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Nov
7
McCain and Palin demanded to “know the full extent” of the Obama-Ayers “relationship” so that they can know if Obama, as Palin put it, “is telling the truth to the American people or not.”
This is just plain stupid.
Obama has continually been asked to defend something that ought to be at democracy’s heart: the importance of talking to as many people as possible in this complicated and wildly diverse society, of listening with the possibility of learning something new, and of speaking with the possibility of persuading or influencing others.
The McCain-Palin attacks not only involved guilt by association, they also assumed that one must apply a political litmus test to begin a conversation.
On Oct. 4, Palin described her supporters as those who “see America as the greatest force for good in this world” and as a “beacon of light and hope for others who seek freedom and democracy.” But Obama, she said, “Is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America.” In other words, there are “real” Americans — and then there are the rest of us.
In a robust and sophisticated democracy, political leaders—and all of us—ought to seek ways to talk with many people who hold dissenting, or even radical, ideas. Lacking that simple and yet essential capacity to question authority, we might still be burning witches and enslaving our fellow human beings today.
I’m pleased to say that this is exactly what I was telling people a week or ten or 14 days ago when I started to get questions about what I thought of the “Khalidi tape” and the suggestions people were making about Obama and Khalidi. I repeated the exact same thing just last night and just this afternoon and before that, in D.C. on election day:
Anyone who doesn’t engage with friends or acquaintances who hold opinions different than from their own is someone who seeks to only reinforce their world view and a world view that, by definition, never expands, never changes and fails to reflect the reality that is this country of 300 million. I cannot imagine living a life in which I didn’t and couldn’t and wasn’t supposed to befriend people who have different opinions – even radically different opinions – from me.
There are few things more depressing to me than that notion.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:51 pm November 7th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, John McCain, Sarah Palin, WH2008
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9 Responses to “Bill Ayers speaks”
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I suppose it doesnt matter now, but I still think it is reasonable to question it. It wasnt they had different viewpoints – Ayers is obviously anti-American and he is a terrorist who tried to kill police but now runs to them for protection.
It isnt like two friends who hang out and disagree on say abortion or gay rights.
Obama’s association with Ayers was a mistake.
I could do without Ayers pearls of wisdom…
Ben, even if someone were to agree with your labeling of Ayers, all it does is demonstrate how truly diverse and accepting our country is people all along the political spectrum. Either that, or an enormous failure of Homeland Security to find a way to protect us all from him.
Oh – wait. He’s not a danger.
Likewise Oengus – I’ll decide for myself how important an association is, whether it’s a mistake or not worth keeping my vote from that person.
Absolute, total, distraction with no return on investment.
“Ayers is obviously anti-American”
And see, that sentence is the problem. Ben knows nothing about the 60’s when Ayers did his dirty deeds. I felt the same way as Ayers then….I just never acted out on those feelings. Millions of Americans felt the same way as Ayers felt then. It was a different time.
Ayers redeemed himself and continues to contribute to the betterment of America. There’s nothing anti-American about him, obvious or otherwise.
I agree with every word Ayers wrote in the portion Jill posted.
He got off on a technicality, the war ended the draft ended, what else did he have to revolt against?
He was a fugitive that turned himself in and then got off on a technicality.
To embrace Ayers is much the same as Ayers embracing the communists. It is going too far and you can if you choose, I will not follow, and I am not stupid I am actually smarter.
The difference between dissenting and being disloyal.
Sure you can listen to the man and Obama did and he also discounted him…publicly.
Perhaps that is why Ayers is making public statements, perhaps the university is unable to keep up with all the letters they are getting, perhaps his enrolment for his classes are down?
Blaming the republicans is like shooting the messenger, they are guilty of overstating their point, which belittle the argument.
Saying Ayers is not a bad person is like saying Manson only had bad childhood. I draw the line on forgiveness when it comes to people dieing.
I think a person’s friends says something about the person.
Not a danger? Since he isn’t bombing any more? Or at least supporting bombing? And I don’t think many people are too accepting of that part of the political spectrum. How about if someone were to repeat his acts today? Or in a couple of months? If you are pissed at your government, do you condone trying to murder police officers or politicians? What if someone were to decide to plant bombs at the capital now? Or during the next adminstration and congress? IS that an acceptable form of protest? Then you must be accepting of the bombing of abortion clinics as acceptable protest?
My brother is police officer; people like Ayers are dangerous. He may not be planting bombs to murder soldiers and police officers now, but he could sure be using his academic influence to inspire students in his classes.
However, I am sure you think that crucifying Joe the Plumber was the right thing to do. Liberals are no different than any other idealogues. Freedom of speech as long as you say what I agree with… all liberals, conservatives, etc think that way. So… investigate the Joe story but the Ayers and Khalidi things were just noise?? How typically lopsided.
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