MyDD :: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [VIDEO]

Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [VIDEO]

by Zebra01, Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:08:28 PM EST

Last night I wrote a short diary called "Obama's Weather Underground Friends" attaching a You Tube video that's been circulating on political websites. The video claims that Obama's political career in Chicago was launched with the help of William Ayres and Bernardine Dohrn, WU leaders.

The point of the diary was to emphasize the risk facing the Democratic Party should Barack Obama be our nominee. As one commenter to that diary put it: "Heck the Republicans won't even need Karl Rove this year. Hit pieces against Obama practically write themselves. Once you clear away the fog of liberal guilt, things become quite simple indeed."

Now today the story has gained momentum in the blogosphere. A link to this commonvoice.com article is making the rounds on comment boards. The article references a conservative talk radio broadcast in Oregon that reported claims by a Pentagon official from Pres. Bush Sr.'s Administration and a former CIA officer that Obama and Ayers funneled money to Professor Rashid Khalidi, a known terrorist sympathizer. Excerpt here:

Bill Ayers, along with his wife Bernadine Dohrn, was an active member of the Weather Underground, a radical left-wing group that advocated violence against the United State.

Both Ayers and Dohrn went "underground" in 1970 after others in the group accidentally detonated a bomb in a Greenwich Village (New York City) townhouse. The blast killed three of the group's members including Ayers' girlfriend at the time.

While Ayers and Dohrn were hiding from law enforcement, the Weather Underground participated in the bombings of the US Capital, the Pentagon and a State Department building. In 1981 Ayers and Dohrn turned themselves in to federal authorities, but all charges were dropped as a result of alleged "government legal misconduct." In his 2001 memoir, Ayers wrote, "I don't regret setting the bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."
Ayers and Dohrn are known to have held at least one fundraiser for Barack Obama in their Chicago home.

During Obama's last year on the board of The Woods Fund (2002), he participated in awarding grants, including a $70,000 grant to the Arab American Action Network, a Chicago-based group founded by Rashid and Mona Khalidi.

In another suspected quid pro quo arrangement similar to those with Ayers and Rezko, Rashid Khalidi also held a fundraising event in his home for Barack Obama.

In the Middle East, Rashid Khalidi was known as a man to be reckoned with. From 1972 through 1983, Khalidi was the director in Beirut of the official Palestinian press agency, FAFA. His wife worked there as well.

According to sources, when the Khalidi's left Chicago for Columbia University in New York, Rashid was honored with the Edward Said Chair in Arab Studies at that Ivy League university. Their goodbye party in Chicago included testimonials from Bill Ayers and Barack Obama.

It really is frightening to imagine what the GOP and right-wing 527's will do with all the material stacking up in their Barack Obama hit files. To highlight the point, here is the You Tube video again. I don't know who made this one but I've no doubt that this can of worms is still barely cracked.

Tags: obama, ayres, weather underground, terrorists, fundraising, election 08, democratic nomination, mydd (all tags)

Permalink :: 42 Comments :: Post a Comment

I Debunk This! (2.00 / 2)

Okay, so you only have one source for this.

That source is not some respected media outlet.

That source uses sources of its own. Here's one;
www.newsmax.com/fontova/obama_campaign/2 008/02/14/72655.html

For those of you who haven't figured it out yet- Newsmax is a right-wing tabloid. You think this is bad? You should have read their pieces on the Clintons in the 90's.

Here's another source;
www.therothshow.com

Talk radio.

Give me a break. Come back to My Direct Democracy when you're not peddling Republican propaganda.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep amidst the wolves! Therefore, be as wise as a serpent, And as harmless as a dove."

by Setrak on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:13:42 PM EST

Re: I Debunk This! (none / 0)

More on Jim Kouri, from the very website that you cited;

In addition, he's the new editor for the House Conservatives Fund's weblog.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep amidst the wolves! Therefore, be as wise as a serpent, And as harmless as a dove."

by Setrak on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:28:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You can debunk the messenger (none / 0)

These are the same outlets that were peddling Rev Wright and, yes, they are low-life scum but you know that if these kinds of things go viral like Rev Wright did, blaming the media just won't be enough.

