Today's Article
Republicans served
on the very same two
committees in which
Obama worked with
Ayers--the main
"association" between
the two.
on the very same two
committees in which
Obama worked with
Ayers--the main
"association" between
the two.
The American Spark
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William Ayers Has Worked With Republicans For Years
By Cliff Montgomery - Oct. 20th, 2008
With its poll numbers sinking by the day and finding itself simply unable to match its opponent in economic
matters, the Republican McCain/Palin ticket has worked itself into a frenzy trying to morph Senator Barack
Obama (D-IL) into Chicago Weatherman-turned-University of Chicago professor William Ayers' bomb-making,
terrorist soulmate.
The respected senator from Illinois cannot really be 'one of us', a wild-eyed Sarah Palin insists before jingoistic,
hate-spewing crowds.
"I'm afraid this is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to work with a former domestic terrorist
who has targeted his own country," she claimed.
But there's a little problem with this analysis: Republicans have proudly worked with William Ayers for years.
Republicans served on the very same two committees in which Obama worked with Ayers--the main
"association" between the two.
In fact, it was a panel funded by a wealthy Republican--one of John' McCain's top supporters, no less--which
first hired Bill Ayers to work with Obama.
On October 8th, the McCain camp proudly released its list of a hundred former ambassadors who were
officially endorsing the Republican for president.
Second on that list was Leonore Annenberg, who currently serves as president and chairman for the
Annenberg Foundation. The widow of conservative philanthropist Walter Annenberg, Ms. Annenberg herself
previously had served as "chief of protocol" at the Reagan State Department.
Her Annenberg Foundation was the group that bank-rolled the Chicago education board which hired both
William Ayers and Barack Obama. It is on this board where the two first sat together with others--including
Republican leaders--in the same room a total of six times, to aid needy Chicago schoolchildren.
Others who served on the two Chicago charitable boards at the center of the Obama-Ayers "connection"
include the ex-publisher of the famed conservative newspaper, The Chicago Tribune, officials from banking
giant UBS and multi-national petroleum company BP--whose Political Action Committee (PAC) leans heavily
Republican--and the former head of Northwestern University.
A former GOP lawmaker in Illinois told National Public Radio on Oct. 6th that slandering Obama for mere
board work with Ayers simply is "nonsensical."
"It was never a concern by any of us in the Chicago school reform movement that he had led a fugitive life
years earlier...It's ridiculous," stated Republican Rep. Diana Nelson.
"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," added the Republican.
The son of Thomas Ayers--former head of Commonwealth Edison Company--William Ayers resurfaced years
after his "Weatherman" days to accept a teaching position at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There he
eventually distinguished himself as one of the top school-reform experts in the Second City.
The educator had so completely changed his life by that point that even William Ibershof, chief federal
prosecutor of the Weathermen during the 1970s, recently felt compelled to write an editorial published by The
New York Times on Oct. 10th, in which he stated that Bill Ayers now "has become a responsible citizen."
In fact during the mid-1990s, Ayers was hired by a group of local charities that hoped to talk the Annenberg
Foundation into investing $50 million in ailing Chicago schools. Ayers co-penned its Annenberg application,
which the Republican-headed foundation duly accepted and approved.
Three people spear-headed the drive to get Annenberg to fund the project: MacArthur's Adele Simmons,
Joyce's Deborah Leff and Spencer's Patricia Graham.
All three were impressed with Obama's previous work as a member of the Joyce Board, and hired him to serve
as chairman of the Annenberg effort.
Obama, as chairman, did work with Bill Ayers on that board. So did such others as top Republican Scott Smith,
ex-publisher of the right-wing Chicago Tribune, and current president of Tribune Publishing; industrialist Susan
Crown; former Continental Bank executive Edward Bottum; ex-Northwestern University chief Arnold Weber;
and former University of Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry. Hardly radical types.
Obama and Ayers worked together again on the Woods Fund Board, which aids arts and community groups.
Others who served on that board with Ayers have included the public affairs chief for USB Investment Bank--a
company which is one of the most popular investments for U.S. congressional Republicans, according to The
Center for Responsive Politics--the Midwest community affairs director for BP and Civic Committee of the
Commercial Club President R. Eden Martin.
So Republicans agree with hiring Bill Ayers for important positions, they approve his applications for funding,
they work with him on boards--and they remain firm patriots, who simply work with an education expert who
gave up a violent way of life decades ago. But when Barack Obama--who now stands between the GOP and
four more years of White House rule--does exactly the same thing, he and he alone is proclaimed a "pal of
terrorists".
