Barack Obama...Friend to Terrorists?

by Sara Kirsch and Leah Grothe

John McCain’s vice presidential running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, alleged that Barack Obama associates with terrorists. At a campaign event in Carson California on October 4 Palin alleged;

“One of his [Obama’s] earliest supporters is a man who, according to the New York Times, was a domestic terrorist … part of a group which launched a campaign to bomb the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. . . These are the same guys who think that patriotism is paying higher taxes.”

Is there truth to Palin’s attacks on Obama’s patriotism, or is this a “guilt by association” smear?

First of all we must figure out who Palin was referring to when she says Obama associates with terrorists.

By terrorist she meant a man by the name of Bill Ayers. Bill Ayers is a man who acted as a domestic terrorist in the 1970s, as part of an anti-Vietnam War group known as the “Weather Underground.” The group protested U.S. policies by bombing the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol and a series of other government buildings. No one was injured in the string of bombings, but this now defunct organization was labeled a “domestic terrorist group” by the FBI.

Next we must find out what the connection is between Obama and Ayers. In Chicago they served on a board, the Woods Fund of Chicago, together. The board deals with welfare reform, acquiring affordable housing, and reducing poverty through tax policy changes. Another issue concerning the Woods Fund of Chicago Board was a controversial connection with a community organization association, know as ACORN. According to their website:

“Since 1970, ACORN has been building community organizations that are committed to social and economic justice, and won the victories on thousands of issues of concern to our members, through direct action, negotiation, legislative advocacy and voter participation. ACORN helps those who have historically been locked out become powerful players in our democratic system.”

The controversy is found in Obama’s endorsement by ACORN and he recently spent $832,000 of his campaign money in support of the organization’s activities. Recent investigation uncovered that ACORN was involved in a registration scandal. Obama had no involvement in the scam. Just because he associated with this group, that does not mean he is responsible for their actions.

In order to judge the validity of Palin’s claim, it is necessary to see Obama’s side of the story. During the Second Presidential Debate on Wednesday, October 15, Obama addressed Palin’s statements. He discussed both his connection with Ayers and the controversy involving ACORN;

“Forty years ago, when I was 8 years old, he engaged in despicable acts with a radical domestic group. I have roundly condemned those acts. Ten years ago he served and I served on a school reform board . . . Now, with respect to ACORN, the only involvement I’ve had with ACORN was I represented them alongside the U.S. Justice Department in making Illinois implement a motor voter law that helped people get registered at DMVs.”

Obama also stated the Ayers would have no involvement in his campaign or presidency, should he win the election. The fact that Obama was very young when Ayers engaged in domestic terrorism makes Palin’s claim less believable. The fact that Ayers is now a professor at the University of Illinois and is an active citizen of Chicago makes the claim less intimidating.

Lesson: Palin’s claim that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists" plays on the fears of Americans in the post-9/11 world. Palin’s claim, and the implication that Obama is not patriotic, is very misleading. When claims appeal to your emotions rather than logic, remember to dig deeper and see if the appeal is justified. While Obama has worked with Ayers on community projects, he by no means ‘pals around’ with him. When Ayers was carrying out his acts of domestic terrorism, Obama was 8 years old; it is obvious that he was not involved. In the end, we all believe what we want to believe, but remember, "if it’s scary, be wary."