William Ayers Clarifies His Relationship With President-Elect Obama

Bill Ayers, founder of the radical anti-war group the Weather Underground, steps forward about the relationship with US President-elect Barack Obama.

The 2008 United States Presidential campaign was a long and turbulent one. It was extremely turbulent for Democratic Presidential-elect Barack Obama. One of the most recent attacks towards Election Day was Obama’s relationship with Bill Ayers, the founder of the radical anti-war group called the Weather Underground, which protested the Vietnam War. The GOP and the campaign for GOP nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona attacked Obama on his connection with Ayers. However, this subject did not pop up until after the VP debate with Obama’s VP Senator Joe Biden of Delaware and McCain’s VP running-mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. After that debate, Palin had brought up Obama’s connection. During the third and final debate, Obama clarified his connection. McCain implied that Ayers was a “washed-up terrorist.” With the US Elections over, Ayers has stepped forward. He explained his relations with Obama. Ayers explained that it was not much different from the thousands of other people in Chicago. Plus, the two of them did not talk about the activities of the Weather Underground. He explains that the blogosphere has blown the relationship out of proportion. Right now, Ayers teaches at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Ayers further clarified that he and Obama do not really know each other that well. While serving together on the Chicago school reform board, they only stuck to the issues. At the same time, Ayers defended his actions when he was a member of the Weather Underground. He finishes off by saying that he did not hurt or kill anybody. Overall, Ayers clarified everything. He said that the relationship was blown out of proportion. And he said that the nation did not buy into the attack on his and Obama’s connection.