Better to socialize with ruthless financial manipulators, than young politicos. Even though Obama met Ayers many years later as a well respected elder educator and community leader. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five I realize what the Lincoln Savings and Loan lost is small potatos today, but what they did laid the ground work for the mess the market is in today. It's funny McCain has so little understanding of the current mess. He should.
According to this: http://foia.fbi.gov/weather/weath1a.pdf (I can't see Ayers name there!) They were classified as "revolutionaries". It does seem the term "Terrorist" has been tacked on now. At the time they were being charged with: Conspiracy to Riot Much like the RNC 8. Conspiracy to Riot has now been lenghened to: Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. When looking into the RNC 8 I was dismayed the term "Terrorist" was attached. But the definition of Terrorism is a broad one. wackyiraqi, I can't take away from the fact, yes, Ayers, by definition, can be called a "Terrorist". I guess one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter
Don't they also describe as "domestic terrorists" the fringe environmental groups that put steel spikes in trees to fuck up logging machines? So ... civil disobedience + willingness to damage private/corporate property to send a message = "domestic terrorist"? If that's the case, the term is really about economics and power, not morality. Henry David Thoureau probably advocated "domestic terrorism" by this standard. He was one of the best Americans.
I think we have pretty much come to terms on this discussion I think no matter what you want to call him, it is inappropriate to associate and accept political contributions from somebody as controversial as Ayers. Of course, this is my opinion. It would be interesting however to see how acceptable this relationship would be if it were a republican that had a relationship with Ayers. And if Ayers were a right-wing radical terrorist. Seems to me that some here still cannot let go of the Bush/Saudi connection, or the Bush/bin Laden connection. Of course they completely fail at understanding the difference between Saudi Arabia as a country and Saudi-born militants, as well as the difference between Osama bin Laden and the Saudi bin Laden Group. But that is a whole new animal.
A contribution not contributions, as far as I am aware. A $200 contribution. Is his (Ayers) current activity "controversial"? Pushed I imagine Mandela could still be deemd "controversial". But, I'll shut up you don't have to answer those points, I don't wish to further this discussion to be honest. I think I get you. I hope you get me. Nice talking to you. True.
Hey, check out this thread for more on Ayers! http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?p=4793939#post4793939
Did Bill Ayers actually kill anyone? What did he blow up anyway? How does the destruction from Ayers' bombs compare with the destruction caused by the bombs John McCain dropped?
Fortunately, the American people are too scared by the Bush economy to be swayed by your fear mongering. Guess what? We don't care about Bill Ayers. :beatdeadhorse5: