Going To The Library

Steve Diamond of Global Labor has been leading the charge on the Obama/Ayers connection to the Chicago Annenberg Challenge.  Today he has lots of questions about the role being played by the library where the Chicago Annenberg Challenge archives were housed. 

Conservative critic Stanley Kurtz had contacted the University of Illinois at Chicago library requesting permission to review the archives.  For some reason, this set off alarm bells at the library.  Mr. Diamond writes:

An earlier statement by a UIC spokesperson stated that UIC contacted the donor of the CAC records and that it was then discovered that an "ownership agreement" had not been prepared for the CAC records. This is most likely not accurate.  No such agreement is likely in this situation. A gift of corporate records, such as those of the CAC, is valid without a written instrument.

...

But more fundamentally there would be no reason for anyone in the Special Collections Library to even question the validity of the gift of the CAC documents! 

And a donor would never be allowed to know who or when someone is asking to review a validly granted gift of documents. That violates the confidentiality of library users. It reminds me of the concerns that civil libertarians have properly raised about the Patriot Act.

That leaves only one possible conclusion:  Someone inside the UIC Library clearly was concerned that a critic of Barack Obama might be attempting to examine these public records. That led to an unprecedented and, in my view, highly inappropriate notice to the donor of the CAC documents that a potential political critic of Obama was interested in the documents.

They told Glenn Reynolds that if Bush were re-elected no library user would have any privacy.  And they were right!

Comments

[JM Hanes]

I'd like to highlight the opener of the Obama Ayers Ad which MayBee posted above:

With all our problems, why is John McCain talking about the sixties, trying to link Barack Obama to radical Bill Ayers?

Seems to me that Obama has just made the mistake asking McCain to answer a question. A door can't open wider than that!

I'll save folks the trouble of wading through my earlier post, for the platform excerpt below. Writing a "Social Investment Fund Network" into the Democratic platform itself, makes Obama's joint project with Ayers of compelling interest to voters everywhere.

Partnership with Civic Institutions: Social entrepreneurs and leading nonprofit organizations are assisting schools, lifting families out of poverty, filling health care gaps and inspiring others to lead change in their own communities. To support these results-oriented innovators, we will create a Social Investment Fund Network that invests in ideas that work, tests their impact and expands the most successful programs. We will create an office to coordinate government and non-profit efforts.

[RichatUF]

I really can't believe that Obama cut an Ayers ad. It's not like Obama and Ayers didn't work together on the CAC, or the Woods Foundation, or Obama's first campaign. This is a stunning mistake.

[JM Hanes]

Clarice:

I remember reading a fairly extensive assessment of the political situation at the time, with the appointment of a new educationa honcho on the Chicago side, and the Challenge on the other at real loggerheads. I believe I found it in some of the original material TM posted or linked from there. I'll try to see if I can find it this evening.

[clarice]

thanks,JMH.

Rich --it's a momumentally stupid mistake--O seems to have bought the kool aid that says Kerry lost because he didn't anser the "lies" of the swifties.

[JM Hanes]

Rich:"This is a stunning mistake"

AT this point, I'm cynical enough to wonder if somebody got to the CAC archives before they were putatively locked up in the UI's "secure location" pending resolution of "ownership" issues with the donor. There was a chunk of time before the UI administration itself got officially involved.

[JM Hanes]

The more I think about it, the more I believe referring to CAC as an Obama/Ayers "joint project" has real potential.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Just what kind of perks do senators get?

First of all, they get a generous 6-figure salary. They also get, in addition, a hefty amount to finance their Senate offices, i.e., equipment, salaries, furniture, etc. They get any Senate business travel reimbursed. If he does paperwork on his Amtrak trips, then he can take the ticket off his taxes as a travel expense. He has raised millions and millions and millions to finance his campaigns, which would pay for campaign offices, advertising costs, yard signs, travel for him in campaign situations and his surrogates.

That's for starters.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

And unlike so many other Senate and House members, he doesn't need a 2nd home in Washington because he is close enough to commute. Many members share houses or sleep on pullouts in their office to offset the costs of a home away from their Districts.

[Gabriel Sutherland]

JM Hanes: That was probably the appointment of Paul Vallas as Chicago Public Schools CEO.

You can read what Mike Klonsky thinks of Paul Vallas at Klonsky's blog.

These characters view a liberal like Paul Vallas as an orchestra conductor of an empire.

