Michelle Malkin » Help unlock the Obama/Ayers papers; Update: Response from UIC; AP’s lousy coverage

Help unlock the Obama/Ayers papers; Update: Response from UIC; AP’s lousy coverage

By Michelle Malkin • August 19, 2008 09:02 PM

Scroll for updates…reader sends response from UIC…and the MSM catches up, almost…

Stanley Kurtz has done yeoman’s work trying to uncover the true nature of the relationship between Barack Obama and Weather Underground terrorist-turned-academic William Ayers. (See Barack and Michelle and Bill and Bernardine for background.) And see the must-read post by Steve Diamond: “It’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up.”

During his in-depth investigation and travels to Chicago to dig deeper, Kurtz has run into unexpected (or perhaps, quite expected) roadblocks:

Although the press has been notably lax about pursuing the matter, the full story of the Obama-Ayers relationship calls the truth of Obama’s account seriously into question. When Obama made his first run for political office, articles in both the Chicago Defender and the Hyde Park Herald featured among his qualifications his position as chairman of the board of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a foundation where Ayers was a founder and guiding force. Obama assumed the Annenberg board chairmanship only months before his first run for office, and almost certainly received the job at the behest of Bill Ayers. During Obama’s time as Annenberg board chairman, Ayers’s own education projects received substantial funding. Indeed, during its first year, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge struggled with significant concerns about possible conflicts of interest. With a writ to aid Chicago’s public schools, the Annenberg challenge played a deeply political role in Chicago’s education wars, and as Annenberg board chairman, Obama clearly aligned himself with Ayers’s radical views on education issues. With Obama heading up the board and Ayers heading up the other key operating body of the Annenberg Challenge, the two would necessarily have had a close working relationship for years (therefore “exchanging ideas on a regular basis”). So when Ayers and Dorhn hosted that kickoff for the first Obama campaign, it was not a random happenstance, but merely further evidence of a close and ongoing political partnership. Of course, all of this clearly contradicts Obama’s dismissal of the significance of his relationship with Ayers.

This much we know from the public record, but a large cache of documents housed in the Richard J. Daley Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), is likely to flesh out the story. That document cache contains the internal files of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. The records in question are extensive, consisting of 132 boxes, containing 947 file folders, a total of about 70 linear feet of material. Not only would these files illuminate the working relationship between Obama and Bill Ayers, they would also provide significant insight into a web of ties linking Obama to various radical organizations, including Obama-approved foundation gifts to political allies. Obama’s leadership style and abilities are also sure to be illuminated by the documents in question.

COVER-UP?

Unfortunately, I don’t yet have access to the documents. The Special Collections section of the Richard J. Daley Library agreed to let me read them, but just before I boarded my flight to Chicago, the top library officials mysteriously intervened to bar access. Circumstances strongly suggest the likelihood that Bill Ayers himself may have played a pivotal role in this denial.

Read the entire piece for the full details of the runaround. Kurtz is asking for help appealing to the president of the University of Illinois system, B. Joseph White:

“The Chicago Annenberg Challenge records almost surely contain important information on Senator Obama’s political associations, policy views, ideological leanings, and leadership ability. His role as board chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge is the most important executive experience Obama has held to date. Given this, the public has an urgent right to know what is in the Chicago Annenberg Challenge records.

…Ask [White] to take immediate public steps to insure the safety of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge records, to release the identity of the Collection’s donor, and above all to swiftly make the Collection available to me, and to the public at large.

Email here.

Phone/Fax here.

***

If you send a note, also post it here or cc me and I’ll keep a collection of the complaints and any responses.

Kurtz reports the documents are in danger. Related transcript here.

***

Previous Bill Ayers blog posts.

***

Update: Reader Mark sends a response from UIC…

—– Forwarded Message —-
From: Bill Burton
To: MARK MCNABB
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 3:38:05 PM
Subject: Re: request

Dear Mr. McNabb:

Thank you for your inquiry. Responses are below.

Please note that I have no connection to the Obama spokesman by the same name.

