Let's Put this Bill Ayers' Thing in It's proper Perspective

[louis c]

Ayers was a 60's radical who believed in making a political statement through violence. What ever he did is over and done with. He no longer professes these ideas and has lived a relatively mainstream life, being involved in helping his community.

Ayers admitted his mistakes in being too radical, served his time, and should be judged accordingly.

Barack Obama was only 9 years old at the time of the violence. His connection to Ayers is as a person who only believes he should be helping to make lives better.

This "trick" of semantics in conjuring up the word "terrorist" is a thinly veiled Rovean attempt at changing the subject from the economy.

[radfringe]

1. best way to counter attack is to point out

mccain-palin have nothing new to offer, the only difference between their platform and that of bush-cheney is the name on the front page

They are resorting to throwing mud, this is dirty politics brought to a higher level and is the posture a coward takes when he has nothing else. it's desperation of last resort.

How are character attacks, smear tactics, slams, distortions and lies changing the tone in washington? McCain-Palin say they want bi-partisanship, they say they want to discuss issues, they say they want to bring the country together - yet at every stage of their campaign it's filled with garbage. This is not the way to run an honorable campaign - it's cheap, it's dirty and fundamentally dishonest.

We expect a president to conduct themselves in an honest and honorable manner. We deserve and need a leader who presents the issues, explains the policies and is forthright about solutions.

We don't need another four years of fear and smear. We don't need another four years of spin, of distortions, of lies. We can't afford another four years of the same dirty and shallow political games.

Life isn't a game, the problems facing us are not a game. These are real and serious problems and need real and serious solutions. Fear and Smear are not solutions, they are part of the problem because it distracts us from finding solutions.

There is no honor in dirty political games. There is no honor in throwing mud. There is no honor when a campaign seeks to distract and distort and lie.

[frogcycle]

3. no, on this one

the counterattack needs to address the charge

it is too easy a soundbite; too easily passed along from dumbshit to dumbshit. not responding directly looks palenesque, like there is not a legitimate response

it does not have to ramble on, but it has to call bullshit

[OKNancy]

2. I think the "terrorist" trick is obviously trying to link Obama

to Islamic terrorists. They will claim it's Ayers but they are just feeding the ignorance and hate on the right.

[frogcycle]

4. well of course

just like the fistbump line

[obiwan]

5. Ayers didn't "serve his time". He was acquitted. As in, he wasn't found guilty.

And since he was acquitted, he is not a "terrorist". Any one who calls him a terrorist is guilty of libel.

[Sadie4629]

7. Ayers was acquitted on a technicality

He wasn't convicted of his crimes because of illegal FBI activities. That doesn't make his victims any less dead.

[cali]

9. sorry, I actually respect Ayers, but he was indeed engage in terrorism.

[Sadie4629]

6. Ayers did not--

--"serve his time." He got off on some technicalities.

People DIED because of what he did.

If Timothy McVeigh had walked free because of prosecutorial misconduct and went on to do some good, what would you call the proper perspective in his case?

[cali]

8. you forgot to add that whatever he did, Ayers is now a respected member

of the community.

[EV_Ares]

10. They can try all the crap they want on this Ayers thing. Hell, first of all his activism

occurred when Barack was what; 8 years old. There are a lot of 60's radicals, activists, whatever that are now distinguished citizens and Ayers is now a distinguished professor at the University of Illinois. Also, you will find several media outlets, Washington Post, Time, others that have all debunked this idea that Obama and Ayers had a close relationship. Their relationship is nothing more than acquaintance, business, whatever but they are not "pals" or buddies and they are talking about the times of the 60s, years ago. You could probably find a CEO who was or could be called a radical activist. All of us in our youth or those interested in change can be radical in our views at that time of our life. That is when you are most likely to be involved in movements.

This is just more bs of McCain and his ignorant VP candidate who probably doesn't even know squat about the 60's or those involved in the movement to stop the war. The 60s were very turbulent times because of the war and the draft and many years ago. I do not think McCain and Palin trying to make a connection on this is going to fly or stick just like all their other bs they have tried since they seem to stay away from the issues that the people of this country are really interrested in and who most likely is going to try to fix them.

CNN also talks about Palin and her latest smear attempt to dredge up this tired story about Ayers.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/04/palin.obama/index.html

[Chemical Bill]

11. At the time,

the US government thought that violence would solve the problems in SE Asia. Now, the US government thinks that violence will solve the problems in the Mideast. How's that for perspective.

Bill