Obama's Ayers connection

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For some time, Obama's more feverish critics have been suggesting that he condones Ayers' involvement with terrorist bombings in the 1970s and that Ayers continues to exert influence over the Democratic nominee. McCain tried out the accusation in April. Never mind that, according to the article that supposedly caught Palin's eye, the two men aren't close and haven't spoken since 2005.

Obama displayed not just poor political judgment but a lack of moral imagination in associating with Ayers -- even in an uncontroversial school reform effort -- and allowing Ayers and his wife to host a coffee event in connection with his first run for public office. Charges that Ayers had conspired in bombings and crossed state lines to incite a riot were dropped because of misconduct by prosecutors, but he has refused to apologize for the violence committed by the Weathermen. In an interview with the New York Times published Sept. 11, 2001, of all dates, Ayers said: "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."

Although Ayers was reincarnated as an academic, when his path and Obama's crossed, the budding politician should have recognized that his Chicago neighbor was radioactive. But their association should not be distorted. There is no evidence that Obama shared Ayers' approval of violence or his views about whether America is "a force for good in this world." For Palin and McCain to insinuate otherwise is a 21st century form of McCarthyism.