Sincerely,
Bill Burton

MARK MCNABB wrote:
> Mr Burton, just got off the phone with you. I would be happy if you
> could provide me with the statement you mentioned re: the Chicago
> Annenberg Challenge documents that were suddenly pulled from public
> access, as well as access by Mr Stanley Kurtz.

The University of Illinois at Chicago released the following statement
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008.

“The University Library supports the teaching, research, and service
missions of the University by acquiring, organizing, preserving, and
providing access to information. The Library is open to the public and
dedicated to free inquiry. The University has not received ownership
rights to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge collection. The university is
aggressively pursuing an agreement with the donor, and as soon as an
agreement is finalized, the collection will be made accessible to the
public.”
>
> For the record, I am also shocked and amazed that the
> University employs the radical U.S. terrorist William Ayers. I
> believe that is an apalling fact.

In the 1970s, Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, a radical
group opposing the Vietnam War. Federal charges against him were later
dropped; he has never been convicted of a crime.

Professor Ayers was already a well-regarded scholar of education when he
joined UIC in 1987. Since joining UIC, he has published several
influential books, founded the Small Schools Workshop and the Center for
Youth and Society, served on several community and foundation boards,
and earned national recognition for his work in the education of
children. We have no evidence that he has ever used his position for
advocacy inappropriate to the education curriculum.

The university has always been transparent about Professor Ayersʼ
employment during his two decades on our faculty. We know from
correspondence we have received over the years that many people find his
past activities and statements objectionable. Thank you for informing us
of your opinion.

Sincerely,

Mark Rosati
Associate Chancellor for Public Affairs
>

Bill Burton
News Bureau Director
University of Illinois at Chicago
Ph 312-996-2269
Fx 312-996-3754
burton@uic.edu
www.news.uic.edu

***

Update: Follow-up from Dan Riehl…

At least on the surface of it, it appears these records were somehow taken back, or removed from public access. That’s a very different thing than the appropriate permissions not having been granted in the first place. Would a responsible Library accept and list such documents before that step was done? I think someone has some explaining to do, especially considering a good deal, if not all of this involves public funding.

Update: Tom Maguire covers the MSM coverage of Obama/Ayers from the AP’s Pete Yost and helpfully points out what the AP failed to report…

Yost makes no mention of the fact that Obama was asked about Ayers at the Philadelphia debate in April and described him as “”a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who’s a professor of English in Chicago…”, rather than as “a guy I worked with on education reform for six years without accomplishing anything” (The Chicago Annenberg Challenge was ultimately judged a failure by the Annenberg Foundation.)

Yost makes no mention of the fact that the Obama website produced a “Fact Check” on the Obama/Ayers relationship which made no mention of this failed collaboration on education reform.

Yost makes no mention of the fact that previously the Obama campaign was telling reporters that (a) Obama and Ayers met through kids who went to the same school, or (b) Obama and Ayers first met in the second half of 1995 when Ayers hosted a campaign kick-off for Obama. Since Obama became chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge in January 1995, that was false.

In fact, its almost as if the Obama campaign has tried to conceal this Obama/Ayers relationship. And now some mysterious unnamed donor is continuing the cover-up by sitting on the Chicago Annenberg Challenge archives.

And Yost almost reports on it.

So what does it mean? Well, none of us can judge the relationship at this point since a lot of possibly important information is being concealed. But the fact of an ongoing cover-up might spark some journalist’s curiosity.

Posted in: Bill Ayers

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#1

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, Goldwater Knight said:

I’m on board for this one.
#2

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, ajmontana said:

What am I missing here, does FOIA mean nothing?
#3

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:10 pm, meatpieandtatters said:

The media will be more than happy to run an aggressive defense for Barry Obama covering up anything that taints his media-contrived Sainthood.
#4

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:12 pm, FamilyMan said:

Hopefully the files aren’t stuffed down someone’s shorts.
#5

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:13 pm, zorro said:

The email has been sent.

Ever notice how some people are afraid of their past?
#6

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, ajmontana said:

talk about cheating….
#7

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm, AlohaGuy said:

the top library officials mysteriously intervened to bar access.