The rap against Rashid Khalidi is a noxious one, but we know that anybody who dares support Palestinian rights (as Obama once did) is painted as a terrorist anyway.

Ayres and Dohrn hosting a fundraiser is another matter all together. They are not mere terrorist sympathizers, they ARE terrorists. And he accepted money they raised for him? Oy.

If this blows into the mainstream the Obama Team better have a response ready.

If not, Obama will lose his remaining cred as a serious candidate and it won't be because of racism, but because of some rich, white folk (Trust fund Terrorists) who declared war on the United States nearly 40 years ago.

They may be holding back on this one to see if he actually wins the nomination.

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:51:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You can debunk the messenger (none / 0)

President Bush supports a two state solution, as do the majority of Israelis and American Jews.

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:57:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You can debunk the messenger (none / 0)

I'm not sure why you're bringing this up.

Are you saying that Obama should be condemned for knowing Rashid Khalidi?

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:07:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Change your username (none / 0)

if you oppose revolutionary efforts.

The 4th Amendment: It's not just for dope dealers anymore.

by benmasel on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:13:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Change your username (none / 0)

Did I say I was criticising the weather underground? I called them Trust Fund Terrorists so you're free to interpert that as you will.

The issue here has nothing to do with me or the Easter Rebellion (nice of you to notice btw) or the issue of armed rebellion. I'm not running for President. (one of the best decisions of my life)

At least Pearse and his fellow fighters knew what the British Colonial Office was capable of. If you know what the GOP is capable of then stop playing games with "I'm more revolutionary than you are" and address the problem. (It was Sen OBama campaign team who had the poster of Che Guevara removed from a volunteer's office because it was "offensive" so I guess the Senator isn't so keen on revolutionary efforts either - anymore)

Can Sen Obama win the General Election with this kind of baggage?

Are you saying that all that can be offered is closing one's eyes and hoping it goes away?

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 07:10:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

what's really scary... (2.00 / 1)

"It really is frightening to imagine what the GOP and right-wing 527's will do with all the material stacking up in their Barack Obama hit files."

no, what's really frightening is when so-called Democrats and progressives parrot back and spread this racist crap. they won't need 527's from the right, you are doing their racist work for them.

what do we do when the enemy is inside our own party? we lose.

the time to rise has been engaged.

by catchaz on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:17:51 PM EST

What's "racist" about the Weathermen? (2.00 / 1)

There's nothing racist at all in these allegations.

Are they true is what you should be asking?

Instead, you refer to Democrats who wonder if the party can afford to lose because of Obama's personal baggage as "the enemy within".

The enemy within???? Why do so many Obama supporters sound like Leninists itching for a purge? (How's that for doing the right-wing's work?)

When you start talking about the "enemy within" you're sounding just like the paranoid little Marxist the right wants to paint you as...so keep it up.

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:01:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

you're doing great! (none / 0)

"Why do so many Obama supporters sound like Leninists itching for a purge? (How's that for doing the right-wing's work?)"

that's excellent! i'm sure Sean Hannity is proud of you.

the time to rise has been engaged.

by catchaz on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:19:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thanks. (2.00 / 0)

Oh, padon me, commissar - let me get my identity papers:

I grew up in the 60/70s, I went to Columbia where I lived for a time in the SDS house on w.113th.

I remember when you could still find Leninists in American politics. And, yes, whenever something went wrong, you never actually solved the problem, just purged the people who dissented or who raised the problem in the first place.

Most Hippie Lefties preferred the more open approach of Trotsky, who you might remember had been purged from the party and was subsequently murdered by agents of Lenin.

And, yes, among some Obama supporters (especially in the blogosphere) the solution to all of Obama's (and the world's) problems, evidently, is simply to censor, to shut down, to shout over anyone who has unpleasant news or an awkward opinion.

