is "untested".

There are three questions that need answers here, and you have only addressed one of them, Obama's links to Ayers. Tenuous, I would agree.

But we also need to know why this unrepentant terrorist was backing Obama. As many have noted, one can tell something about a candidate by looking at those who support him or her. (Think of Hsu or some of the strange folks who support R-- P----, if you need examples.)

And we need to know whether there is a pattern. Has Obama maintained contacts with left wing extremists for much of his adult life? And, if so, to what extent does he agree with these friends and acquaintances.

Finally, you say: "Whatever his past, Ayers is now a respected member of the Chicago intelligentsia, and still a member of the Woods Fund Board." If that is true, then Chicago needs a new intelligentsia. If it isn't, then they deserve an apology.

What you really should do is check to see who has served on boards of directors with Hillary Clinton and various people closely associated with all the campaigns. There are a lot of board members in there, and no doubt they have all served with and for people who went on to become corporate criminals. Assign to each of these shady associates a score on a scale of 1 to 10, and add up the numbers for Obama, McCain, and Clinton. Then subtract by the percentage of board members who have not been caught yet in a crime or scandal. Then multiply the sum by the Kepler-Bouwkamp constant (just for the hell of it), and see how the candidates compare. If the result isn't definitive, then do criminal background checks on all campaign contributors. Use the same scale, but weigh the scores in proportion to the amount of the contribution. Let us know what you come up with, Mr. Checker.

Since when is Hyde Park "trendy"? You might want to get a better handle on those evasive social facts, Mr. Fact Checker.

???

HP is an upper middle class enclave on Chicago's predominantly poor and Black South Side. It got that way because the U of C promoted Old Man Daley (RJD)'s efforts to keep South Siders from coming up to the predominantly wealthy and White North Side along the State Street Corridor.

All this commenter has to do is read RJD's biography, American Pharaoh.

"Since when is Hyde Park "trendy"? You might want to get a better handle on those evasive social facts, Mr. Fact Checker."

???

HP is an upper middle class enclave on Chicago's predominantly poor and Black South Side. It got that way because the U of C promoted Old Man Daley (RJD)'s efforts to keep South Siders from coming up to the predominantly wealthy and White North Side along the State Street Corridor.

All this commenter has to do is read RJD's biography, American Pharaoh.

This story means nothing - if McCain or Clinton tries to use this - then shame on them !

So where are those tax returns again Hillary?

Perhaps David ought to read the Guidelines for posters: See Rule #1 "You may not post content that degrades others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual preference, disability or other classification." David's quote 2/19 "Obama needs to be fully vetted... seems like at the age of 40 someone was getting busy in the back of a limosine. Crack and gay sex... what a mess...." Where's the enforcement of the rules?

Back in February of 2007 when I was thrilled that Barack Obama had just announced his candidacy, Bill Ayers told me, "just wait . . . he's just like all the others." To Ayers, Obama is too mainstream and too accommodating to the powers that be. It is both ridiculous to still describe Ayers as a terrorist since everything he's done in the last 30 years has been in peace and love, and even more ludicrous to suggest that Obama is his mouthpiece.

This is such a non-story. The facts: almost everyone who has been involved in education reform in Chicago in the past two decades knows Bill Ayers, has worked with him, and respects his work on improving education for Chicago's children. This includes Mayor Daley, foundation presidents, university researchers, community organizers and school reform advocates, both Republicans and Democrats. Does this mean hundreds of us are tied to the Weathermen of 40 years ago? Gimme a break.

I think the connection that will bring Obama down in the loyalty to Africa and his Trinity Church in Chicago. When I read the about page my eyes popped out. If that stated white instead of black they would haev put old style Klansman on that.

Just more mud-slinging from Hillary, who has nothing positive to offer.

