We are all judged by the people we associate with.
    If, while you are trying to impress the cute co-ed down the hall, your roommate greets you with a slew of obscenities, your odds with the girl will probably go down. It might not always be fair, but it is the reality of how our world works.
    Barack Obama should not be surprised then when John McCain and Sarah Palin bring up associations from the Democratic nominee’s past. And perhaps unlike your embarrassing roommate, these connections are very pertinent to today’s world.
    During the 1960s and ‘70s, at the height of the anti-Vietnam War movement, Bill Ayers was a founding member of the radical group known as the Weather Underground.
    Over a period of several years, Ayers and his fellow conspirators conducted various acts of domestic terrorism, the most notable of which were the bombings of the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon.
    In the years following, Ayers has been unrepentant about his actions, telling the New York Times that he had “no regrets” and that he felt their actions “didn’t do enough.”
    Fast forward to 1995. Ayers held a reception at his home for a little-known politician, Barack Obama. Later, Ayers and Obama would serve together on boards for two nonprofit organizations.
    Obama, of course, has denounced his backer’s actions, pointing out, correctly, that he was 8 years old when the terrorist acts were taking place. But he certainly knew of Ayers’ past when he worked with him as an adult.
    Obama’s supporters have been outraged at what they see as unfair “guilt by association” attacks. Some even think Ayers is a nice guy. New York Times columnist Gail Collins and others have noted that Ayers was named Chicago’s Citizen of the Year in 1997.
    Hitler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Awards don’t reveal a person’s character — their actions do.
    But the implication here is not that Obama is a terrorist — nobody seriously believes that. But what is an issue is that Obama knowingly and willingly associated himself with a man he knew to be a former terrorist. Shouldn’t that raise questions about his character and judgment?
    Ayers isn’t the only radical Obama has chosen to associate with. Jeremiah Wright, his pastor and friend for more than 20 years, has stated that the United States deserved the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 
    Again, the point here is not to suggest that Obama is a fraud or rejoiced on Sept. 11, 2001. But the scripted speeches during Obama’s brief national political career give us little information about what kind of man he is outside of politics.
    Would you be a guest in the house of a former terrorist who said he regretted not doing more?
    Would you attend a church in which “God damn America” was preached from the pulpit? Would you continue to do business with a man who had been indicted on federal charges?
    No, you and I would do none of these things. But Barack Obama has. What more insight into his character could you want?
   
Tim Hadachek is a junior in political science. Please send comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.

5 comments

Prospective K-State Parent

Sat Nov 1 2008 17:40

Why are McCain's apologies written off as a mistake, and Obama's are denotes "poltically expedient."

McCain was involved with Keating as it was happening. Obama was 8 years old when Ayers committed his crimes. As for Wright, I think his speeches and sermons are being released as sound bites and out of context. I can see how people disagree with Wright, but those in the African American community who have suffered more than most both currently and historically from American policies understand his message, and it is not a literal message.

The reality is that disagreeing with Obama or McCain on policy issues is where we should be, not buying into these scare tactics and innuendos of terrorism and charges of un-Americanism.

Curious

Wed Oct 15 2008 23:23

I am an a old timer visiting with my son (a K-Stater) and was quite surprised to see a student paper with anything but a liberal lead. I applaud Mr. Hadachek for his well informed opinion. As to those regarding the Keating 5, McCain was never found guilty of anything, but bad judgement in being involved with family friends. It was widely quoted at the time; the Democratic leadership was not going to rule against 4 fellow Dems, and let a Republican off the hook. Anyway, it was hardly a 15 or 20 year relationship, with a lack of knowledge of their pasts, ideas, sermons, or criminal leanings.

My concern would be Senator Obama's connections prior to that. The connection's that allowed a self-described poor person to travel the world, go to Columbia, on to Harvard, and then into politics via sudden disclosure of his opponent's sealed divorce records..... WHO does he owe?? As he will not open his scholastic records, nor those regarding his Hawaiian birth certificate or his Indonesian adoption, we will never know....

Their name

Wed Oct 15 2008 20:33

Only if those were actually Obama's motives. I'd need to know that in order to hold the associations against him. If, on the other hand, he is simply willing to listen to or work with people who don't appeal to mainstream America, that would be novel and decidedly inconvenient politically. And I'd like to hear an explanation of the following reasoning. McCain condemned Keating (surely not for political reasons), so he is forgiven. Obama condemned Wright (because he is a calculating political machine, of course), so he has no loyalty.

Your name

Wed Oct 15 2008 09:45

I think there is a difference between a terrorist and a sleazy real estate agent. Besides that, McCain has said his involvement with Charles Keating was a mistake. When has Barack Obama apologized or said he regrets his associations with Ayers or Wright? I think the bigger point here is that Obama does what is politically convenient. When being a member of a radical church can get him elected to the State Senate, he joins. When a former terrorist can introduce him to prominent Chicago political figures, he goes to his house. When Wright became a problem in the primaries, he threw him under the bus. He has no character, no convictions, and apparently no loyalty either.

My name

Wed Oct 15 2008 08:42

Keating 5 anyone?

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