Tuesday, July 01, 2008
"Dig it!": A short video about Barack Obama's friends
Paul Budline, a Princeton-based writer and producer of documentaries, got to thinking this afternoon about Barack Obama's friendship with Chicago radicals Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. Out came this crisp little video, "Dig it!". Feel free to pass it around.
There are those who argue that it is unfair to attack Obama for these friendships; Dohrn and Ayers are dug into the bourgeoisie now, and all sorts of respectable people -- big firm Chicago lawyers, well-known professors, and Hyde Park soccer moms -- are also friends with them. Supposedly reformed radicals from the 1960s, even the violent ones, are chic now among people who think it is cute that their children wear "Che" t-shirts. But most Americans -- those who are not members of the academic left or their hangers-on -- are not so willing to forgive the radicals who tore up our country between 1967 and 1975 or so. It is more than legitimate to ask somebody who wants to lead our nation why he is not only willing to forgive such people, but befriend them and enlist them in his political career.
Does anybody know whether Obama has given a coherent answer?
29 Comments:
By 
dualdiagnosis, at
Tue Jul 01, 11:44:00 PM:
The idea that these people, and others, might be hanging out in the Oval Office or the Lincoln bedroom gave me a real chill down my spine.
I have read plenty about these two and Obama's other "acquaintances", but the real possibility that someone like Father Pfleger might be strolling on the White House lawn on an Easter Sunday in 2009 is frightening.
This reality that will come if Obama wins needs to be spread to all voters.
By 
, at
Tue Jul 01, 11:54:00 PM:
Obama is perhaps the first fruit born of America's experiment with leftist thought and theory in education. His lack of a curious mind would lead him not to question what he was taught nor who was teaching him. This world apart from reality has given him fame and fortune. It has worked for him. He has no reason to now question it. He may never have bothered to figure out where the road leads. I don't believe him to be a neo-Marxist on purpose, I think he's just been led down that path by those who are. He is a patsy and has been used by the likes of Ayers and Dohrn. Time will tell if he is a fellow traveler, or if the users are being used.
By Richard Heyn, at
Wed Jul 02, 01:14:00 AM:
Oh! God! Here we go again .. the Self Righteous Right slamming Obama for his past connections. Yet, McCain is the most anti-Republican Republican we can hope to have and the SRR are quiet. Nuds' comments on Obama highlight the absurdity that is now infecting minds of some conservatives in the USA. As a conservative who is well to the right of McCain, I am afraid that the SRR's stupidity will make this election a lot easier for Obama to win.
By Elijah, at
Wed Jul 02, 01:46:00 AM:
1
"slamming Obama for his past connections"
- Is the connection/association in the past?
- If it were present, should it be slammed?
- What specifically do you feel served as the impetus for this past association between Obama and Ayers?
2
"the absurdity that is now infecting minds"
- Could you be more precise with what specifically is absurd in your opinion?
By Dan Kauffman, at
Wed Jul 02, 03:52:00 AM:
""Supposedly reformed radicals from the 1960s, even the violent ones,"
What part of
''I don't regret setting bombs,'' Bill Ayers said. ''I feel we didn't do enough.''
Illustrates the reformed part??
By , at
Wed Jul 02, 04:53:00 AM:
All "snippets". Can't we talk about the "issues"---socialized medicine for all, "green" energy and employment solutions,higher taxes and a resulting wrecked economy? .
All you neocons want to talk about are snippets. We have wealth that needs to be redistributed.
By Jeremy, at
Wed Jul 02, 05:02:00 AM:
While stuff like this disgusts me, it's pretty mainstream stuff these days. Hollywood, music, even video games are all espousing hatred against the US, its supposed "Imperialism" and capitalism in general. That's just what Democrats are for these days and have been since 2001.
People need to realize that these aren't the days of JFK or Truman, where Democrats were hawkish or not ashamed of being American. It's not just yuppies or elites. You get blue collar types espousing weird 9/11 conspiracies and such.
By Dan Kauffman, at
Wed Jul 02, 07:42:00 AM:
"We have wealth that needs to be redistributed.
By Anonymous, at Wed Jul 02, 04:53:00 AM "
Ah yes the Radiant Future of the American Soviet?
I would not be surprised that someone who looks forward to that would vote for Obama
Marxism only resulted in the deaths of some 100 Million Human Beings.
Why not give it another chance?
By Dan Kauffman, at
Wed Jul 02, 08:46:00 AM:
Here's your issue Cook County Political Corruption in the Developement, Construction and Management of Subsidized Housing.
