I think Obama surrogates are handling the Ayers issue wrong.

[Zenmaster]

I'm not trying to concern troll, and I don't think that Ayers is going to be a game changer. In fact, I think Obama is handling it, himself, pretty well. But I think that most Obama surrogates in the media aren't handling this the way I would want them to.

For me, this is how I honestly, see things.

It seems that the Sean hannity's, PUMA, Limbaughs and Sarah Palin's of the world aren't really showing an issue with Obama when it comes to Ayers even though they are saying that they do. They really seem to be saying some anti-American things, in my mind, instead. They really seem to have a problem with America ALLOWING somebody with a criminal past, like Ayers, the ability to reform his life and become an upstanding member of society.

I'm sorry, but if any of these people are saying that they've done background checks on everybody that they've worked with, they are full of shit. If I'm hired, or selected, for a position its not my responsibility to know if everybody else in the company has a criminal past or not. Too many Obama surrogates are just trying to ignore Ayers, when he's brought up, by bringing up Keating 5, or just saying that McCain doesn't want to talk about the Economy. That's all true, but it gives the appearance that they are trying to hide something. There's nothing to hide. Ayers is a teacher...citizen of the year at one point, and a respected member of his community. He and Obama worked together. That's it.

And I would just say something like "If you have a problem with our country allowing people to move on from their past and be upstanding members of society, we'll I think that's a pretty un-American sentiment. Bill Ayers was an respected teacher, citizen of the year, and well known member of our society when Obama worked with him."

[ProSense]

1. "it gives the appearance that they are trying to hide something"? He was eight years old. IMO, Obama

handled it perfectly:

OBAMA: Why don't we just clear it up right now. I'll repeat again what I've said many times. This is a guy who engaged in some despicable acts 40 years ago when I was eight years old. By the time I met him, 10 or 15 years ago, he was a college professor of education at the University of Illinois. And we served on a school reform board together, by the way, that was funded by Walter Annenberg, who had been an ambassador and close friend of Ronald Reagan. And so I have talked to him about school reform issues.

[Zenmaster]

2. Obama isn't an Obama surrogate.

Please reread what I said. I didn't say Obama wasn't handling it well

[ProSense]

8. The implication that they are giving the appearance he has something to hide is nonsense. n/t

[holiday]

6. Well the OP is saying Obama is handling it well (of course he always does)

but the surrogates aren't, and I agree. They deflect too much. I think the person who explained it best other than Obama was Catskill (sp?) she did a great job. Alot of people don't know what coffees' are, or understand running for Senate.

I think they should bring up all thing links to Palin and McPenguin and say "hey we can play this game too, but we would rather talk about the economy and the issues that aren't bothering Americans".

[ProSense]

11. Well, I don't agree

It's relevant

Keating Economics

[Zenmaster]

16. I prefer logical arguments to refute logical fallacies, rather than using further fallacies.

I understand that Political arguing, and legal for that matter, are all full of fallacies on both sides. And I understand that fallacies can work against the uneducated masses. But I prefer using logic and reasoning to fight back, rather than combating fallacies with further fallacies.

Keating 5 IS more relevent and germane to the political discussion right now, but its still a Guilt By Association, Ad-hominem, attack. I prefer completely disarming the fallacious argument with logic, rather than muddying the waters.

[ProSense]

18. "Keating 5 IS more relevent...but its still a Guilt By Association, Ad-hominem, attack." Completely

wrong.

[bunnies]

7. "a close friend of ronald reagan"

heheh. After reading that, I'd have to agree with you! :thumbsup:

[Alter Ego]

3. Barack Obama was eight years old when Ayers committed his crimes.

He has nothing, I repeat, NOTHING to apologize for. Since Ayers was an influential Chicago figure when Obama was starting his career, it stands to reason that they would have crossed paths. That's it. That's all that's there.

All the rest is the right wing desperately, DESPERATELY trying to make a mountain of an anthill.

