Michelle Malkin » Obama threatens TV stations airing Ayers ad

Obama threatens TV stations airing Ayers ad

By Michelle Malkin • August 25, 2008 11:57 PM

The Obama campaign is giving a glimpse of the future for conservative free speech. They’re trying to sic the Justice Department on TV stations, many of them Sinclair Broadcasting stations, that are airing the independent ad on Obama and Bill Ayers.

Feel the chill in the air?

Barack Obama is striking back fiercely and swiftly to stamp out an ad that links him to a 1960s radical, eager to demonstrate a far more aggressive response to attacks than John Kerry did when faced with the 2004 “Swift Boat” campaign.

Obama not only aired a response ad to the spot linking him to William Ayers, but he sought to block stations the commercial by warning station managers and asking the Justice Department to intervene. The campaign also planned to compel advertisers to pressure stations that continue to air the anti-Obama commercial.

It’s the type of going-for-the-jugular approach to politics many Democrats complain that Kerry lacked and that Republicans exploit.

Obama’s target is an ad by the conservative American Issues Project, a nonprofit group that questions Obama’s ties to Ayers, a founder of the Weather Underground organization that took credit for a series of bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol four decades ago. ..

… Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama supporters have inundated stations that are airing the ad, many of them owned by Sinclair Communications, with 93,000 e-mails. He called the ad false, despicable and outrageous.

“Other stations that follow Sinclair’s lead should expect a similar response from people who don’t want the political discourse cheapened with these false, negative attacks,” Vietor said.

Bullying You Can Believe In.

Related: “New Obama ad: Why is McCain trying to distract us with that unrepentant terrorist I’m friends with?”

Related: Obama responds to Ayers.

Posted in: Bill Ayers, Fairness Doctrine

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#101

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:44 am, CJ said:

Puts a whole new interpretation on BO’s praise for China’s “infrastructure,” doesn’t it?
#102

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:45 am, pureabsolute said:

I have no problem with BO asking the DOJ to look into it. I have no problem with the DOJ making a public statement to the effect that there is nothing wrong with the ad.

McCain should now make yet another ad (not a big fan of McCain, but I *love* his punchiness) that asks liberals to support his campaign, because BO is using the government to silence free speech.

Oh Wait. McCain.. Where did I hear that name… McCain-Feingold? oops.

My bigger problem with BO’s technique is that they always attack the messenger, and never either the message itself, or the sender of the message. Why would you attack TV or Radio rather than McCain directly?

If I were a radio syndicate, I would join with other radio syndicates (especially ones that have *not* played the ad), and publicly condemn BO’s tactics.

In fact, bring in the advertisers too. And make sure you put pressure on them to help you pressure the other syndicates (and vica versa). It is one thing for people to boycott a company for some of the things it may do, but draw the line at attacking people with a policy neutral business model.
#103

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:52 am, sambo said:

1. Dave the Libertarian said:
Oh, it also reminds me of the nutty Scientologists (oops, $cientologists), who use lawsuits to harass, not to actually win, the intent is to tie their enemies up, burden them with legal feels, and intimidate them into silence.

Reminds me of CAIR also…coincidentally! or is it more of a coincidence the messiah is using the methods of authoritarian type religions?
#104

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:54 am, Alphonse said:

After Bush’s scrapping of the Bill of Rights, and the failure of checks and balances, i.e., acquiescence of Congress, one could hardly expect freedom of speech to flourish. Maybe those who have supported Bush/Gonzales/Cheney/Rumsfeld in their depredations will open their eyes finally.
#105

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:55 am, Ty85719 said:

Typical Marxist behavior. The one criticism that should be driven home time and time again (Obama’s ties to Communism) is the thing that is mentioned least of all
#106

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:57 am, englishqueen01 said:

Puts a whole new interpretation on BO’s praise for China’s “infrastructure,” doesn’t it?

Not really. The first time I heard his comments on China it sounded to me like he was asking why America isn’t a communist nation.