Isn’t this a job for Sandy Burglar?
#8

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:17 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

Well, this could very well be that other shoe that will drop that I mentioned before. The good old October surprise.

On another note, howcome none of Odumbo’s classmates have come out and spoken about him? Good or bad?

Has he silenced them too?
#9

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:17 pm, AlohaGuy said:

…Richard J. Daley ~~Library~~ Cone of Silence at the University of Illinois at Chicago…
#10

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pm, grumpy_old_soldier said:

The email has been sent. These folks need to un-ass these documents mucho pronto.
#11

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pm, AlohaGuy said:

Maybe Hillary has them on inter-library loan…
#12

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:23 pm, chapoutier said:

What am I missing here, does FOIA mean nothing?

Yes, FOIA does mean nothing considering that the University of Illinois is not the federal government.
#13

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm, Doo2 said:

Denver will be fun to watch! Are they evacuating Colorado yet? Obama, if he does get the nomination, will go down in flames. The past will come back to haunt him horribly. Even the MSM will not be able to keep it all hushed and most of the American people are not dumb enough to be duped. I hope.
#14

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:28 pm, fulldroolcup said:

When you see that old photo of Ayres, with his bored smirk, his “Meh, so I bombed the Pentagon. What’s the big deal, officer?”, doncha just want to push his freakin face in???
#15

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:31 pm, ajmontana said:

My bad chap. #11
#16

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:34 pm, RockyR said:

Mark Levin went off about this today. He also said that Obama’s State Congressional records have “disappeared”… or maybe he said “destroyed”. Either way, can anyone substantiate this claim?
#17

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:35 pm, zorro said:

By the way, that screen cap is priceless, what a collection slackers! Wow.
#18

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:37 pm, chapoutier said:

I think most here know where I stand on Obama, but hey, I also think any president should be fully vetted. I will send an email along to White too.
#19

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pm, ajmontana said:

This is flippin sick, a person running for the highest office in the land and we can’t get records from a library?
Almost laughable.
#20

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:40 pm, ajmontana said:

I also think any president should be fully vetted.

ya think? lol
good to hear it from you though.
#21

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:40 pm, right4life said:

gramsci’s long march through the institutions has paid off…
#22

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pm, Insomniac said:

Chapoutier is correct, but Illinois has its own state-level version of FOIA that applies to state universities and colleges, among other public bodies.
#23

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:43 pm, chapoutier said:

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pm, Insomniac said:

There we go. No doubt this was what aj was originally referring to. I apologize aj.
#24

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:45 pm, tgusa said:

Push his face in, yeah, slowly. What I’d really like to do I cant say here. Barack and his enemy friends, if your friends are all enemies of the American people what would that make you? Well whatever it is they are trying really hard to cover it up. Barack the potential dem nominee, so what does that tell us about the dems?
#25

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:45 pm, Doctor Hook said:

There once was a candidate named Barak.
Whose resume was a huge dung-filled crock.
He hid his connections
With explicit directions
That attempts to access them one should block.
#26

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:47 pm, ajmontana said:

Chap could have answered #2 with DUH, I’m a lil distracted today, but if Ill. has its own version and this applies what’s the prob?
#27

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pm, ajmontana said:

No need chap, I had a brain cramp, like I said a lil distracted today for some personal reasons.
#28

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pm, Insomniac said:

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:47 pm, ajmontana said:
Chap could have answered #2 with DUH, I’m a lil distracted today, but if Ill. has its own version and this applies what’s the prob?

William Ayers, apparently.
#29

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:50 pm, LC said:

Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire. Go get ‘em!
#30

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:53 pm, ajmontana said:

Well, the attention this brings if not released will be just/almost as damaging as if they do release them.
it doesn’t look so great for Obama on this.
#31

On August 19th, 2008 at 9:54 pm, NY Andy said:

As requested. I won’t hold my breath waiting for a reply.

President White,

It has become apparent that someone has prevailed upon the Daley Library at UIC to keep the Chicago Annenberg Challenge papers hidden from public view during this election. As Senator Obamas chairmanship of the Challenge is cited as an example of his executive abilities, a review of his performance is in order. Please see that these papers are made available as soon as possible. If they can’t be made available, then please explain why. This man is running for the highest office in the land and the public has a right to know the details behind his resume’.

