Sarah Palin attacks over Barack Obama's link to a '60s radical

[UPDATE BELOW]

With exactly one month until election day, will Bill Ayers, the anti-Vietnam War radical who helped found a bomb-planting protest group, morph into what some observers earlier had predicted -- the Willie Horton of the 2008 presidential campaign?

Horton, for those too young to remember, was a felon who, while on a weekend furlough from prison in Massachusetts, committed a heinous crime in Maryland. It happened under Michael Dukakis' gubernatorial watch, and in the final months of his 1988 White House bid the case was effectively used against him by his GOP rivals.

With this year's race entering its final stretch -- and Barack Obama having staked out a solid lead in recent polling -- John McCain's campaign has sent out word it's really ready to play hard ball against Obama (and here we naively thought the game already had been rough).

Out of the gate, it looks like hammering home Obama's link to Ayers could be central to that strategy.

The matter first arose several months ago during the Democratic nomination battle, and the Obama campaign felt compelled to post a page on its website that depicted his association with Ayers as tenuous.

Today, in a front-page story, the New York Times took its crack at airing out the Ayers connection. Here's the key part of the piece:

A review of records ... and interviews with a dozen people who know both men, suggest that Mr. Obama, 47, has played down his contacts with Mr. Ayers, 63. But the two men do not appear to have been close. Nor has Mr. Obama ever expressed sympathy for the radical views and actions of Mr. Ayers, whom he has called “somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.”

Sarah Palin, campaigning in the Denver area, took that ball and ran with it.

The Times' Robin Abcarian relates that Palin, speaking at a fundraiser, used a wry reference to one of the well-publicized questions she faced recently from CBS' Katie Couric to broach the Ayers issue. Said the Republican vice presidential candidate:

There is a lot of interest, I guess, in what I read and what I’ve read lately. Well, I was reading my copy of today’s New York Times [audience boos] and I was interested to read about Barack’s friends from Chicago [audience cheers].

I get to bring this up not to pick a fight, but it was there in the New York Times, so we are gonna talk about it. Turns out one of Barack’s earliest supporters is a man who, according to the New York Times -- and they are hardly ever wrong [audience laughs] -- was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that, quote, 'launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol.' Wow. ...

Referring to Obama, she continued:

This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America. We see America as the greatest force for good in this world. If we can be that beacon of light and hope for others who seek freedom and democracy and can live in a country that would allow intolerance in the equal rights that again our military men and women fight for and die for for all of us. Our opponent, though, is someone who sees America it seems as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country?

[UPDATE: Palin said much the same later in the day at a big rally in Carson, Calif. Abcarian reports that Palin signaled early in her remarks to an overflow crowd of more than 8,000 in the tennis stadium of Carson’s Home Depot Center that she would be going after Obama. “One of my campaign staff said as I was walking out here, ‘OK, the heels are on, the gloves are off,’ ” Palin said.]

Her comments in Colorado already had given the Associated Press the obvious lead for its story -- that she accused Obama of....

... "palling around with terrorists" as part of what the article characterized as a stepped-up effort to portray him "as unacceptable to American voters."

That effort can be expected to accelerate. And, most immediately, Ayers' name almost assuredly will surface in Obama's face-off with McCain in a town-hall setting this Tuesday.

Just as assuredly, the Obama campaign can be expected to use every means at its disposal to keep the spotlight on the issue that seems to have turned the election its way: the nation's economic turmoil.

Indeed, here's how Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan handled the reaction to Palin's Colorado comments:

Gov. Palin’s comments, while offensive, are not surprising, given the McCain campaign’s statement this morning that they would be launching Swift Boat-like attacks in hopes of deflecting attention from the nation’s economic ills. 

In fact, the very newspaper story Gov. Palin cited in hurling her shameless attack made clear that Sen. Obama is not close to Bill Ayers, much less "pals," and that he has strongly condemned the despicable acts Ayers committed 40 years ago, when Obama was 8.

What’s clear is that John McCain and Sarah Palin would rather spend their time tearing down Barack Obama than laying out a plan to build up our economy.

The N.Y. Times' story, by the way, quickly got hit from both the left and the right.

At Daily Kos, it was lambasted as a cave-in by the paper to the conservative critics who never tire of carping about it.

