To Ayers is Obama...

Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:47 PM by Chuck Todd

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Obama finally gave a decent answer on something in going after the premise of the Ayers question. But, wow, how about the Clinton attack on it. This is pretty shrewd. This means Ayers will finally break into the MSM because the major media outlets will have to explain why Ayers is an issue etc. But this really is a low-blow, but it may not matter because now the Weather Underground will be a story in the next few days. Obama had a pretty good piece of research to hit back on her but the toothpaste is out of tube on Ayers.

BTW, notice that Clinton didn't mind waiting to have equal time later in the debate; it's no wonder this first 40 minutes was simply brutal for Obama (every topic but one was focused on his negatives); not quite a disaster, but close.

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Comments

I think we should bring out all of this shoddy right wing "distraction" stuff now . . . Obama's not afraid - the Republicans (and Senator Clinton) are.

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:52 PM)

CAN WE ALL SAY RIGID DEBATE BY ABC AND THE CLINTONS

ABC should be banned from ever doing another debate (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:54 PM)

These are the worst questions of any debate to date. Nothing but MSM hype and no interest in what really ails this country. These ABC anchors are pathetic. Where is the tanking economy, the stretched military, the housing bill filled with tax breaks for non-housing industries, etc.

Mark, Burlington VT (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:54 PM)

Really, do they believe the American people are so stupid that they will judge Obama because of something that happened when he was 8!?! Bill Clinton PARDONED the Weather Underground! If you're gonna play dirty, that's a SWAMP compared to Obama's 8 year old mud pies.

Bonnie S (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:55 PM)

By the way, Senator Clinton is starting to sound like Rudy Guliani with all her 9-11 references.

Nashville_fan (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:55 PM)

This Obama guy, pretty dirty. Not the clean candidate Biden talked about six months ago.

LKT, SF CA (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:55 PM)

Interesting debate in that the Chief of Staff for her husband is a moderator. What a coincidence that she was prepared with details on Ayers after George teed it up. Maybe the Clinton kool-aid drinkers will stop accusing the press of being all Obama. He just stood up to a little Georgie hit job.

Eric, Phoenix (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:56 PM)

Okay, we got Ayers, Farrakhan, Wright, and bitter out of the way. A couple minutes with Rezco, and Hillary can wrap this state up, and McCain can wrap up the Presidency.

Sun Lo Sue (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:58 PM)

You call this a debate? Jeebus.

Shannon charlotte, nc (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:58 PM)

how much of a stooge is Stephanopolous? seemed like a planted question to me. Woods Foundation?? Boy, HRC sure knew alot about some esoteric association of Obama's past. Seems like, once a Clintonian, always a Clintonian (except for Richardson, who came to his senses).

anthony, nj (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:58 PM)

You know someone has hit your hard when they chose to pass up on an opportunity to respond in a heated rivalry. I would say it was pretty "shrewd" on Stephanopoulos' part to bring up Ayers

Brian Little, Oak Park, IL (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:01 PM)

What a set up! There should be an investigation on the Ayers question by Stephanopolous. Hillary can't recall the details of her Bosnia trip but she can give a complete dosier on Ayers right on the spot. We aren't that stupid we see right through this set up. YES WE CAN!!!

Steve, Chicago (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:11 PM)

This is the question Sean Hannity gave to Stephanopolous yesterday on his show. Sean Hannity told him to ask the question, and Steph said he was writing it down. NEARLY WORD FOR WORD! Pass it on - do we want Sean Hannity writing debates for Democrats? Steph is totally in the tank for HRC. Ridiculous!

Erick J (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:22 PM)

Barack got it in that Bill pardoned terrorists. Wow, Barack is being barraged by everybody on the stage. This could backfire. People will see that he is being crucified, and might fall in behind his campaign out of a sense of fairness.

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:22 PM)

I swear, if I hear one more thing about something someone said who Obama spent time with in some kind of obscure way I'm going to shoot my TV. WHO CARES? We're not electing Rev. Wright or Ayers. It's Obama or Clinton (and preferably not Clinton). What good does this do anybody? Rev. Wright and Ayers are NOT THE ISSUE. They have nothing to do with how to turn the economy around, restore our credibility and integrity in the international arena, reduce poverty and crime, etc. I'm tired of the media treating voters like morons who can't separate the candidate from the THOUSANDS of people he or she has met, spent time with or worked with. Give me a break.

