Well I strongly disagree that what you term "condmenation by association" and would I would term character references is not relevant. As I have said before, if John McCain had a 20 year relationship with David Duke, and referred to David Duke as his spiritual mentor, he would not be able to run for office. He would be damaged goods and that would be it.
But somehow it is wrong to even ask Obama to explain his association with unsavory characters. Compare for example how McCain handled his involvement with Keating. He was available to the press and answered every question they asked not just once or twice but many times over.
Obama has tried to avoid questions about and minimize the extent of his contacts with Wright, Ayers, Rezco, etc. and it is only when he is caught in a lie that we learn more of the truth. Ayers went from a guy who lives in my neighberhood, and his kids went to the same school as my kids, to he sponsered a fundraiser for me the first time I ran, to I served on him on numerous boards, I gave his book a positive blurb. I for one would not do any of the above for someone of Ayers character. The fact that Ayers is accepted in political circles in Chicago, says more about how corrupt things are in Chicago than it does about Obama. Also regarding Ayers, he may be a professor of education, but he does some very radical views about education. What I think no one has asked Obama is what his understanding of Ayers philosophies are and does he embrace any of them. This is especially revlevant since he professes that he is going to address the education problem. However, his solutions to date are the same old NEA baloney that hasn't worked for 50 years.
Little joe |