With every breath he takes, Obama shows he’s not ready to be mayor of some unincorporated podunk town of 300 people, let alone President of 300 million persons.
#107

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:57 am, Dexter Alarius said:

…use lawsuits to harass, not to actually win, the intent is to tie their enemies up, burden them with legal feels, and intimidate them into silence.

Don’t forget the ACLU: Anti-Christian Litigation Union. They do the same thing. Although, with the left leaning judiciary they often win.
#108

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:58 am, davenp35 said:

Liberals love to use fascist tactics to get their way! Seriously, what is Obama so afraid of? Why won’t he just admit he has friends who are terrorists?
#109

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:00 am, emjem24 said:

Okay, kiddies, all together now…. can you say Lawsuit Abuse?

When the Obamites’ “complaints” lead no where, or their threats and intimidation silence the resistance, what will happen to the other stations who do not surrender?

Oh, yes, Chaps… I can see how this great culture of the lawyer can be used to intimidate anyone that gets in the way of The Ones’ political “destiny.” Isn’t this how we got the likes of Silky Edwards?
#110

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:03 am, jtex said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:44 am,

ajmontana said:
Ha! speaking of “race card”
the odopey camp made a deck of cards before the VP pick ala the deck Bush made for Saddam Insane….Joe Bidet was the ….”Six of Spades”….. rofl!!!!! Didn’t even rate a face card!!!!! Too funny.

Good grief, Joe Biden is a Spade? Who’d of thunk it. Looks white to me.

(Sorry, just couldn’t resist)

.
#111

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:07 am, LC said:

Cool, I guess this means I’ll finally get to meet a lot of you all in person when we’re standing toe-to-toe at a King Obama re-education camp sometime in the next four to ten (teehee) years.
#112

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:12 am, sonofdy said:

King Obama

Thats god emperor obama to you.
#113

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:13 am, thekingtut said:

How dare they try and spread idle truths about the MESSiah Uuuuuuhbama. Heil Uuuuuuhbama!
#114

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:14 am, NC BLUE said:

Rambler #69 and JBH #71–Chicago politics at their finest. Oblahblahma is knee deep in the sleazy Chicago political arena. Hell–they let dead people vote there (that’s why BO saw those dead veterans in the audience during his speech) and living folks get to vote twice if they are dimocraps. The AFSCME union is out without a contract in Illinois because the Gov. wants to shaft the state workers with higher healthcare costs so he can give free healthcare to the lesser–sound familiar–you think the Clintons were crooked–you ain’t seen nuttin yet.
#115

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:15 am, alamb said:

i am feeling very very nervous about Obama. He is an extremist and he WILL subvert the constitution a la Chavez! Wake up from your political correctness torpor, America!
#116

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:15 am, Flyoverman said:

Airing Bill Ayers: Doing the work that the American and European MSM won’t do.

The good news is between Obam and Biden it’s a target-rich environment.
#117

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:15 am, Send_Me said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 7:35 am, Daria said:
[W]hile I have serious disputes with John McCain, he is by far the better of these two choices.

So, you’re voting for McCain because he’s not Obama? So, I ask, what if McCain considered a pro-life VP? What if he lacked economic sense, to his own admission? What if he opposed a proposition in his own state to require proof of citizenship to participate in voting or “state giveaway programs?” What if McCain voted to confirm liberal judges, such as Ginsburg and Breyer to the Supreme Court? What if McCain put forth and got passed a bill that attacks free speech, specifically political speech? What if McCain was an adamant promoter of Global Warming rhetoric and policies? What if McCain supported NAFTA? What if McCain showed a lack of understanding in military and foreign policy matters, specifically in Georgia and his paper tiger speeches? Now, if you can convince me otherwise that McCain is worthy of the Presidency, beyond the fact that he is not Obama, then I’m all ears.

It’s time to grow up and realize that for now at least in America, it is a two-party system, for better or for worse. I’ll work to get good conservatives into Congress and keep my thoughts on our brave Military as I touch the computer screen for McCain in November. The alternative is just too frightening.

