Tags:

Presidential, Barack Obama, John McCain, Faith

Obama is not friends with Ayers

The Race:

Barack Obama (D) vs John McCain (R); President of the US

The Smear:

The Republicans, desperate to smear Barack and try to build on their lies about his religion, insinuate that Barack Obama has a deep relationship with William Ayers. William Ayers was once a member of a radical group in the 1960s.

The Truth:

While “guilt by association” is one of the more bogus attacks in any political campaign, the attacks on Barack Obama over William Ayers are particularly “ridiculous,” in the words of one Republican legislator from Illinois. The entire attack is based on their mutual membership in a highly respected organization, an educational foundation started by a Reagan supporter and boasting a membership of some of the most respected members of Illinois society, both Republicans and Democrats.

The fact is that Barack Obama lived in the same area of Chicago as Ayers, and Ayers has been a respected, politically active member of that community for years. Considering that, it’s actually remarkable how little the two have to do with each other. Early in Barack Obama’s career, he attended one reception in his own honor at Ayers’ house. They also were separately asked by a Republican-created charitable organization to serve on that organization’s board. And that’s it. "Mr. Ayers played no role in Mr. Obama's appointment [to the board]," reported the New York Times. There’s no friendship between the two, no relationship, no history of working together beyond that.

Again quoting the Times, “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.’” Even Republican State Rep. Diana Nelson, who has worked with both men, calls the attacks “ridiculous,” and declared to NPR, “There is no reason at all to smear Barack Obama with this association. It's nonsensical, and it just makes me crazy. It's so silly." Here’s Politifact on the foundation:

In short, this was a mainstream foundation funded by a mainstream, Republican business leader and led by an overwhelmingly mainstream, civic-minded group of individuals. Ayers' involvement in its inception and on an advisory committee do not make it radical – nor does the funding of programs involving the United Nations and African-American studies.

This attack is false, but it's more than that – it's malicious. It unfairly tars not just Obama, but all the other prominent, well-respected Chicagoans who also volunteered their time to the foundation. They came from all walks of life and all political backgrounds, and there's ample evidence their mission was nothing more than improving ailing public schools in Chicago.

This whole manufactured issue was already hashed over in the primary, but the Republicans, desperate to change the subject from the economic crisis and the unpopularity of their disastrous policies, are trying to revive this discredited attack once again. A shady Republican front group even ran ads trying to tie the 60s-era activities of Ayers to Al Qaeda today. If you believe we should get beyond the battles of the 60s to meet the challenges of the 21st century, reject these tired attacks and spread the truth. Forward this message on!

Start fighting back against this smear by telling your friends and family the truth.