[RichatUF]

JM Hanes-

I'm cynical enough to wonder if somebody got to the CAC archives before they were putatively locked up in the UI's "secure location" pending resolution of "ownership" issues with the donor

I'm guessing you mean some of Ayers grad students to comb through the papers and make sure there is little left to report (sort of like vultures on road kill). But still, if the "issue is framed" as education and executive experience, the Assessments are killer enough-the business with Ayers is gravy.

However, and I'm not sure its been stated, if the collection went to the library a while back, someone could have already gotten the good stuff.

[MikeS]

McCain did not 'link' Obama to Ayers. Obama linked himself to Ayers and the McCain campaign is just talking about that link.

Obama's attitude of so what if Ayers did something 40 years ago, comes awfully close, in my book, to endorsing Ayers behavior since then.

[bad]

The tax returns linked at Global Labor (for 1998, 1999, 2001) have schedules attached for all individual donations over $5000. So there were some funds beyond Annenberg's which flowed through the CAC coffers.

[Rick Ballard]

"This is a stunning mistake."

No. No. No. No. - It's a stunningly brilliant move by an election campaign that's a well organized juggernaut. We should all applaud and commend such a performance and live in the hope of seeing many more such bold strokes.

[Ranger]

Well, I think the initial response to the Obama ad is:

'If its so unimportant, why did Obama and his campaign lie about it for so long? If it is so unimportant, then why did Obama work so hard to avoid answering the question about the nature of their relationship the one time it was asked in the Democratic primary debates?'

[clarice]

*THWACK!* Rick.

[Jim Rhoads aka vnjagvet]

JMH:

Remember the principles of spoliation.

They are often used to good advantage as a sword. Not just for technical,legalistic evidentiary reasons, but because it comports with human nature. People generally don't destroy good evidence.

[RichatUF]

Rick-

We should all applaud and commend such a performance and live in the hope of seeing many more such bold strokes...

Ooops. I should have pulled out the fainting couch because it was such a brilliant move.

Also, someone posted some Ras[?] poll results on the other thread and wondered what your take was. I was going to check some numbers, but I'm thinking this is the first signs of the bottom falling out in Obama's support among Catholics.

[JBean]

JMH -

"I remember reading a fairly extensive assessment of the political situation at the time, with the appointment of a new educationa honcho on the Chicago side, and the Challenge on the other at real loggerheads."

That's in the Fordham Foundation study  ( Page 37).

Sheriff Vallas Rides Into Town
"Just as the Challenge was getting off the ground, massive changes were beginning to unfold in the way Chicago’s schools were run. While local school councils had invigorated some schools and led to important changes in how they were run, it was clear to many that the 1988 reform had not engendered the widespread improvements in student achievement that the public demanded.  Some studies showed that local councils could be extremely effective, yet districtwide scores remained low.  Long-standing fiscal and administrative malfunctions persisted.  As a result, there was another massive wave of reform, this one involving one of the first mayoral takeovers of a major school district.  In 1995, the Illinois  legislature turned control of the Chicago schools over to Mayor Richard Daley’s office and established new accountability measures for failing schools.  Led by new chief executive officer Paul Vallas, Mayor Daley’s former budget director, the 1995 reform ushered in a number of changes.  Gery Chico, the mayor’s former chief of staff, was named president of the new, mayorally-appointed Reform Board of Trustees.  After years of trouble, the district’s finan- cial woes quickly began to be sorted out and a  blizzard of new initiatives followed. Labor contracts were signed without strikes.  High-stakes testing was implemented, forc- ing tens of thousands of stu- dents to attend summer school in order to pass from grade to grade.  Failing schools were put on probation or reconstituted.  Uniform academic standards were established."

 To the Ayers' CAC, however, any form of "academic standards" was repellant. (Which is  why the CAC is generally acknowledged to have failed.) Nevertheless,  Ayers' and Obama's "community activist" cohorts framed the fight as "opposed (to) the increased use of standardized tests and systemwide mandates. "

Meanwhile, lest we forget, the battle was really about money -- who gets how much, and from whom. Eventually, opposing groups kissed and made up, with Daley continuing in his dynasty, Obama vaulting to presidential candidate and Ayers undermining our educational system. It's the "Chicago way."

[glenda waggoner]

The Ayers ad is another example of his continued arrogance. He will not admit his judgement is impaired. Most people, if they make a mistake (especially a large one like
trying to blow up the Pentagon and subvert the government) beg forgiveness to be accepted back into polite society--not Ayers-he apologizes for not succeeding!
PHEH! per Clarice

[Rick Ballard]

"but I'm thinking this is the first signs of the bottom falling out in Obama's support among Catholics."

