Annenberg, Obama, And Ayers

Unrepentant Weatherman Bill Ayers in in the news, linked to his friend and colleague from the Chicago Annenberg Challenge Barack Obama.

The NRO editors join in while we wait for Stanley Kurtz to riffle the Challenge archives at the University of Illinois Chicago library.

Fox News got a peek at the archives:

FOX News was among several news organizations that reviewed the university’s records by appointment. In one agenda, a March 15, 1995, meeting featured Obama making introductions and Ayers giving a briefing.

But more than a year later, Obama pushed the group to be bolder in its reforms, according to the Associated Press, which also reviewed the documents. Minutes from an October 1996 gathering show Obama, a guest at a meeting of the collaborative, raised questions about what the group should be doing.

The Associates Press reports the minutes characterized Obama’s concerns as twofold: Whether the group was raising additional money and whether money was being used “to prop up existing organizations as opposed to creating fresh educational practices in the schools?”

“At the end of five years, will we have broken the mold? Not much seems to be bubbling up that is inspiring or substantive,” the minutes say, paraphrasing Obama.

The "collaborative" to which they refer was founded and led by Bill Ayers (see his resume) and did a lot of the staff work for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.

And here is the AP:

The minutes of the Annenberg Challenge meetings show that during a June 1995 meeting, Ayers was credited with having "worked diligently" to support the effort. More than a year later, Obama pushed the group to be bolder in its reforms.

"At the end of five years, will we have broken the mold? Not much seems to be bubbling up that is inspiring or substantive," October 1996 minutes say, paraphrasing Obama.

Ayers and Obama clearly worked together - odd that Obama forgot.

The Chicago Tribune describes the media frenzy at the library and notes the Obama cover-up:

The UIC records show that Obama and Ayers attended board meetings, retreats and at least one news conference together as the education program got under way. The two continued to attend meetings together during the 1995-2001 operation of the program, records show.

At a Democratic debate this year when the association between Obama and Ayers was raised, Obama said: "This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood. . . . He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis." Obama called Ayers' past radical acts detestable.

But critics note that Obama visited Ayers' home for a meeting at the start of his first state Senate bid in the mid-'90s.

And the Canada Free Press wonders whether criticizing Obama is a crime.  Geez, when the Canadians mock our press freedom...

The NY Times is all meta - they are happy to bash the shadowy group besmirching their candidate but are unwilling to note the long. strong tie between Ayers and Obama by way of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.  When last we looked, Jim Rutenberg of the Times was utterly unaware of (or at least, unwilling to report) that tie; now, his final paragraph warms up their readers for revelations to follow:

The fight may move to another front this week.

The University of Illinois at Chicago is in the process or releasing documents detailing Mr. Obama’s involvement with a non-profit education project started by Mr. Ayers.

It's almost like reporting!

The WaPo also focuses their coverage on Obama's bold, non-Kerryish push-back.  Here is a bold, colorful quote from an Obama operative who WON"T BE BULLIED:

Obama campaign lawyer Robert F. Bauer replied: "If someone rides up to a convenience store with a sawed-off shotgun and a prior record, I'm not intimidating anybody by calling the cops. . . . If this [Republican] campaign is going to be run in McCarthyite fashion by lawbreakers in an illegal way, they are going to pay a price."

Boy, talking about Ayers and riding around with shotguns - wise?

The WaPo aids the mainstreaming of Bill Ayers and lays the groundwork for Obama's alibi:

Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, a radical organization that claimed responsibility for a dozen bombings between 1970 and 1974. He is now a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an expert on public school reform.

However, the rest of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge link will have to wait for another story - as of this reporting, the Ayers/Obama tie is still quite tenuous in WaPoWorld:

Ayers did hold a gathering for him in 1995 when Obama first ran for the Illinois Senate, and he later contributed $200 to his reelection campaign. But Bauer said that hardly constitutes launching the political career of a University of Chicago Law School lecturer and the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review, who had just published his first memoir, "Dreams From My Father."