Thank You,

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx
Pearl River, NY
#32

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:07 pm, Goldwater Knight said:

I don’t think Obama should be fully vetted. It would be discrimination based on race. I think to make it fair Obama should be 80% vetted and all white heterosexual male presidential candidates should be 110% vetted. After all, white males have destroyed the planet.
#33

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, tgusa said:

From what I have read he is the epitome of affirmative action. Affirmative action is similar to using a Pekinese as a guard dog, you can pretend it’s a Doberman but when the crooks come in they will squash it like a bug. Smokin dope in HS and not caring much but he ends up at Harvard, some American got screwed on that one, reparations anyone? He and his wife have lived off of affirmative action for so long they think it’s their right to be in the White house. I wouldn’t hire him to clean my toilet I expect my moneys worth.
#34

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm, ajmontana said:

If you send a note, also post it here or cc me and I’ll keep a collection of the complaints and any responses.

done, cc writemm short and sweet.
Insomniac, thanks for the link.
#35

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:13 pm, FamilyMan said:

Goldwater
Obama is 50% white. That makes vetted 90% opposed to 105% white hetro male.
#36

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:20 pm, Jim M. said:

Maybe that’s where the Rose Law Firm billing records ended up?!?!?!?!
#37

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:23 pm, swmbo said:

Richard J Daley Library (snort) in Chicago.

Wanna bet the papers have ‘disappeared’?

Maybe into a color that can not be named hole.
#38

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:33 pm, FamilyMan said:

What did happen to Sandy Burgler
#39

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:40 pm, Insomniac said:

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm, ajmontana said:
Insomniac, thanks for the link.

You’re welcome.
#40

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:46 pm, CJ said:

Chapoutier is correct, but Illinois has its own state-level version of FOIA that applies to state universities and colleges, among other public bodies.

Except I believe UIC is private, not public.

Dh and I were mocking the UIC ~~Library~~ Self Storage Facility earlier today. They had 137 boxes of materials for years, and only now do they realize they never got a “signed ownership agreement” from the donor. Gee, do you suppose we could store some stuff at the UIC ~~Library~~ Self Storage Facility? The garage is getting a little crowded…

(Oh, and how do the files of a non-profit organization end up in the hands of a “donor” anyway?)
#41

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:48 pm, brooklyn red said:

Uh-oh, fawtah time. And that is not a joke. These are not nice people & they have a lot to lose.
#42

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:48 pm, CJ said:

Oops. Scratch that. I was thinking University of Chicago (private), not University of Illinois at Chicago (public).

But I still would like to use their free self storage facility.
#43

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:49 pm, mushroom said:

I’m too tired tonight, but will contact Pres. White tomorrow. If I can’t reach him by phone, I’ll email.

You make a good point, tgusa. I’m trying to get a billboard erected showing a flattering picture of BHO with the words, “Affirmative Action Works.” I planned to sit back and watch the Dems squirm. How can they possibly refute it? I thought it would make for a good giggle. Unfortunately, none of the outdoor sign companies will put it up. I’ve contacted local, State, and National GOP. All I get is a big run around or a “We’ll get back to you.” Geesh. Try to help and get nowhere.
#44

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:55 pm, FamilyMan said:

CJ
Do you know if this foundation is tax exempt. Records must be keep if they are.
#45

On August 19th, 2008 at 10:59 pm, Flyoverman said:

President White has received my e-mail as well. As he reads it he will probably be unable to concentrate due to the sound of the shredders running in the background.
#46

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:00 pm, brooklyn red said:

Sadar’s post has no comment section???
#47

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:00 pm, FamilyMan said:

Annenberg Challenge
Ambassador Annenberg announced a “Challenge to the Nation” in December 1993 with a $500 million grant to improve public schools. As the largest single gift ever made to public education, the Annenberg Challenge was designed to unite the resources and ideas of those committed to increasing the effectiveness of public schooling. Recognizing that no single gift could improve all schools, the Challenge served as a catalyst to energize and support educational reform efforts across the country.
#48

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:03 pm, katieanne said:

We know from
correspondence we have received over the years that many people find his
past activities and statements objectionable.

