William Ayers Citizen of the Year

Chicago's Citizen of the Year and Waukesha's Man of the Hour
By Sally Pla
Friday, Oct 10 2008, 12:26 PM

In a Letter to the Editor in today's New York Times, William C. Ibershof,
chief prosecutor of William Ayers and the Weather Underground in the 1970s,
expressed outrage that McCain/Palin are deliberately misleading the public
about the nature of Ayers' history in relation to Barack Obama's charitable
work in Chicago.

The chief prosecutor wrote of those events that brought Ayers to trial 40
years ago: "Although I dearly wanted to obtain convictions against all the
Weathermen, including Bill Ayers, I am very pleased . . . that he has
become a responsible citizen." In the 40 years since those radical
activities, which occurred when Obama was eight years old, Ayers has gone on
to become a productive citizen, helping to promote public education, and
even earning the distinction of Chicago's Citizen of the Year for his
charitable work. William C. Ibershof also corrects a charge in the Times: "I
do take issue with the statement in your news article that the Weathermen
indictment was dismissed because of 'prosecutorial misconduct.' It was
dismissed because of illegal activities, including wiretaps, break-ins and
mail interceptions, initiated by John N. Mitchell, attorney general at that
time, and W. Mark Felt, an F.B.I. assistant director."

And so, upon what, exactly, are McCain/Palin basing their muckraking and
slander?

When McCain/Palin come to Waukesha and throw around terms like "palling
around with terrorists," they are resorting to the lowest form of
fearmongering. And when the conservative audiences in Waukesha and Ohio
shout slogans and chants such as "Kill him!" "Kill him!" and "Off with his
head!" and "Treason!" and "Terrorist!" while McCain, sits back and smiles,
what are we to think of his integrity, his sense of ethics, his sense of
justice and fair play? McCain evidently no longer has any of these
qualities. What on earth has happened to John McCain?

Was this a Republican rally, or a Ku Klux Klan rally? From certain reports I
have heard, one could hardly tell the difference.

Filed under: Obama, Ayers, McCain/Palin, Waukesha
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Comments
Victor Ponelis
Every time I've seen Obama mention McCain at a rally, he begins my noting
his service to country, which gets APPLAUSE FOR MCCAIN from the Obama
supporters. He then, of course, goes on the say McCain is wrong. He DOES
NOT say he is a religious fanatic, because he was endorsed by Hagee; he DOES
NOT call him a terrorist, because he enjoys the support and friendship of
convicted psycho G. Gordon Liddy. No...Obama sticks to message, and does
not engage in ad hominem attacks. McCain is so desparate, that his has to
resort to dangerous name calling. I saw a film clip from the Waukesha
rally...someone exclaimed they couldn't believe Obama, "a socialist" , could
win. How will this citizen react when Obama becomes president? When Bush
won in 2000, I thought, well, have to give the guy a chance. Will said
citizen give Obama a chance? Or will the Amy Geiger-Hemmer's of the world
so poison his mind that his only thoughts will border on murderous treason?

Now, much as I'd love to hand out with my fellow lefty-bloggers plotting
one-world government this afternoon, I have other things to do. THIS
liberal takes vacation days to do elder care for my in-laws...both of whom
remember the Depression, btw, and both of whom are voting Obama.

October 10, 2008 1:26 PM
MC Pickard
James David Adkisson. Remember him? We have good reasons to fear when we
hear the drum beat of fanaticism from conservatives at rallies like his.

October 10, 2008 1:41 PM
Jeff Blackwell
This is an excellent point Sally.

It's not often remembered that during the time of the Weathermen the United
States government was routinely breaking federal laws in order to suppress
legitimate dissent against the war on Vietnam.

I am not defending the violent actions of anyone, but it was a time of
intense distrust of the institutions of government, which were using
violence by law enforcement for political purposes.

Ayers has spent many years in service to the city of Chicago and its
neediest citizens. He never asked to be part of this campaign.

The behavior of the McCain campaign is driving away moderate Republicans and
independents in droves. He will be left with the base - enraged and foaming
at the mouth. His campaign will be remembered as one of the worst of the
worst - incompetent AND disgraceful.

I would really like to believe McCain's campaign represents the end of the
Rove era.

October 10, 2008 4:24 PM
Sally Pla
Thankyou for your excellent perspectives on this.

I can't tell you how troubled I am at the behavior of Palin, whipping up the
crowds in Waukesha and Ohio into an evil frenzy of racism and bigotry
couched in careful terms such as "he's not like us."

This is despicable.I expect better of John McCain. If this is an example of
what he allows under his leadership, he is politically moribund.

October 10, 2008 8:10 PM
Chris Tarr
The irony?

Sarah Palin is the one who's not like us.

October 10, 2008 10:10 PM
Sally Pla
Here here. I am with you, Chris.