The WaPo website hosts the AP story noting the Chicago Annenberg Challenge but their featured A1 story is silent on that connection.  That is actually funny, in a head-bangingly predictable sort of way.

Comments

[RichatUF]

JM Hanes-

See if this comment goes through.

Re: Michelle and Dohrn. They worked together at Sidley Austin in the late 1980's before Obama interned there.

Also I wish someone could snope around Columbia because I've got a hunch that is where Barack first met the Ayers family.

[Gabriel Sutherland]

I wish someone could dedicate some resources to snoping around Columbia because I've got a hunch that is where Obama and Ayers met.

What about Pam Gellar at Atlas Shrugged? She's geographically stationed near Columbia. I'm sure she has a regular trove of local readers as well.

[clarice]

Chesa Boudin's mom is Cathy Boudin. Her father was Leonard Boudin a prominent leftist. Her long-suffering mother was the beloved sister of I.F. Stone's lovely (Republican) wife Esther.Cathy's brother is a conservative lawyer who Ronald Reagan appointed to the US Ct of Appeals for the Dist of Columbia Circuit.

[JM Hanes]

MayBee: It's really got that Obama look, doesn't it? And the woman already looks like Hillary! In fact, the other guy even looks a little like Ayers, no? It may be Above My (photoshop) Pay Grade, but it's got some real potential.

[JM Hanes]

Rich:

I soooo agree. Establishing a connection which goes all the way back to Columbia could ultimately sink the ship. It would certainly cement the ticket, so to speak: You've got two candidates who invent their own biographies, and one of them is actively covering up his past.

[RichatUF]

Gabriel-

What about Pam Gellar at Atlas Shrugged?

Hey that's a good idea. I'll send her an email.

[Sue]

JM,

What about using pictures of the protesters in Denver?

[JM Hanes]

I somehow thought that there was a Dohrn connection at the hospital too, but I could have cut that from whole cloth.

[Gabriel Sutherland]

If there is a connection to the UofC Hospital it is probably through work at Sidley Austin.

[Rocco]

I'd put the 7-eleven logo in there somewhere

Here are the pictures of Ayers door and wall

[Sue]

Major Garrett, Fox News Strategy Room, is saying there will be a full delegate count.

[Sue]

Well, shoot. Hot Air is saying there won't be a floor vote. It will take place at the hotels before the delegates arrive at the convention. Who is right? I sure hope there is a fuss over this.

[centralcal]

Congrats Hit and JMH at the Insta-recognition!

[MayBee]

I somehow thought that there was a Dohrn connection at the hospital too, but I could have cut that from whole cloth.

I think Stanley Kurtz has said something about Michelle at her University job (the job preceding the one at the hospital), getting volunteers for an Ayers-associated group.

[centralcal]

Sue: The state delegates will all vote at their hotels. Then the roll call vote will be held on the floor, where the leader of each state delegation will anounce their vote.

This per Politico.

[glenda waggoner]

Wonder what saint Al Gore will say when he intros the "One"? This will be great theater, you have to admit. But, I am with
Clarice, let's hope for a squall about 9pm--
Axelrod is saying on MSNBC/obama that the
new polls showing McCain rising are B.S.-that their internals show everything on track for win. Now, this is as uber stupid
as thinking Ayers is unimportant.

By the way, did everyone get sick here last night when the camera keyed on Bill mouthing
"I'll love you forever" to Hill? Talk about great theater!

[Gabriel Sutherland]

Weekly Standard is blogging about another instance where an Obama press lackey is conducting a staged interview on the floor of the convention.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/08/bullying_on_the_floor_1.asp

Does anyone remember that video report from the London Guardian that was produced by an American reporter covering the NH primary. She was video reporting from the Obama volunteer call center talking to some volunteers. The Obama team dispatches minders to EVERY interview with a Team Obama volunteer.

I think the guy that appears in the CNN video linked by Weekly Standard is the same guy that appears in the London Guardin video report.