At the National Review's site, it's dismissed as a whitewash job that serves Obama's purposes.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Al Globus]

This is a bunch of nonsense we've already been through in the primaries. Obama was a small child when Ayers was busy being an idiot. Since then Ayers has become a respectable, productive member of society, as temporarily stupid young people often do.

[DL]

You know, if ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and most of the newspapers had been doing their job of vetting Barrack instead of giving him a pass on virtually everything, this kind of speech wouldn't have been given. Why do you think there is a Conservative movement with all of its players like Rush Limbaugh, Shaun Hannity and O'Reilly? Because there was a growing number of people fed up with the media slanting the news, trashing their candidates while painting glowing pictures of Democrats, and the constant assault on American values. Why doesn't the media wake up and smell the roses? If all the above named networks and papers were to revamp their formats to a more "fair and balanced" approach they would start getting back some of their base that left for FOX News or the internet. Take an example from Hannity and Colmes; one is on the left, the other the right, and both are equally passionate about their views. When anyone watches it they are going to be angry with one or the other, depending on their own personal viewpoints. Another thing FOX will do, which has both my respect and irritation is that they have no problem going after conservative Republicans when they screw up, even though it may hurt the party during elections; 2006 was a prime example and it helped the Dems regaining the House and Senate. I have rarely seen the other networks or papers do this because they have put their political agenda above the good of the country.

[JEANIE]

This from a woman who has charges pending against her in her own state....Embarrassing for the USA...

[ms]

Oh boy! Now the campaign is going to get really dirty!
We all have things from our youth, but I guess McCain and Palin are down to mudslinging only to win. I actually was thinking of voting because of Palin, but I know in my heart that Obama is best for our country today!

Thanks Sara for reminding me. And thanks NY Times

[Sheila Leonard]

We face very serious issues and need to elect serious people to deal with them. Let's none of us be sidetracked by such inflamatory words. We need to stand up and insist on truthful debates.

[Truth]

Oh say it ain't so Sarah - there ya go again looking to past to find fault and deflect the American people from the real issues. A 90 year old woman attempted suicide because she was losing her home, over 1/2 million jobs lost, no health care for hundreds of thousands, financial collapse and a war that was based on deception and lies.

Sorry not buying your bridge or road to no where.

Obama/Biden 08 Put country first and really change politics in Washington.

[Thomas Williams]

Sarah Palin - Even the special bus has it's share of pretty girls.

[Francine Taylor]

John McCain is still fighting the Vietnam war. He said the other day that we could have won it. How would that have been? Another 55,000 dead Americans--not counting those still dying terrible deaths from Agent Orange? Is Iraq his new Vietnam? Will he insist on moving stealthily into all the surrounding countries without informing the American people or trying diplomacy? He and Sarah Palin see to be pretty tight with Henry Kissinger. If I remember right, such nasty tactics were called the last straw in an unnecessary war for profit.

Now he's sending Sarah the Sweet Talker out with obvious lies (do the math--Barack Obama was in grade school, a little young to make the FBI's most wanted SDS list) to bloody his opponent. Nastiness like this coming from people, who say they want to bring civility back between the parties, will not only be the end of the McCain presidential hopes, but Sarah Palin will be a laughing stock and unable to further her own career. Stick to the facts and the truth, if you expect anyone to believe you, John McCain. Americans have wised up to delusional promises and outright lies made by any Republicans during the last eight miserable years. And shame on you for destroying Sarah Palin's credibility and her previously bright political future.

Another Mama for Obama!

[Joe J]

It is amusing watching the liberals go nuts when Palin says anything about Obama after all the slander they've heaped on her.

[Becki]

Arent these the people who are "looking to the future" not
stuck in the past? And the "folks" who said its not time to point fingers???
Honestly, the republicans are shameless. Maybe we should be talking about McCains association with the Keating 5 and Palin's relationship with her witchcraft protector.

[NC]

Shame on you Palin. You are promoting hate, harm, and prejudice against minorities.

[DWayne]

Sarah Palin has nothing to offer. Since she knows she can't cause people to run towards her,. She has to hope she can cause people to run away from her opponent.
All the Republicans have to offer is hate and fear.
We don't need 4 more years of the same mindless fear and hate mongering we've endured for the last 8 years.
"Team Maverick" is truly empty rhetoric. Nothing maverick about these two.