David Gergen last night on the news made some very strong objections to the
new worrisome tone of the McCain/Palin campaign, calling it "Rabblerousing."
Gergen expressed great concern that this was the last thing the country
needs. We have an economic crisis. We need to pull together and work toward
solutions. We are all going to be shoveling out of this hole by working
together. We'd better start now. These divisive McCain/Palin tactics are
Anti-American, if you ask me.

October 10, 2008 10:37 PM
Chris Tarr
Not only are they anti-American, but they go against any Christian principle
that I'm familiar with. Do unto others, and all that...

October 10, 2008 11:01 PM
referee33
In the latest newsletter that we got from the church we attend in AZ in the
winter was this story - how appropriate.

An old Cherokee told his grandson about the battle between two 'wolves'
inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance,
self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority,
ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility,
kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, faith.

The grandson thought about what he had heard for a while and then asked his
grandfather which 'wolf' won.

The grandfather replied......The one you feed!

Which one are YOU feeding?

October 11, 2008 10:46 AM
Sally Pla
I love that story - thanks referee.

October 11, 2008 11:24 AM
Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer
OK, let's make Weatherman domestic terrorist Bill Ayers out to be a hero.
No problem! It is too funny how only liberals come on other liberal
websites and applaud each other. Then they go to one or two conservative
sites and the venom comes out. Isn't that like a "gang bang"?

As for McCain rallies - very few people actually shout "kill kill kill". A
few misguided might, but the majority do not follow along, myself included.
Any nasty stuff regarding McCain/Palin at pro-Obama rallies? I think so -
but the left would never admit it. Double-standard - yes?

As for ethics, integrity, fair play and justice - McCain leads the pack.
Obama doesn't know the meaning of the words. Why not any talk of Obama and
ACORN? How ACORN is intent on insuring that Obama win this election by
massive voter fraud? Yes, even the mainstream media cannot ignore this much
more! It was actually in today's Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel (buried within
the paper, but at least they ran a story on it). Obama, former lawyer for
ACORN. Obama, former ACORN worker. Obama, funneling $800,000 to ACORN from
the Senate to do his dirty work. What integrity! How fair! Think of all
the votes McCain will have to have just to cancel out the cheating.
Hopefully, people who apply common sense in their daily lives will rise to
the occasion and vote McCain and Palin in.

October 11, 2008 4:08 PM
Chris Tarr
Amy-

Please show us where anyone made Ayers out to be a hero.

October 11, 2008 11:17 PM
Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer
Chris: From Sally's post: "Ayers has gone on to become a productive
citizen, helping to promote public education, and even earning the
distinction of Chicago's Citizen of the Year for his charitable work."

Sounds like the left is tooting Ayers horn, no? But that's OK, Chris, I
understand how liberals such as yourself and need to make Bill Ayers out to
be a great guy. After all, Obama couldn't have any terrorist friends in his
background - people might start to wonder!

October 12, 2008 8:44 AM
LiberalHammer
Amy - It's telling when "conservatives" like yourself, with a blog, do not
go out of their way to write a blog denouncing the "few" rightwingers who
have said "kill him', "Off with his head" and call him a "terrorist".

Your silence from your blog about this, and your place in the rightwing
blogosphere, speaks volumes that you'll do whatever it takes to win your
ends-justify the means.

If that means stoking the flames of bigotry and hatred, it seems that you
will remain silent.

I didn't think you could get any lower than using "charity and
volunterism" as a weapon against liberals to further your personal agenda,
which you did admit to.

Obvioulsy, your silent and tacit approval of this mob mentality proves
that you can go even lower.

October 12, 2008 10:40 AM
Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer
LiberalHammer: What spin! I do not need to write a blog devoted to
denouncing the supposed few who cried out "kill" and "off with his head" in
reference to Obama at McCain/Palin rallies. These cries were supposedly
from a small handful of people and do not deserve any attention. Why keep
giving it to them? The majority of people out there do not agree with such
extreme hatred, including myself. Just because I do not devote an entire
blog to such horrible behavior does not in any way mean I agree with it. I
don't. Write a blog on it yourself - you have a blog site under another
name, so you do have access.

I also think the left is promoting a double-standard here. Many
McCain/Palin rallies have been interrupted by protesters from the left. And
I am sure they are not all screaming kind, compassionate words. Let's get
real. Do you really believe that at Obama/Biden rallies no terrible words
are heard in reference to John McCain or Sarah Palin? Having never been to
an Obama/Biden rally, I wouldn't know, but judging from the hatred coming
from the left for McCain and Palin, I would not be surprised.

Also, I am wondering if Sally was indeed present at the McCain/Palin rally
where these hateful words were yelled. It doesn't appear so. Yet, how does
she know how many people actually said such things? It sounds as though she
is writing from second-hand knowledge. If so, I'd wonder who her sources
are - liberals? Or Republicans who were indeed actually present? The
liberals would have us believe, as Sally said, this was similar to a KKK
rally, which i think is a huge stretch. But, lefties will always take the
extreme if it suits their purpose. I take this post with a huge grain of
salt.