And this why is why you save your bookmarks people. BLAH!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Jane, this one's for you:

According to this American Spectator article, Team Barry has told Speaker Pelosi to shut up:

The Obama campaign has asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to shut her mouth, but in as nice a way as they possibly can. That isn’t to say they aren’t mad about her recent activities.

“It’s like ‘Thanks, madam speaker, you’ve done quite enough. Please move along,’” says one Obama adviser. “She got us stuck on three different issues that we wanted no part of. She’s no master strategist, no matter what she may believe. You may see more of her, but if her mouth is open, what comes out won’t be anything that our campaign wants anything to do with.”

According to several House Democrat leadership staffers, Pelosi grew increasingly angry several months ago that she was not being given a strategic role in directing the Democrat convention or being actively sought out by the Obama campaign for advice. “She made a point that she was queen of the far left, which was the group that really helped Obama get to where he was,” says Democrat leadership staffer, adding, “She didn’t call herself a queen, but you get the point, and so did the Obama people.”

[Rick Ballard]

"Bill mouthing "I'll love you forever" to Hill?"

Glenda,

Watch it a little more closely - isn't it "I've loathed you forever."?

[bgates]

Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the "Virgin" goddess.
Oh. That's why Bill isn't going.

[Gabriel Sutherland]

Nice. I found the Guardian video.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/video/2008/jan/08/obama

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Here is a heads up on Kurtz:

Via Malkin:

Kurtz is in Chicago to review the documents and will report tonight on his findings for two hours on Chicago station WGN’s Milt Rosenberg Show.

[Chicago Machine Investigations]

Nothing to see here, please move along...

No 'smoking gun' in Obama relationship

[Sue]

They said reporters would be arrested if George Bush was elected. And they were http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622&page=1>right

[glenda waggoner]

Rick--you are probably right about the loathing. He still acts for the camera, but
I won't watch him tonight-it's my b-day and I want the evening to be pleasant.

He is the most yellow-toothed worm in the room/ Can you imagine how he feels about Carter getting more respect from Obambi's
people? Lord forgive-but that anti-semite (Jimma)needs to move to Syria or Venezuela where he is more at home.

[clarice]

I'm holding off writing my piece until I can hear the WGN interview. If anyone else is listening and taking notes, pls post them here in case i miss something. Thanks.

[GMax]

Wait a damn minute. Obama spent two months flogging the quote of McCain and staying in Iraq for 100 years. Hell when the audience is sufficiently progressive, he still rolls it out today. Even though it was clear that McCain said immediately he meant as presence like Germany Italy and Korea, not fighting for 100 years.

So based on that, I see the word "tiny" in the quote Jack Tapper has up. Good enough for me.

When Obama admits the distortion on the 100 years thing, I will be willing to discuss if this is fair or not fair. But both sides must be allowed to fight under the same rules.

[GMax]

OOPS wrong thread I will post there.

[bad]

For just a moment when I saw an ad about Obama called "tiny" I hoped it was phallically based.

[bad]

OOPS Hoped it was NOT phallically based

[bad]

The coverage may be a little pathetic but at least something is being said about Obama/Ayers:

Obama campaign lawyer Robert F. Bauer replied: "If someone rides up to a convenience store with a sawed-off shotgun and a prior record, I'm not intimidating anybody by calling the cops.

What's with this violent streak Obama and his staffers have going on? Gangsta wannabees?

[MayBee]

This is interesting, from ABC news:

Fred Baron, a wealthy Texas trial lawyer and former finance chairman for Edwards' presidential campaign, was seen Tuesday at a private luncheon for top party donors and key senators.

Baron, a longtime major contributor to Democratic candidates, would not answer questions from ABC News and walked away when he saw cameras.

