Barack Obama's ties to 1960's and '70's terrorist William Ayers have led to increasing scrutiny of Ayers. After spending years in hiding, the government botched the case against him, and Ayers got a PhD and became a "respected" university professor. Now, some of Ayers university colleagues are defending him with a website petition.
SupportBillAyers.org
As of this writing, the petition has garnered 2853 [UPDATE: 3880] signatures, most attributed to university professors.
Barack Obama has close and extensive ties to Ayers. His political career was launched at a fundraiser at Ayers' house. They served together on the board of the Woods Foundation, and worked closely together for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, purportedly an education-reform group. Obama gave a positive review to a book by Ayers.
Ayers was a founder of the communist terrorist group the Weathermen, which bombed a number of buildings, including the Pentagon. Ayers shows no remorse for his crimes. As late as September 11, 2001, Ayers bragged about them.
But now, Ayers is a "respected" university professor doing important "academic research". Liberals had no problem with a unrepentant former terrorist as a university professor (don't question their patriotism!). As you might guess, Ayers' "research" is all about undermining America.
The statement blathers about Ayers is a victim of "McCarthyism". He's just as guilty as all the other "victims" of McCarthyism.
Seven professors from Western Michigan University are on the list.
40 Gary Miron Education
882 Joseph Kretovics Education
897 Jill Hermann-Wilmarth Education
1653 Lauren Freedman Education
2088 Allen Webb English
2112 Karen Vocke English
2643 Sue Poppink Education
(It should be noted that the website does not appear to verify whether the signatures are genuine. The list includes Kathryn Jean Lopez, #1202, the editor of National Review Online.)
Perhaps there should be a WMU Faculty Terrorist Watch List.
See also: Leftist MSU Professors Announce Support for Terrorist
2 comments:
But Ayers isn't a terrorist. Fact is, what's past is past- for the last 30 years he's been married, walking around Chicago, winning awards, receiving grants, and building an esteemed reputation in the field of education. Never was convicted, or served time, and doesn't have to apologize for anything.
To ignore those signatures and start generalizing many otherwise respectable professors as 'terrorists' is dangerous, and the McCain campaign is certainly hurting by distracting itself with such straw reaching and fear mongering- why not focus on strengths?
From Juan Cole"
McCain Campaign No. 1 at Self-Parody;
McCain support for Mujahideen Papered Over
Sarah Palin's jab at Barack Obama on Sunday attempting to tie him to terrorism (!) is another in a long line of gaffes that will hurt her ticket tremendously.
You always suspected that McCain, if he got in trouble with the electorate, really would stoop to calling his rival a terrorist.
Saturday Night Live writers don't even have to create parodies any more. They've just been quoting Palin verbatim.
The comedy writers have another wild statement from Palin/McCain to work with now.
As for the real terrorism, someone should please ask McCain about his support in the 1980s for the mujahideen (Muslim holy warriors) blowing up things in Afghanistan, which ultimately led some of the mujahideen to form al-Qaeda. Or about McCain's friendship and support for Gen.Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, who refused to help capture Bin Laden in 1999 and who continued to support and use the Taliban.
Oh, I forgot, if you declare yourself right wing, it is all right to foment terrorism and the corporate media will never question you about it because, well, because it is the corporate media.
posted by Juan Cole @ 10/06/2008
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