As time has passed, the Republicans and Democrats have become more similar in terms of policy stances, especially when not only dealing with words, but also with deeds. They both consistently fail to understand military strategy. In every campaign and hotspot following WW2 (as well as the Bolshevik Revolution beforehand), we failed to recognize the enemy, his tactics, his motivations, which translated into a failed response, misuse of air and ground power, as well as broken relationships with other nations and peoples around the world. What have the Republicans done to fix our nation’s energy policies in the last 35 years? What has either party done to fix welfare’s woes? What about Medicare/Medicaid? What about the deficit? What about illegal immigration? What about our failing public education system? What about abortion, an issue about which I hear a lot of talk, but so little action? I hear a great deal of talking, but haven’t seen a lot of positive action in the past 20 years in any area that requires vision beyond their term of office. If you vote for either Obama or McCain, you will get more of the same. So, rather than perpetuate this failing view of “voting for the lesser of two evils,” I’m going to vote for something better and hope others do the same.
What would truly fix this would be to institute a preferential voting system, which would allow folks to rank order candidates. But, when was the last time any elected official voted to reduce their own power?
#118

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:29 am, Chief RZ said:

The AVH will not be far behind if BHO is elected. Next will be the thought police.
#119

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:34 am, battleaxe said:

Looks like another candidate for the “under the bus” brigade. Obama better hope Ayers isn’t wearing a suicide vest when the bus hits him.
#120

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:46 am, bit_boy said:

Sounds like a CAIR approach to politics and Obie’s Sharia intuitions. Change, but don’t ask don’t tell.
#121

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:52 am, Henry said:

Monkey see, monkey do.
#122

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am, emjem24 said:

Send_Me said #115:

I hate to state the obvious, and will probably be filleted by yourself and other anti-McCain folks, but here I go:

no third party will win the 2008 election.

The election will pretty much be decided by indpendents (mostly independent women). What scares me is how insipidly idiotic, naive, and stupid the young people, ages 18-30, are that buy Obummer’s drivel. As a former teacher, I fought against state revisionist doctrine to accurately portray American history. What I see, is a lot of deluded young people who don’t know much about anything, especially history, and what the likes of Obummer represents. If it’s free (like supposed healthcare or education) the freeber class is all over it.

I have my issues with McCain. I do think he will be a decent commander-in-chief because he has no delusions about terrorists. As a military spouse, that’s important to me. I’m disgusted by his takes on campaign financing, immigration, global warming, and to a certain extent, taxes. He’s just as much a Washington pig as Obummer is.

This election sucks. Change starts at the local level, as other blog contributors have pointed out. I’m an absentee NY voter who really doesn’t expect my or my husband’s military vote to count. They usually never do. Who you think that favors?
#123

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:00 pm, K2 said:

… Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said Obama supporters have inundated stations that are airing the ad, many of them owned by Sinclair Communications, with 93,000 e-mails. He called the ad false, despicable and outrageous.

Yep, but it is still FREEDOM of SPEECH! Just as the 93,000 emails…..just as the original ad. What part of the 1st Amendment does Obama not get?

Obama’s interpretation of the 1st Amendment –’it is okay to say anything you want, as long as it is not an attack on ME’
#124

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:07 pm, Laree said:

Been there done that Obama on Imus that was violent language NO it wasn’t but what Ayers has done is REALLY violent.

Obama when asked if Imus should be fired -He wouldn’t be working for me. I am guessing Obama doesn’t consider himself part of the U.S. government even though he is Federal Senator..doesn’t all this fall under our first amendment right to Free Speech..and can Obama, as a member of the Government threaten censorship?

I asked this question before when Imus was fired about Boycotts. They-Protesting Imus employment on air, didn’t just threaten to boycott the Networks, they threatened their advertisers a secondary boycott that one Law Professor at Rutgers question the legality of secondary boycotts…Chilling speech, 1984 redux.

The remedy of unpopular speech is not less speech it is more speech. CENSORSHIP in any form especially from an elected American Government official for example OBAMA is wrong.