Apparently the University of Illinois doesn’t. How sick is that?
#49

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:21 pm, JustAThought said:

Email done.
#50

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:30 pm, Reg.conservative said:

good info-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Annenberg_Challenge
#51

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:35 pm, groundhunter said:

Obama might spell the end to the Democrat party. They had better change course at their convention or they might be putting a mill stone around their necks, what a mess.
#52

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:40 pm, thelcabroadside said:

Everybody needs to get hip. Hiding papers of your association with a known terrorist while running for President is change we can believe in!
#53

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:52 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

I bet someone’s working 3rd shift on shredder duty tonight.
#54

On August 19th, 2008 at 11:57 pm, Klaatu said:

hmmmm…. maybe the Annenberg Foundation has useful info on this. Or, maybe they could jar the records loose. I doubt they want to be associated with a political cover-up, even if all they did was write one check.

The Annenbergs were once from Philly, so maybe MM has some juice in that town.
#55

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:04 am, Christian Soldier said:

Socialist -and - Commuunists –ALWAYS LIE and withold the written truth!!
SO WHAT’s NEW?????

Recent:

Look at the Chinese and their Olympic teams…..
Gymnasts-UNDER 15 years of age- to mention ONE incident!!!!!

AGAIN:>>>>>> Socialists always LIE…..

What would make B.Hussien O. and his pals any different?????
#56

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:04 am, Wellsy said:

I’m not surprised this hasn’t gotten more play, but I think that the instant it does, Obama’s general election chances are finished. Even Democrats couldn’t stomach a nominee’s ties to a domestic terrorist.

Let’s hope Mr. Kurtz has some success before the weekend.
#57

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:06 am, ChristmasGhost said:

how long till at least one reporter gets worried that someone will blab before they can and they start unraveling barry’s little world like a ball of string?
or at least gets worried that when someone does finally blab, it will really make them look bad?
and where is fox news on this?
#58

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:17 am, FamilyMan said:

If the papers are gone;
IT’S MICHELLE’S FAULT
#59

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:21 am, tonynoboloney said:

Its incredible the Dems did not do a better job of vetting Obama.

Do you suppose Stanley Kurtz works for the Clintons?

If O goes down how can we trust any of them?
#60

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:32 am, Right By-The-Sea said:

The bastion of corruption and criminal activity that is the Chicago Democrat Political Machine is kicking into gear to “protect it’s own,” once again. The leftist filth that own and control that town also own and control the State of IL, which in turn “governs” the activities at UIC. It’s a complex network of power-grabbing, money-grubbing miscreants who function both in and out of the shadows. It’s like the old song about the “hip-bone’s connected to the thigh-bone.” Blagojevich, Daley, Ayers, Dohrn, Rezko, the Obamas, Emil Jones, J’Wright, Calypso Louie Farrakhan…an unending list of leftist criminals who are all connected to each other in various ways. I was born and raised in IL, and lived there until 9 years ago. I was there to watch that state begin the descent into the complete demon-crat mess that it is today.
#61

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:41 am, BrianNY said:

Hopefully UIC will simply exhibit typical bureaucratic procedure and then expose the records to whomever seeks them in a prompt manner.

Remember, it took a few days for Columbia U to release the Professor Madonna Constantine security tapes to the NYPD.

My nagging question: is anyone in the MSM vetting this guy? We just saw Andrea Mitchell of NBC run lock, stock and barrel with the Obama campaign’s “Cone of Silence” contention without even getting the whole story from Rick Warren or the McCain camp.