Rich,

I tend to think that's it's just the Muddle awakening. Non Cafeteria Catholics are probably already somewhat awake. If they're not, the the bells are starting to ring.

Quite loudly.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Exclusive: Advance text of Michelle Obama’s speech

LOL

[Rick Ballard]

I forgot to H/T SWarren for that one.

[MayBee]

Ha!
Someone on HotAir pointed out that it was not McCain that was talking about Ayers. That was a 527.
McCain brought up Rezko.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Barron's: 'It's Almost as if Obama Wants to Repeat the Mistakes of Herbert Hoover'

[JM Hanes]

JBean:

The day you decided to come out of the shadows was my lucky day! Thanks.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

OMG, shades of how he got Jack Ryan off the ballot. This is too much.

The Politico reports Barack Obama has requested the Justice Department to begin a criminal investigation of Harold Simmons (a donor to the Swift Boat Vets) and the American Issues Project, its officers and directors, and its anonymous donors for airing negative ads about him:

“Sen. Barack Obama has launched an all-out effort to block a Republican billionaire’s efforts to tie him to domestic and foreign terrorists in a wave of negative television ads.

Obama’s campaign has written the Department of Justice demanding a criminal investigation of the “American Issues Project,” the vehicle through which Dallas investor Harold Simmons is financing the advertisements. The Obama campaign — and tens of thousands of supporters — also is pressuring television networks and affiliates to reject the ads.
***
The ad focuses on Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers, a Hyde Park acquaintance at whose home Obama attended a gathering early in his political career. Ayers is a complicated figure: professor and adviser to the mayor of Chicago despite not having repented his past as a domestic terrorist with the Weather Underground.

“How much do your really know about Barack Obama? What does he really believe?” asks the ad, which also uses imagery from the Al-Qaeda terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“Why would Barack Obama be friends with someone who bombed the Capitol and is proud of it?” asks the ad’s narrator.”

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

You can see the ad at issue HERE.

[Jim Rhoads aka vnjagvet]

If the ad were untrue, wouldn't The One be well advised to file a libel suit?

[RichatUF]

Rick-

Thanks for your input. I'm probably just kicking a hobby horse cause its August, but I've got this spidey-sense that McCain is going to do much better than Bush re: Catholics (04 Bush 52-47) and all the talking heads are going to miss it.

Sara-

Whoa! Obama seems to have an interesting interperation of the first amendment. The good thing is that it will only draw more attention to the issue. Seems that Obama must have something to hide or he wouldn't be making such a fuss about it.

[M. Simon]

I went to lots of anti-war demos. The ladies were hot and easy. I was kind of nerdy with poor social skills so my social life improved considerably. I also got to know a lot about the workings of the communist movement in America from the inside.

Then America changed - the hotties moved right and so here I am.

Just kidding.

Any way I managed to learn a few social skills and along the way married my girlfriend of 8 years. And what do you know. Our politics changed together. And she is very supportive of my flirting. It brings out her competitive instincts and so I'm still having hot times. It has been a wonderful life. Four fine kids. All libertarian Republicans and supportive of cleaning up Iraq. In fact #2 son was pumped by the Zell Miller speech in '04.

[clarice]

Well, that's his second stupid move--(a) Move 1 answering it and doing so lamely. (b)Move 2 Calling in the FBI to do what? Stifle free speech?

[RichatUF]

Sara-

I'm help Instapundit and TM out:

They told Glenn Reynolds and Tom Maguire that if George W. Bush were reelected the FBI would investigate political speech, and they were right.

I could just imagine the outcry if Bush had asked the Justice Department to investigate George Soros or Warren Buffett or Peter Lewis for political speech attacking him and his administration. And weren't 527's creatures of McCain-Feingold anyway?

[clarice]

He did lecture on constitutional law after all?

[JM Hanes]

Suing Harold Simmons -- what a wonderful idea!

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

I keep hearing Judy Garland singing:

Terrorists and communists and felons, oh my!

These guys are sharp as marbles. They probably really will start stressing McCain's close and long term association with communists.

Did you know that McCain was provided with room and board from a bunch of dirty commies for over five years?

It's true - you can look it up.

And BAIPU is still mostly in the quiver.

[RichatUF]

I should also apologize for all the mistakes in my 7:27 comment:

I'm -> I'll

the FBI would investigate political speech... -> ...the Justice Department would called to intimidate and investigate political speech...