Out:Edwards
In: The guy willing to pay off the mistress. He's more valuable to the DNC

[bad]

Obama/Ayers LUN

[bad]

Maybee you are great at right getting to the meat of the matter

[Rick Ballard]

Bad,

I think we have to wait for Bob Herbert's analysis of the symbolism inherent in Obama's appearance, centered in a semi-circle of massive white columns. He seems to have an intense interest in that sort of thing.

[clarice]

Why is this different than Kerry's reaction? He couldn't answer the Swift Boat ads, so he threatened the stations that carried the ads and attacked those who donated to run them.

[Soylent Red]

For just a moment when I saw an ad about Obama called "tiny" I hoped it was phallically based.

Naw bad. That one is entitled "Gifted".

It's twue, it's twue.

[Soylent Red]

BTW...

Glenn Beck has picked up the CAC story and is going to bash on it on his television show. I think he's on CNN.

At any rate he spent a pretty long segment on it on the radio today.

[MayBee]

bad :-)

from bad's link:

Kerry, convinced that few would believe that a decorated Vietnam combat veteran would fabricate his war record, chose to ignore the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

We could play a Highlights Magazine-type game with this sentence.
In how many ways can it be mocked:

I'll start. Kerry obviously thought hundreds of decorated Vietnam vets fabricated their war records by pretending they weren't ear-cutting rapists.

[clarice]

Krauthammer on the Greek temple theme:
"The Berlin folly -- in English.

The Superbowl Halftime Show -- without the game.

What's the finish? Maybe Obama’s got Zhang Yimou to do the hidden-rope trick, and have him lifted, Beijing-style, to the heavens when he’s done. Will he reappear three days later at the Bird’s Nest? "

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Clarice: What's the finish?

Check this out:

Obama to Depart Speech on Faux Air Force One? Can’t Possibly Be True. Can’t Possibly Be That Stupid!

[clarice]

Good grief!

[ZF]

I think that Obama may well have dropped the Annenberg chairmanship from his resume because he finds it acutely embarrassing.

The organization's own records contain, for instance, the assessment that $150 million was spent to generate change in educational performance and achieved precisely zip.

This doesn't mean much to people already dismissive of Obama's whole 'community activist' schtick, we expect no different, but in his world this shatters illusions on a grand scale, and makes him look like an inexperienced, ineffective idiot (either for presiding over these results or for leaving the evidence lying around, according to your level of 'sophistication').

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

American Issues Project has responded to a 2nd letter to DOJ by the Obama Campaign over the Ayers ad. It is quite long, so here is a link:

AIP 2nd response to DOJ

[Extraneus]

I'm thinking this whole Greek temple thing is some sort of ruse. They know how effectively they were mocked after the German thing. No way they don't see it coming this time.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

The Barackopolis is what the McCain Campaign has christened the set.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Planet Moron cracks me up:

Q: Did you see the part where Bill Clinton mouthed the words “I love you” when Hillary was about to start her speech? That was kind of sweet.

A: Yes it was. It would have been sweeter if he’d been looking at Hillary, though.

[Jim Rhoads aka vnjagvet]

Cleta the lawyer writes a very good letter, Sara.

I especially liked her touch of listing the left leaning contributors to left leaning organizations similar to right leaning AIP.

[bad]

For those who may have missed it on Youtube:

Ayers and Obama. via Jim Geraghty

Linked Under Name

[Rick Ballard]

Jim,

I think that was the "strong letter" which was promised as a followup to a short exclamation by Harold Simmonds. McCain's appointment of a replacement for one of the five squishes would make me hope that this would reach the Supremes in about three years.

[hit and run]

H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y   G L E N D A ! ! !

[hit and run]

Clarice (quoting Krauthammer):
"The Berlin folly -- in English.

The Superbowl Halftime Show -- without the game.

At least at the super bowl the wardrobe malfunction last all of a half second.

When Obama speaks at Invesco, how long will be exposed to the boob?

[centralcal]

Sara, I just read (NRO?) that the Air Force One was already scheduled for another event that will follow the convention and it's arrival just happened to coincide with Obama's sermon on the mount.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I saw that Centracal, but it isn't nearly as much fun. It is just too much to have that parked right outside Invesco, no matter why.