What kind of journalism is that?
#62

On August 20th, 2008 at 3:06 am, fgmorley said:

I sent an e-mail to White yesterday after reading Kurtz’s column in NRO. No response thus far and I doubt that I will get one. It’s maddening and disappointing that no MSM media outlet has picked up on this or other rumors as they once did, back in the day. This is, or should be, the bread and butter for any investigative reporter worth his salt.
#63

On August 20th, 2008 at 3:19 am, mushroom said:

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:41 am, BrianNY said:
My nagging question: is anyone in the MSM vetting this guy? We just saw Andrea Mitchell of NBC run lock, stock and barrel with the Obama campaign’s “Cone of Silence” contention without even getting the whole story from Rick Warren or the McCain camp.

What kind of journalism is that?

Answer to question #1: No.
Answer to question #2: No kind.

The same questions have been nagging me too, Bryan, and the implications are mind-boggling. I’m not sure when the fourth estate in this country disappeared, but it most certainly has, at least for the most part. And what is so sad and frightening is that most people don’t seem to notice or even care. When I expressed my concerns to a young acquaintance recently regarding our country’s creep toward Communism, she merely shrugged and said it wouldn’t be so bad. Communism wouldn’t be so bad I asked her? She said no. And she’s a supposedly well-educated lawyer. THAT is what scares the hell out of me and keeps me up at night. How can intelligent people be so misguided? What are our parents and schools teaching/not teaching our children? Do people not know that Communism is bad??? Thank God for blogs such as this!
#64

On August 20th, 2008 at 5:26 am, dhalls said:

Solution? Transfer information to a pornography site and the library would love to let you access it on their computers.
#65

On August 20th, 2008 at 8:18 am, Mercy4Me said:

Obama’s ~~chickens~~ friends are coming home to roost.
#66

On August 20th, 2008 at 8:22 am, Mercy4Me said:

Why doesn’t Hannity take this to the Hannity & Colmes show? Or O’Rielly take it up too. Do a daily update about this and getting the information out. Or send reporters to hound them daily. It may put pressure on the MSM to cover it.
#67

On August 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am, martin.musculus(jr.) said:

#56:
Wellsy:
And you base this on what?

I am constantly amazed at non-Libs who say “even xxxx couldn’t stomach/wouldn’t stand for/can’t support/wouldn’t let…(continue until full…) [insert choice anti-freedom item here...]“.

Why say that? People like Beck, Limbaugh, Hannady, other commentators; middle-right and right side bloggers all say that. When speaking of the perfidity of Dumbocrats, they also add some such caviot as “…not the rank & file Democrat, mind you, but the leaders.”

How did the leaders get there? Didn’t the so-called good, honest, America-loving, patriotic “rank & file” put these people there?

I hear all the time: “If there are tons of moderate muslems, where are they? If they object to the terrorists, why don’t they stand up & speak up? Why do they allow their religion to be highjacked?” And the right nods its collective head.

Well, if that is such a wise question, why isn’t it wise in this context? So:

where are the patriot, honest, America-loving, troop-supporting, anti-terrorist, rule-of-law supporting Democrats? Why are they allowing their party to be highjacked by terrorists, friends of terrorists? Why do they support those who feel scoff-lawism is better changing laws you don’t like? If they care for law & order, why do they keep returning to office people who lie under oath? Why do they continue to support slavery?

And, many of these same questions work for Rs, too…
#68

On August 20th, 2008 at 8:44 am, 4USA said:

The amazing thing about this is the left-wing nuts that keep pointing to conservatives as liars and manipulators. It seems like every dirty trick they pull, on the left, is automatically pumped up in the press as one of the biggest evils of the right. Meanwhile, our “leaders” on the right, just continue to accept the allegations and never defend the truth.

This doesn’t surprise me in the least. Universities have long been taken over by communists/socialists/Marxists and Tenure was their lock on control. They now are in control of primary and secondary education and the Unions are their lock on control. Home Schooling and Private (Christian) Schooling is under attack because it impedes their indoctrination.

We’ve been fat and happy and complacent for too long, and now our “chickens….are comin’ home..to roost!”
#69

On August 20th, 2008 at 8:46 am, Ordinary Coloradan said:

O’Reilly?