Since you only take time to recommend my point to Sean Hannity, did you also want to defend the previous posters description of the Ayres-Dohrn link as being "racist"? Or have we come to that point in the show trails where any criticism of Sen Obama or mention of any flaw he might have or personal baggage is simply and always "racist"?

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 07:12:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

only racism is racist (none / 0)

there's another word for Democrats parroting right-wing talking points: Suicidal.

the time to rise has been engaged.

by catchaz on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 07:21:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: only racism is racist (2.00 / 0)

"there's another word for Democrats parroting right-wing talking points: Suicidal."

No, what's really suicidal is trying to nominate a candidate who will be profoundly unacceptable and unelectable to the majority of Americans because of his long term connections to extremists, especially those of the violent extremes.

by 07rescue on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 09:29:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

thank you Mr. Hannity (none / 0)

we know where you stand, with the Haters and the ReThugs. McCain-Clinton 2008, that's the ticket!

the time to rise has been engaged.

by catchaz on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 12:15:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

John Kerry (2.00 / 1)

They said John Kerry shot himself in the ass. Americans believed this when the right wing media was done. It doesn't matter what scary pseudo-facts are available, the right wing machine will attack.

They will attack Hillary just as loudly and effectively, with truth or false, it doesn't matter. What matters is the ability to respond eloquently and effectively, which I think Obama does pretty well.

by furiousxgeorge on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:18:46 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [V (2.00 / 2)

Someone posted this last week. It's just as ridiculous this week.

The ad says Obama gave "an innocuous, little talk in their living room."

AN INNOCUOUS LITTLE TALK!!!

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:20:18 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 1)

The story is gaining traction in the blogosphere and I predict it's only a matter of days before the MSM runs it.

You can continue to be in denial about Obama's skeletons, but there's no question that this stuff will be gleefully exploited by the GOP this fall.

Obama has a record of associating with people of questionable reputation and character. Rezko, Wright, Ayres...

What else don't we yet know?

by Zebra01 on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:24:40 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 2)

Your party affiliation.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep amidst the wolves! Therefore, be as wise as a serpent, And as harmless as a dove."

by Setrak on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:29:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 0)

"Your party affiliation."

Droning on with this repetitive ad hominem attack against anyone who raises legitimate concerns about Obama's electability really gets old.

by 07rescue on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 09:32:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Actually, I kind of like Rev Wright (2.00 / 1)

Aside from his talking trash about the Clinton's in what was obviously more political witnessing than gospel witnessing , I think he's got a bum rap. (But then I thought the so-called "Dean Scream" was equally unbelievable - yet they got away with it, so I know, they can do irreparable damage)

Rezko and Ayres are qualitatively different and pose a whole set of other problems for the candidate and the party.

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 07:17:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 3)

This is red baiting. No thanks.

When I read diaries like this, I am more likely to support Obama.

Why not a positive diary on Clinton's economic plans or universal health care?

by TomP on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:31:35 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 2)

No, it's not red-baiting. If someone said (as has been said to me - by a Republican) that Obama's parents were self-proclaimed atheists who met in a Russian language class in 1960, that would be red-baiting.

But Ayres and Dohrn were TERRORISTS. There is not room for dispute on this point. They made bombs. They were proud of it.

I can hear the 527 ad:

"While John McCain was rotting in the Hanoi Hilton. Barack Obama's terrorist friends were declaring war on the United States and planting BOMBS."

If you think the Republicans aren't going to use this, you're deluded. If they had a picture of him shaking hands with Jane Fonda we'd be getting it day and night. And you know, Jane Fonda, for all her iconic qualities, is nothing compared to the Weathermen.

The Obama team should get in front of this, find a way of defusing it before it goes viral.

Now, I entered this primary happy to support either candidate and I will support either candidate but I would like to support a candidate who can win.

And so should you.

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:36:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

More right wing bs from you. (2.00 / 1)

Don't tell me whom to support.

I will vote for the nominee.

