Must….blog…about…politics……
I didn’t watch the Democratic debate on TV last night. Life’s too short and Lisa and I have a lot of Battlestar Galactica to watch. But I did skim through the transcript this morning and I have one question. Since when do moderators ask political candidates hard questions? What happened to questions like “Do you think Diversity is a good or bad thing?” Or “Shouldn’t we stop all wars and live in peace?”. I haven’t been following the campaigns that closely, but apparently Obama has a relationship with a racist preacher and a former domestic terrorist. And they actually asked him about it last night!!! Here’s the exchange:
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: George, but this is an example of what I’m talking about. 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. The fact is that I’m also friendly with Tom Coburn, one of the most conservative Republicans in the United States Senate, who, during his campaign, once said that it might be appropriate to apply the death penalty to those who carried out abortions. Do I need to apologize for Mr. Coburn’s statements? Because I certainly don’t agree with those, either.
I’m not sure that comparing an admitted terrorist and bomber to a sitting Senator is smart. And to bring abortion into this exchange? Seriously? A Senator’s views on abortion are not analogous to a terrorist unapologetically bombing the Pentagon. This one will come back up to haunt him.
But the fun was just getting started because you see, Bill Clinton pardoned a couple members of the Weather Underground too!:
OBAMA: Look, I’m going to have to respond to this just really quickly, but by Senator Clinton’s own vetting standards, I don’t think she would make it, since President Clinton pardoned or commuted the sentences of two members of the Weather Underground, which I think is a slightly more significant act…
It’s like the Democrats don’t want to win Presidential elections. Hillary’s going to win Pennsylvania, and this nomination isn’t going to be sewn-up until their convention.