Apples and Oranges?

Recently, I've heard friends of mine express concern about Obama's associations with Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright. Personally, I don't think being friends, even very good friends, with someone means that you ascribe to their values. I have friends and family who are extremely to the right (to the extent that they question the reality of global warming) and those extremely to the left (to the extent that they praise the ideals of Marxism). My association, even my love for them as family and dear friends, does not mean that I share their values or political idealogy. Personally, I don't think it's intellectually dangerous to associate with a certain crowd, but I do think it is dangerous to associate with too homogeneous of a crowd, as that tends to encourage a closed-minded disposition. I think it's a mark of maturity and human progress when we can put aside our differences and genuinely care for and even partner with people who have drastically different ideologies compared to our own. If that relationship allows us to work together toward a common purpose, than we progress even further.

But let's assume the worst for a moment. Let's assume that these relationships are crucial indicators of a candidate's judgment and character. In my view, it then becomes a toss-up as to which candidate has the more dangerous associations. For Obama's relationship with Ayers, we have McCain's relationship with G. Gordon Liddy. Last November, McCain said on Liddy's radio show, "It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great." This is a guy who helped plan the Watergate-breakin and served 4 years in jail as a result. For Obama's ties to Wright, we have the historical Republican support of the religious right who, shortly after Sept 11, did not say "God Damn America" but effectively said God is damning America:

"JERRY FALWELL: And I agree totally with you that the Lord has protected us so wonderfully these 225 years. And since 1812, this is the first time that we've been attacked on our soil, first time, and by far the worst results. And I fear, as Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense said yesterday, that this is only the beginning. And with biological warfare available to these monsters; the Husseins, the Bin Ladens, the Arafats, what we saw on Tuesday, as terrible as it is, could be miniscule if, in fact, if in fact God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.

PAT ROBERTSON: Jerry, that's my feeling. I think we've just seen the antechamber to terror. We haven't even begun to see what they can do to the major population.

JERRY FALWELL: The ACLU's got to take a lot of blame for this.

PAT ROBERTSON: Well, yes.

JERRY FALWELL: And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen'.

PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I totally concur, and the problem is we have adopted that agenda at the highest levels of our government. And so we're responsible as a free society for what the top people do. And, the top people, of course, is the court system."

I find it interesting that Robertson and Falwell were criticized, even lampooned as idiots, but they were never called un-American, unpatriotic, America-hating, or dangerous. The fear that Jeremiah Wright struck in the hearts of some Americans was not felt by those same Americans when this Robertson/Falwell interview received attention 7 years ago. This year, Pat Robertson was Guiliani's spiritual advisor, and in general, Americans did not find it alarming in the same way as the Wright/Obama situation. McCain spoke at Falwell's Liberty University in 2006. The following was printed on the press release from the University on March 28, 2006:

"While Sen. McCain and Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell have had their share of political differences through the years, the two men share a common respect for each other and have become good friends in their efforts to preserve what they see as common values. This will mark his first ever appearance at Liberty University."

Somehow becoming "good friends" and sharing "common values" with Robertson did not hurt McCain's credibility either. In fact, it helped his campaign. Since 2001, Robertson has visited G.W. Bush at the Whitehouse to discuss topics including the war that he basically said was something America deserved. Can you imagine what would happen if Obama was elected president and had Wright visit the white house to discuss the war? In my opinion, there's clearly a double standard here, but that really points to another topic, which is perhaps more important and relevant than this one.

Personally, I think none of these "guilty by association" arguments matter too much in this election. But even if I'm wrong, for minds that oppose prejudiced leanings, we're still left comparing apples and oranges, and to neither candidate's clear advantage.