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Originally Posted by MysticCat
See, this is where you're losing me. How can he be influential (very or just plain influential) without shaping Obama's views (i.e., exerting influence)?
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I think we're both thinking of influence in different terms. Perhaps that's my fault for imprecise wording?
At any rate, to influence Obama's political career, to my mind doesn't mean that someone has to shape his world view, just that he has to have a substantial effect.
Using the more precise "substantial effect" language understanding, I don't think there's any way around concluding that Ayers had a substantial effect (had influence) on Obama's political career. That we can know. As to what effect Ayers had on shaping Obama's world views? No one, outside of Ayers and Obama knows that. I think it's possible though, that both sorts of influence existed, but that's pure speculation on my part.
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Apparently, neither were the Annenbergs or others associated with the Annenberg Foundation. Neither was former Illinois State Diana Nelson (R), who said "It was never a concern by any of us in the Chicago school reform movement that [Ayers] had led a fugitive life years earlier." (She added that fellow Republicans "might snort when they hear the name Bill Ayers, because they know he comes from a wealthy family, they know he became a radical activist early in his life . . . but beyond just snorting, I don't think anyone gives it another thought.")
Indeed, based on what I've seen and what Sen. Nelson says, no one was bothered about it before Hillary Clinton's campaign.
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If associating with a domestic terrorist doesn't bother those folks, fantastic. It bothers me quite a bit.
As for what Nelson said, politicians say the craziest things and for the craziest reasons. An Illinois Republican state elected official saying very nice things about the probable future president which might substantially improve his standing in the eyes of the doubting public might possibly have motives beyond giving the public a truthful account about how everyone feels about former domestic terrorists.
Hybrid Mode