Me, I am a Republican, I know Barack and have met Barack. He is a man of integrity and honesty. He has to be a bit more careful with his relationships and lack of judgement with some of the decisions he has made. Not career damaging but when you are talking about running for the Presidency of the US, everything is scrutinized. From his parent enrolling him into a Muslim school, to his dealing and buying his home with the help of a slumlord in Chicago now under indictment while he was a US Senator is definitely one he cannot back out of, so that said, the GOP has a right to seize on those missteps but by all measures these allegations and discoveries are coming from the Clinton Camp.

Jeez. The Hillary people need to keep diggin'. This piece of trash goes no where.

My husband is an executive that has to attend various quasi-political events and I am required to accompany him. I can't tell you how many times I've been hugged and kissed by the old southern racist ex-Senator who shows up at them. Does that make us friends? Do we have shared political values? Hardly.

Possibly the dumbest accusations I've ever read. He was eight? He "accepted" a campaign contribution from him? I've given more than $100 to Obama's presidential campaign but that doesn't mean he knows anything about me or endorses things I did ten years ago.

Stupid, stupid, stupid...

For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction. And just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic, common issues and it's made me proud.

Bill Ayers is a highly respected colleague in the college of education at UIC, widely sought out by students, faculty, and other institutions like Harvard. Given his outstanding contributions over the years, we hope he stays here in Chicago. The attempt to manufacture a political connection between Ayers and Obama is ironic because Ayers has told me that his preferred presidential candidate is (was) Dennis Kucinich, and that he viewed Obama as a cautious politician who sought consensus and the middle ground on most issues. I am glad to hear that these philosophical-political differences did not keep him from contributing to Obama's earlier campaigns. In view of the ludicrous attempt to link the 8 year old Obama with the early Ayers,and thereby somehow to connect Obama as a current presidential candidate with Professor Ayers, it should be kept in mind that Obama is not Ayer's first or second choice candidate, that it is not illegal to make campaign contributions to candidates for office, and that Professor Ayers has widely and freely traveled around the world as a lecturer without any fear of being tried for war crimes for violating the Geneva conventions---unlike the major players in the current administration.

O.k., o.k., this exercise in trying to get political "dirt" on Sen. Obama is getting way out of hand. To borrow from a well known political quote, "...I know Bill Ayers, Bill Ayers and his brother, John, are friends of mine and Bill Ayers should be left alone!" I have deep roots in Chicago's political establishment, including having worked as part of the administration of the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and, afterwards, with leading public school reform organizations that included Bill Ayers. I'm on Capitol Hill, now, working with a member of the Chicago delegation. For anyone to even remotely suggest that Bill Ayers should be persona non grata to the Obama campaign or, even worse, could politically harm Obama is beyond bizarre. It reeks of political desperation.

But for Bill Ayers' colorful past, he's a quintessential member of Chicago's progressive, mainstream upper-class--family and all! The fact that the Republican Party, and some desperate factions within the Democratic Party, are seeking any possible hook to politically destroy Obama, I think, speaks to the character and track record that he's maintained throughout his life.

As an African American, professional woman with a loving family but with an equally, if not more difficult upbringing, there's something to be said for the value of faith, family and hard work. It may not be sexy and it may not satisfy rabid conservatives or the most cloying liberals, but it, in fact, is reflective of how millions of people in America live their lives everyday. To me, that's Obama's appeal and the fact that it drives political activists and huge parts of the media a little crazy says something about the kind of vapid political leadership we've had in our country for decades.

I hope the Senator sweeps in a new wave of political leadership, that includes Bill Ayers and others, so that a door can be forever shut on America's sad, divisive past.

Sharon Jenkins
smjenkins01@hotmail.com

"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm proud of my country"

The first time??
how about almost a Million $$$ a year income?
How about sending your kids to Private school - the cost is higher than most American family yearly income?
How about the Victory over the secon World war?
How about a victory over Soviet Union?
How about the Civil right movement?
How about civil war?