I am neutral between the two centrist candidates: Obama and Clinton.

Both Clinton and Obama have real electabiliity problems. Running up the other's negatives, as you seek to do, is not an act helping the Democratic Party.

You are trying to smear Obama with the "Oh the Rs will use this" bs argument. The use of "terrorist" by you is Bush-like.

It is no different from when Obama supporters attack Hillary Clinton with Bill Clinton's affairs.

It is an argument lacking in integrity, whether made by an Obama supporter or a Clinton supporter.

When I read arguments like yours, it makes me far more likely to support Obama. You harm Hillary Clinton with this tripe.

by TomP on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:51:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 1)

"This is red baiting... Why not a positive diary on Clinton's economic plans or universal health care?"

Interestingly, it was Quentin Young, president of Physicians for a National Health Program, the landmark single payer national health insurance advocacy group, who broke this Weather Underground story to the press, confirming Obama's visit to the Ayers/Dohrn event, and their relationship, after Obama completely reversed his support for both single payer and universal health care, betraying the progressive causes he had once derived all his support from.

Obama had taken support and funds in his early career from these progressives whose causes he subsequently left in the dirt.

by 07rescue on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 09:41:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (none / 0)

"Obama had taken support and funds in his early career from these progressives whose causes he subsequently left in the dirt."

I should add, it's called "blowback", and there is lots more where that came from. It's the problem with stabbing friends in the back and betraying the causes and people who's shoulders you are standing on.

by 07rescue on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 09:44:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Didn't Bill Clinton pardon a Weather Underground (2.00 / 2)

member along with some other folks you'd probably consider terrorists?

My candidate lost fair and square. So did yours. Get over it and let's kick McSame's ass!

by RLMcCauley on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:33:51 PM EST

Re: Didn't Bill Clinton pardon a Weather Undergrou (none / 0)

He pardoned Patty Hearst who was not a member of the Underground.

Ayres' daddy was rich - not sure about Dohrn but neither of them ever served jail time on the original set of warrants. She was sentenced to a year or two for refusing to testify in another case. I'm sure the details are in Wikipedia.

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 07:21:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Clinton's Terror Pardons (none / 0)

Bill Clinton pardoned a lot of despicable characters but this is the real icing on the cake

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12027781 9085260827.html?mod=opinion_main_comment aries

by soros on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 07:36:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [V (2.00 / 2)

Umm, I live in Chicago and Dohrn now runs the Northwestern Law School's Children's Rights Clinic and Ayers is active in a number of social causes and charities. They live near Obama and that's how he met them as their State Senator. Obama was on a charity board that Ayers was also on.

Tons of people in Chicago now associate with Ayers and Dohrn because they are now mainstream progressives in Illinois, after having a very stupid past. Sorry, but this story is really lame.

by tom32182 on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:40:07 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [V (2.00 / 0)

Sorry, but Ayers and Dohrn are unrepentant domestic terrorists. Period. They led The Weather Underground and declared war against the US government and bombed several targets, including the Pentagon.

by grlpatriot on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:46:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [V (2.00 / 0)

Even worse - for mainstream America - they've never repudiated the underground or its tactics.

Everyone wants to say that since they are now "respectable" all this is a storm in a teacup. Hey, Jane Fonda was married Ted Turner, she made millions launching the exercise video craze, she even became a born again Christian and the right wing still drolls at her name.

So, should he get in front of this? He has often talked about not wanting to re-fight the fights of the '60s - maybe he could get in front of this and offer a reconciliatory speech about the Vietnam era?

I'm not sure just waiting for it to explode on YouTube or whereever as then it will just seem to a lot of people like CYA time.

by PadraigPearse on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 07:32:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [V (none / 0)

This is so bizarre and dumb. What is there to talk about? Obama once met the dude when he was running for State Senate (it's doubtful that Obama even knew who the Weather Underground were given his age) and then he served on a charity with him. What more is there to say? Hillary Clinton worked on some controversial stuff as an attorney, but no one is really thinking that matters now.

