The McCain/Palin attacks on Obama's connections to William Ayers once again put the lie to the right wing Christian mantra. These "Christians" repeatedly talk of redemption, of how no matter how terrible people have acted they can be redeemed.
But they don't seem to want to give that kind of redemption to Ayers, who committed stupid, illegal and violent acts 35 years ago. But since then he has been married to the same woman, raised two children of his own, taken responsibility for another, kept out of trouble, and worked hard to ensure our country and Chicago provided better education to our children.
But that's not the kind of redemption the Palin types want. They want gnashing of teeth and wrending of clothes in public, not a life turned around that provides value for the community and is based on morality. No, morality is not important.
And it all comes down to IOKIYA-one of us. Palin's unmarried daughter gets knocked up at 17 and it's a sign of how strong her family is. Lamie Lynn Spears gets knocked up at 17 and it's proof that the entertainment industry is corrupt and immoral.
George Bush has two DWIs, is rumored to have abused cocaine and refused to acknowledge or discuss either and it's a sign of how he matured from a callow youth. Bill Clinton doesn't inhale or Obama is honest about hid drug use as a teenager and it's a national emergency.
Larry Craig cruises bathrooms for gay sex and it's not a big issue, but gays want to marry and have life-long familial relationships and it's a threat to our country.
G. Gordon Liddy calls for the murder of United States law enforcement personnel -- you know, the ones we are supposed to honor and support -- and he gets interviews with George Bush and John McCain. William Ayers gives up violence and is smeared as a terrorist.
William Ayers has redeemed himself, giving up his evil ways and becoming a model of probity. Married to one woman, raising children, a respected professor, a community education activist, etc.
But that's not good enough. He hasn't prostrated himself in a bigoted, hateful "religious" service with bigoted, hateful people cheering on so he is not to be redeemed.