Just an Author in the Neighborhood

Bill Ayers confirmed rumors that he helped Obama with his book Dreams From My Father. How? By writing it.

No, not editing or contributing or co-authoring. According to Dennis Byrne:

In a chance meeting with conservative blogger Anne Leary, Bill Ayers makes a stunning claim that he wrote–not just edited–President Barack Obama’s autobiography, Dreams from my Father.

Now go back and read what FactCheck.org had to say during the campaign:

Obama never said Ayers was “just” a guy in the neighborhood. The quote is from a Democratic primary debate on April 16 in Philadelphia, and Obama actually was more forthcoming than McCain lets on. . . .

Instead, Obama said this:

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. . . .

So, I guess Obama didn’t even collaborate with Ayers on Dreams From My Father.

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.

FactCheck.org concluded with this:

Voters may differ in how they see Ayers, or how they see Obama’s interactions with him. We’re making no judgment calls on those matters. What we object to are the McCain-Palin campaign’s attempts to sway voters – in ads and on the stump – with false and misleading statements about the relationship, which was never very close. Obama never “lied” about this, just as he never bragged about it. The foundation they both worked with was hardly “radical.” And Ayers is more than a former “terrorist,” he’s also a well-known figure in the field of education.

“More than a terrorist”? Wow. There’s an accolade. Nice work FactCheck.org.