The first time? hmmmm

Being a political figure in the public domain means you get to know and deal with lots of people. You can't do FBI background checks on everyone you meet, and at some point you need to leave the past behind. The press and other forces were initially so enthralled with Obama that they ignored some of his foibles. Now those forces are trying to make up for their oversight by over-scrutinizing both the relevant and the irrelevant. Who cares is my reaction to that allegation. Of course, I appreciate the role of the press in getting information out. But, now give us substantative concerns for us to mull over.

From this public notice it seems like the Obamas may have known William Ayers well enough to invite him to a criminal justice panel. http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/971106/justice.shtml

"Ayers will be joined by Sen. Barack Obama, Senior Lecturer in the Law School, who is working to combat legislation that would put more juvenile offenders into the adult system; ***Michelle Obama, Associate Dean of Student Services and Director of the University Community Service Center, hopes bringing issues like this to campus will open a dialogue between members of the University community and the broader community."

In April 2002, Ayers, Dohrn, and Obama, then an Illinois state senator, participated together at a conference entitled "Intellectuals: Who Needs Them?" sponsored by The Center for Public Intellectuals and the University of Illinois-Chicago. Ayers and Obama were two of the six members of the "Intellectuals in Times of Crisis" panel. source:
http://capitalfax.blogspot.com/2008/02/rezkowatch-terrorist-donations-to-obama.html

Another interesting piece--

The Canada Free Press raises the issue of Frank Davis, Obama's Communist mentor: http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/1938

I don't know anything of the author's reputation

The people don't seem to be up for Swiftboating this year. They're so sick of the way things have been going for the past seven years that they're ready to take a flier on almost anybody who isn't a child molester or a Republican.

The Muslim thing has flopped, the reverse-racism thing has bombed and this Ayers dust-bunny will get blown away just as quickly.

Remember Obama's kindergarten teacher in Indonesia. These attack are silly.

Whitewater, Travelgate, Monica, Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, Mark Rich, ... etc.

The following is a story about Ayer's book.

No Regrets for a Love Of Explosives; In a Memoir of Sorts, a War Protester Talks of Life With the Weathermen
By DINITIA SMITH
Published: September 11, 2001

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E1DE1438F932A2575AC0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

''I don't regret setting bombs,'' Bill Ayers said. ''I feel we didn't do enough.''

"Now he has written a book, ''Fugitive Days'' . Mr. Ayers, who is 56, calls it a memoir, somewhat coyly perhaps, since he also says some of it is fiction. He writes that he participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, of the Capitol building in 1971, the Pentagon in 1972."

**********************************

Now, let's see, this is a guy with whom Obama and his wife associated? Someone who set bombs and participated in numerous bombings in NYC and Washington D.C.?

WOW! That's all I can say.

I would seriously question this person's judgement and willingness to associate with such a person. Especially someone who is running to be one of the most powerful leaders in the world, the President of the United States.

Wonder why such a story is showing up mainly in the British press, and not in the United States?

Stop padering to the sheep. This story has no legs. More unfounded dirt by the Clinton machine...

Any dirt, especially on a decisive election day such as today, just makes me more want to vote for the candidate getting the negative attack. I say take your crap to Russia or some totalitarian country! You & the "liberal", sic., media stink (ie. a media term of itself!)

THE BEST QUALIFICATION FOR PRESIDENT IS THE ABILITY TO RUN A FILTHY CAMPAIGN!!

VOTE FOR HILLARY AND BILL!!!

Did anyone seriously think this through before posting this on the WPO? Shame on you! How petty..and I'd say the same if this was being aimed at HRC.

Thanks for ptrinting this WAPO:

" But he was an eight-year-old child when Ayers and the Weathermen were active, and any attempt to connect Obama with events of almost forty years ago is ridiculous."

(Precisely.)

But used this for a headline:

"Obama's Weatherman Connection"

The NEO-Cons FEAR Obama!

That's what I think :)

The reason BO will go down is his black power church, it's endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, and it's pastor Wright's rabid words (which Obama loves to "use"--like Audacity of Hope.
And the other thing that will cause him to go down--being the most liberal senator there is in the Senate. We don't elect liberals to the presidency, in case you've all forgotten!