One of Obama's stellar legislative accomplishments
Barack Obama, Ghetto Lord
By , at
Wed Jul 02, 09:34:00 AM:
Bill Ayers was on Wolf Blitzer after the invasion of Iraq, talking about getting back into the mainstream b/c our government was back in the business of killing some inflated number of people every day.
Why don't guys like him ever grasp the irony of statements like that. If it were really like he says, he'd have caught a bullet long ago.
I think it is all a shill for Fugitive Days.
By , at
Wed Jul 02, 10:56:00 AM:
Paul Budline is fantastic! Videos are the primary medium in America now, not rhetoric, not the written word and certainly not statesmanship as reported on teh MSM.
McCain is such a stick in the mud, and he really needs to take a fresh look at his media strategy. A video strategy to illustrate his differences from Obama on all sorts of issues would be great.
By , at
Wed Jul 02, 11:06:00 AM:
It is amazing how sensitive some (but not many) lefties are about any negative comment about Hussein and his lack of everything. Of course, most of them haven't got the brains to understand how deficient he is.
This film leads to another interesting thing about Hussein's background; where are the good people in his background? When you go through the rogues' gallery of his friends, pastor, political cronies, financial backers, there's not one reputable person. Where is the boy scout leader, the teacher, the coach. What did he do at Columbia and Harvard for friends and activities? He's like and empty suit from central casting who has been pumped up by the PR pimps; once you get beyond his race, there is nothing of substance.
By , at
Wed Jul 02, 11:25:00 AM:
where are the good people in his background?
Oprah is pretty good.
By Unknown, at
Wed Jul 02, 12:54:00 PM:
When will everyone realize that youtube is a liberal biased company. The video, as others holding Obama's feet to the fire on flip flops and mis-speaks, has become tagged with "We're sorry, this video is no longer available." It would seem prudent to put this videos on other sites rather than you tubes.
By , at
Wed Jul 02, 01:14:00 PM:
There are only two types of people - liberals and Americans.
Obama has connections not only with democrats (which is scary enough), but with people who question America.
Obama is probably a muslim, he's a radical black, he's probably gay, and he's a communist.
Wesley Clark defamed an American hero, John McCain, a good American who should never - ever - be questioned by a liberal on anything. While he was in a POW camp, liberals were trying to take away our freedoms and doing drugs!
Wesley Clark said that being shot down doesn't make you qualified? Why hasn't Obama made it clear that people can never question that McCain should become the next president because of his military experience? Why is Obama even running? Think about it, he must have some ulterior motive. People say that it's far-fetched to think he's going to ruin America, but why would he try to stop an American hero from becoming President?
Why can't we choose between John McCain and someone more conservative? Why is it that every 4 years a liberal (and always the most liberal in the senate) get's a chance to manipulate the people via the mainstream media into becoming the president?
Why do we let these un-americans enjoy our freedoms? think about our children, by letting un-american liberals take advantage of our freedoms to step on the flag, it puts our children at risk!
Barack Hussein Obama wants our children to become just like him - a radical black, muslim, pervert (allegedly), communist who think Americans should be killed but Terrorists (who want to cut off your head) should be given all the rights that real Americans fought for.
Disgusting!
By z4hos, at
Wed Jul 02, 03:21:00 PM:
Here is why Obamas and anyone running for President, past and present associations are important.
When we look at electing a President we look at the totality of the individual. What has made him or her who they are, what is their character? President of the US is the most important job in the world. Looking at everything about them is fair.
John McCain: Being shot down and taking POW is not a qualification for president. However having the strength of character to not take special favors or accept early release and leave his fellow Americans from a Hell hole speaks volumes about this man. This type of character is in his heart and sole. Its something that can't be taught, you either have it or you don't. "Surely self-sacrifice, courage and loyalty figure some where in the calculus for selecting a president."
Obama sought out and accepted financial and personal support from a known domestic terrorist who proudly proclaims he bombed the Capital and the Pentagon, and would do it again if given the chance. There are probably a few but I can not imagine any Senator or Congressman much less the President of the US shaking this mans hand and sitting down with him to develop a personal relationship and ask for his support in advancing their political career. Ask yourself, if Obama was not running for president would he and Ayers still have the same friendship/relationship? In my mind the answer yes. Character?
At least McCain has the courage and strength of heart to stand by his friends.
So yes its fair to question Obamas past associations.
By Catchy Pseudonym, at
Wed Jul 02, 04:09:00 PM:
I remember a time when you guys hated McCain. My how the times have changed. What happened to all of the rantings comments about the Keating Five? How he's corrupt, not a true Conservative or Republican. I'll need to go dig for all those comments.
