You have probably heard of this person, but don't know much about him... Can you guess who it is?
***
FACULTY PROFILE
Professor, Curriculum & Instruction
EDUCATION
1987 - Ed.D, Columbia University, Curriculum & Instruction
1987 - M.Ed, Teachers College, Columbia University, Early Childhood Education
1984 - M.Ed, Bank Street College, Early Childhood Education
1968 - B.A., University of Michigan, American Studies
RESEARCH AND TEACHING INTERESTS
Interests include teaching for social justice, urban educational reform, narrative and interpretive research, children in trouble with the law, and related issues.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2005-6 - Randolph Distinguished Visitng Professor, Vassar College
2005 - Distinguished Scholar, McKissick Museum of Education, University of South Carolina
2003 - Visiting Scholar, Lesley University1999 - Distinguished Professor of Education
1997 - Senior University Scholar
1996 - Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary), Nazareth College
***
This person lives in Chicago, is a respected professor, and is a member of the board of an anti-poverty charity. He is famous because Obama was also on that board.
If you guessed William Ayers, congratulations.
Not many people know anything about William Ayers except what Senator Obama's political oppenents have made public. Mostly, just that he is a "former terrorist" and is somehow "connected" to Senator Obama.
FLIMSY GUILT BY ASSOCIATION? AGAIN??
Senator Clinton tried this attack during the deomcratic primaries, but it was quickly debunked as being a weak 'guilt by association' smear tactic. Now, Senator McCain is taking another shot at it. Maybe he is hoping it might stick, or maybe he's hoping to distract people from the economic crisis. But if we don't address it now, this might turn into an even bigger distraction, so let's take a closer look.
Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground in the 1960's and early 70's, aka The Weathermen, their name taken from a Bob Dylan song. The group's goal was to fight for civil rights during the cultural revolution. They broke away from other peaceful groups and resorted to more militant tactics and bombed several government buildings. Ayers has now been made infamous for saying after 9/11, he felt they "didn't do enough". But that's not the whole story.
FORMER TERRORIST?
Although Ayers admits to being a member of the Weather underground, he was never convicted of any crime.
He has now become a well-respected professor, an author, and a productive member of society.
He is a former aide to Chicago's current mayor Richard M. Daley.
He was misrepresented in an interview after 9/11 as saying the Weather Underground group "didn't do enough"... he was talking about not doing enough to keep America out of Vietnam. He was not talking about bombing or violence. He even wrote a letter to the editor complaining about distorting his interview out of context.
CONNECTIONS TO OBAMA?
He is a professor who lives in the same neighborhood as Obama. Two professors in the same area happen to know the same people. Are you shocked?
He is on the board of an anti-poverty group, and Obama was once a member.
He hosted a "coffee for Obama" event, and donated $200 to Senator Obama's Illinois state senate election campaign. This was hardly enough to "launch Obama's career" as opponents claim.
The president of the anti-poverty group said Ayers had been selected for the board because of his solid academic credentials and "passion for social justice."
"This whole connection is a stretch," she continued. "Barack was very well known in Chicago, and a highly respected legislator. It would be difficult to find people round here who never volunteered or contributed money to one of his campaigns."
OBAMA'S RESPONSE
The Obama Campaign debunks this attack (again):
The Truth about Barack Obama and William Ayers
Statement:
Senator Obama strongly condemns the violent actions of the Weathermen group, as he does all acts of violence. But he was an eight-year-old child when Ayers and the Weathermen were active, and any attempt to connect Obama with events of almost forty years ago is ridiculous.
DISTRACTIONS FROM THE REAL STORY
For the record, the real story is how John "No Earmarks" McCain voted for the bailout bill with tons of earmarks attached. His whole economic argument, although weak, was that he would fight earmarks as president.
In reality, earmarks are a drop in the bucket compared to all the giant spending bills and wasted no-bid contracts the Bush administration has been giving away. John McCain supported all of them, so he can't complain. So instead, he built his "maverick" image as the no-earmark reformer, but Republicans (with McCain's "leadership") would only pass the bailout bill with enough BRIBES... um, I mean, "earmarks" attached. And McCain voted for it.
Luckily for him, the media is talking about his desperate dirty smear tactics instead. Tonight's debate is supposed to be a Limited Town Hall. I wonder how many questions will be about actual issues, and how many will be manufactured distractions?