FACTCHECK.ORG

"He Lied" About Bill Ayers?

McCain cranks out some false and misleading attacks on Obama's connection to a 1960s radical.

By Viveca Novak and Brooks Jackson | factcheck.org
Oct 10, 2008 | Updated: 7:33  p.m. ET Oct 10, 2008

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  • Posted By: margee @ 11/01/2008 5:22:43 PM

    It is absurd for factcheck.org to take up for Obama at this point. I do not have to listen to McCain's ads either. The story has played out for the American people for quite some time now if you have been paying attention. I heard Wright's hate spewing from his mouth. I've heard the same hate from Ayers. I heard Obama say Wright was like one of his own family. Etc., Etc. on and on...the puzzle pieces all fit closely together and it is frightening. I am voting for McCain.

  • Posted By: FloridaGirlinJax @ 10/31/2008 4:08:02 PM

    McCain and Palin should be charged with inciting possible riots and hate crimes. The hateful descriptive language Palin continuously uses to mislead the American Voters should be considered criminal. The misleading and false statements made by Palin in relation to Obama's association with the Annenberg Challenge and therefore with Bill Ayers, such as "Radical" and "Pals" around with ???Domestic Terrorists??? in concert with also using Obama???s middle name, is specifically intended to lead the public to a ill-logical conclusion that Obama then too must be a Domestic Terrorist. McCain and Palin better pray that their irresponsible language does not motivate some truly imbalanced conservative follower to do something truly Radical which the World shall forever regret. Obama is truly an inspiring man. McCain should be ashamed, very ashamed. McCain and Palin should be charged with Hate Crimes! AND TO JUST GAIN POWER. And they profess to be Christians! Obama is the true Christian, after all of there false accusation and name calling, he is the one who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, who taught us to turn our cheek.

  • Posted By: VoterinPA @ 10/29/2008 4:34:21 PM

    I just spoke with an Obama supporter. She was obviously unaware of the Florida journalist's question to Joe Biden because I asked if she agreed with the motto "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". The Obama supporter said that she felt that this was "fair". Wake up America - the "shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere" is about to have a power outage.

  • Posted By: northcarolinaSTATE08 @ 10/22/2008 11:11:38 PM

    Yo think4yourself, obviously you need to go back to high school and learn some correct grammar. Ayers needs an apostrophe there bud.

    On a different note, I believe Obama was 8 years old when he (Ayers) conducted his acts of terrorism against the USA. I guess that makes sense, I know when I was 8 years old i definitely was "palling" around with terrorists. This is just another attempt to distract people from the real issues. I mean open up your minds people, don't your realize that McCain is attacking your intelligence with these ads? My Lord, if you honestly think Obama is a terrorist you've got to be an idiot. He is the epitome of the American dream, McCain on the other hand is just another spoiled, rich bastard that cares about no one but himself (that is evident from his infidelity to his previous wife, his VP choice, and the fact he owns 8 FREAKING HOUSES!).

    • Posted By: jidlo @ 10/28/2008 9:45:16 AM

      oObama may have been 8 years old when Ayer's done his dirty deeds but he is still the same person today he was then and admits it take off the blinders and open your eyes.

  • Posted By: jidlo @ 10/28/2008 9:40:01 AM

    McCain did not lie about Ayers. He is a self proclaimed terrorist that should have got the death penalty but did not because of court mistake of proceedure. the anti-americans who can't seem to wait to be a communist America. Believe me you so called radicules will like it one bit when you get it. You will have noone to blam but yourselves

  • Posted By: Republican dog @ 10/24/2008 12:31:47 PM

    You can say that McCain and his campaign are tellling lies about Barack Obama's association the Ayers and Wright arent long standing or significant, but that is to deny reality. You want the Messiah in the White House and therefore your efforts are designed to protect him and that means you fail to examine these associations adequately or ignore them altogether!

  • Posted By: Republican dog @ 10/24/2008 12:29:31 PM

    I think the majority of the news organizations are protecting Obama and refuse to disclose the obvious long standing relationship Obama had with Ayers. The same is true for Reverant Wright. No doubt about it. Details are well known, but are closely guarded by the press who will stop at nothing to protect the Messiah!

  • Posted By: ken from Alabama @ 10/23/2008 6:36:29 PM

    Ayers in a radio interview . ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yq7BY8_Tg8

  • Posted By: ken from Alabama @ 10/23/2008 6:24:17 PM

    This is something that some of you want to check out in Hillary's own words.
    ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=112KQfOuOcc

  • Posted By: krohn2 @ 10/22/2008 5:09:10 PM

    FactCheck.Org is owned by the Annenberg group of Chicago! Talk about a conflict of interest! And Obama has been telling people on the trail to check out the site to verify his opponents claims. Funny, every time that he endorsed something, it turns out to be a part of his spin machine! Like he raised objections in the primaries when Indiana required photo I.D. to vote. He Protested that It took away people's right to vote! I
    knew then and there that he was up to no good! America, wake up from the MASS HYPNOSIS!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWTs1YyhFRg&feature=related

  • Posted By: think4yourself @ 10/22/2008 4:09:13 PM

    He also lies about not really knowing the guy. HELLO HE WROTE AND OP-ED PIECE FOR ONE OF AYERS BOOKS. The Chicago Tribune covered it. But the media wont. SHAMEFUL!!!

