McCain targets Ayers, Rezko and Bill Daley in “Chicago Way” spot

SHARE McCain targets Ayers, Rezko and Bill Daley in “Chicago Way” spot

Making a reference to the “Chicago Way,” the Republican National Committee links together Tony Rezko, Bill Ayers and William Daley in a new overheated negative spot released Friday to run in Wisconsin and Indiana, battlegrounds adjacent to Illinois.

The McCain team continues to focus on Barack Obama’s associations as the world economy is sinking and the Dow is plunging again.

The spot takes a parochial approach–pumping up presumed anti-Chicago sentiment in the Hoosier and Badger states.

Analysis:

Voice over: The Chicago Way. Shady politics. That’s Barack Obama’s training.

My comment: The McCain camp is trying to make Obama into yet another hack Chicago alderman. Unless you’re talking about deep dish pizza, saying something is “The Chicago Way” is not a compliment. Actually Obama’s political roots in Chicago are related to the Democratic faction aligned with the late Mayor Harold Washington–not the Daley family. It was later in Obama’s political life that he formed important alliances with the Daley faction; his top strategist, David Axelrod, is Mayor Daley’s top advisor and his counselor-at-large in the presidential campaign is Valerie Jarrett, who comes out of the Daley City Hall–as does Michelle Obama, who worked for Jarrett.

Voice over: His teachers? Tony Rezko: Convicted of corruption, money laundering, aiding and abetting bribery. Rezko got Obama in on a shady land deal.

My comment: The timeline is wrong. Obama’s “boneheaded” move to involve Rezko in the purchase of his home–Rezko’s wife buying the adjoining lot–came years before Rezko’s conviction. Rezko was not even indicted at the time Obama bought the house–though Rezko was under investigation.

Voice over: William Daley: Heir to the Chicago machine. A top Obama advisor.

My comment: It’s dirty to drag William Daley into this spot with two other men accused of criminal behavior. This is the second time the McCain team has used William Daley, Mayor Daley’s brother, who is the actual “heir” to the “Chicago machine,” or what is left of it. It is true that Daley is a top advisor.

And William Ayers: Leader of a terrorist group that bombed the U.S. Capitol. Obama’s first campaign was launched at a gathering at Mr. Ayers’s home.

My comment: This line suggest that Ayers was critical to Obama’s political career. He was not. Getting the early backing of then state Sen. Alice Palmer was more important, because that got him entree with local powerbrokers. Obama and Palmer would go on to have a falling out that lasts until this day.

Palmer decided to run for re-election; Obama would not drop out; Obama challenged the signatures on her nominating petitions and knocked Palmer–and all his opponents off the ballot, letting him claim a state senate seat without a fight.

Now that’s the Chicago Way.

Release from the RNC….

RNC Launches New Ad: “Chicago Way”

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) today launched a new ad: “Chicago Way.” The ad calls attention to Barack Obama’s questionable ties to individuals such as convicted felon Tony Rezko, unrepentant terrorist William Ayers, and heir to the Chicago machine William Daley.

The ad will run in major markets in Indiana and Wisconsin.

AD TEXT:

VO: The Chicago Way. Shady politics. That’s Barack Obama’s training.

His teachers?

Tony Rezko: Convicted of corruption, money laundering, aiding and abetting bribery. Rezko got Obama in on a shady land deal.

William Daley: Heir to the Chicago machine. A top Obama advisor.

And William Ayers: Leader of a terrorist group that bombed the U.S. Capitol. Obama’s first campaign was launched at a gathering at Mr. Ayers’s home.

There’s more you need to know…

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