Stop sounding like Sean Hannity, this story has been out there for a while and nobody in the media cares about it. Give me a break.

by tom32182 on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 08:36:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (Pt. 2) [V (none / 0)

Mainstream progressives here in IL weren't saying they regretted not planting MORE BOMBS in interviews in the NYT on 9-11-01. Maybe you consider them mainstream progressives in IL but many of us in Illinois DO NOT.

"Barack did Hillary just like he did Alice Palmer. He was 'riding dirty'"

by LatinoVoter on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 02:19:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Question (2.00 / 1)

Are you concerned about these connections because you think Obama actually sympathizes with terrorists, or because you're worried about how the right wing will use it in ads?

If it's the right wing you're worried about, then that can be countered, assuming the campaign strikes back and doesn't sit there like Kerry allowing yourself to get bombed.

If it's the first then there is nothing anyone can do to satisfy you.

It's amazing to me how quickly so called Democrats want to fold just because the right wing is going to attack.

by highgrade on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:40:21 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground (2.00 / 1)

OK, let's take this seriously then.

Folks who were in the Weather Underground donated money to Obama -- how many years ago?

And he gave "an innocuous little talk" (innocuous means harmless) in their living room.

That's it??? What am I missing???

We care about politics because we know politics matters for people's lives and opportunities.

by politicsmatters on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:41:38 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground (none / 0)

Ayer donated 200 bucks to Obama. $200.

Major fund raiser my @$$.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep amidst the wolves! Therefore, be as wise as a serpent, And as harmless as a dove."

by Setrak on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:48:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 1)

I am not a troll or a Republican.

I am a concerned Democrat and a Hillary supporter, and very worried that we will lose in a big way if Obama is our nominee because of his ties to people like this. We don't know enough about Obama.

This is legitimate information and we should be able to discuss it on myDD. Free speech and all that good stuff that progressives value...

by Zebra01 on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:43:07 PM EST

Re: Obama's Weather Underground Friends (2.00 / 1)

If you had done any research you would learn that Ayers and Dohrn are basically mainstream progressive s in Chicago that both work at major universities and are active in progressive causes/charities. The ir past is no good, but Obama met them as their State Senator and they donated $200 to him once. Bill Clinton pardoned members of the Weather Underground if you don't remember.

by tom32182 on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:44:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Then why aren't you (2.00 / 2)

worried about Hillary's connection to "The Family"?
It's an extreme, secretive right wing religious group. A book is do out shortly that exposes Hillary's ties to the group.

by munodi on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:18:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama's Weather Underground (2.00 / 2)

Sigh.

Can any Obama bloggers cite a source that disputes the information in the diary?

No need. The fact that the claims are ALL based off of innuendo. What they pass for fact is all left UNCITED. No sources. Nothing to back it up. The "connections" have little to no substance to them. There's not one article to verify anything at all, which typically leaves one to wonder how the heck the author wrote something if he couldn't find out about this information. That why you cite sources.

Jim Kouri is even running amock with the New Black Panther "story" which was broke by Fox News. http://my.barackobama.com/page/community /post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBbgQ

"Behold, I send you out as sheep amidst the wolves! Therefore, be as wise as a serpent, And as harmless as a dove."

by Setrak on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 05:47:25 PM EST

Clearly, Hillary supporters aren't desperate (2.00 / 1)

This is obviously the type of research that is not insane, doesn't hurt the party and doesn't reek of desperation.

McCain = Iraq. John McCain = overturn Roe.

by PantsB on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:10:17 PM EST

Obama and William Ayers (2.00 / 1)

Hey, you, YES, you there that doesn't think this story has legs.

From Politico.com
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/020 8/8630.html

From The New York Sun
http://www.nysun.com/article/71421

Obama has bookended himself with anti-American radicals, Wright and Ayers. Don't think for a minute that the RAM is going to use this stuff.

by grlpatriot on Sat Mar 22, 2008 at 06:39:22 PM EST

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