Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Oh, My...

Some commentators have been speculating for many months that Obama's autobiography Dreams from my Father was actually co-written by Bill Ayers (radical, domestic terrorist, SDS member, Weatherman, now professor at the University of Illinois, and neighbor of the Obamas in Chicago).  When I first read these speculations, I thought it seemed unlikely – why would an aspiring politician take a chance like this?  Clearly he wouldn't want to be connected to someone like Ayers.  Furthermore, Obama's book doesn't credit a ghostwriter, and such credits are normal (though certainly not universal).

But now comes word that the speculators were even more correct than they thought.  Bill Ayers reportedly claims to have written the book, not merely co-written it.  Anne Leary, a conservative blogger from Chicago, posts that she had a chance meeting with Ayers at the airport, and he said:
Then, unprompted he said--I wrote Dreams From My Father. I said, oh, so you admit it. He said--Michelle asked me to. I looked at him. He seemed eager. He's about my height, short. He went on to say--and if you can prove it, we can split the royalties. So I said, stop pulling my leg. Horrible thought. But he came again--I really wrote it, the wording was similar. I said I believe you probably heavily edited it. He said--I wrote it. I said--why would I believe you, you're a liar.

He had no answer to that. Just looked at me. Then he turned and walked off, and said again his bit about my proving it and splitting the proceeds.
Assuming this is a truthful account, that's just stunning – it means Barack Obama the author is a fraud.  It means that the public image of Barack Obama – heavily influenced by that book – is a fraud.  It means that a domestic terrorist and criminal helped shape our President.  It's confirmation of the darkest suspicions voiced by the fringe right.

Worst of all, it's utterly shameful...

They Don't Want You to See It...

The healthcare reform bill, that is.  Whatever that might end up being.  The majority Congressional leaders (that would be the dynamic duo of Reid and Pelosi) are fighting efforts to have the bill online for public viewing for three days prior to the vote.

This is not a new tactic, nor is it something the Republicans can claim innocence on.  But it still stinks to high heaven, because there's only one reason why they would do this – the Congressional leadership wants to pass a bill that they know the public (those pesky voters) would object to.

Lead.
Gunpowder.
Steel tube.
Congressional leaders.
Some assembly required.