Shrugging my shoulders....

[CHLetts]

I just don't understand how.....

Barrack Obama says he never heard any of the incendiary statements made by Rev. Wright,

He didn't know that Bill Ayers was involved in domestic terrorism,

Or that he didn't know that his Aunt is in this country illegally.....

Can someone please explain this to me? I know he isn't stupid. Are answers like this going to fly when he's president?

C.

[jknyc]

I'm not that up on the Wright stuff to comment, but Obama has never said he didn't know of Ayers' background 40 years prior to their serving on a charitable board together and living in the same neighborhood. The question is whether you think it says anything about how Obama would be president or not.

I also don't find it strange that he wouldn't be that close to a half-aunt who lives in Boston. From the article I read, she was up for asylum 4 years ago, didn't get it, but unless she told him that, how would he know? And why would she tell him? I don't think they're that close.

[Hollie_B]

I just don't understand how.....

Barrack Obama says he never heard any of the incendiary statements made by Rev. Wright,

He didn't know that Bill Ayers was involved in domestic terrorism,

Or that he didn't know that his Aunt is in this country illegally.....

Can someone please explain this to me? I know he isn't stupid. Are answers like this going to fly when he's president?

C.

He never siad he didn't know that Bill Ayers was involved in terrorism. In regards to his aunt. This is the lady that was a sister to his father. I believe he saw the man one time. So, it's actually more far fetched to think that he was aware.

[CHLetts]

I don't know....

If you're running for president wouldn't you look for anything in your closet that could be controversial? I'm pretty sure that he had an idea....or maybe you're right, he didn't fully vet himself.

I'm going to research the Ayers comments. I thought that he said when he met him he didn't know that he was involved in domestic terrorism.

C.

[mbw]

I also don't find it strange that he wouldn't be that close to a half-aunt who lives in Boston. From the article I read, she was up for asylum 4 years ago, didn't get it, but unless she told him that, how would he know? And why would she tell him? I don't think they're that close.

Didn't she attend his inauguration when he became a Senator. He was familiar enough to write about her in his book.

C- I totally get what you are saying. How could someone be so clueless about so many people surrounding him -boggles my mind

[Jeannie]

By the same measure, I don't get how McCain gets away with:

G. Gordon Liddy served his time and I am proud now to call him a good friend.

The Senate slapping my hand for bad judgment means I really didn't do anything wrong with Keating

I separated from my wife before I dated Cindy

I don't really know that much about the economy but you should still trust me to fix it.

My tax plan is better for the middle class.

George Bush who? Never heard of him!

I really did vet Sarah Palin, knew all about her pregnant teenage daughter, and chose her anyway.

What discord between me and Palin?

Obama really did mean to call Palin a pig

Obama is a socialist

I'm not running a negative campaign. All my ads are true!

I'm a straight talker.


As for Obama's answers:

I think Obama did have an idea that Wright said controversial things but was naive about how his association with Wright would be viewed. I also think Obama took too long to denounce him but probably did so out of loyalty more than any kind of agreement with Wright's views. I don't believe he was in the church when Wright gave the 9/11 rant/sermon and I don't recall it making the news at the time. So it's possible he did not hear that particular "sermon" or know about it. Bottom line, I am not concerned that Obama really believes what Wright believes.

I don't recall Obama saying he didn't know Ayers was involved in domestic terrorism. He might not have been aware of it initially and just saw Ayers as a colleague from the university and someone who could help him politically. And again, I don't think the evidence of Ayers having a coffee for Obama in his home, or them serving on two boards together, is indicative of any kind of close relationship. I also would not be bothered by a close relationship since Ayers is now obviously a law abiding member of society and a professor at a respected university - just like Liddy is now an upstanding citizen and that makes it okay for McCain to pal around with him. Bottom line, are we really worried that Obama thinks bombing the Pentagon would be a good thing?

There is no evidence that Obama was close with his aunt or any other members of his father's family for that matter and it is entirely possible he was completely unaware of her immigration status. I don't know the ins and outs of my aunts and uncle's lives. Why would I? Bottom line, it's irrelevant.

[jvirginia]

I'll grant you the last one ... but he had almost no relationship with this woman. I haven't seen my aunt in 12 years and she isn't even a 1/2 aunt. This is the half sister of a father he met once in his life. How is he supposed to know her legal status.

On Ayres - show me where he said he didn't know about Ayres' background. I don't believe he ever said that.

BTW I am not excusing Ayres but a lot of what he has said has been intentionally misconstrued. When he said that they "didn't do enough" he was talking about doing enough to end the Vietnam war.

