The key is Obama's stated position that Ayers is just a "guy who lives in my neighborhood," when, actually, the relationship is much deeper than that. Ayers and his wife, fellow terrorist Bernardine Dohrn, held a campaign event for Obama in 1995 at the Ayers home. This is supposedly where they first met, but the record, at this point, isn't clear. At the time of this meeting Obama was already the chairman of a foundation, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which Ayers had formed. Obama served as chairman of the board for three years and continued as a member until the foundation was closed in 2001.

They also served together on the board of Woods Fund. Obama was a director of the board from 1999 to Dec. 11, 2002. Ayers is still a member. This organization provided a $40,000 grant to the Arab American Action Network in 2001, with a second grant of $35,000 in 2002. This organization was co-founded by Rashid Khalidi, an Arab who has made statements supportive of Palestinian terror and reportedly has worked on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization while it was involved in anti-Western terrorism and was labeled by the State Department as a terror group. Khalidi also held at least one fundraiser for Obama. Source

Additionally, Ayers and Obama served together on panels together at numerous speaking events throughout the years.

So, it's apparent that Ayers is not just a "guy who lives in my neighborhood." Obama's attempts to minimize this relationship are disturbing and calls into question his truthfullness on the matter. The suppression of the records, even if only temporarily, is equally disturbing.

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Andy
Cynical Optimist