Joel, I believe you to be honest and devoted to fairness, but your recent article, "Obama's Bubble is About to Burst!" is simply guilt by association and doesn't amount to much! Regarding William Ayers: Ayers was and is a child of privilege--his father was President of Chicago's Commonwealth Edison, the power utility. Dad was a huge and important Chicago business leader and power in Chicago--his son was a spoiled brat radical who was readily reaccepted into Chicago's inner circle "after" his radical days. The Anneberg funded initiative is an example of that ready acceptance! The Annebergs are not radicals or left by any means--they founded, published, and owned Reader's Digest! Nor did Ayers ram himself as the head/chair. In Chicago, the privilege was his by dint of birth and family! That is also why the initiative had rising stars like Barack--Ayers in Chicago is viewed (rightly or wrongly) not by his radical years, but by his family's positions and connections--he is seen as his father's son--one of the most powerful and important business and civil leaders in a town of rich and powerful. In Chicago, if little "Bill" wanted you on his board, you would definitely serve. Ayers, a PhD., by the way, is prominent not because of his radical beliefs or actions, but because of his family and country club associations. Today, the Wall Street Journal, a conservative business paper, published an op-ed article that pointed out Ayers' activities of 40 years ago represent no threat to our freedoms. In fact, the only thing Ayers has plotted for the last 40 years in school reform! (That doesn't excuse Ayers' actions. But I'm sure you know a Baptist deacon in Gadsden who tore up cars, bars, and the bones of a few other people in his wild and impaccable youth. Just to say there really is a difference between then and now.
Next, and listen closely here, the President of Kenya was/is exactly like Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe--corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. In fact, the President, accordingly to Western monitors and Kenyans on the ground, stole the election!The Kenyan "president" has been a dictator, stealing millions from the national treasury, enriching the members of his own ethnic tribe, and ignoring the need for schools, roads, jobs, or development for his struggling country. American Presidents often meet or talk to opposition leaders when America is at odds with the "elected" leadership of a country. That is accepted and widespread diplomatic practice. Here's a quote from a leading foreign policy expert whose principles easily apply to Barack's contact with his cousin leading Kenya's opposition party: "Even if there is little chance Iranian political opposition groups could come to power, American support of such groups can serve two goals: (1) collecting information about public opinion in Iran, and (2) seeking advice that could help shape U.S. policy toward Iran." Shouldn't Barack collect information? And if you had the choice, would you call an official or an old friend you knew? In our part of the South, we call friends and family, folk who will speak plainly to get the inside track.
Would you be equally suspicious if the Democratic Rockefeller spoke to the Republican Rockefeller, or if the Kennedys for Hilary spoke to the Kennedys for Barack? There's nothing clandestine about the contact, nothing out of the ordinary.
Here's another African case of an official US State Department meeting with the opposition to an "elected" national government, just this year: "On January 14, 2008, the US Administration sent a clear signal of solidarity with the Eritrean democratic leaders by hosting a meeting at the State Department for one of the leading members of the EDA coalition.
"Dr. Jandayi Frazer, US Assistant Secretary in Charge of African Affairs on Monday held a lengthy meeting with Mr. Mesfin Hagos, EDA senior member and former Eritrean Defense Minister. Items discussed included the deteriorating economic and social crisis sweeping over that African country. Also discussed were the governments relentless disregard for the rule of law and its gross violations of human rights and civil liberties."
"The Eritrean delegation also held talks with Mr. Jeff Krilla, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Democracy and Human Rights and the Office of International Religious Freedom. EDA's main objective is to stamp out the despotic and arbitrary government in Eritrea and to put a just and forward-looking system in its place."
African politics is complicated, corrupt, and a battle royal to gain power, but any simple review or quick fact checking would show that the "Kenyan" president is a despicable fellow. In fact, during the Kenyan election campaign, the joke in Kenya was America would elect a member of Barack's family's ethnic Kenya community-before Kenya would!
And Joel, please, get over, this Muslim thing. No evidence, no record. I am a Southerner, an Christian and I know Muslims. Lots of them. In fact, one of the local Imans, Muslim religious leaders, has asked me to write for his newspaper. I love bean pie, only available at Muslim restaurants, where Ms. Wali also fixes a mean fish supreme sandwich. I used to give a Muslim co-worker rides to work. But I am a Christian! In fact, this morning I posted an article on prayer, here on Searchwarp. In fact, nobody in Charleston--not even the Muslims who I greet with respect using their traditional Islam greeting in Arabic,
as-Salmu `Alaikum --would think I am a Muslim! In the 60's, eating at an African-American restaurant in Alabama, or having black friends (which most Southerners did), often brought on the same sort of smears and accusations. The black community is simply more religious diverse, in part due, the rejection and treatment, of white Christians who lost sight of the Golden rule.
It's a bigger world, now, Joel, and new rules apply. Friendships and new relationships have new definitions, encompass new ideas, and include more people. Because of the new direction, the path to higher ground (which by Biblical tradition also includes the lowly, the downtrodden, and the unrepentant sinner) will guide the re-building of the American economy and its standing in the world.
For the very reasons you cite he will lose, Barack will win. In three weeks, we will see. Sincerely, Walter.
