TresSugar

Palin Shows Guilt-By-Association Attacks Often Hypocritical

LibertySugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0700

Sarah Palin has been painting Barack Obama as unpatriotic lately, bringing up Obama's acquaintance with William Ayers, a current college professor and former member of the Weather Underground, a radical organization that wanted to end the Vietnam War through acts of domestic terrorism when Obama was eight-years-old.

But the McCain/Palin ticket has dubious associations of its own. One example: Palin's connection to the separatist Alaskan Independence Party, founded by Joe Volgar who died buying explosives and said while alive: "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government." Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. wrote about the apparent hypocrisy yesterday:

If McCarthy-era guilt-by-association is once again a valid political consideration, Palin, it would seem, has more to lose than Obama. Palin, it could be argued, following her own logic, thinks so little of America's perfection that she continues to "pal around" with a man -her husband, actually - who only recently terminated his seven-year membership in the Alaskan Independence Party. Putting plunder above patriotism, the members of this treasonous cabal aim to break our country into pieces and walk away with Alaska's rich federal oil fields and one-fifth of America's land base - an area three-fourths the size of the Civil War Confederacy. AIP's charter commits the party "to the ultimate independence of Alaska," from the United States which it refers to as "the colonial bureaucracy in Washington." It proclaims Alaska's 1959 induction as a state "as illegal and in violation of the United Nations charter and international law."

To find out about Palin's ties, as recent as this year, read more.

Palin attended the AIP's 1993 convention, which called for a draft succession constitution. She also attended in 2000, gave the keynote in 2006, and greeted the convention via video this year.

Based on this information, RFK, Jr. continued his repudiation of the Ayers line of attack arguing: "So when Palin accuses Barack of 'not seeing the same America as you and me,' maybe she is referring to an America without Alaska. In any case, isn't it time the media start giving equal time to Palin's buddy list of anti-American bombers and other radical associates."

The boomerang effect of Palin's criticisms are reminiscent of McCain's attempt to tie Obama to the mortgage giants, while 26 of McCain's advisers or fundraisers, including his campaign chair, have financial ties. If voters want to know about Obama's strained ties to Ayers, will they care more about Palin's connection to Alaska radicals?

Obama, Palin, and the Ayers Story - Palling With Terrorists?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:00:21 -0700

While the Boss played a set on the streets of Philadelphia in support of Obama over the weekend, Sarah Palin played to a packed house at the Home Depot Center.

Palin had some strong words for Obama in regard to his connection with controversial Weathermen founder, William Ayers. Palin said of Obama's connection with the man whose group launched a campaign of bombings targeting the Pentagon and United States Capitol that Obama was someone who viewed the US "as being so imperfect . . . he is palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."

Just what is the relationship between Obama and Ayers? The New York Times ran a piece this weekend in an effort to explain just that - but that explanation is drawing criticisms for leaving out crucial facts and downplaying the relationship. To see the two sides, read more.

The Times piece paints a picture of sporadically crossed paths and circumstance, a relationship devoid of deep meaning. They quote Obama's explanation of Ayers as, “somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8.” The investigation draws a conclusion that the "two men do not appear to have been close." It also acknowledges that since 2002, there has been an apparent effort on Obama's part to not consort with Ayers, who once said, “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough,” publicly.

The criticism starts with a changed title and continues to note instances where information and documentation was provided to the Times, including key supposed proof that showed Ayers was directly involved in the formation of the board of an education organization on which Obama served as chairman, but it was ignored. Questions also arise regarding grant money from the organization Obama and Ayers had in common - to fund projects by Ayers' former radical associates. Capping off the critique of the Times piece is the efforts made toward emphasizing the fact that Ayers is now rehabilitated.

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Fox News Won't Air Anti-Obama Ad, Time For a Real Debate?

LibertySugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:30:06 -0700

Fox News says it won't air an ad connecting Barack Obama to a 1960s radical William Ayers. The ad was produced by American Issues Project which happens to have a board member who was paid as a McCain consultant until July 2007. Thanks to its nonprofit status, AIP can spend an unlimited amount of money. Election experts worry that the ad is illegal because it advocates a candidate, which cannot be done with nonprofit funds. Fox News did accidentally air a portion of the ad, but even a nominal rejection signals that ads like these are starting to raise eyebrows.

Ayers is a college professor and former member of the Weather Underground, a radical organization that wanted to end the Vietnam War through acts of domestic terrorism. He served with Obama on a board until 2002, and also held a campaign event for Obama when he first decided to enter politics in the 1990s. The American Issues Project ad hits Obama hard saying:

Obama's political career was launched in Ayers's home. And the two served together on a left-wing board. Why would Barack Obama be friends with someone who bombed the Capitol and is proud of it? Do you know enough to elect Barack Obama?

Obama hasn't backed away from the Ayers issue. To find out what he says about Ayers, and to see the ad itself, read more.

Obama has painted the connection as innocent, saying the following:

Mr. Ayers is a 60-plus-year-old individual who lives in my neighborhood, who did something that I deplore 40 years ago when I was 6 or 7 years old. By the time I met him, he was a professor of education at the University of Illinois. We served on a board together that had Republicans, bankers, lawyers, focused on education.

While it's important for voters to have crucial information about the candidates and their policies, advertisements by somewhat rogue groups definitely toughens the task of sorting out truth from smears. What do you think of the ad?

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Wikipedia Keeps Obama's Page Clean - Is That Fair?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:05:43 -0700

It may be more truthiness than truth, but Wikipedia still has some standards. The free, user-generated encyclopedia makes sure any mention of Barack Obama's eligibility to be president is deleted from his page within minutes. The argument that Obama is not a natural US citizen has been rejected by the Supreme Court and Wikipedia it seems.

But some fear the lookout against offensive content goes too far. Neither Jeremiah Wright or former domestic terrorist William Ayers show up on Obama's page, even though his connection with the two men gained a lot of attention during the campaign.

Wikipedia, a site that embodies and perhaps produces conventional wisdom, is monitored by trusted community members who have access to extra tools that allow them to delete certain entries. Do you trust them?

Debate Rebate: Our Reactions to the Last Presidential Debate

CitizenSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:37:58 -0700

They may have very well saved the best for last. This was the most direct, most on task, most like an actual conversation debate we've had thus far. And not a moment too soon. The candidates were juxtaposed beautifully and answered questions not only on specific policies, but on the conduct of their campaigns. It was nail-biting, uncomfortable at times, but deftly handled by moderator Bob Schieffer. Here's what we thought:

Citizen: Wearing each other's "team" ties in what I hoped was a nod toward cooperation, the economy was ripped open right at the start. Both candidates spoke straight at the camera, directly it seemed, to me. It was eerie and wildly effective, with Joe the Plumber becoming an instantaneous celebrity, the cornerstone of their duel over small business taxes. Earmarks and pork barrel and budget overruns, oh my. I do like Obama's line of needing a "scalpel, not a hatchet," if only because it comforts me that he intends to cut spending as well.

When Schieffer pinned the candidates down on the negative aspects of the campaign I was breathless. It was baldly frank (seeming, I mean it is politics) talk, and when McCain whipped out the stat that Obama had spent the most money on negative campaign ads, it hit home - but was parried well by Obama's stat that six in 10 perceive McCain as negative. Then, the politest knock down-drag out on Ayers and ACORN. We knew it was coming all day, but when it did it was all the more potent. When Roe v. Wade popped up, I was actually heartened to hear civilized talk of the difference between choosing judges for their ideologies, and choosing judges for their adherence to the Constitution - it could be the most cogent debate on the issue we've had thus far.

To see the rest of my thoughts, and what Liberty has to say, read more.