Jane Doe (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:23 PM)

I cannor belive this debate. Hannity is laughing right now. He planted the questions!!

Nick (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:31 PM)

George was given the question on Weather Underground from Sean on his radio show.

todd, NC (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:32 PM)

MSNBC, please make sure you report on how most comments at ABC's on web site are screaming at how dreadful and shameful these questions are.

Calyndha (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:39 PM)

Say what you will about Obama but everyone must admit he has been beaten by these ABC reporters - very unprofessional.

You will hear spin upon spin but Obama won this because he is the only one who had tough questions. MSNBC and CNN were more professional!

YOLA/CT (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:39 PM)

Chuck Todd Sucks!!! Obama has performed quite well during this national enquirer debate. What is there to debate when all you are doing is asking Obama these same stupid questions that no one cares about. Don't forget to ask Bill Clinton about the Underground members (2) that he pardoned during his presidency. Thanks a lot Chuck. Seems like you're just a shill for Hillary and McCain.

Janice (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:39 PM)

Bill Clinton PARDONED members of the Weatherman Underground group??? Can we get some explanation of that from HRC???

I found that astounding - I was totally unaware of that connection.

J Woods, Hampton VA (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:43 PM)

So, if a candidate is 8 now and 40 years ago runs for president and is "friendly" with a Muslim terrorist who was not convicted because of a loophole that would be ok??

If a muslim was running for president and went to a Mosque for 20 years where the Imam was degrading America and said we caused 9/11 would you still support the candidate that went to that Mosque? Would you still agree with the candidate if that Imam was on his advisor comittiee?

How is this different from the current candidate? It's called judgement!!

Becca Ann (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:44 PM)

This is the worst 1 sided pointless debate. I feel like suing for my time back.

A Charles, LA, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:46 PM)

My wife and I just turned this debate off about 15 minutes ago. There was, in our opinion, a very obvious bias that favored Sen. Clinton throughout the evening. The first half-hour dealt with no issues whatsoever, and had as much intelligence as a Fox News broadcast. Having George Stephanopolous as one of the moderators doesn't exactly give me confidence in ABC's ability to present an impartial debate, either.

Charles, Franklin Park, NJ (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:55 PM)

ABC news should be ashamed of itself. 45+ minutes into the debate before any real issues are brought up by the Hosts. I'm trying to figure out if Charles Gibson is a racist, sexist, or just a rabid republican. Oh wait how could I forget they all the same monster.

William Gilmartin, Ridgecrest, CA (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:56 PM)

Good Lord, you don't think it's important to look at the people a potential President surrounds him or herself with. Okay.

Steve, US (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:08 PM)

MSNBC, please make sure you report on how most comments at ABC's on web site are screaming at how dreadful and shameful these questions are.

Calyndha (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:16 PM)

What you Hillary supporters keep forgetting is that Hillary Clinton DOES know and is associated with some of the shadiest people to ever come through Washington-from foreign oil and foreign trade to Norman HSU and Tony Rezko. She is linked to all kinds of mysterious deaths and conspiracies. Norman Hsu is like 10 TIMES worse than Tony Rezko and gave her a LOT more money and he is in PRISON. She took money from companies accused of sexual harassment against woman and even money from lobbyists representing drug companies and non-conforming lenders. Hillary Clinton is NOT clean AT ALL. I will vote for her if she is the nominee, but I KNOW what I'm getting for my vote...A LIAR! BTW, The Woods Foundation is an ANTI-POVERTY organization in Chicago Senator Clinton and William Ayers is a Professor at Univ. of Chicago where OBAMA teaches a class on the CONSTITUTION!!!

Kay (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:26 PM)

I havent heard Obama asked specifically about his relationship with Farrakan. Its worth a question now. Has Obama met, talked to, communicated with in any way... etc. I bet the answer might be yes. Another relevant question, has Obama communicated with Hamas or anyone other pro palestinian groups. Once again, its a fascinating question... and the answer might very well be yes.

Kirk, Raleigh, NC (Sent Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:27 PM)

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