McCain has his own Ayers

[bigtree]

October 7, 2008 1:00 PM

from Steve Chapman at the Chicago Tribune: http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/steve_chapman/2008/10/mccain-has-his.html

I was quoted in Saturday's New York Times story (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/us/politics/04ayers.html?scp=1&sq=steve%20chapman&st=cse) criticizing Barack Obama's long association with someone he should shun: former Weather Underground bomber William Ayers. John McCain and Sarah Palin have good reason to fault Obama for overlooking Ayers' indefensible past. But while they're at it, they should also explain to the American people why McCain has been friends with another violent political extremist: Gordon Liddy.

Liddy, who worked for President Nixon's campaign, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for multiple crimes in burglarizing the Democratic National Committee office in the Watergate building--part of a broader plot to steal the 1972 election through sabotage, illegal spying and other dirty tricks. He even planned the murder of a journalist, though that idea was overruled. Bombings? He proposed the firebombing of a liberal think tank.

Liddy, now a conservative radio host, has never expressed regret for this attempt to subvert the Constitution. Nor has he developed any respect for the law. After the 1993 raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, he endorsed the shooting of federal agents: "Kill the sons of bitches."

Yet none of this bothers McCain. Liddy has contributed thousands of dollars to his campaigns, held a fundraiser for McCain at his home and hosted the senator on his radio show, where McCain said, "I'm proud of you." Exactly which part of Liddy's record is McCain proud of?

While Obama has gotten lots of scrutiny for his connection to Ayers, McCain has never had to explain his association with Liddy. If he can't defend it, he should admit as much. And if he thinks he can defend it, let him.


related:

Media Matters: http://mediamatters.org/items/200810040004

from the Chicago Tribune: http://mediamatters.org/rd?to=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fcolumnists%2Fchi-oped0504chapmanmay04%2C0%2C6061828.column

[AndyA]

1. Perhaps Barack will bring this factoid up tonight at the debate.

Just like in the card game, "I'll see your bet, and raise you..."

[sandnsea]

2. Ayers is McCain's Ayers

Look at the Reagan and Annenberg connection to Ayers, thanks to LynneSin.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4183457&mesg_id=4183457

[bigtree]

3. I like that angle

. . .but it (and the Liddy thing) may not be the best tack for Obama, stooping to McCain's distraction.

I like the Keating story because it helps illustrate McCain's efforts to block regulation of the S&Ls and it keeps the focus on the economic theme which is benefiting Obama.

[sandnsea]

4. If we could get the deregulation point

I would agree with you. But it seems to me that too few people get that, or believe it's too complicated for the low information voter. Hopefully Obama will make that crystal clear tonight.

But for the gutter crawlers, and god isn't there a ton of them, this other angle works purty good too.

[chemenger]

5. You could add Gen. John Singlaub

founder of the U.S. Council for World Freedom (the U.S. branch of the World League for Freedom and Democracy) which has been described as "largely a collection of Nazis, Fascists, anti-Semites, sellers of forgeries, vicious racialists, and corrupt self-seekers." (wikipedia)

McCain sat on the USCWF board of directors in 1981.

"During the 1980s, the WACL was particularly active in Latin America, notably by aiding the Contra forces in Nicaragua." ... "Two further reports claim that the World League for Freedom and Democracy is responsible for producing what its opponents call "troops of killers", while ostensibly organizing to provide support for Corazon Aquino from the right-wing in the Philippines (The Village Voice, February 27, 1996), and for supporting the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) movement in Mozambique (The Guardian, August 6, 1994)." (wikipedia)

Seems to me, if I wanted to prospect for dirt on McCain, I'd look really hard here.

Then I'd start looking into his association with Richard Quinn (white supremacist), Joey Bonano (NY mobster)and Rafaello Follieri (criminal).

Might I add, John McCain makes me want to :puke:

ON EDIT: I overlooked the obvious ... G. Gordon Liddy (a Colonel Flagg parody).

[Supersedeas]

6. that could use some air time

[OakCliffDem]

7. The Obama Campaign needs to rub McCain's face in this

[Winnscott]

8. Point, set, match

Surprise surprise.