Fairness and Affiliation

squashed:

Secondly, this all happened when Obama was eight. Since then, Ayers has become a (locally) respected professor and is frequently consulted with Chicago’s mayer. Thirdly, the connection is essentially geographical. They lived near each other. They were involved in the same bits of local politics. They served on the board of a nonprofit. Fourthly, if there is any doubt, Obama has unequivically denounced Ayer’s actions. There is no record of him ever expressing any sort of sympathy or approval for Ayers or his tactics. Fifthly, while I will concede as readily as anybody that Ayers was at one point a certain variety of terrorist, Palin said “terrorists”—so she’s got to be referring to at least one other person. Perhaps Ayer’s wife?

This line by Palin is inflammatory, disgusting, and misleading. I don’t expect much from her or McCain—but I expect better than this.

I think Palin has said a lot of outrageous things (the most recent, being that Obama is disqualified b/c he’s willing to talk to bad foreign leaders), but her comments about Ayers are perfectly legitimate.  (And yes, Ayers’ wife was a terrorist too.)

Imagine a world in which Terry Nichols is released from prison, and twenty years later he’s serving on right wing boards with an up-and-coming Republican presidential contender.  Imagine further that the contender attends some parties at his house, even  giving campaign speeches there, and so on.  If, during the campaign, the Republican candidate (1) said he was just a kid at the time of the Oklahoma City bombing, (2) denounced the bombing, and (3) claimed he barely knew Nichols and that they only were around each other because they lived in the same neighborhood, would that end the discussion?  What if Nichols were largely unrepentant, maintaining that he wished he had been able to do more bombing?  Would it be disgusting if a Democrat were to question the Republican for his affiliation?

Should Ayers disqualify Obama from the presidency?  Maybe not, I’m inclined to say no … but isn’t that something every voter should get to decide for him or herself?  I don’t see why Palin can’t raise it, just like people should (and I have) raise concerns about the affiliations of Trent Lott and Ron Paul.  

Source: squashed

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