One of the questions in the highly criticized debate on ABC was Barack Obama's "relationship" with Bill Ayers. There is some truth to it, but look closer.
The April 16 debate between the two Democratic presidential candidates on ABC has been criticized by a number of people for a number of different reasons. Among the most criticized questions in the debate was co-moderator George Stephanopoulos' question to Barack Obama about his relationship with William Ayers, a former member of the 70's radical group Weather Underground.
The Question
Here is the exchange in question from the debate [emphasis added]:
STEPHANOPOULOS: A gentleman named William Ayers, he was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol and other buildings. He’s never apologized for that. And in fact, on 9/11 he was quoted in The New York Times saying, “I don’t regret setting bombs; I feel we didn’t do enough.” An early organizing meeting for your state senate campaign was held at his house, and your campaign has said you are friendly. Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won’t be a problem?
OBAMA: This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of English in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George.
Earlier, Stephanopoulos had appeared on Sean Hannity's radio show where this exchange occured [emphasis added]:
HANNITY: the only time he’s ever been asked about his association with Bill Ayers, the unrepentant terrorist from the Weather Underground who on 9/11 of all days in the New York Times was saying “I don’t regret setting bombs. I don’t think we did enough.” When asked about it by the Politico, [Obama's chief strategist] David Axelrod said that they have a friendly relationship, and that they had done a number of speeches together and that they sat on a board together. Is that a question you might ask?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, I’m taking notes right now.
The Truth
Bill Ayers did tell the New York Times on September 11, 2001 "I don't regret setting bombs," and "I feel we didn't do enough." But here's the important thing to notice: The remarks were published on September 11, 2001. And furthermore, the article was not about terrorism, or the attacks that happened that day. The focus of the article was about Ayers' newly released book "Fugitive" which told the story of the Weather Underground.
There are two important things to consider about the remarks being published on Sept. 11, 2001. First, every quote in the newspaper was actually said by the person before that date, since the journalist probably spent Sept. 10 writing or editing the article, and maybe even before that.
Secondly, anything published in a newspaper ON a particular day is about events that happened the day before. The front page story of any newspaper is about an event that happened the day before. The front page story ON Sept. 11, 2001 was not the terrorist attacks. That was the headline the following day (there are books that have collected many of the front pages of major newspapers showing the attacks, and they are all dated Sept. 12, 2001)