Give me a break. He could not investigate his way out of a shoe box. He is a rudderless pandering twit.
#70

On August 20th, 2008 at 8:50 am, Chief RZ said:

How about The Truth? The MSM does not know how to handle it. They cover it up just like kennedy-1969.
#71

On August 20th, 2008 at 9:32 am, JT said:

On August 20th, 2008 at 3:19 am, mushroom said:

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:41 am, BrianNY said:
My nagging question: is anyone in the MSM vetting this guy? We just saw Andrea Mitchell of NBC run lock, stock and barrel with the Obama campaign’s “Cone of Silence” contention without even getting the whole story from Rick Warren or the McCain camp.

What kind of journalism is that?

Answer to question #1: No.
Answer to question #2: No kind.

The same questions have been nagging me too, Bryan, and the implications are mind-boggling. I’m not sure when the fourth estate in this country disappeared, but it most certainly has, at least for the most part. And what is so sad and frightening is that most people don’t seem to notice or even care. When I expressed my concerns to a young acquaintance recently regarding our country’s creep toward Communism, she merely shrugged and said it wouldn’t be so bad. Communism wouldn’t be so bad I asked her? She said no. And she’s a supposedly well-educated lawyer. THAT is what scares the hell out of me and keeps me up at night. How can intelligent people be so misguided? What are our parents and schools teaching/not teaching our children? Do people not know that Communism is bad??? Thank God for blogs such as this!

Tell that dummy that there is no need for lawyers in a Communist state.
#72

On August 20th, 2008 at 9:33 am, James Felix said:

He and his wife have lived off of affirmative action for so long they think it’s their right to be in the White house.

I loathe Barak Obama and the Marxist nonsense he champions. I don’t think he should be anywhere near the White House unless he paid for the tour.

But…

There’s no denying that he’s a talented* politician. His position in life cannot be ascribed simply to affirmative action.

*please note that “talented” does not mean honest, good, just or honorable. It just means he’s good at getting elected.
#73

On August 20th, 2008 at 9:40 am, sbw999 said:

Because this is 2008, and the US has no mainstream media; just a corrupt propaganda arm of the Dem party, this has little chance of being widely reported, or the documents released. If this was about a Repub, at least 10 news organizations, and the fascist ACLU would be in Court already. The fact that we have a media that is in the tank for a presidential candidate, is one of most apalling and frightening facts of this day and age. It is something that you would expect in a dictatorship where the media is State run.
#74

On August 20th, 2008 at 10:10 am, mytake said:

turn this investigation over to the national inquirer.
#75

On August 20th, 2008 at 10:12 am, MikeOK said:

I’m confused. I thought liberals were vehemently opposed to any library policy that restricted public access to library materials.

Quick! Call the American Library Association! Register a protest! Make your voice heard! Defeat censorship in America!

*pause*

What’s that? We’re trying to get the most liberal candidate in American history elected President? Oh — Sorry to have wasted your time.
#76

On August 20th, 2008 at 10:28 am, crushliberalism said:

You would think the same Chicago Tribune that went to court to get Republican Jack Ryan’s divorce papers made public (which served NO public purpose and wound up costing him the 2004 IL Senate race that Obama eventually won) would be a tad bit more curious about this story than they are.
#77

On August 20th, 2008 at 10:31 am, cheapseat said:

perhaps the aclu can file a foia lawsuit on behalf of the clintons to free up this info prior to the convention. go get em hillary.
#78

On August 20th, 2008 at 11:00 am, Lockstein13 said:

I’m getting mighty full, eating all this popcorn while watchin’ the action…heh.
#79

On August 20th, 2008 at 11:09 am, happyscrapper said:

Many years ago, I applied for a clerical job with the Civil Service Commission. Since this was a Federal Government position, I had to go through a rigorous investigation of past activities. Seriously, this was for a secretarial position and was in no way connected with anything confidential! They sent investigators around to my past neighbors and questioned them. They dug into my personal life. Get this…I was 20 years old! When I was 18, I got picked up in a raid at a bar and was cited for drinking under age. This was brought to light and I almost didn’t get the job! How times have changed. Now we have someone running for the highest position in the world, and we can’t get information about his past! More coverups than Watergate! Oh, and Sandy Burgler…another dem who is getting away with a felony.
#80