As for the "Gore sighs" the nonverbals that will kill a performance: both were guilty of the smirk, if only perhaps to relieve the tension. I know I could barely handle it, it stands to reason it had to express itself somewhere, so to speak. In all, the debate was like a floaty butterfly fairy tale meets a brick wall. The second you got caught up in the story Obama was spinning, then came McCain with his smack down of reality. Even 20 months in, it was confusing and captivating and perfectly encapsulated these diametrically opposed yet unflinching campaigns - and illuminated the very choice we all have to make in 20 short days. Now as Bob Schieffer's mother says, "Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong."

Liberty: In the most high tension, and perhaps most conversational, debate John McCain came out looking for a game changer. McCain seemed rested and eager (did you hear the Al Gore sighs?) while Obama seemed reluctant and a little low on energy. Still, Obama's calm demeanor allowed him to rise above a potential catty debate, and focus on his issue advantages.

Coming out strong, McCain's crisp statement: "Senator Obama, I'm not President Bush" had no matching punch line from Obama, perhaps giving McCain an edge in the sound-bite battle.

In the middle, the candidates spent much time talking about attack ads, leaving me lamenting that this is what the American people get to listen to from their presidential candidates. By noting that William Ayers has become the center of McCain's campaign, Obama made McCain's campaign look deaf to the real issues facing the American people. After setting the record straight about his strained connection to Ayers, Obama then took the opportunity to make a positive and reassuring argument about the capable people who will advise him, such as Warren Buffet and former NATO head Jim Jones.

After a discussion on healthcare, which left me thinking Obama knows more about McCain's plan than McCain does, the two got talking about abortion. Obama called out the McCain/Palin refrain that he supported infanticide, pointing out that there was already a law on the books requiring care to babies of botched abortions when he voted against an Illinois bill for other reasons.

Obama then took the dialogue to another level saying that he wants everyone to work together to reduce the number of abortions and promote adoption. McCain went on to slam the pro-choice movement with the pejorative "pro-abortion." I'm still wondering if considering the country's at war and in an economic crisis, and after eight-years of a pro-life President and more Roe v. Wade, whether the abortion discussion was worth the time.

While this was McCain's best performance by far, I think Obama maintained a presidential and informed presence. Maybe I can find Joe the Plumber and ask him what he thinks.

What did you think?

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John McCain: GOP Should Back Off President-Elect Obama

CitizenSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:01:30 -0800

After getting back in the Sunday talk show saddle this weekend, John McCain fielded a question about his old opponent's ties to embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. When asked if Barack Obama's pledge to transparency was being tested, as RNC head Mike Duncan has said, McCain took Obama's side:

“I think that the Obama campaign should and will give all information necessary. You know, in all due respect to the Republican National Committee and anybody - right now, I think we should try to be working constructively together, not only on an issue such as this, but on the economy stimulus package, reforms that are necessary.”

The RNC has released a new web ad called Questions Remain, which links Obama to Blagojevich. McCain did use some guilt-by-association tactics during the campaign, bringing up the likes of William Ayers; but he also avoided the topic of Obama's controversial pastor Rev. Wright. Are you surprised that McCain has come to Obama's defense, or is he just proving his maverick cred by rebuking his own party?

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The GOP Helps You Stay Up to Date With Barack's "Friends"

LibertySugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:30:20 -0700

The GOP wants you to keep up with all of Barack Obama's "friends." Using the layout of Facebook, the Republican National Committee has created BarackBook, a faux-social networking site complete with extensive profiles for characters like shady Chicago businessman Tony Rezko and Weather Underground leader William Ayers.

Profile pages include disparaging headlines and videos of Hillary Clinton insinuating ties between Obama and these people during Democratic debates. You can't make your own profile, but you can donate to the RNC! There is also an official Facebook application.

While this is a creative way to spread the message of guilt by association, I can't help but be struck by the overwhelming negativity. Why not dedicate all this energy toward highlighting McCain's strengths? In the end, I guess you can't blame the RNC for using tactics it thinks will help McCain prevail. Winning is the preeminent concern in presidential elections. I'm just curious if it will be an effective tactic this year.

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