I ate chicken and brown rice with some of the Weathermen when I was a child. This was in Washington, DC around 1970. I was four or five years old. Better call the riot police.

big deal...

anyone who lives in chicago should get to know a good weatherman.....

What do I think? I think I'll send another $100 to Obama.

This definitely came from Hillary's camp.

Excellent due diligence by Fact Checker in checking not just candidates but the press.

The claim of Clinton fans that a candidate needs to be tough rather than strong is subject to its own test. She earns a zero every time her campaign reminds voters just why they are so over her.

The association raises a legitimate question. Which is not answered by the "facts" presented.

The issue is germane. When people ask themselves what changes does Senator Obama have in mind over at least a four year period and how and by what process will they be achieved; it is appropriate to ask and determine with whom has he mind melded.

So Obama had connections with The Weathermen when he was eight...

And he wrote a paper about being President when he was in kindergarten.

Sheesh, I feel like an underachiever. I couldn't manage two socks of the same color at that age, and look at what Barack was achieving!

This is why I don't believe that either candidate (Republican or Democrat) should decide to take the Federal funding match. We've seen how low negative campaigning can go on both sides and in order for the upcoming presidential campaign to be about issues, both camps will need the resources to counter the hateful, unsubstantiated claims that will be undoubtedly leveled.

The voting public deserves the truth and, though sites like 'Fact Checker' are noble attempts at providing the truth, they are not utilized sufficiently and mostly reach only those of us with an obsessive passion for politics.

So big deal. John McCain wants to blow up stuff in Iraq for a hundred years-with my money no less.

John McCain is associated with George W. Bush and we all know what a bloodthirsty warmonger he is-And Hillary gave him the hall pass to do it.

if that's the best that hillary & co. can come up with to discredit barack, well i guess they have to try harder. i mean how pathetic can you get in trying to dig up some dirty laundry you suspect your opponent to hide which would your otherwise unimpressive vest make shine brighter? it was already pretty pitiable to see hillary accusing barack of stealing a speech from one of his political supporters who gave him the explicit permission to use the words, but this just adds to the backlash hillary is producing for herself. all this just makes her look all the more desperate and pathetic.

One would think, after losing 11 straight contests, that the Clintonistas might discern that smearing and swiftboating blow up in their faces.

Democrats and independents, unlike Republicans, just don't respond positively to such tactics. Indeed this behavior simply adds to the perception that the Clintons are desperate--flailing blindly, flinging mud indiscriminately hoping it will stick SOMEWHERE, anywhere.

In fact, the Clintons are beginning to seem distinctly unhinged which, of course, only alienates voters further.

Media is a circus ring. Some of the comments written here said that Hillary is doing this. Please STOP bashing her. She is not the media. Media makes big money on creating sensationalizm. Think about how many papers they sold because of the article.

There are more women haters than I thought there would be. And what's sad about this is that some women are buying it. While Obama became a place to escape to, Hillary has become an escapegoat. When will people wake up? I am starting to think that we no longer have ability to think anymore. I think we've resigned to our depression. Wake up!

Sounds like the handiwork of Karl Roves and his cronies who schemed to "turn-out" Valeria Plane as a CIA operative. These people play hardball. Should I be worried? Not really. I was a civil rights worker in the 1960's and was constantly accused of being a communist, or spy or something because I wanted to end American racism, segregation and discrimination, which included lynching and murder. Martin Luther King was under constant surveillance by the FBI and CIA while he was alive. Guilt by association? For sure! The point is this. I think that the Republican Party represents the worst type of Americans; people like Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, and Scooter Libby are mean-spirited, egomaniacs, arrogant and stupid. These people will stop at nothing to have it their way, including lying. The Valeria Plane incident, the invasion of Iraq and the continued occupation of Iraq, the refusal of Bush to sign the global warming treaty in the United Nations, the secret wiretapping of Americans, etc., etc. are only some examples of the lies and deceit coming out of the White House. However, I find that the implied association with the "Weatherman" regarding Obama is not nearly as bad as Clinton's sex scandal and impeachment while President of the United States. Oh, there were other questionable activities about the Clinton's, like Hillary's refusal to release her latest tax form. Bush will go down in history as one of the most deceitful president's of all times. Most certainly much will be written about his drinking habits, including the manipulation of the last election, all of which are too lengthy to go into here. The point is that Republicans would stop at nothing to defeat a democrat especially one advocating such dramatic change which would exclude D.C. insiders. I would find it hard to believe that the Clinton camp would not stoop this low?!? I hope, I hope, I hope!