[JM Hanes]

So, the Dems have a nominee.

[Jim Rhoads aka vnjagvet]

It was strong, Rick. I think it is unlikely that either the Obama goons or the DOJ will pursue this beyond the letter writing stage.

[Rick Ballard]

Jim,

I agree. The letter of complaint was a sop to the fools who screamed that Kerry should have "fought back" harder. Fighting the truth is pretty tough, whether you're Kerry or Obama.

I do consider it a kind gesture by the Obama campaign to call so much attention to the ad so early in the season. That kind of publicity costs millions if you have to pay for it.

[Jim Rhoads aka vnjagvet]

And it opens up the obvious question -- what are they trying to hide?

If Kurtz and the little blogelves who will multiply his work come up with something good, Clarice will boil it down to where an even better AIP ad may be made.

Then the MSM will have to cover the issue.

[GMax]

Well two Texas millionaires or billionaires in the this thread.

Interesting.

First Fred Baron the DNC darling and sugar daddy for Edwards concubine, is a former partner in the law firm of Baron & Budd. He is in major litigation with them now, I think it has to do with a noncompete agreement. This firm is right up Edwards alley, meaning tv advertising ambulance chasing personal injury lawyers. The kind that rank below journalists and union bosses on Americans most admired lists.

Harold Simmons. Harold can be a bit of a recluse, but no one should misconstrue that for a shrinking violet. If Obama wants a bare knuckles fight, no one would be a better choice in my opinion that Simmons. He plays to win and win all the marbles. He will take great delight in beating Obama like a snare drum.

[Sue]

An ABC producer was arrested today for filming big party donors entering and leaving a secret meeting. One of them was Fred Baron. Today, the delegates voted in their hotels before the actual roll call. The first time, as far as I can tell, that has ever happened. And democrats scream at the top of their lungs about Bush and republicans being Nazis? I am so bummed right now. I wanted Hillary to fight, fight, fight. I think her reputation has been a hoax. In fact, I think her and Bill merely got lucky, instead of being political geniuses.

[Pagar]

Sue, I think what they mean is it was all Bush's fault.

"ABC Reporter Arrested in Denver Taking Pictures of Senators, Big Donors."

Could it be that if America knew who the Big Donors were, Obama would lose votes?

IMO, we are witnessing the death of a once great American Political party.

[bad]

Bill merely got lucky

ha ha ha ha ha

[centralcal]

Totally off topic, but our own convention is coming soon. Over at Townhall they mention that Huckabee went on Rush today to once again slyly carp about Romney.

"For Huckabee to continue to carry a grudge against Romney because Romney criticized him in the primaries (as Rush pointed out, that's what competitors do in primaries) is unfortunate and destructive -- and, if nothing else, highlights why he would be a profoundly unsuitable choice for any high office."

If McCain does select Romney, you can bet Hucka-doodoo will be the liberal media's darling.

[Jane]

I still can't stand Huckabee.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Jane did you see the note to you from me above re: Pelosi?

Huck is a buffoon.

[BobS]

Will Huck become the new Chuck Hagel? He's on MSNBC alot for goodness sakes. We republicans revere Reagan who pressed us to hold fire against other republicans. We're goind to have to call him on it the next time he invokes his name.

[kim]

I think it's time for a little optimism; there's a chance for twelve years of Romney.
=========================

[bad]

WGN offered the Obama campaign the oppotunity for equal time on WGN 720 with Kurtz but they refused. They did generate some angry phone calls protesting the show, however.

[clarice]

bad-Kurtz reminded of a Univ Of Chic seminair on juvenile justice that Michelle ran where Ayres was a speaker.

[bad]

M Obama presented a panel discussion on Juvenile crime where Ayers was a panelist. Kurtz says Obama and Ayers shared the same philosophy on juvenile crime just as they shared the same philosophy on education.