October 12, 2008 12:50 PM
LiberalHammer
Amy - "Write a blog on it yourself - you have a blog site under another
name, so you do have access."

What's my other name? I wasn't aware I had a blog on another site. Have you
been spying on me and doing web searches? What do you really know?

As far at obama rallies I have never heard the words "kill him", "off with
his head", "terrorist", "soicalist" "go get him!", etc.... please find some
evidence of this from an Obama Rally or a 1st ademendment protected
protests, and I will denounce left-wing hate speech, with you from my
imganery blog with my other name.

Hate speach and threats of viloence have no place in politics and in our
American democratic republic.

I am glad you don't condone this speach, but

As I said and you just admited you are not willing from your Blog puplit
from your place in the rightwing blogosphere to condmen this speech.

October 12, 2008 1:20 PM
LiberalHammer
Amy - You got me, I live in merry old england.

I implore people on these blog's to web search "liberalhammer".

I hate your american football.

October 12, 2008 1:25 PM
Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer
Actually, if people are calling Obama a "socialist" at McCain/Palin rallies,
I do agree. That is the truth. However, I disagree that there have been
nothing but kind words for McCain/Palin at Obama rallies. It's just common
sense that there would be a few extremists from both sides, that spew
hateful rhetoric towards McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden - but as far as I can
tell they are a very small minority. Not worth mentioning.

Again, LiberalHammer - I don't need you telling me what I am supposed to
write for my blogs. As for your other blog name, I have it from another
source that when researching where comments/posts are coming from there are
certain similarities that are hard to ignore. It is easy to send in
comments from two, three, four, etc. different computers under two (or three
or four) different monikers. My best bet is that this is actually
happening on the livinglakecountry.com website. If you are indeed not
posting as more than one person, my apologies. If you are posting as more
than one person, I could care less, but I wonder why you have to resort to
that and hide behind multiple blog names. Is it an effort to lead people to
believe that there are more than five liberals in Lake Country besides Jeff,
Sally, MC, Chris and Victor? Don't get all bent out of shape about it.
Like I said, doesn't bother me. Just wonder what the point is.

October 12, 2008 4:46 PM
LiberalHammer
Amy - I am from the Britian in name only.

Don't apologize. Speak the truth.

October 12, 2008 9:43 PM
LiberalHammer
Amy - I'm not bent out of shape your paranio is funny.

October 13, 2008 10:43 AM
MC Pickard
LMFAO! Wow that's a good laugh. Amy states that "it's just common sense that
there would be a few extremists from both sides, that spew hateful rhetoric"
yet given the chance on her blog all she cares about doing is branding all
liberals as "destructive to America" like terrorists. You know, like who
said what... blah blah blah

Please please please stop it! My irony meter can not take it!

October 13, 2008 2:05 PM
Sally Pla
Hi Amy,

I object to you saying there are only five liberals in Lake Country.

Why, there must be at LEAST six or seven of us! :-)

October 13, 2008 6:24 PM
Chris Tarr
I can tell you that Amy is one of the only extremist right-wingers in Lake
Country. I know many conservatives, and nobody espouses the extreme views
that Amy spews forth. Kind of makes me wonder what her agenda really is
sometimes. I'm betting there are plenty of conservatives who'd stand up and
say that Amy certainly doesn't speak for them.

October 13, 2008 6:48 PM
Chris Tarr
Amy-

"After all, Obama couldn't have any terrorist friends in his background -
people might start to wonder!"

That's what you apparently don't understand. People have wondered. They've
done the research. They've found that it's all smoke and no fire. No
matter how hard you try to pull the Obama=Terrorist card, it won't change
the facts. There is nothing there. I understand that you're desperate. I
understand you're willing to say anything to discredit Obama. But the truth
is that it's much ado about nothing. Sorry to disappoint.

October 13, 2008 6:54 PM
Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer
Sally: OK, I amend my comment to say that there are at least 6 or 7
liberals out there in Lake Country!

October 14, 2008 7:22 AM
Chris Tarr
And, you'd still be wrong.

October 14, 2008 7:34 AM
Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer
Chris: Obama doesn't need me to discredit him. There are many, many people
out there questioning Obama's actual ties to very dangerous people. How
Obama tends to champion Venezuela and China over America. How Obama wants
to meet with rogue leaders without preconditions. How inexperienced Obama
is. How Obama is tied in with ACORN and voter fraud. How Obama disses our
troops and wants to lose in Iraq. How Obama will raise taxes like never
before - even though he is "promising" not to. Yes, this coming from a man
who has never met a tax hike he didn't vote for! Do you understand that,
Chris? The list could go on and on. All one has to do is really examine
Obama's past, which the mainstream media is refusing to do. Continue to
drink the Obama Kool-Aid Chris. All is well in the world....


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