[featherman]

4. You have a good point but I'd avoid the "Bill" since this man is now Professor William Ayres

And is, as you say, a respected member of the educational establishment. The Hannity types like to overfamiliarize by using a nickname like "Bill" for a tenured professor now in his 60's. He may be Bill to his friends and intimates but it's a cheap stunt for his enemies.

[firedupdem]

5. I don't second guess the campaign...seems like they have hit

every issue out of the park. I see what your point is but because this isn't a game changer they are handling it the right way. They dismiss it as bullshit and stick to the same truthful answer..they can't handle the truth!

[soccermomforobama]

9. I think Obama is going to address this and put an end to it

Wed. during the debate. They (Obama and Biden) have challenged McCain to bring it up to Obama's face-so he either brings it up and Obama sets the record straight or he does not bring it up and proves he is nothing but a third grade bully who throws a punch and runs

[holiday]

13. actually you could be right, and I like this idea.

[Overseas]

10. I'd ask Hannity if he thinks the citizens of Illinois are terrorist sympathizers.

I'd ask Hannity if he'd care to tell Lenore Annenberg that she was a terrorist associate.

I think news reporters should be saying, any time they report on a McLiar/Failin rally that "they are still spouting the false accusations about Obama's association with Ayers that have been disproven over and over again."

[ShortnFiery]

12. I think that they are doing a five star job.

:thumbsup:

[leftist.]

14. I'm happy with how they are handling it, and PUMAs don't exist.

I hope Limbaugh, Hannity, McCain, Palin, et al continue to make it about Ayers and not the 30% I've lost in my mutual funds thus far this year.

[Cha]

15. I think more should be brought up about

Annenberg(who is a mccain contributor) being on the board with Ayers.

[truthisfreedom]

17. Bill Ayers is respected by John McCain's friend Leonore "Lee" Annenberg, who is listed on his site.

From Michelle's own comments: "Barack served on the board of the Annenberg Challenge with Bill Ayers... And Mrs. Annenberg, in fact, endorsed John McCain."

She endorsed McCain, he respects her and listed her on his website, and she was ultimately behind Ayers and Barack serving on the same board together. So by association, he's just as involved with Ayers as Barack is.

If you can't let a man reform, you might as well kill everyone who commits a crime. The christianists claim forgiveness is part of their belief system, but when it comes to black Barack Obama, they're living lives of pure hypocrisy.

[izzybeans]

19. I would say "If you have a problem with the Annenberg Foundation's attempt

to reform a failing school system, then that's your problem. Because that's what they were doing."

[omen]

20. K&R I agree because...

The fact is:

Bill Ayers' radical past has been a TOTAL NON-ISSUE in the Chicago community throughout the recent decades. He was a respected member of the community (even commended for some of his projects). He had substantial
relations and ties with independents and Republicans throughout the various projects he has participated in during the recent past (Annenberg project, the school reform movement, etc).

This is a political fabrication by the right, and IT MUST BE POINTED OUT. Obama surrogates should not try to merely change the subject, however right that may be, because it looks like they are TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING, and thereby LEGITIMIZE the Ayers issue.

[omen]

21. Read thjis

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/7/131120/885/357/622049

Republican clears Obama on Ayers.

[Neutralator]

22. I hope obama surrogates refer to Ayers as Professor Ayers when they talk about him

I do see your point but in general I think Obama Campaign is doing a good job so far.

[noel711]

23. Not only is the condemnation un-American...

It's unchristian.

And if these so-called fundamental evangelicals
get their asses in a sling because of this manufactured
outrage, they really aren't Christian.

What would Jesus do? What DID Jesus do?
His closest associates were a mixed bag of
sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes,
and terrorists (Simon the zealot, who was a
street terrorist in Jerusalem)....

A major part of who Jesus was and what he did
was that NO ONE was irredeemable.
Everyone is forgiveable, and given a fresh start.

The "holier-than-thou" attitude of the republicans
carries no weight with folks who know better.

They should be cast into the outer darkness,
where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Where is the real, American, righteous outrage?

[Thrill]

24. Why? They can't make Ayers a story. The McCain Campaign want to make them defensive about it

Why feed into it. ITS THE ECONOMY