The Democrats, can’t win on an even playing field so they want to rig the playing field -The Media.
#125

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:11 pm, greenfairie said:

Reason #510 why Juan McAmnesty is still > than BHO. The One will take “Nixonian” to a whole new level.
#126

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:20 pm, Send_Me said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am, emjem24 said:
I hate to state the obvious, and will probably be filleted by yourself and other anti-McCain folks

No filleting Actually, I agree with you on many points. I’m under no delusion that a third-party candidate will win. I merely hope that that Republicans will no longer assume they will have the conservative vote if their candidate isn’t conservative. (I feel your pain as well- I’m in the Army and voting absentee in IL…)
I know full well that my generation will be the one that hands our superpower status to someone else. My generation doesn’t want it, mainly out of guilt, but also out of ignorance and apathy. I think Allan Bloom describes my generation best: “Students these days are, in general, nice. I choose the word carefully. They are not particularly moral or noble. Neither war nor tyranny nor want has hardened them or made demands on them. The wounds and rivalries caused by class distinction have disappeared along with any strong sense of class (as it once existed in universities in America and as it still does poisonously, in England). Students are free of most constraints, and their families make sacrifices for them without asking much in the way of obedience or respect. Religion and national origin have almost no noticeable effect on their social life or their career prospects. Although few really believe in ‘the system,’ they do not have a burning sentiment that injustice is being done to them. The drugs and sex once thought to be forbidden are available in quantities required for sensible use… Students these days are pleasant, friendly and, if not great-souled, at least not particularly mean-spirited. Their primary preoccupation is themselves, understood in the narrowest sense.”
Allan Bloom, “The Closing of the American Mind,” 1987, pg. 82-83
#127

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:20 pm, tonyr951 said:

Silencing the Opposition is Change You Can Believe In
#128

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:24 pm, rambler said:

jbh45 and NCBLUE,
I spent 9 yrs in the Chicago area - which was more than I could take. I left just as BO was running for the senate against Ryan. INDEED, we have seen nothing yet!!!!! We’re SOoooo screwed!
#129

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:28 pm, sambo said:

K2 said:
Obama’s interpretation of the 1st Amendment –’it is okay to say anything you want, as long as it is not an attack on ME’

and what is so ironic about it all is THE ONE claims to be a constitutional expert! Goes to show ya how he would handle issuers that he has no experience in.
#130

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pm, Milwaukee Mike said:

He called the ad false, despicable and outrageous.

Double speak for completely credible.
#131

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:39 pm, bear1909 said:

Obama’s recent tango with fascism re the Ayers ad is a discredit to his family name.

So i will no longer refer to him by his fictitious name of “Obama” or Soter-ioreowhatever.

He will forever be referred to by yours truly as:

“Flinchy BingHole”.

BingHole-Biden. Kinda has a ring to it, no?
#132

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:40 pm, RetFireman said:

Well, ya know…with the kind of crowd that hangs around that kind of site, they may have misunderstood what you meant.

Ewwwww….sick and wrong. You’re probably right, but that still sick and wrong.
#133

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:50 pm, bear1909 said:

i think this ‘attack’ ad is ten times more effective than the swift boat ads against Kerry because it shows Flinchy’s association with a known Felon…and then there is Tony “Bags” Rezko.

oy. nothin but problems
#134

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:50 pm, laggarticus said:

After seeing the ad Obama’s camp is throwing a tantrum about, I have to ask what exactly is false?

And after seeing the “Why is John McCain talking about the sixties?” ad, I get the feeling that Obama either has no clue as to why the association with Ayers is a negative thing or else trying to blow smoke up our - …ahem… Trying to distract from the point. If Adolf Hitler survived WWII and the republican candidate had launched his political career from Adolf’s home, he would be completely unelectable and rightly so. It wouldn’t matter if that whole “final solution” thing happened when he was six years old. William Ayers is a hippie lunatic and it is a very valid issue to point out someone’s relationship with someone who regrets not bombing American institutions more than he did.
#135

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:53 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

The Bear is back and you’re gunna be sorry

Hey-la, Hey-la the Bear is back!

