MSNBC's Witt falsely suggested Obama concealed Ayers event when referring to Ayers as "a guy who lives in my neighborhood"
SUMMARY: MSNBC's Alex Witt falsely suggested that Sen. Barack Obama concealed the fact that William Ayers hosted an event for him when he referred to Ayers as "a guy who lives in my neighborhood" during an April Democratic primary debate. In fact, in those remarks, Obama was responding to a question about the "organizing meeting" that Ayers hosted for him, and did not deny that the event took place.
On the October 9 edition of MSNBC's News Live, host Alex Witt claimed that Sen. Barack Obama "originally dismissed" former Weather Underground member William Ayers as "just a guy from the neighborhood despite the fact that Ayers did, in fact, host an event for Obama when he was running for state Senate." Witt went on to ask former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D), "[D]o you think that Barack Obama has always been completely honest about his ties to Ayers?" But contrary to Witt's suggestion, Obama did not attempt to conceal the fact that Ayers "host[ed] an event" for him when he referred to Ayers as "a guy who lives in my neighborhood." In fact, the very question Obama was responding to addressed the "organizing meeting" that Ayers hosted for Obama, and Obama did not deny that the event took place.
Moreover, Obama did not use the word "just" when he described Ayers as "a guy who lives in my neighborhood," as Witt claimed. Witt's injection of the word "just" into Obama's statement recalls a McCain campaign ad, which asserts: "When their relationship became an issue, Obama just responded, 'This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood.' That's it?"
From the exchange between Obama and debate co-moderator and ABC host George Stephanopoulos, during the April 16 Democratic primary debate in Philadelphia:
STEPHANOPOULOS: A gentleman named William Ayers, he was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol and other buildings. He's never apologized for that. And in fact, on 9/11 he was quoted in The New York Times saying, "I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough."
An early organizing meeting for your state senate campaign was held at his house, and your campaign has said you are friendly. Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?
OBAMA: George, but this is an example of what I'm talking about.
This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago, who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis.
And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values, doesn't make much sense, George.
From the October 9 edition of MSNBC's News Live:
WITT: Could Bill Ayers derail Barack Obama's run for the White House? John McCain is trying to raise questions about the depth of Obama's relationship with the man who bombed the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol in the 1970s. Obama's campaign says the two haven't been in contact in years.
OBAMA [video clip]: The notion that somehow he has been involved in my campaign, that he is an adviser of mine, that he -- I've "palled around with a terrorist" -- all these statements are made simply to try to score cheap political points.
WITT: Iowa's former Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack is an Obama supporter. It's good to see you again, governor. Thanks for being here.
VILSACK: You bet, Alex. Thank you.
WITT: John McCain insists Obama hasn't been truthful about this relationship, and what he's trying to do is reveal the truth. Obama originally dismissed him as just a "guy from the neighborhood" despite the fact that Ayers did, in fact, host an event for Obama when he was running for state Senate. So, do you think that Barack Obama has always been completely honest about his ties to Ayers?
The Bill Ayers issue just shows Obama hasn't got good Judgement! But then a liberal would know anything about good judgement now do they!
Well at least one of your two sentences is clear. You might consider your second one as a bit unclear.
You might also go beyond an accusation to support it. We see so few wingnuts that go beyond the insult to anything substancial. There are a few, feel free to join their ranks.
But thats just my judgement, make of it what you're able.
You mean like the alleged "good judgment" when Liar McCain welcomed the support of right wing terrorist G. Gordon Liddy, the convicted Watergateburglar who advocated having right wing domestic racist white supremacist terrorists shoot federal agents in the head in 1992, just 16 years ago, and then 8 years later, liar McCain endorsed the campaign of Liddy's right wing terrorist fascist racist son when he ran for a U.S. House Seat in 2000? I haven't even mentioned McCain's friendship with white collar Savings & Loan thief Charles Keating.
Add to that, Liar McCain's right wing fascist racist theocratic hate hag running mate Liar Palin's husband is still the member of the right wing Alaska First Secessionist Party, AND that Palin appoitned a right wing fascist racist theocratic violent militia person to Wasilla's cty council. Yeah, Liar McCain's alleged "good judgment" is only good in the eyes of the right wing theocratic fascist racist sociopathic conservative maniacs.
"This may also explain why MSNBC hangs on to Pat Buchanan who comes across as a hateful little man (I'd go as far as to say a ranting, anti-semite, nazi--but I don't wish to exaggerate)."
No, please do. I woud welcome it.
I will, in the meantime, add on that Buchanan is also a racist, and a white supremacist.
Odd that they never interview Ayers or mention that they were pardoned. The only people injured in any of their bombings were fellow Weathermen.
I'd be more concerned about Gramps McCain's close relationship with G. Gordon Liddy, a "man" who advised his radio audience that if an ATF agent showed up at their door they should aim their guns at the agent's head. He should have been taken off the air for that bit of irresponsible broadcasting.
Followingup on that, Liar McCain once campaigned for right wing terrorist Liddy's son when he ran for a congressional seat 8 years ago.
The Right seem unaware of how lame the Ayers thing is. Methinks their quiver is perilously low on arrows.
It smacks of desperation, to be sure. The closer we get to November, the more shrill they will become.
It's all they've got, unless they can talk the Numbnuts administration into issuing some kind of bogus Terror Alert. It wouldn't surprise me to see something like that suddenly pop up.
I'm surprised that this hasn't happened already.