Obama “Palling Around With Terrorists”?

CBS News Reality Checks Obama’s Terrorists Links

(CBS)  CBS News Investigative Producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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Over the weekend, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin accused Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) of associating with terrorists.

“Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who target their own country,” Palin said.

What is she referring to?

FACTS: Palin is talking about Obama’s association with a 1960’s anti war radical who now lives in Chicago named Bill Ayers. Obama met Ayers in 1995. The senator has repeatedly noted that when Ayers committed his domestic acts of terrorism forty years ago, Obama was eight years old.

Ayers was one of the founders of a radical anti-war group called the Weather Underground that claimed responsibility for a bombing in San Francisco that killed a police officer and hurt another. Ayers’s group also claimed to be involved in plans to bomb other locations aimed at disrupting the Vietnam war effort. However, despite his involvement and that of his wife, they were never convicted of any crimes due in part to prosecutorial misconduct.

Over time Ayers emerged in Chicago as a community activist, became a professor and got involved in public school reform. This is how Obama met Ayers at a meeting on schools. Ayers reportedly hosted a campaign event for Obama’s early forays into statewide politics in 1995 and the two men sat on two different foundation boards together where their job was to distribute educational grants to organizations. Ayers still sits on the board of The Woods Fund of Chicago but Obama left the board in 2002. That was the last time Obama had any official link to Ayers.

There is no evidence that Ayers gave money to or has been involved in the Obama campaign. There is also no indication the two have been in regular communication for at least six years.

In response today, Senator Obama said:

“He’s a professor at the University of Chicago - ah, Illinois, teaches education, and he engaged in these despicable acts 40 years ago when I was 8 years old. I served on a board with him. And so now they’re trying to use this as guilt by association, and as you said, they’ve explicitly stated that what they want to do is to change the topic because they don’t want to talk about the economy and the failed policies of the last eight years.”

[abman827]

I love how Obama and the liberal media dismisses Obama''s relationships as saying "guilty by association" but they keep saying McCain is "guilty by assocation" to the Bush Administration. Its such a double standard. McCain is in the same party as Bush, but it does not mean he agrees with Bush 100% of the time or even 50% of the time. Its just a joke that Obama and the liberal media is brainwashing us to believe Obama is the best choice. Them filtering everything related to Obama is a sign that they are hiding something. I just hope that America wakes up and realizes this before Election Day. I sure hope so.

[grhodesreed]

Annenberg, one of the two foundations on which Obama and Ayers worked, is supporting McCain for president. Should he be taking the money and accepting support from a ''terrorist?''

[grhodesreed]

How do you hold someone ''accountable'' for knowing someone or interacting with them if they are doing good? If we want to look at the past of folks, then let''s look at McCain''s relationship with segregationists Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond. And, didn''t he defend the confederate flag? He was against an MLK holiday. He was a flagrant wife cheater. He actually took money from Keating, a convicted felon, and was likely let off easily because of his war record. He lobbied inappropriately on behalf of Keating as well as others. What about his angry outbursts and the disrespect shown to his wife as well as other women? What about the impact of these choices on McCain''s judgement and character? And, what about his selection of Sarah Palin? McCain is not one to talk about character, judgement, integrity, temperament, good decision making, critical thinking, etc., etc.

[crystald5]

In 1997, Obama Praised Ayers'' Book On The Juvenile Justice System. "The two men were involved in efforts to reform the city''s education system. They appeared together on academic panels, including one organized by Michelle Obama to discuss the juvenile justice system, an area of mutual concern. Mr. Ayers''s book on the subject won a rave review in The Chicago Tribune by Mr. Obama, who called it ''a searing and timely account.''" (Jo Becker and Christopher Drew, "Pragmatic Politics, Forged On The South Side," The New York Times, 5/11/08)

"[Obama And Ayers] Have Also Appeared Jointly On Two Academic Panels, One In 1997 And Another In 2001." (Russell Berman, "Obama''s Ties To Left Come Under Scrutiny," The New York Sun, 2/19/08)
From 1999 To 2002, Obama Served With Ayers On The Board Of Directors For Woods Fund Of Chicago. "[Ayers] served with [Obama] from 1999 to 2002 on the board of the Woods Fund

John M. Murtagh was only nine, the year Ayers%u2019s Weathermen tried to murder him and his family.

It is fair to hold Barry responsible for a startling lack of judgment in his choice of mentors, associates, and friends, and for showing a callous disregard for the lives they damaged and the hatred they have demonstrated for this country.

[crystald5]

Senator Obama served as a paid director to a "progressive" Chicago-area non-profit organization, the Woods Fund, from 1999 until almost 2003.

William C. Ayers served with Senator Obama on the organization''s board of directors.

2001 the Woods Fund gave a $40,000 financial aid grant to a group with ties to the PLO

2002, the Woods Fund gave the Arab American Action Network a second gift of $35,000.

Senator Obama chaired the CAC from 1995 through 1999 Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) -- what essentially became Mr. Ayers'' failed Leftist attempt to redesign education in Chicago schools

Woods Fund, it also made a $1,000,000 contribution to Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC)

Barack Obama, at Bill Ayers'' behest, began work in 1995 at the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.

From March Of 1995 Until September Of 1997, Obama And Ayers Attended At Least Seven Meetings Together Relating To The Chicago Annenberg Challenge.
NOTE: Bill Ayers Was Asked To Help Obama Formulate The Chicago Annenberg Challenge By-Laws.

[whatiknow2]

Plain and simple,
If you will still be able to afford to support yourself after the business you work for folds under,
If you have all the insurance you need for you and your loved ones,
If your home is paid for and is still worth what you paid for it,
If you are secure with the future as far as your retirement,
If you are not concerned with the amount of taxes you pay,
If your credit rating is over 750,
and If you do not care at all about those who are less fortunate than you,
If you feel comfortable about "Bomb Bomb Bomb IRAN",
If you look forward to a Nuclear war with KOREA,
Then you might be able to afford to vote REPUBLICAN.
Here is your sign
_________
|***VOTE***=
|*McSame!*=
|_________=
| ||
| ||
| ||
I am giving my vote to "THAT ONE"

[bchandra90]

Are you telling me that to disagree with the McPalin team is grounds for "Killing"? It is outrageous that kind of thing can go on at a political rally in this day and age. In the 60''''s Martin Luther King was a republican. Can you imagine his horror at a Sarah Palin rally? The hate speech that she is spouting is a danger to this country and should be stopped. How can she possibly want to be Vice President of the United States when almost half of the population isn''''t to her liking? At the moment she is focused on Sen Obama but what happens when she starts on the rest of us? We are ONE NATION.

[mellodug]

I am concerned that Sarah Palin would speak before a crowd and even entertain a response from the crowd of "Kill Him." Her comments appear to me that she was trying to incite the crowd. I always understand that inciting others to violent action was illegal, in addition to being incredibly irresponsible and ignorant. Her continued rhetoric clearly illustrates her complete lack of any qualities that would make her acceptable as a vice-president. Sarah Six-Pack needs to be sent home with the strongest official, as well as public, condemnation for her inflamatory and irresponsible comments!

[grangerwoods]

PALIN IS ANTI-AMERICAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIi4rbIXbkw

Listen very very close from the 6 minute mark to the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8&feature=related

Her own confirmation!

[grangerwoods]

I bet Johnny Mac did not see these videos. Or did he?

PALIN IS ANTI-AMERICAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIi4rbIXbkw

Listen very very close from the 6 minute mark to the end!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iCDBIAde8&feature=related

Her own confirmation!