I love watching you guys support and defend someone you can't stand just so your team wins. Spin Spin Spin... Endless entertainment.
No matter who wins this election the conservative movement has lost.
By z4hos, at
Wed Jul 02, 04:56:00 PM:
Comments by Catchy Pseudonym.
I personally have always liked and respected John McCain.
I am an independent that leans more to the right than the left. There are some issues I strongly disagree with him on. For experience and character as I stated in my earlier post, to me there is no comparison or choice.
As far as seeing your team win, and Spin Spin Spin, don't be a hypocrite. The Republicans are doing nothing more or nothing less than what the Democrats are doing.
I would say the same thing to a Republican who is whining about what the other side is doing. Suck it up and fight back.
As for the conservative movement being lost. It will be a sad day in this country if either liberalism or conservatism is lost. The free thoughts and ideas that ebb and flow between these two ideologies help to keep this country great.
People who follows a political party blindly and without question are sheep.
By , at
Wed Jul 02, 08:46:00 PM:
"But my journey is part of a larger journey - one shared by all who’ve ever sought to apply the values of their faith to our society. It’s a journey that takes us back to our nation’s founding, when none other than a UCC church inspired the Boston Tea Party [a revolution] and helped bring an Empire to its knees."
A Politics of Conscience
Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.
Hartford, CT | June 23, 2007
By TigerHawk, at
Wed Jul 02, 10:50:00 PM:
Catchy! Welcome back, and thank you for commenting. We need you, man.
To be clear, I never had a big problem with McCain, although I have criticized his regulatory bent and did endorse Romney over him in the last stages of the Republican primaries. The 'Villain has been much more negative, so you are probably remembering his posts.
By , at
Thu Jul 03, 05:58:00 AM:
Barack Obama, Ghetto Lord
"Are you crazy? Can't you see the man is a ni-"?
By Dan Kauffman, at
Thu Jul 03, 07:55:00 AM:
" company. The video, , has become tagged with "We're sorry, this video is no longer available."
Not for me, but I have seen that effect before, I had to disable webaccelerator because it was interfering with youtube loading
By Dawnfire82, at
Thu Jul 03, 05:33:00 PM:
McCain was always my strong second choice, behind Guiliani.
By Richard Heyn, at
Fri Jul 04, 04:18:00 AM:
I've read the comments on this post with a mixture of amusement, laughter and outright disgust. "Ron" was particularly pathetic in his plaintive effort.
On the one hand, the Self Righteous Right is vainly trying to prop up John McCain, someone they were railing at not so long ago as being "not conservative enough", while, on the other hand, launching ineffective barbs at Barack Obama. Meanwhile, McCain is wandering around with glazed eyes, a stupid smile and looking as if he is totally out of his depth, while Obama is looking more and more confident, presidential and Reagan-esque.
McCain's stint as a POW survivor in Hanoi does not qualify him above Obama for the presidency. Neither does his stint as an A-4 (attack bomber) pilot or peacetime squadron commander. We have, after all, over the past few years, seen how a pilot can get America into a real mess.
Obama does seem to have a lot of potential, although much less experience. He did, indeed, destroy the Clinton machine and seems to be very calm under attack; excellent qualities for a national leader.
Which is better? Personally, I'd rather have an upstart with an attitude, over a grouch with a chip on his shoulder.
Obama will have to do everything wrong, while President, to make a bigger mess in American that has been made by Bush and his conservatives.
I wish there was a Reagan for whom I could vote.
By , at
Fri Jul 04, 08:21:00 AM:
I've read the comments on this post with a mixture of amusement, laughter and outright disgust. "Ron" was particularly pathetic in his plaintive effort.
Wow, O Great One. Thank you for gifting us with the shining light of your contempt.
No doubt, you are the first to link Obama and Reagan. Brilliant.
By , at
Fri Jul 04, 08:26:00 AM:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/17/obamas_reagan_comparison_spark_1.html
Hmm. I guess you're not the first. Obama himself has made the comparison. It is a world gone mad.
By Richard Heyn, at
Fri Jul 04, 07:22:00 PM:
Contrary to any assertion, I am not comparing Obama with Reagan, other than to the extent to which he motivates people.
I would like to have another Ronald Reagan, a CONSERVATIVE, for whom I could vote and McCain does not fill that void. Romney would have been a great choice.
I am concerned that the laughable contortions on the part of members of the Self Righteous Right, in their attempts to throw just about anything at Obama, will drive the undecided voters into Obama's camp and make everything a lot easier for him.
By sleeper, at
Sat Jul 05, 07:13:00 AM:
By sleeper, at
Sat Jul 05, 07:16:00 AM:
