William Ayers Connection Latest Headache for Barack Obama

Once again, Barack Obama is in the news due to his associates. This time William Ayers is the object of scrutiny from Obama's past. From 1999-2002, Obama served on The Woods Fund of Chicago with the former member of the Weather Underground. Also, Ayers gave $200 to Obama's re-election fund in 2002. Many are left wondering just how deep the ties between the two men go. Obama appears to be hoping the issue will die down, and Ayers has yet to offer a comment on the issue.

William Ayers is, of course, not the only person from Obama's past who proved to shake things up on the campaign trail. The Reverend Jeremiah Wright not only stirred the pot for Obama, but his comments led to Obama's speech on race. Initially, there was a great backlash from Obama and Clinton supporters alike, wondering why someone as liberal and open as Barack Obama would affiliate himself with someone who made such bold racial statements. Obama had barely managed to sweep Wright under the rug when Ayers came up. It seems that Obama has a problem with the more radical people of his past coming into play.

Obama is not the only candidate who has suffered from his past during this election season. John McCain's integrity was questioned almost right out of the gate. If anyone can remember way back when some did not think McCain would get the nomination for his party, they might recall that there was a lot of controversy because of a friendship he had struck up with a female lobbyist. The lobbyist was quite a bit younger than McCain, and there were rumors of an affair, amongst other things. The affair proved to be the least damaging of the gossip. Mainly, people were concerned that a candidate who had claimed to have taken the moral high road against special interest groups would not only befriend a lobbyist, but accompany her to fundraisers and on airplanes. McCain also wrote letters on behalf of the lobbyist's client, which would allude to some special interest ties. Somehow, McCain managed to walk away unscathed by cutting ties with the lobbyist and focusing on his campaign.

The candidate in this election that has possibly suffered the most from past ties is Hillary Clinton. Clinton is in the middle of a catch-22. On one hand, she wants to use the experience she gained as First Lady to make her claim that she is the most fit for President. However, in order to use that experience, she has to speak often of her ties to Bill Clinton and his policy. While Clinton did some wonderful things in office, there were some things that a candidate such as Hillary Clinton would rather not have brought up. This double edged sword has proven very difficult for Hillary Clinton, especially when it comes to NAFTA. Hillary Clinton's ties to her husband's Presidency during the NAFTA years have proved almost fatal. While she has taken a stand against NAFTA, which her husband is for, she still campaigned for it during her time as First Lady. That is confusing for many voters, and those that are on the fence have a difficult time understanding what side she is really on.

Obviously, a Presidential candidate's life and relationships are going to be scrutinized by the public. The magnitude of a fallout from these relationships remains to be seen, but each candidate has to struggle to maintain personal dignity amongst the rumors and innuendos that surround them all.

Michael Dobbs, "Obama's Weatherman Connection," The Washington Post

William M. Welch, "Obama Faces Questions Over Ties to Controversial Minister," USA Today

Jim Rutenberg, "For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk," The New York Times

Domenico Montanaro, "Clinton's NAFTA-Gate," MSNBC