That is a double standard, pure and simple. It is pure politics, and it doesn't pass the smell test.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Oct. 20th, 2008
With its poll numbers sinking by the day and finding itself simply unable to match its opponent in economic
matters, the Republican McCain/Palin ticket has worked itself into a frenzy trying to morph Senator Barack
Obama (D-IL) into Chicago Weatherman-turned-University of Chicago professor William Ayers' bomb-making,
terrorist soulmate.
The respected senator from Illinois cannot really be 'one of us', a wild-eyed Sarah Palin insists before jingoistic,
hate-spewing crowds.
"I'm afraid this is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to work with a former domestic terrorist
who has targeted his own country," she claimed.
But there's a little problem with this analysis: Republicans have proudly worked with William Ayers for years.
Republicans served on the very same two committees in which Obama worked with Ayers--the main
"association" between the two.
In fact, it was a panel funded by a wealthy Republican--one of John' McCain's top supporters, no less--which
first hired Bill Ayers to work with Obama.
On October 8th, the McCain camp proudly released its list of a hundred former ambassadors who were
officially endorsing the Republican for president.
Second on that list was Leonore Annenberg, who currently serves as president and chairman for the
Annenberg Foundation. The widow of conservative philanthropist Walter Annenberg, Ms. Annenberg herself
previously had served as "chief of protocol" at the Reagan State Department.
Her Annenberg Foundation was the group that bank-rolled the Chicago education board which hired both
William Ayers and Barack Obama. It is on this board where the two first sat together with others--including
Republican leaders--in the same room a total of six times, to aid needy Chicago schoolchildren.
Others who served on the two Chicago charitable boards at the center of the Obama-Ayers "connection"
include the ex-publisher of the famed conservative newspaper, The Chicago Tribune, officials from banking
giant UBS and multi-national petroleum company BP--whose Political Action Committee (PAC) leans heavily
Republican--and the former head of Northwestern University.
A former GOP lawmaker in Illinois told National Public Radio on Oct. 6th that slandering Obama for mere
board work with Ayers simply is "nonsensical."
"It was never a concern by any of us in the Chicago school reform movement that he had led a fugitive life
years earlier...It's ridiculous," stated Republican Rep. Diana Nelson.
"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," added the Republican.
The son of Thomas Ayers--former head of Commonwealth Edison Company--William Ayers resurfaced years
after his "Weatherman" days to accept a teaching position at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There he
eventually distinguished himself as one of the top school-reform experts in the Second City.
The educator had so completely changed his life by that point that even William Ibershof, chief federal
prosecutor of the Weathermen during the 1970s, recently felt compelled to write an editorial published by The
New York Times on Oct. 10th, in which he stated that Bill Ayers now "has become a responsible citizen."
In fact during the mid-1990s, Ayers was hired by a group of local charities that hoped to talk the Annenberg
Foundation into investing $50 million in ailing Chicago schools. Ayers co-penned its Annenberg application,
which the Republican-headed foundation duly accepted and approved.
Three people spear-headed the drive to get Annenberg to fund the project: MacArthur's Adele Simmons,
Joyce's Deborah Leff and Spencer's Patricia Graham.
All three were impressed with Obama's previous work as a member of the Joyce Board, and hired him to serve
as chairman of the Annenberg effort.
Obama, as chairman, did work with Bill Ayers on that board. So did such others as top Republican Scott Smith,
ex-publisher of the right-wing Chicago Tribune, and current president of Tribune Publishing; industrialist Susan
Crown; former Continental Bank executive Edward Bottum; ex-Northwestern University chief Arnold Weber;
and former University of Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry. Hardly radical types.
Obama and Ayers worked together again on the Woods Fund Board, which aids arts and community groups.
Others who served on that board with Ayers have included the public affairs chief for USB Investment Bank--a
company which is one of the most popular investments for U.S. congressional Republicans, according to The
Center for Responsive Politics--the Midwest community affairs director for BP and Civic Committee of the
Commercial Club President R. Eden Martin.
So Republicans agree with hiring Bill Ayers for important positions, they approve his applications for funding,
they work with him on boards--and they remain firm patriots, who simply work with an education expert who
gave up a violent way of life decades ago. But when Barack Obama--who now stands between the GOP and
four more years of White House rule--does exactly the same thing, he and he alone is proclaimed a "pal of
terrorists".
That is a double standard, pure and simple. It is pure politics, and it doesn't pass the smell test.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
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