Barak O’Bidet NO8
#136

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:56 pm, bear1909 said:

The only Change that Flinchy brings to the table is in his pocket.
#137

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:05 pm, YTZGal said:

“Other stations that follow Sinclair’s lead should expect a similar response from people who don’t want the political discourse cheapened with these false, negative attacks,” Vietor said.

Except that it’s not false.
Therein lies the problem for UhUhUhbama.
#138

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:06 pm, AlohaGuy said:

Some call it “bullying.” Others call it “effective and legal pressure.” That’s the American way, right?

Sure. And some call it free speech. Bring it on.
#139

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:10 pm, AlohaGuy said:

As far as bringing in the DOJ, if the station is doing something wrong, they should be brought to light. If not, then what do they have to fear?

Some call it “bullying.” Others call it “effective and legal pressure.” That’s the American way, right?

I also think “Loser Pays” would help people sort out their arguments before attorneys are hired.
#140

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:12 pm, corkie said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:06 am, chapoutier said:

But surely if it does not violate a law, the group airing them should have no concerns, right?

chapoutier, if FEC law is half as ambiguous as the tax code, then it’s disingenuous for you to claim that the group airing the adds should have no concerns. You claim that you don’t know much about FEC law, therefore, you don’t know if you are being disingenuous or not. Please comment on this.

Also, do you “cheat” on your taxes?

If not, then you “should have no concerns” about an IRS audit, right?

You shouldn’t be “concerned” about the hassle of pulling records, allocating time (non-billable time), and wondering if your accountants followed every item in the tax code according to IRS interpretation - an interpretation which may or may not withstand DOJ (and a court’s) scrutiny.
#141

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:16 pm, navywife91 said:

I watched this ad on Fox and Friends this morning and Bob Beckel was not a happy camper.

I think the ad is very effective and besides, Obama already has an answer to the ad. It sounds very whiney, as usual.
#142

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:23 pm, SuzEQCitizen said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 11:54 am, emjem24 said:

As a former teacher, I fought against state revisionist doctrine to accurately portray American history.

I applaud you…loudly. Revisionist American history was a key factor in my pulling my children from public school and homeschooling them for several years. My (now public) high school senior knows more about accurate American history than many or most of her peers.
#143

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:23 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

As far as bringing in the DOJ, if the station is doing something wrong, they should be brought to light. If not, then what do they have to fear?

Papers Please? That line was used in a hundred movies about Communist and NAZIs.

The police, Justice Department should be brought in when the is Probable Cause of a crime, not as part of intimidation.

These investigations can cause the respondents tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars. But that is what it is all about isn’t it?

You seem so confident that they are not violating the law. Why?

That someone has to prove they didn’t cause a crime is what we call fascism. chapoutier probably resents being called a Fascist. I would suggest he stop talking like one.
The chapoutiers all over this country whined about the Ken Starr investigation where there was a crime.

But we Republicans shouldn’t be too proud on the issue. The Justice Department-FBI- ‘talked’ to a lot of us opposing McCain-Kennedy Amnesty. Fortunately most of us were too hard core to be intimidated. I asked him if he was the agent who shot Vicky Weaver (o:.

Horiuchi - chapoutier ? You Vil Comply Achtung!
#144

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm, right_on said:

If the message in the ad is not true, then the Obama should prove that it is not. This is typical of liberals, yell loudly at feigned outrage, but have someone else fight the fight, oh yeah, and have the taxpayer fund it…

In my experience, when an accusation is close to the truth, the guilty protest louder, and start issuing threats. Remember the “hero” of the New Democrat Party, Bill Clinton’s denial…”I did not have relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.” “There is no relationship…” And of course his devoted spouse’s exclaimation of “a vast, right-wing conspiracy…”

Obama needs a new campaign motto. Perhaps, “Politics you can count on?”