On Wright, the clips played over and over again were an extremely incendiary few minutes compiled from hours and hours of sermons. Obama didn't say he never heard Wright be incendiary, he said he wasn't there when Wright was saying God d--- America and a few specific comments like that ... I've tried to find the text of Wright speeches on line to find out what a more "typical" speech was but there isn't a lot available. Anyway, I think Obama's answer was a bit of a cop out but not enough to rule hiim out for being president. Obama has shown clearly that he is not a racist, that he found elements of Wright's teachings to be inspiring (and they are - a lot are about reaching for the stars, taking responsibility for your own future, etc.) and to some extent excused Wright's bitterness about white America as something rooted in his own experiences as a member of an earlier generation of black Americans.

Obama is one of the most "open books" in terms of a candidate whose thoughts and values have been shared directly with the American people. You can choose to believe him, or think this is all a smokescreen for some hidden, radical agenda. I choose the former.

[freddy]

I just don't understand how.....

Barrack Obama says he never heard any of the incendiary statements made by Rev. Wright,

He didn't know that Bill Ayers was involved in domestic terrorism,

Or that he didn't know that his Aunt is in this country illegally.....

Can someone please explain this to me? I know he isn't stupid. Are answers like this going to fly when he's president?

C.

Wright- if he wasn't in the building at the time, why would he have heard the statements?

Ayers- I don't know why he should have known about what Ayers was doing in the 60s. Do you know what your acquaintances and neighbors were doing in the 60s? Had you heard of Ayers or Weatherman (or whatever it was called) prior to this election? Do you consider it your responsibility to run a background check on everyone you do business with?

His Aunt- I have no idea what his relationship with her is, nor do I care, so I can't comment.

[CHLetts]

But I have years of voting records to look

at for McCain. You are about to elect a man who has served fewer days in the Senate than McCain served as a Prisoner of War. Is it not fair to ask these questions? I just can't believe that he didn't know all of these things....

C.

[CHLetts]

Yes I did know about Ayers....

I learned about him in college, and I didn't go to Harvard.

C.

[Pleaky]

Latest sound bite

at for McCain. You are about to elect a man who has served fewer days in the Senate than McCain served as a Prisoner of War.
C.

I've been hearing this sound bite the last few weeks. What possible relevance does this have? While I certainly pity anyone who was subjected to torture and deprivation, I have no clue how that qualifies him to be POTUS. Honestly, I think McCain should be quiet about his POW years. It just reminds me that Iraq seems like a replay of Vietnam, and I also think it brings up the possibility of PTSD which is not going to help him get elected.

Pleaky

[Jeannie]

I'll say it again. The lack of experience is a very valid argument. It's one of the reasons I supported Hillary over Obama. The voting "present" 150 times bothers the heck out of me (only saved for me by the fact that Obama was unequivocal about being opposed to the Iraq War at a time when every other lily-livered Democrat was caving).

But not knowing about Ayers past? Wright's more incendiary sermons? His aunt's immigration status? It just doesn't bother me. Maybe it's because I could see myself being naive that way. And no, naivete is not a good thing in a president (heck knows Bush proved that). But I suspect this campaign has cured Obama of that kind of naivete but good.

[CHLetts]

I guess I'm just extremely concerned that he

might not be who you think he is. Someone asked me here one day if I would have voted for Hillary. I wouldn't have. I still would have voted for McCain. I would have been disappointed that she won, but I would have felt a heck of alot safer with her in the oval office. I'm praying that I'm wrong.....

C.

[freddy]

I'll say it again. The lack of experience is a very valid argument. It's one of the reasons I supported Hillary over Obama. The voting "present" 150 times bothers the heck out of me (only saved for me by the fact that Obama was unequivocal about being opposed to the Iraq War at a time when every other lily-livered Democrat was caving).

And its too bad that McCain didn't repeat that mantra over and over over the past few months, similar to the way Obama has repeated the 'we can't afford 4 more years of the same' slogan. But of course, McCain couldn't continue with that slogan, because of his VP pick.

Obama's lack of experience could be seen as his single biggest weakness. And yet, instead of making that his battle cry, he chose to focus on irrelevant (to many) issues regarding what one of Obama's acquaintences, who is not considered an upstanding citizen (with awards suggesting as much) did 40 years ago.

Its very frustrating.

[freddy]

might not be who you think he is. Someone asked me here one day if I would have voted for Hillary. I wouldn't have. I still would have voted for McCain. I would have been disappointed that she won, but I would have felt a heck of alot safer with her in the oval office. I'm praying that I'm wrong.....

C.

And what exactly do you think he's going to do? What is the supposed result of Obama's presidency that would be so heinous? I've seen the emails- we're going to be the next Cuba, with Obama as our Castro. Is there a more realistic outcome that should be feared?