[dressypink]

This stupid woman is indeed an idiot. if she has the guts to say this about Obama, Obama and his supporters should not mind her being a female. they should quickly go after with clips of her interview with Katie Couric.

Palin is not only shameless but cluess. How can a 44 year old woman allow herself to be so used and abused by Bush advisers. Garbage in garbage out.

Who read the NYT for Palin in the first place?

[R G Robins]

Odd that Palin would take this tack after lecturing Biden about dwelling on the past. (NOT!) But professor Ayers is no Willie Horton, and to the extent that he becomes visible via interviews, etc., I think it will defuse the issue for most voters. In my view, a few high profile appearances by Ayers would have the same effect as the nerdy "Obama on a bicycle" photo that undercut early efforts to activate the subliminal "menacing black American" meme.

[Jason]

Why aren't more people flipping tables at the notion that they constantly attack on a personal and very childish levels, most of the time with blatant LIES?!?!

[kerri]

i agree with palin. i think obama is the closest thing to a terrorist there can be for presidential campaign. not to mention all the money he made out of the $700 billion dollar bail out deal... or the disgustingly unpatriotic remarks made by his lovely wife... people need to start doing their research and they'll see that obama is not what america needs. he's done nothing but lie and change his story around so he looks good. in my opinion, he's a snake that's just out to get his dollar. just like every other crooked politician. i expect a lot of liberal hate for this post but do your research. i've done mine.

[soccer mama]

Jesus, they are getting desparate aren't they? First they pull out of Michigan, now this. Pathetic. Utterly and completely pathetic. Tell us about Troopergate Sarah. The truth. Answer the debate questions. Don't tell us what you think we want to hear. Cowards, the pair of them.

[Rick F]

No surprise here. Obama wanted to meet unconditionally with enemy leaders also. My concerns are, who exactly is Barrack Obama and what is his real agenda?

[Brian]

This kind of stuff is why Sara Palin is unfit for office. She lacks the character to lead us out of the horrible mess we are in.

[Caliper]

About time the main stream media started covering Obama's radical past. America needs to wake up and see the 'real' Obama for who he is as well as who he isn't.

[AMBROSE]

Why I ask is San Francisco police officer BRIAN McDONNELL"s name never mentioned in the media, its as if he never existed! He is the officer killed by Mr. Ayers weathermen. Ayers only escaped prosecution because of a legal angle. (wiretapping) The poor McDonnell family now has to watch as americans. especialy young americans are lied too about Obama' relationship with mr. Ayers. Was that good judgement to associate in any way with a unrepented terrorist. Californians should erect a statue to Officer McDonnell, then perhaps Obamea can attend the unveiling in a act of contrition!

[Steve]

She truly is just a hockey mom. Nothing more. Nuff said.

[RRuth]

Well, it has become quite evident which parent carries the recessive down syndrome gene. Sarah Palin is a blubbering, lying idiot and is a danger to this country!

P.S. Just for those of you that do not have a sense of humor; I am well aware that down syndrome is not a genetic disease.

[Robin]

I smell something funny. What is that smell? Oh!!! Desperation! Sorry GOP. What will bring voters back to your side is not these classless attacks on Barack Obama. Guess what? You're going to have to come up with some kind of substance, some ideas, some solutions. I thought you were the party of new ideas. The mavericks. All you are doing is resorting to the same old bag of tricks the GOP has been using for the last 8 years. Lies, half-truths, and deceit. The American people see through it and are sick of it.

[Todd's Hot!]

Wow is right! I hope this comes up at the next McCain/Obama debate. All Obama need do is mention all the jailed and investigated Republican Senators and tie McCain to them. Heck! Gosh darn! Gee golly! That might even begin to approach reality! The Ayers story is old news, Obama was 8 years old when Ayers was an "ultra-left radical". Maybe he met Patty Hearst once -- I don't know. But the point is, there was no close relationship. I suspect Palin will next link Obama to Tim McVey -- after all, if you live in a Chicago, you can see Kansas City from there! And if you can see it, apparently, you can believe it!