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Obama Out to Stop Ad Linking Him to Radical

Calls TV stations, DOJ to silence spot funded by 'Swift Boat' backer

By the Associated Press

Posted Aug 25, 2008 8:56 PM CDT

(AP) – Barack Obama is striking back to stamp out an ad that links him to a 1960s radical, eager to demonstrate a far more aggressive response to attacks than John Kerry did when faced with the 2004 "Swift Boat" campaign. Obama not only aired a response ad to the spot linking him to William Ayers, but sought to block stations from running the commercial by warning station managers and asking the Justice Department to intervene.

Obama's target is an ad by the conservative American Issues Project, a nonprofit group that questions Obama's ties to Ayers, a founder of the Weather Underground organization that took credit for a series of bombings. The lone financier of the ad was also a main funder of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth who targeted Kerry. An Obama spokesman said supporters have inundated stations airing the ad with 93,000 e-mails.

This May 17, 1982 file photo Bill Ayers, a former member of the Weather Underground, walks with wife, Bernardine Dohrn, and their son, Zayd Dohrn, 4, outside Federal Court in New York. (AP Photo)

Barack Obama talks to Ron Friedhof of Bettendorf, Iowa, at the urging of his wife Cynthia Friedhof during a rally at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waits to talk during a rally at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., talks with aide Reggie Love on the tarmac in Chicago, Ill. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008. (AP Photo)

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Obama Out to Stop Ad Linking Him to Radical

Calls TV stations, DOJ to silence spot funded by 'Swift Boat' backer

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Breitbart: I Have ‘College Days’ Obama Videos

They will show the president's radical roots, he says

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Obama Out to Stop Ad Linking Him to Radical

Calls TV stations, DOJ to silence spot funded by 'Swift Boat' backer

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Election 2008 • Bill Ayers • Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Obama, Others Won't Return Ponzi Cash

Receiver wants the $1.8M Allen Stanford gave to politicians

Chinese VP Arrives in Washington

Xi Jinping, China's next president, to meet with Obama

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

Breitbart: I Have ‘College Days’ Obama Videos

They will show the president's radical roots, he says

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?