When one handles excrement, it doesn’t matter how many times the hands are washed, the stink remains. It is difficult to claim innocence when the air remains fouled….even if you spray the air with a flowery cover scent.
#145

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:30 pm, bansharia said:

Hiya Gang!
a wee bit OT:
does anyone have a link to times of scheduled protests today? if there even
is such a thing.
#146

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:45 pm, happyscrapper said:

It would be really interesting to try an experiment. Divide this country in half, with conservatives running one half and liberals running the other. Like two separate countries. They would have their own lawmaking ability, their own economic system, everything. Just for perhaps five years to see which half of the country would be successful and which half would be bankrupt and pretty darn stinky. Of course, the conservative side would miss some of the creative theatrics we love so much, but it could be a very “telling” experiment for both sides. I think we would discover that we need each other’s diverse talents and opinions. On the other hand, you can move all the far-left radicals to a deserted island and leave them there.
#147

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:54 pm, cicerokid said:

“In my experience, when an accusation is close to the truth, the guilty protest louder,…”

Right on, Right On.

When you throw a rock into a pack of hounds, the one you hit yelps.
#148

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:58 pm, John Ansell said:

Republican or Democrat, I’ve never liked the guilt by association attacks. There is enough ammo to take down Barack with a clean campaign.
#149

On August 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm, right_on said:

When you throw a rock into a pack of hounds, the one you hit yelps.

If youw throw a well-aimed rock at any isolated mongrel, and hit it, it will yelp. The harder the impact, the louder the yelp….
#150

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:01 pm, RetFireman said:

So why is it that every time there is an ad or article out there that tells the voting public all about The Golden Calf’s friends and mentors, they are called “Attack Ads” and they accuse whoever is doing them of “Swiftboating Obumble” and then do everything they can, including bullying and general thuggery to keep people in this country from knowing who The Golden Calf is, who he associates with etc.?

Seriously what is it they are so afraid of? What is it they are trying to hide?

More importantly, what else is out there that has yet to be exposed that has THEM all terrified and worried?

Considering the heinousness of the people already exposed, I can just imagine how much worse the people that have yet to be exposed truly are. I only hope that people keep from being intimidated and The Golden Calf continues to be exposed. Eventually, all the truth will come out and there will be no one left to defend him.
#151

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:05 pm, happyscrapper said:

I have often wondered myself, why they call them attack ads when they are merely telling the truth that needs to be told? Are we just supposed to sit back and let this man become president without the citizens of this country knowing about Rev. Wright, Rezko, Ayers, etc.? These are important parts of this man’s core character and the public has a right to a fully vetted president!!
#152

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:06 pm, right_on said:

Republican or Democrat, I’ve never liked the guilt by association attacks.

Nor do I…unless there is substance behind an accusation. When looking for partners in crime, law enforcement does NOT look at the general public, rather they look at known associations first. Should no connections be found, they move on, looking next to “probable” associations and to those who would benefit most from participation in that association.
#153

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:08 pm, yeper said:

Do you remember the fellow in Florida who put up an anti-Obama Billboard and all hell broke loose? Wonder how many 2.8 million dollars worth of Billboards that money would buy - Obama and his brown shirts could not stop that advertising. I totally despise Democrats for the most part, and I despise that I use to be one. I was a huge John Glenn supporter here in Ohio - That was before Jimmy Carter came along and easily convinced me that I was dumber than a box of rocks
#154

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:09 pm, John Ansell said:

That’s true, RightOn, but Obama was not named in the Rezko trial. That had to deal with the Gov. and other top players. Including one very powerful Republican Power broker. That’s why Gov. Bag-o-chips is not at the convention.
#155

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

“When you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas.” Yes, his associations are very relevant! They speak to his attitudes and values.
#156

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm, Joy said:

McCain/Feigold - Bullying that’s now law

Also keep in mind McCain said anyone involved with 527s can’t be a part of his campaign. He wants to silence 527s too. He was totally against the Swift Boat ads…

So b. Hussein and McCain both seek to squelch free speech, political speech, which is the only kind that is actually mentioned in the Constitution.

cicerokid - It will be interesting to see which hounds yelp loudest at my post…
#157

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:11 pm, Joy said:

Feingold that is.. oops
#158

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:13 pm, neocon527 said:

Hey, maybe if McCain puts Gov. Mark Sanford on the ticket, Bill Ayers can be a bipartisan problem.
#159

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:22 pm, chapoutier said:

Arizona,

My point actually was not that Obama should get the DOJ involved. I was making a tangential and sarcastic point about the argument that one should not fear government intrusion if one has done nothing wrong. Something that I do not believe, btw.