I wonder how "jonny five" and his "friends" would like it if they were bombed?

You know: "Blown to bits" as the lyric goes (bonus points if you can name the lyricist).

Oh, you compassionate, tolerant, non-violent "liberals" ;)

People like this bastardize the cause of liberalism - would we could throw them out of the movement ...

rozz62: I am glad to see your comments about the Obama / Rezko involvement.

Now, with reports like this Weatherman report, right or wrong, people are starting to look into the poor choices and mistakes, and backroom shady dealings of Obama.

The connections are considerable, and we should all keep looking. For if we don't Google The Trinity Church/Obama; and "Rezko/Obama" and "divestment," the Republican "swift boat" machine will.

Obama will never get elected. I think there are still enough people left who will process the information about Obama, and keep him from being elected. Hopefully, before Obama becomes our nominee.

Like I have said repeatedly, the reason I do what I do on these boards, is because I don't want McCain to win. McCain says we will be in Iraq for another 50 to 100 years. McCain wants to reinstate the draft.

I don't want my beautiful 18 year old grand daughter who I have raised since she was a year old, to be drafted into McCain's army.

McCain will take our young high school graduates and our young now Obama mesmerized college students into McCain's army.

Since Obama has so many past worrisome relationships, a vote for him now will just culminate into a vote for McCain in November.

Hillary could win against McCain - I know a majority of people want to get out of that Iraq war and let those people figure things out for themselves. They are going to have to, anyway, eventually - why not now before more of our beloved family members go there to be killed. They go there with, what I have said since Day One, they are going in there with targets on their backs. gw.

The Democratic Party really aint learned anything. This country wont vote for a left wing Liberal to be their President.. Look at the candidates who failed. Mcgovern, Dukakis, and Kerry in recent times. It took a Governor from the south who could appeal to conservatives.and win 2 terms. ...ride your wave of euphoria Obama supporters. because it aint gonna last.

Clinton Bashers on here.. go to hell.. and take your Chicago Gangster .. cos he aint aint going nowhere near the oval office.

Billary,
Get ready to lose the nomination. It's Obama's now.

This will be another Swift Boat item. However, unlike Kerry, I suspect Obama has a pair, and will actually take the time to refute the Republican straw man machine.

I don't think this is substantial and if pursued by Mccain, it will easily be confronted and dismissed. Thanks for the information, though.

I don't understand why people are attacking the writer. It's simply presenting information. Better we hear this objectively from fact checker than for it to be part of Republican distortions.

Clinton supporters are becoming ill in their bitter attacks.

This fact checker is missing a lot of information. Obama and Ayers' connection goes much further.

http://www.nysun.com/article/8725

http://warrenpeacemuse.blogspot.com/2005/01/get-to-know-barack-obama-when-i-first.html

http://warrenpeacemuse.blogspot.com/2005/01/get-to-know-barack-obama-when-i-first.html

http://warrenpeacemuse.blogspot.com/2005/01/get-to-know-barack-obama-when-i-first.html

This is just like those NEOCONS.

You remember when those NEOCONS tried to swiftboat Ronald Reagan by suggesting he was in Philidelphia GA killing civil rights protesters in between shots on the set of Wagon Train!