Kurtz believes the donor of CAC materials tried to get them back.

[bad]

AP and NYT were present in the library the last few days.

[bad]

Kurtz was called a racist and crackpot by email and phone calls to WGN in attempts to keep him off the air.

[clarice]

May have been more but for ceretain went thru $110 million.

[bad]

1995 Obama made chair of CAC. Reason to believe, not absolute fact yet, that Ayers brought in Obama to be chairman of the board of CAC.

Ayers and Ann Hallett were considered to be ex officio members of the board and Ayers attended many of the board meetings.

Ayers was co-chair of another wing of CAC called "The Collaberative."

[bad]

You were wise to stick to that figure, Clarice. No marinalization because of one money figure.

[bad]

**marginalization**

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Since Kurtz has been buried in the library, I wonder if he knows that Obama listed CAC on his early resume and then dropped it?

[Jane]

Saw it Sara - thanks!

[clarice]

Grants wewre made on ideological basis--yes for Ayres Peace School (conflict of interest, too) not for groups like the Algebra Project whose sole aim was to improve student achievement. Therefore, no surprise that both evaluations found that the CAC achieved NOTHING.

[clarice]

bad, I always try to be conservative with facts--using only what i have rather solid back up for.

[clarice]

Firestorm was engendered by Obama campaign.Encouraged callers and gave them talking pts and told them to call and report back how they were treated.

[bad]

Grant was approved for South Shore African Village Collaborative to help African Americans celebrate Juneteenth described as "Negro Texans celebrated Juneteenth rather than 4th of July."

Ethnic and ideologic grants tended to be approved rather than English as a second language.

[bad]

Gamaliel Foundation has a book full of language and theology and ideology very much like Jeremiah Wright's.

[clarice]

Rosenberg getting roaylly pissed at the Obama campaign--now they're claiming it was wrong to have this tonight because they are too busy with the convention. Rosenberg says they are 1/4 mile away and not too busy to set off firestorm..Kurtz there because he's at the library and he's there now because the library held up turning over the stuff until now.

[bad]

The book is called "Doing Justice" by Dennis Jacobson

[clarice]

JacobsEn I think--

[bad]

Recurring theme is economic redistribution as means of achieving equality.

[bad]

Thanks, I plan to read it.

[clarice]

No--that is the recurring theme of O's state senatorial career.
The recurring theme of the book is that the US is a sinful Bablyon and that authentic Christians need to go into a state of "perpetual exile" in this country.

[clarice]

The head of the Gemalial foundation who approved this book was O's mentor and O organized for Gemalial.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

They are talking Brownback for Veep over at NRO The Corner. That would p!ss me off.

[bad]

Steve Diamond who writes at Global Labor says he is from the left politically, from the labor movement.

[clarice]

But he and Kurtz see pretty much eye to eye on what happened at CAC..Steve added details about CAC's fight with Daley who was trying to recentralize control over the schools.

[clarice]

Politico and the Chicago Tribune blog are documenting the scare tactics the O brownshirts are using to keep Kurtz off the air.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

documenting or celebrating?

[bad]

All of the callers are stressing "equal air time." They are all Obama supporters with the exception of Steve Diamond.

[SWarren]

Diamond said Axelrod's parents communists. Rosenberg said I don't know about that. Diamond said it's documented, Rosenberg said he's red diaper baby? Diamond said yes, and Klonski too.

[Sue]

Clarice,

The former Commerce Secretary from Chicago was just on with Greta. She asked him about the Obama/Ayers connection. I didn't catch everything he said, but he did say that folks in Chicago are proud of what CAC was able to get done. I wonder if that is true why Obama is running so hard and fast from CAC and Ayers?

[clarice]

Well, both the Annenberg Challenge and an independent outfit reviewed the CAC and determined it was poorly designed and accomplished absolutely nothing so the former Commerce Secretary is talking out of his ass.

[bad]

And they paid enormous sums for those evaluations according to the CAC tax returns.