But it ended up not coming out well.

On topic: I would like to know what law the Obama campaign is claiming is being broken. None of that is clear. Campaign finance? Slander?
#160

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:24 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

…the (Obama) campaign is sending out emails attempting to link Mark Sanford to Ayers because they have honorary titles at the same 40,000-student university?

Not quite the same as being friends and neighbors, collaborating on a board, and launching your political life in his home.
#161

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:28 pm, uhangtight said:

I’m sorry but I call him Obamitler, now, this is clearly his persona. The charismatica of hopechangehope as backed by his community police as well funded as the US Military.

Did he get this idea for community police from Ayers???? Or did Obamitler just love reading about the success Hitler’s managed for him?
#162

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:35 pm, Dimsdale said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 12:30 am, chapoutier said:

My argument is not about the terrorist whose phone is wiretapped. My argument is about the non-terrorist who has reason to fear their phone may be wire tapped. I always here from people on this board…”I’m not doing anything wrong, why should I care?”

Given the type of vitriol against Bush that I hear on a regular basis at my university, and the type of comments I read on MassLive.com, Kos, DU etc., all of which could be construed as felonious in the sense that they are threats against the President, I think that it is the ones squealing the loudest that have the most to fear.

So if the Ayers ads aren’t breaking any laws why should the group putting them out care if the DOJ chooses to look into them? They will be totally vindicated, right?

Right, but that eventual vindication costs time, money, and manpower. It may not even happen until well after the election, when it is of little benefit to anyone, and a footnote in the paper. Obama can set the dogs of the DOJ after presumably innocent people at no cost to himself, while tying up resources in that group. If Obama wants to prosecute them, he should pay his lawyers to do so himself.
#163

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:37 pm, Send_Me said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:28 pm, uhangtight said:

For more info on his “civilian national security force” idea, see my first post on this thread.
#164

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:45 pm, JohnFLob said:

Is this the Bush Administration trying to stifle dissent and unfavorable comments?
Who are the REAL FASCIST now?
Freedom of speech and thought - BUT ONLY IF IT IS OBAMA/DNC SPEECH AND THOUGHT.
Sounds a lot like the islamophobia cries of anguish from CAIR.

These tactics by the Obama campaign, and the probably the DNC, are EXACTLY what they have accused the Bush Administration of doing for the past 7+ years.
#165

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:52 pm, neocon527 said:

It sucks when what goes around comes around, doesn’t it, Dexter? Dwell on Ayers and everyone plays the Kevin Bacon game with every Republican they can find. Call Obama the “celebrity” candidate and you just might end up hearing about McCain’s 13th appearance on Jay Leno last night (matched by such serious individuals as Dr. Phil and Pam Anderson) or his appearance in Wedding Crashers or how he was really a great host on Saturday Night Live. Go after Michelle Obama all you like, but don’t cry foul when people start talking about Cindy McCain’s past drug habit or how she stole money from the charity she was running to pay for that habit. Dwell on Obama’s “citizen of the world” line ad nauseum and hope that voters don’t know what Google is and won’t find an almost identical quote, echoing the same sentiments, from Ronald Reagan. Want to flaunt McCain’s POW record (as the response to, well, everything) and just hope that some reporter doesn’t ask him if he still considers what happened to him to be torture since he most recently urged the president to veto a bill that would ban such tactics. (Or how such support for torture falls in with his Judeo-Christian values.) Lure all the so-called PUMAs you can find, but don’t feel cheap when they go off the reservation and claim that McCain won’t overturn Roe v. Wade, as the most famous PUMA did just yesterday. Because this is what happens when everything is gotcha politics.