    Proproganda at its finest. THE GESTAPO WOULD BE PROUD.

  • Posted By: crave @ 10/22/2008 3:10:10 PM

    Why does Obama still not post where all his donations come from? What is he hiding? The people of America have a right to know the honest, true donations and before the elections

  • Posted By: sissyt @ 10/22/2008 8:08:37 AM

    How can White america be so stubborn, especially the rural areas, they believe everything they hear without reading, they say they read the bible, Now that is BULL.! Rural white america is stil stuck in 1952, they think everyone is under them and they should call the shots. well God is bigger than that attitude and america, real america, can read. your old ways, even with mccain in office. we stil see the truth your a racist, classist bigot. just hte rest of your founding fathers KROHNS Read sometime, stop listening to just fox news. move to alaska. (sorry alaska) but forgotds sake grow up This isn't about you anymore it is about people who have lost everything so you can keep your 400 k aig spa treats.

  • Posted By: r_doss @ 10/21/2008 4:28:43 PM

    John McCain is rightly accused of continuing the disastrous Bush policies. In 2004 he embraced Bush and campaigned vigorously for him. And in his own words, he "supported George Bush 90% of the time." Now he claims to be running on his own. But which McCain would we get as president? He changes from day to day, but he will continue the pamper the rich tax policies of the Shrub. The hell with that!

  • Posted By: krohn2 @ 10/21/2008 12:25:26 AM

    This is so true about how the election is already bought and paid for:
    http://www.againstobama.com/2008/10/what-is-it-that-barack-obama-knows-that-the-rest-of-us-don%E2%80%99t/#comment-1929

  • Posted By: Nins @ 10/20/2008 4:56:32 PM

    William F. Buckley's son, Christopher Buckley, who is a conservative Republican like his Dad, is supporting Barack Obama for President.

    Christopher Buckley was forced to resign from the right wing National Review over this endorsement. Chris has written a conservative column for years at the National Review, the journal his father founded. Chris has been a poster boy for the Republican party ever since his father, in a 1985 speech to Ronald Reagan, said that his son Christopher lived in a world of freedom thanks to the fact that the USA had not been afraid to use nuclear bombs in Japan and so end WWII.

    Twenty three years later, many prominent Republicans, including Christopher Buckley, Kathleen Parker, Susan Eisenhower and Colin Powell have come out in support of Barack Obama. Their primary reason for doing so is that they feel that Obama is the better candidate. But just as importantly, they are concerned by the growing tendency of the GOP to incite the masses based on false charges of terrorism, Muslim roots, etc. These lies feed a dark form of social unrest that is very destructive for America. (Look what it did in Nazi Germany.) They also all pointed to the inadequate choice of Sarah Palin as John's VP. These are prominent right wing Republicans speaking, not liberal Democrats.

    And while I am not prominent, I too am a Republican who is voting for Obama.

    Christopher Buckley's article about why he decided to support Obama:

    http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-14/sorry-dad-i-was-fired

    • Posted By: krohn2 @ 10/20/2008 11:35:27 PM

      Bull! you are just another Obama Camp employee blogger with your predictable, formula responses that have gotten so transparent and tired. Devoid of any creativity! These are some examples of the typical posts that might come from your nefarious organization:
      "White senior female supporting Obama!"
      "Life long Republican, retired Marine, now supporting Obama!"
      "Former Neo-Nazi sympathizer who now supports Obama!"
      The only line of attack that your camp has had is to say that people don't want more of the last eight years. And attempting to tie McCain to the Bush Administration because he happens to be a member of the same party! Talk about scare tactics! The Obama administration can't offer any solutions or plans that it's administration will do for America because it does not have any! It can only point to the Bush administration and say, " Nobody could be as bad as that guy, so you should vote for me, because I look good by comparison! And since John McCain is a member of the same party as that big bad boogy man Bush, it might remind you of the last eight years!" So, with that logic, you might as well say, " Vote for me because the nightmares of the Bush administration will come back to haunt you otherwise. It does not matter that I could be worse than any president in history. At least I am a fresh new face and I speak well from a teleprompter and look good in a suit. In other words, I am a poster boy president and the sight of me and my charismatic rhetoric will make the world heal and everyone will come together and sing Cumbayah!" God save America! The superficiality of this shallow culture of " American idol-esque" nonsense is just sickening!

