In the sixties, Chicago was a hotbed of political activity. There were many groups formed by young people to take on the problems they found in the government at the time. Much has been written about this time and there were very many participants and players.
The issue of Obama's association with Bill Ayers was brought to the forefront as an "issue". It is not. At all. Young Chicagoans in great numbers were members of these groups like Weather Underground or Abbie Hoffman's Youth International Party. As these youth aged into competent adults, it is no surprise that Obama, being an active public servant in the Chicago area, would happen upon an association with one of these people during later years.
Many past participants of these movements chose not to abandon their dreams of changing government but chose to do so in a way that was not dangerous nor destructive. Bill Ayers is one of those people. He chose to serve his community constructively.
To have this issue tossed up as important by the media shows a lack of imagination and a serious amnesia regarding the climate of Chicago during the 60's. People, there are books on the subject of Chicago's part in this decade that shook the country to its core.
I suggest that the MSM and others take a look back, consider that most of these people were native Chicagoans or settled permanently there during this time and after. Consequently, as previously stated, running into them in some form or fashion is essentially unavoidable.
I wish that the folks who think they've blown the roof off some super story would use google a bit more often. 60's? Radical? Chicago? Duh.