On August 20th, 2008 at 11:17 am, happyscrapper said:

I have an idea. Leak to the press that there some documents that would potentially dig the political grave of a well-known Republican Senator. Give the same information about the documents as those hidden by the University of Illinois library, and the fact that they won’t release them. See if the press picks up this story and starts yelling for the Republican Senator’s head! Then say, “gotcha!”
#81

On August 20th, 2008 at 11:32 am, Gorebot said:

Here’s the e-mail I just sent to White:

“If you don’t make the Annenberg Challenge records available to reporter Stanley Kurtz (or any other interested reporter) pronto, then you run the risk of depriving the American electorate of information potentially crucial to their decision.

If the information is withheld past the election, and then subsequently something bombastic is exposed, then the maelstrom of bad will you will have engendered against yourselves will be irredeemable.

Don’t do a John Edwards; he’ll never recover, and neither will you if you continue to stonewall.”
#82

On August 20th, 2008 at 11:57 am, NHMagenta said:

I see a few questions here:
1) Who owns the documents in question; Annenberg Foundation or University of Illinois Chicago’s Daley Library?

2) If Annenberg transferred the docs to the Daley Library, is there any public paperwork to that effect?

If Annenberg retained OWNERSHIP we’re probably going to be SOL as far as compelling a release.

#38 re: Sandy Berger - Wikipedia claims he was fined $50,000, given 2 years probation, 100 hours of community service and security clearance suspended 3 years for a guilty plea to misdemeanor unauthorized removal and retention of classified information.
More details <a href=”http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/may/16/20070516-113137-9942r/”> here via the Washington Times.
#83

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:02 pm, Wildcatter1980 said:

Dear Mr. President,

I sincerely request that you allow the Chicago Annenberg Challenge records be made available to whoever wishes to view them.

The importance of making these records available to the public is because one of the people involved in the Chicago Annenberg Challenge is currently the presumptive presidential nominee of one of our major political parties. It would be very detrimental for the voters of our great country to not have as complete an understanding as possible of an individual who could be our next President upon which make their voting decision. This is a case where the needs of the many far outweigh the needs of the few.

I trust that in your capacity as the head of a major institution of higher education, you will be equally concerned that voters will not have all the pertinent information on which to make an informed decision when casting their vote for the next President of the United States of America.

Thank you. Sincerely,

A concerned citizen of these United States of America
#84

On August 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm, TimothyJ said:

The public has a right to know only what the msm says they have a right to know.
#85

On August 20th, 2008 at 1:17 pm, StandardDeviation said:

Someone needs to remake the old Tex Avery “Billy Boy” cartoon, superimposing William Ayer’s face over the goat. “Billy” could eat all these troublesome documents.
#86

On August 20th, 2008 at 1:17 pm, satcong said:

Cross-reference Key Words “FBI Squad 47″/”Weathermen Underground” on/or freedom of info for details or try to contact former agents of “Squad 47″ who’s task at the FBI was to track the weathermen underground.
Sat Cong
#87

On August 20th, 2008 at 1:39 pm, mojack420 said:

email to President White

Dear Mr. B. Joseph White
Its seems there is a white washing going on related to certain documents in your schools possession “the internal files of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge”. For some reason they are not being made available for inspection by the public and more over by Mr. Stanley Kurtz.. It’s about time to take immediate public steps to insure the safety of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge records, to release the identity of the Collection’s donor, and above all to swiftly make the Collection available to Mr. Stanley Kurtz, and to the public at large. To do anything less would only further the notion that there is a cover up going on. It could be surmised that as your school employees a admitted terrorist bomber in William Aryers you are also covering up to insulate your school from ridicule or worse your hiding information from the public to help a political ally in the presidential election . So I must ask what are you afraid of? Being tied to and employing a terrorist or are you afraid to allow the public to see the documents, that will show your political ally running for president of the United States has deeper ties to this terrorist. At the same time prove he was lying to the American people from the very beginning about his relationship to your terrorist professor.

Time to grow a set and do the right thing. Release the documents or release the name of the donor who is putting up the road blocks.

Sincerely yours