  • Posted By: krohn2 @ 10/20/2008 8:55:08 PM

    Obama, the excuses are wearing thin. what excuse do you have for this one?:
    http://www.againstobama.com/2008/10/obama-praised-searing-and-timely-book-by-ayers/

  • Posted By: johnnyr51 @ 10/20/2008 4:02:58 PM

    RevRon - you are one sick dude. The scripture does not state "of Muslim descent". You are a liar and a servant of the devil if there is one. It says he will come form "the east" and that could be India, China, or New Zealand. Let's see - who gathered all around his "god-given" attack of Iraq? Who, when he is in power would destroy everything? Only one : W. Bush

    • Posted By: Nins @ 10/20/2008 5:02:30 PM

      Actually, Johhny, RevRon is quoting JimJohnson's earlier post about Revelations, and saying that Jim is frightful for posting this.

      A similar blog was posted by Notsoquietmajority, who said that in Chapter 13 of Revelations Obama is predicted as a sweet talking Muslim who would destructively rule the world for 42 months, leading to Armageddon.

      The King James Version of the the Bible makes NO MENTION of "Muslims" nor of "42 months" in Chapter 13 of Revelations.

      Here is the full text:

      http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/rev013.htm

      JimJohnson and Notsoquietmajority, you should be ASHAMED of yourself for intentionally mis-quoting the Bible to further your political agenda. Absolutely ashamed.

      You have lost all credibility on this blog site.

  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 10/17/2008 8:00:01 PM

    McCain is connected to Nazi supporters and Central American death squads.. so says
    FoxNews and Washington Post (two Republican News publishers)

    http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/07/attention-ayers-renew-focus-mccains-iran-contra-connection/

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/07/AR2008100700025.html

    The old guy has a long infamous past.

    • Posted By: Nins @ 10/20/2008 4:55:45 PM

      Not to mention that McCain is friends with G. Gordon Liddy, who went to jail during the Watergate scandal.

      Not that I personally care if McCain hangs out with Liddy. But McCain wants to play the guilt by association game, and people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

  • Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 10/18/2008 9:45:18 PM

    Everyone of voting age should read these two books written by Obama, 'Dreams of My Father' and 'Audacity of Hope'. Don't buy them, get them from the library before they are removed from the shelves.

    From 'Dreams of My Father', "I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites."

    From 'Dreams of My Father', "'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race."

    From 'Dreams of My Father', "There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white."

    From 'Dreams of My Father', "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names."

    From 'Dreams of My Father', "I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself , the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela."

    And FINALLY the Most Damning one of ALL of them!!!

    From 'Audacity of Hope', "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

    • Posted By: Nins @ 10/20/2008 4:53:32 PM

      Jim, as usual you are trying to twist a fact to make it mean something different.

      Your quotes from Obama's books are more or less accurate, but they are taken completely out of context. In Dreams from my Father, Obama writes at length about how he went through an adolescent period of rebellion and identity crisis. He spent some time identifying with his black heritage and feeling how victimized blacks have been. If you read the whole book, you will see how he realized that it was immature for him to stay stuck in these feelings. He realized that he needed to do something constructive, rather than complain about other people being destructive. And he needed to see both sides of the story, both black and white, since he is both black and white. Actually, Jim, you could take a lesson from that and learn how to be more objective.

      You quote from Audacity of Hope is taken from a speech Obama gave after 9/11. He said that if the US government starts rounding up Muslims without cause and without giving them due process of law, that he would stand up for the Muslims rather than just watch our government put them in prison camps like we did to the Japanese Americans in WWII. In fact, the Bush administration created it's own internment camp and called it Guantanamo Bay. While there are certainly many guilty terrorists held in Guantanamo, there are also many innocent American citizens who have been held illegally for years without even being charged with any crime. They have been tortured by our government. Some of them have died.

      Recently the Supreme Court ruled against the Bush administration in the matter of Guantanamo Bay. The Supreme Court Justices were NOT on the side of the terrorists. They were on the side of the Geneva Convention, that says you can not torture POWs, and on the side of US laws that state you can not imprison a person without charging them with a crime and bringing them to trial. I'm sure that like most Americans, the Justices who voted against the illegal, immoral doings at Guantanamo did not feel sympathy for the terrorists. They felt sympathy for the laws of AMERICA, the land of the FREE, where even rat finks get a fair trial.

      One of the things that makes America GREAT is Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press. Your blog implies that if McCain wins the Presidency, Obama's books will be banned from public libraries. Heaven helps us! If this is true, it would be one heck of a reason to vote against McCain. Come to think of it, Sarah Palin tried to ban books from the Wasilla Public Library, and fired the Head Librarian when she refused to comply. Maybe it is true.

      God save us from small minded people like you, Jim Johnson.

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