Barack Obama and Bill Ayers Relationship
In “Obama, Ayers, and Guilt By Association”, an Op-Ed published in The Atlantic, Matthew Yglesias argues that “guilt-by-association” has negatively impacted Barack Obama’s political campaign. Yglesias explains that Obama shouldn’t receive any publicity of “knowing somebody who has radical opinions” because Barack Obama’s “ability to govern” is separate from his association with Ayers. Yglesias insists that Barack Obama’s political opponents shouldn’t focus on the connection with Bill Ayers. According to Yglesias, if Obama is held accountable with his association with Bill Ayers, the leader of the Weather Underground, why isn’t John McCain held accountable with the Watergate burglar, Gordon Liddy?
I would have to agree with Matthew Yglesias’s claim of “guilt-by-association” dealing with Barack Obama and Bill Ayers connection. I can see where Yglesias is coming from based on his observances surrounding the Obama and Ayers relationship. I do see however, the other side of the matter. Why would Barack Obama have any ties with someone who helped bomb the capital and the pentagon? Many though are not seeing this issue in detail. Saying you know someone and saying that you really know someone is two different things. If I met someone out in public and the next day he commits murder, does that automatically make me a murder also? Sure Obama may have a connection with Ayers, but why is that so bad? Look at William Ayers now: he’s a decent man that isn’t vicious and a professor. Bill Ayers can’t be an extremist, so the relationship between Obama and him shouldn’t be an issue.
Of course, many will probably disagree with this assertion that Barack Obama and Bill Ayers relationship doesn’t matter. In fact, the relationship does matter to some Americans. In addition, why would Obama’s supporters vote for him if he was mentioned in the same sentence with radical Bill Ayers, that helped bombed the U.S. capitol in the Weather...