Now, the ultimate irony would be if McCain picked Romney, after immediately running that ad showing Biden saying negative things about Obama. I mean, the man who says this about his opponent — “Never get into a wrestling match with a pig. You both get dirty — and the pig likes it.” — might want to think twice about making him his running mate.
#166

On August 26th, 2008 at 3:01 pm, Hanover Fiste said:

I think if BO has links to radicals like this Ayers, it is VERY important that the American people find out about it. I also find it interesting that Obama hasn’t provided any hard evidence that this information is in fact untrue. Instead BO takes the tack that it’s not true because I said so, oh and by the way, I have called the authorities on those who dare bring this information to light. It reminds of an Orwell quote I read somewhere “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.”
#167

On August 26th, 2008 at 3:21 pm, tiredofit08 said:

stifle free speech, shut down conservative radio, shut down grassroots movements…beginning to sound a lot like some marxist countries of the past eh?? one that is rearing its ugly head again??
#168

On August 26th, 2008 at 3:44 pm, fmfnavydoc said:

If Barry O is upset about these ads connecting him to his “neighbor” Bill Ayers, then maybe he needs to DROP OUT of the race…he’s the one that insists that spouses should not be attacked, but does it…he drops the race card, but McCain doesn’t (the honorable thing to do)…and now he doesn’t like people looking at his “relationships” with his Chicago buddies, Tony, Bill and whomever else, so he cries to the DOJ and picks on a business that airs them to make some money….

Ladies and Gents, we’ll be seeing more about Barry and his Chi-town connections in the coming weeks, and get a clearer picture of the Messiah - sans clothing.
#169

On August 26th, 2008 at 4:44 pm, neocon527 said:

Tiredofit…what conservative radio shows have been shut down? What grassroots movements have been stopped?
#170

On August 26th, 2008 at 4:59 pm, Send_Me said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 4:44 pm, neocon527 said:
Tiredofit…what conservative radio shows have been shut down? What grassroots movements have been stopped?

I can’t read Tiredofit’s mind, but I’d assume he’s referring to the Fairness Doctrine and McCain-Feingold.
#171

On August 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm, neocon527 said:

Yeah, I’ve noticed a real dip in conservative radio and grassroots movements since McCain-Feingold.
#172

On August 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm, corkie said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 2:22 pm, chapoutier said:

Arizona,

My point actually was not that Obama should get the DOJ involved. I was making a tangential and sarcastic point about the argument that one should not fear government intrusion if one has done nothing wrong. Something that I do not believe, btw.

But it ended up not coming out well.

On topic: I would like to know what law the Obama campaign is claiming is being broken. None of that is clear. Campaign finance? Slander?

chapoutier, I’m quite happy that you were only being sarcastic all 6 times you repeated yourself.
#173

On August 26th, 2008 at 9:07 pm, navywife91 said:

On August 26th, 2008 at 5:03 pm, neocon527 said:
Yeah, I’ve noticed a real dip in conservative radio and grassroots movements since McCain-Feingold.

I know I’m late to the game, but even I know that he/she is talking about what will likely happen, if Dems get their way.
#174

On August 26th, 2008 at 10:33 pm, CC said:

I heard someone on the O’Reilly’s radio show today, obviously not an Obama fan in the slightest, who said he was going to write in a vote for Duncan Hunter.

That’s not a vote. It’s absolutely useless and verges on stupidity. That’s the type of silly attitude that will cost us the election.
#175

On August 27th, 2008 at 1:10 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

NeoCon, you appear to be using the “I’m rubber and you’re glue…” argument. It doesn’t follow. THe ‘6-degrees’ construct doesn’t apply because there is a DIRECT connection between Ayers and Obama, whereas there is no direct connection between Ayers and Sanford. You may as well say there is a relationship between them because both men drive Lincolns.

Also, McCain’s celebrity derives from his accomplishments. Obama’s celebrity, as Paris Hilton’s, derives from his… celebrity. THey are famous for being famous. There is no substance.

Each of your points can similarly be disputed by highlighting important distinctions. If you can’t see the difference… I’m sorry.