Faculty Lounge

I haven’t been one to pounce on the news that Barack Obama’s pastor is a bit of a racist. People are entitled to their own views, regardless of how vile those views are. Obama says that he found value in attending that church, with that pastor, in spite of that rhetoric. Who am I to question this? I do however wonder what Obama would say if Clinton had been attending a church with a white pastor, who used the same type of rhetoric about blacks.

Obama’s relationship will Bill Ayers is another matter entirely.

Who is Bill Ayers? He’s a terrorist, no different than Osama Bin Laden. He was a leader in the Weather Underground. They blew up 30 bombs, including at the New York City Police Headquarters, the Capitol building, and the Pentagon. One bomb killed three people. Then he disappeared for 10 years.

Ayer’s motto: “Bring the revolution home. Kill your parents". Not only has Ayers never apologized for his actions, he’s still proud of them. In 2001 he said: “I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough”.

“Prosecutorial misconduct” was the reason he’s not rotting in prison today.

So, what’s the connection between Ayers and Obama? Obama and Ayers live in the same neighborhood. Ok, so there’s not much to say about this. They also served on the board of the same foundation. Hey, we all have to work with people we don’t like, right? Yes, but Obama could have declined to serve on the board if Bill Ayers was on it. Now we find out that when Barack Obama first ran for the State Senate in 1995, his coming out party was held at the home of Bill Ayers. That’s where Alice Palmer, who was stepping down from her State Senate seat, announced that Obama was her chosen successor.

I voted for Obama in the Democratic caucus and I don't regret it at all because the Iraq war is the #1 issue for me. This is troubling nevertheless.

Oh by the way, while he was President Bill Clinton commuted the sentences of two Weatherman who were sent to prison.