But at least I spelled the names right [fingers crossed]

[JM Hanes]

Can't imagine why Obama didn't register his complaint with the FEC. Oh, wait.

I guess it would be pretty embarrassing to get your request for a restraining order laughed out of court, better to make the news by asking for a "crimminal" investigation. Oddly enough, it's pretty hard to intimidate billionaires. You can piss them off though.

What's funny is that while his "tens of thousands" of supporters are getting the ad killed (imagine those letters), Obama's response ad -- linking "Barack Obama and radical Bill Ayers"-- will probably be airing everywhere. That should leave a lot folks wondering about the answer to that question, shouldn't it? You'd almost think that those anonymous staffers at Obama HQ are trying to sabotage his campaign -- he should have fired his media people months ago. Like the presidential seal was not a clue?

[Captain Hate]

It's really difficult to believe that all these very stupid moves are being made by somebody other than Bob Shrum.

[matt]

are there any records of who may have had access to the documents in the past 6 months - 1 year time frames?

[Sue]

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Njg0ZThhMGNlMmY2OWE4NDI5NThlNjRkNzAzMzE2MTA=>Geraghty> brings us this...

There will be no line waiting for Barack Obama's biggest campaign donors before the nominee's Thursday acceptance speech. The campaign has arranged for the Secret Service to meet the moneybags in the lobbies of their hotels, where they will be prewanded and then put on a special bus that will pass through Invesco Field's security perimeter. "There was no way I was going to wait in line with a bunch of kids to get into Invesco Field," said one relieved donor.

And the republican party is the party of elitists?

[Sue]

Preview is our friend. ::frown::

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Njg0ZThhMGNlMmY2OWE4NDI5NThlNjRkNzAzMzE2MTA=>Link

[JM Hanes]

I love it. The new crews are talking right over Pelosi. CSpan saves the day, with uninterrupted coverage.

Should we switch to a short thread, like Biden on School Reform to begin the snark?

[RichatUF]

JM Hanes-

I've got MSDNC on and listening to Chrissy and Oberdoof I'm pretty sure this little bit of intimidation will be blacked out..oops..whitewashedcan't use that either. Treated with silence...yea-Queen Pelosi is on...

And I've given it a bit of thought, I think Biden looks like Fire Marshall Bill.

[Sue]

I can't watch Pelosi. She makes my teeth itch. You guys watch so I don't have to.

[M. Simon]

Sara,

Thanks for the comments.

==

The Rs are running this campaign like a war. And what is the #1 rule of war? Deception. Appear weak. Encourage an attack. Then envelop the attackers.

It keeps happening over and over again.

It is hard to believe such amateurs are in charge of the Ds.

==

Or think of the it as fencing. You give your an opponent an opening. He dashes into an "easy kill" and then finds himself skewered instead.

==

If you like science fiction try Gordon R. Dickson's "The Tactics of Mistake"

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Okay, here is Rich Lowry of NRO, who is reporting his conversation with Steve Schmidt, the attack dog of the McCain campaign:

Just got off the phone with Steve Schmidt, who had this to say about the Obama Ayers ad: That they've made a strategic decision to air a commercial about William Ayers is perplexing. I don't understand it, but put that aside. The ad is misleading. It states the McCain campaign is running an ad on the issue and it's not. This a pattern of attacking from a platform of disingenuousness when Obama accuses his opponent of attacking when he's not, in an attempt to disqualify the issue from the debate. Here's Obama's problem with regard to Ayers. When he was asked directly, Obama described Ayers as just a guy who lives in his neighborhood. We know that's not accurate. Before we get to the place where we can ask, 'Why does Barack Obama have a relationship with an unrepentant terrorist?' we have to ask, 'Why is Barack Obama not being forthcoming about his relationship?' This is what he has to realize: He's a candidate for president of the United States of America. He's not in a state senate race where he can disqualify all his opponents from running. He's deluding himself if he doesn't think his relationship with an unrepentant domestic terrorist who was part of this viscous, crack-pot group will give the American people pause. If he does, he's being very naïve. And he's being misleading. It says a lot about Barack Obama. John McCain is not running an ad on Ayers and William Ayers was not just someone who lived in his neighborhood.

[M. Simon]

Scarry Larry has some very good material on the supporting doc for the Obama Ayres ad.

Killer. The lawyers among us will love it. Not bad for the rest of us either.

The Obama complaint is weak and not well sourced and in some cases the sources ar circular.

The ad was very carefully crafted and each word researched.