University won't open Obama-related records now - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

andy764383 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

From the Associated Press:

Quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Illinois on Tuesday refused to release records relating to Barack Obama's service to a nonprofit group linked to former 1960s radical activist William Ayers.

The university's Chicago campus said the donor of the records that document the work of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge has not yet turned over ownership rights to the material.

The university is "aggressively pursuing" an agreement with the donor, and as soon as an agreement is finalized, the collection will be made accessible to the public, the university said in a one-paragraph statement.

There was no indication when an agreement will be worked out. The university did not identify the donor who it said was concerned that the release not invade personal privacy.

The Obama campaign said the senator does not have control over these records or the ability to release them, adding that it has made many documents related to Obama's life available to the public and that "we are pleased the university is pursuing an agreement that would make these records publicly available."

On Monday, the National Review magazine posted an online article saying that the institution had initially declared that the records were open to inspection, but that the university subsequently reversed its position.

On Tuesday, the university said that there had been a misunderstanding about the status of the collection.

Ayers is an education professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who in his youth co-founded the Weatherman organization, later known as the Weather Underground Organization, which espoused violence as a necessity for political change.

In the 1990s, Ayers was instrumental in starting the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which was awarded nearly $50 million by a foundation to help reform Chicago schools.

Obama was the first chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge and Republicans have been highlighting his ties to Ayers through the group.

The Republican National Committee posted the National Review article on the RNC's Web site.

In an interview, university spokesman Bill Burton said that the institution only recently was made aware that it did not have ownership, a requirement for making the collection public.

The owner notified the university about the absence of a signed ownership agreement last week.

"The donor's only concerns regarding the collection are due to personnel information that could include names, confidential salary information and even Social Security numbers," said the university spokesman.

Burton, who has no connection to the Obama campaign spokesman with the same name, said he was not authorized to identify the owner.

Obama was board chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge for three years starting in 1995 and he remained on the board until the project closed in 2001.

The $49.2 million was the largest private gift ever made to Chicago schools. The money went to 250 schools in one of the nation's largest school districts.

During a primary debate in Philadelphia last October, Obama criticized rival Hillary Rodham Clinton over the release of presidential papers from the National Archives. Clinton said at the time that neither she nor husband Bill Clinton could do anything to speed the process of review at the Archives before papers from the Clinton era could become public.

Obama compared her record of public disclosure of records to that of the Bush administration, saying the country had "just gone through one of the most secretive administrations in our history."

In March, edited versions of the former first lady's appointment calendars were publicly released.

Here’s a discussion of the revelation between Kurtz and radio host Bill Bennett, which aired yesterday. Link

I smell a coverup.

Oreo · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Yes, I heard this story today. Public records which are suprisingly, public records no more? NO ONE can get their hands on these records, hmm. They are locked up tighter than Fort Nox.

AJG · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Well, what are we waiting for!? Let's get those records!!!!!

Lost Soul · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Why does it seem that Obama has to hide from people in his past?

Wright
Ayers
Rezko
Frank Marshall

AJG · #5 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Because sensitive people like you hold it against him.

Lost Soul · #6 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJG

Because sensitive people like you hold it against him.

Well when you have friends who once bombed our Pentagon and was planning to kill US soldiers at a USO show, yes being a career military man I would tend to hold his relationship[to that type of person in the highest contempt.

Yet you have no problem with Obama's relationship to a terrorist that planned and carried out terrorist attacks against your own country.

AJG · #7 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Nope. If you're suggesting Obama supports terrorism or any terrorist organizations I would understand your concern, but that also makes me concerned about you.

Lost Soul · #8 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJG

Nope. If you're suggesting Obama supports terrorism or any terrorist organizations I would understand your concern, but that also makes me concerned about you.

Dude you have already shown your true colors.

I never said either but questioned his judgement to befriend someone that has, is and did.

What type of person would be friends with someone who attacked the very country you are trying to become President of. Obama as President, his job would to protect us from people like Ayers not be friends and neighbors with terrorists.

AJG · #9 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Soul

Dude you have already shown your true colors.

I never said either but questioned his judgement to befriend someone that has, is and did.

What type of person would be friends with someone who attacked the very country you are trying to become President of. Obama as President, his job would to protect us from people like Ayers not be friends and neighbors with terrorists.

Then obviously I don't understand your concern. Sorry, I just don't think it clouds his judgement.

andy764383 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJG

Then obviously I don't understand your concern. Sorry, I just don't think it clouds his judgement.

It's his judgment which is being called into question. Not if it's clouded.

AJG · #11 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy764383

It's his judgment which is being called into question. Not if it's clouded.

In this case it makes no difference to me because I think he neither lacks judgement or his judgement is clouded because of his "terrorist friend".

Lost Soul · #12 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJG

In this case it makes no difference to me because I think he neither lacks judgement or his judgement is clouded because of his "terrorist friend".

Anyone that claims to be friendly with an enemy of your country which you plan to become President of lacks the judgement of a history standard issue moron.

Does this place you right next to Obama?

AJG · #13 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

I admit I know a few people that are extremely anti-USA. For all I know they could become terrorists

. I would obviously disagree with them, but I can't help but liking their personality when they're not ranting about about how the US are filthy hipocrites.

goober · #14 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy764383

It's his judgment which is being called into question. Not if it's clouded.

Serving on the board of a non-profit with a 50 million dollar grant from the Annenberg Foundation to improve Chicago public schools.

WOW, you've got public schools, Chicago and Dick Nixon's pal, how could anyone not see the harm this could do America............

andy764383 · #15 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober

Serving on the board of a non-profit with a 50 million dollar grant from the Annenberg Foundation to improve Chicago public schools.

WOW, you've got public schools, Chicago and Dick Nixon's pal, how could anyone not see the harm this could do America............

Serving as the chairman of an organization founded by a known terrorist is an indication of extremely bad judgment. Even Hillary Clinton thinks so, and I totally despise her.

If there is nothing to hide, then why hide the records?

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