John McCain exchanged money with Charles Keating.”

Hilarious to watch you people tie yourselves in knots trying to convince yourselves that “Ayers is good…..Keating is bad.” Funny stuff.

You are aware that Obama launched his political career in the home of Bill Ayers…? That Ayers in 2001 said they “didn’t do enough”? That Ayers accepted gifts from the North Vietnamese….? And wasn’t McCain cleared of wrongdoing….? Tell me – yes or no?

But, no, that doesn’t matter. Obama’s relationships with the likes of Ayers and Wright don’t matter. Who are we to question a presidential candidate’s clear ties to a domestic terrorist (still unrepentant) and an american-hating, race-baiting “preacher”?

On the other side of the coin, it seems I need to repeat myself:
“McCain didn’t behave criminally, but he sure showed some terrible judgement.”

The man himself even agrees with me:
“The appearance of it was wrong. It’s a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do.” -John McCain

Just because a decision isn’t illegal doesn’t make it a good decision. And decision making ability is at least a small part of qualification for president.

On that particular murder charge, absolutely. Other charges should be judged on their merit.

McCain was cleared in the Keating Five case, end of story. If there’s another charge separate from that, then by all accounts, bring it on for consideration.

“It’s about judgment and associating yourself with decent and honorable people.”

I’m glad to see you agree. Read the first eight paragraphs above.

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/December-2006/Sudden-Impact/index.php?cp=3&si=2#artanc

It’s a waste of time, really. But I’d still like to know if you get paid for this. Sorry if that alters your premise.

In that sense, McCain might have been “cleared” of any wrongdoing but just because a toilet doesn’t smell like crap, it doesn’t mean there was never any in there. It’s about judgment and associating yourself with decent and honorable people. The situation stinks. Regardless of whether you agree with Obama’s associations or not, McCain screwed up by getting in bed with these people. It’s fair political game.

And I can’t answer your question because you altered my premise to fit your own needs. “If Ayers is so scary, why is he a free man?” assumes that I at some point implied Ayers was scary. What I said was, Ayers bombed the Pentagon, Capitol and police stations and FOLLOWING THAT, Obama worked with him on several political projects. (BTW, your argument is logically flawed because you assume that free men can’t be scary and visa-versa).

BillA — All I can say to you is that McCain was cleared of all wrongdoing. Usually when that happens, that’s the end of the story. How would like to be accused of a crime, acquitted, and then have folks run around calling you a criminal?

John McCain exchanged money with Charles Keating.

Talking to people who are wrong, or who have made mistakes, isn’t itself wrong; we still talk to you Adam.

Talking to people and then accepting money and perks from them when you know they want you to give a little something in regulation influence is a bit more wrong.

Why can’t you just answer a question?

If Ayers is so scary, why is he a free man? If he is the evil terrorist you want to paint him as, why did he apologize to his victims and express remorse that people were hurt? If there is such a strong connection between the two men, where is the evidence?

You’re a joke, this campaign is a joke. If you want to strike fear in the hearts of Americans, you’re going to have to do better than this.

But all I want to know is if you get paid for this garbage. Because I’m starting to get really jealous.

Did you seriously just downplay the fact that he bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol and police stations?

Snead: “If Bill Ayers is such a threat to the community…”

HE BOMBED THE F***ING PENTAGON, CAPITOL AND POLICE STATIONS.

AdiosJuan: “While Obama may certainly have looked to Ayers as some sort of revolutionary/role model…”

I rest my case.

“According to a March 1989 Washington Post article, the USCWF coordinated funding efforts with sources in Taiwan and South Korea to help contras in Nicaragua purchase some $5 million worth of arms. The group was charged with operating a plane that was shot down while flying supplies to these very same rebels. The council, according to a 1986 New York Times report, “provided $10 million to $25 million in cash and ‘in-kind’ aid: four to eight small aircraft (”non gun-mounted”) to the contras, boots to rebels fighting Soviet troops in Afghanistan, $20,000 in medicines to Cambodian resistance forces, and help for groups in Mozambique, Ethiopia and other countries.” Singlaub and the council also reportedly provided Neo Hom and other factions of the Lao resistance with aid in the form of clothing and medicine – aid that the group subsequently turned into a scheme to raise fund from refugees.

The McCain campaign, in a statement to Politico, defended the efforts of the council. Brian Rogers, a spokesman, said that the Senator “disassociated himself” from the group “when questions were raised about its activities, but that in no way diminishes his leadership role in ensuring that the forces of democracy and freedom prevailed in Central America.”

But Singlaub “does not recall any McCain resignation in 1984 or May 1986,” the Associated Press reported early Tuesday, “nor does Joyce Downey, who oversaw the group’s day-to-day activities.”

Moreover, while the goal of confronting communism may be politically defensible, the methods that the group pursued elicited heavy complaint. In January 1987, Sen. Patrick Leahy criticized Singlaub and, by extension, the Reagan administration, for directly circumventing the will of Congress, which had cut off funds to paramilitary organizations like the contras.

‘The open courting of General Singlaub and his groups,” said Leahy, “I’ve never seen anything like it. The active fund-raising among wealthy people to back these programs – I think it’s unprecedented… There seems to be more and more of a feeling that, ‘Gee, we really want to do something to help the contras, but don’t tell me what you’re doing because I’m not supposed to know.’”

The funders of the U.S World Council of Freedom read like a who’s who list of prominent conservative figures. Joe Coors, the Republican Beer baron was reportedly a big donor. Time Magazine wrote that the Christian Broadcasting Network was a backer as well. The Washington Times newspaper, owned by the controversial Reverend Sun Myung Moon, started a fundraising drive of its own. And Moon himself had numerous ties to Singlaub.

Through it all, McCain was a member. As reported by Politico, the council formally approached him during his run for elected office in 1982 and McCain, then a member of the House of Representatives, agreed to join, citing years later the organization’s commitment to a freedom agenda. “They’ve got some good people involved,” he said. Aides to his campaign said he resigned from the board of directors in 1984. But in 1985, McCain attended the group’s “Freedom Fighter of the Year” award ceremony in Washington. And as late as July 1986, the organization’s communications firm sent a letter with McCain’s name on it regarding Singlaub’s appearance at a conference “of nearly 40 countries… taking part in an annual observance to commemorate efforts on behalf of freedom throughout the world.”

By then, the council’s activities were becoming well known. In a 60 Minutes segment aired in ‘86, Singlaub was described as the President’s “secret weapon to sidestep a Congress that will not permit him to act in the areas where he believes that our security interests are at stake.” He did not contest the description.”